Introduced during the 1970s as part of Orient's recreational dive lineup, the Sea King series—commonly abbreviated as "SK" on the dial—addressed growing consumer demand for durable, water-resistant sports watches with high-visibility dials.The reference 469617-7E paired a broad cushion profile with the workhorse Caliber 469 automatic movement.
Housed within a 44mm stainless steel case topped by a fixed fluted bezel, the horizontally brushed gradient blue dial is framed by an internal rotating ring divided into colour-coded depth decompression sectors from 20 to 40 metres, operated via the secondary crown at 4 o'clock.
Founded in Tokyo in 1950, Orient is one of Japan’s most significant and long-standing watch manufacturers, highly regarded for its unwavering focus on producing mechanical timepieces with in-house movements. Unlike many watchmakers in its price segment, Orient's production is vertically integrated, meaning the brand manufactures its own calibres, cases, and other components, ensuring a high degree of quality control.
Its diverse catalogue includes iconic model families such as the Bambino for classic dress watches, the Mako and Kamasu for robust dive watches, and the more premium, highly finished Orient Star line. Though part of the Seiko Epson corporation, Orient maintains its independent manufacturing heritage, cementing its distinct identity as a pillar of Japanese watchmaking.
Overall Grade: 6 / 10 | Good Condition, Heavy Wear Production: est. 1970's Contents: Watch Only Genre: Vintage Dive Watch
Size: 44mm Thickness: approx. 14mm Lug Width: approx. 22mm
Case: Stainless steel, jumbo cushion case, mirrored finish, heavy wear Bezel: Fluted bezel, internal bi-directional depth-gauge ring, heavy wear Dial: Gradient light blue sunburst dial, applied markers with lume dots Hands: Baton hands, lumed, heavy wear
Crown: Push/pull dual crown with quickset pusher, heavy wear Crystal: Mineral crystal, heavy wear Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet, heavy wear Caseback: Stainless steel, solid-caseback, screw-on, heavy wear Movement: Automatic Caliber: Caliber 469 Series