The Orient Ray II Explained

The Orient Ray II is the clean-dialled twin of the Mako II, a value 200m automatic diver with an in-house hacking movement and a more minimal look. You can see the current Orient watches collection at Creation Watches. This guide covers the specification, the Mako comparison, and who it suits.

Quick answer

The Orient Ray II is a 200m automatic dive watch running the in-house F6922 movement with a 40-hour reserve, hacking, and hand-winding. It has a steel case around 41.5mm, a mineral crystal, a unidirectional bezel, a screw-down crown, and a day-date. It shares everything with the Mako II except a cleaner dial with fewer numerals. It suits a buyer who wants a genuine in-house automatic diver with a minimal dial at a low price.

The specification

The Ray II runs the Orient F6922, a 22-jewel in-house automatic beating at 21,600 vph with a 40-hour reserve, which hacks and hand-winds. The steel case is around 41.5mm with a screw-down crown, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a mineral crystal, and a screw-down caseback carrying Orient’s dolphin logo. Water resistance is 200m, with a day-date at 3 o’clock and luminous hands and markers. It ships on a steel bracelet, following Orient’s classic diver design with a pared-back dial.

Ray II versus Mako II

The Ray II and Mako II are twins that share the same case, F6922 movement, 200m rating, bezel, and crown, differing only in the dial. The Mako II uses a busier dial with Arabic numerals at the 6, 9, and 12 positions, while the Ray II uses a cleaner dial with applied markers and few or no numerals, giving a more minimal, modern look. Beyond that dial choice they are identical, so picking between them is purely about whether you prefer the numeraled or the clean face.

The F6922 movement

The F6922 is the heart of the Ray II and a big step over the original Ray’s calibre. It is an Orient in-house automatic, made within the Epson group, with 22 jewels and a 40-hour reserve. It hacks, so the seconds hand stops when you set the time, and it hand-winds through the crown. Accuracy sits in a normal automatic band. Getting a genuine in-house automatic that hacks and hand-winds in a 200m diver at this price is the Ray II’s core value, matching the Mako II exactly.

Water resistance and the dive spec

The Ray II is water resistant to 200m with a screw-down crown and caseback, covering swimming, snorkelling, and recreational scuba, though it is not ISO certified. The unidirectional bezel tracks elapsed dive time and turns one way only, so a knock can shorten but never extend your indicated time. Keep the crown fully screwed in before any water contact. For most buyers the 200m rating is far more than everyday use needs, and it makes the Ray II a capable recreational diver.

The mineral crystal question

Like the Mako II, the Ray II uses a mineral crystal, which resists everyday scratches but sits below sapphire and can mark over years of hard wear. This keeps the price low, and a scratched mineral crystal can be polished or replaced cheaply. If a sapphire crystal matters to you, the newer Kamasu, sold as the Mako III, offers one on the same F6922 movement for a small step up, which is worth weighing when choosing between the older Ray II and Mako II and the Kamasu.

How it compares

The Ray II’s rivals are the Seiko divers, its own twin the Mako II, and its successor the Kamasu. Against the discontinued Seiko SKX it matches the 200m rating and adds hacking and hand-winding, which the SKX’s 7S26 lacks, though the SKX is ISO certified. Against the Kamasu it gives up sapphire at a lower price. Its argument is a genuine in-house automatic diver that hacks and hand-winds, with a clean dial and 200m rating, at a very low price.

Buying tips

Two points help when buying a Ray II. First, choose between the Ray II’s clean dial and the Mako II’s numeraled dial, since they are otherwise the same watch and the dial is the only real difference. Second, decide whether the mineral crystal is acceptable or whether you would rather step up to the Kamasu for sapphire on the same movement. Check the size against your wrist, and the value diver then comes down to dial and crystal.

Who the Ray II suits

The Orient Ray II fits a buyer who wants a genuine in-house automatic diver that hacks and hand-winds, someone who prefers a clean, minimal dial over the Mako II’s numerals, and anyone who values a 200m rating and an in-house movement at the lowest price. It suits you less if you want sapphire, where the Kamasu is a small step up, or an ISO-certified diver. Browse the live Orient watches range to see availability.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Orient Ray II and Mako II?

The Ray II and Mako II are twins sharing the same case, F6922 movement, 200m rating, bezel, and crown, differing only in the dial. The Mako II has Arabic numerals at 6, 9, and 12, while the Ray II has a cleaner dial with applied markers and few or no numerals. Picking between them is purely about whether you prefer the numeraled or the clean face.

Does the Orient Ray II hack and hand-wind?

Yes. The Ray II runs the Orient F6922, which both hacks and hand-winds, so the seconds hand stops when you set the time and you can wind the watch through the crown. It also has a 40-hour reserve and a day-date. This is a key upgrade over the original Ray’s older calibre, and it matches the Mako II exactly, making the Ray II easy to set and use.

Is the Orient Ray II a real dive watch?

The Ray II is water resistant to 200m with a screw-down crown and caseback and a unidirectional bezel, covering swimming, snorkelling, and recreational scuba. It meets the practical requirements of a dive watch, though it is not ISO 6425 certified. For recreational diving and all water sports it is more than capable, provided the crown is fully screwed in before water contact.

Does the Orient Ray II have a sapphire crystal?

No. The Ray II uses a mineral crystal, which resists everyday scratches but sits below sapphire. This keeps the price low, and a scratched mineral crystal can be polished or replaced cheaply. If a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal matters to you, the newer Kamasu, sold as the Mako III, offers one on the same F6922 movement for a small step up in price.

What movement is in the Orient Ray II?

The Ray II uses the Orient F6922, a 22-jewel in-house automatic with a 40-hour reserve that both hacks and hand-winds. Orient makes it in its own facility within the Epson group. It is a reliable in-house movement, and getting it in a 200m diver at the Ray II’s price is the watch’s core value, offering genuine in-house watchmaking cheaply, exactly as in the Mako II.

What size is the Orient Ray II?

The Ray II has a steel case around 41.5mm with a unidirectional bezel, a comfortable mid-size diver that suits most wrists. It ships on a steel bracelet and wears as a proper 200m diver without being oversized. Check the exact diameter and lug-to-lug on the specific reference, though the Ray II is generally an easy-wearing size for a dive watch.

Verdict

Buy the Orient Ray II if you want a genuine in-house automatic diver that hacks and hand-winds, with a clean, minimal dial and a 200m rating, at a very low price. Choose it over the Mako II if you prefer fewer numerals. Anyone who wants sapphire should look at the Kamasu, and anyone wanting an ISO-certified diver should consider a Seiko Prospex. See the current Orient watches for stock before deciding.