Orient Expands The Bambino Range, Including No-Date 38mm Options

Orient is giving fans more of what they want by expanding its Bambino lineup. The new Bambino 38 adds six references, including five stainless steel models and a no-date dial for the first time in the mechanical collection. Joining them is a webstore-exclusive purple dial paired with a gold-plated case. The familiar Roman-numeral layout retains the Bambino’s retro charm while embracing greater simplicity.

Meanwhile, the Bambino 40.5 takes the Version 7, or “V7,” design and scales it up to a larger case size. Six dial options join the range, including four gradient dials never before seen on a Bambino. While the 38mm model pursues purity, the 40.5mm version leans toward a more contemporary audience, with a date window at 3 o’clock. You asked, and Orient delivered. Now, let’s take a closer look at all 12 new models.

Allow me to borrow a line from my colleague Henry Black when discussing Calatrava-style watches: “Typically priced under €300, the Bambino represents one of the best entry points into the world of dress watches.” I’ll tweak that slightly, as these latest releases sit under €400. The sentiment, however, remains unchanged. The Bambino continues to offer thoughtfully designed dress watches with in-house mechanical movements at highly accessible prices. Most models featured here cost €339.99 / £294.99 on a leather strap, with the gold-plated Bambino 40.5 (reference RA-AC0028S) costing €369.99 / £319.99. That still strikes an excellent balance between affordability and quality. With the new no-date Bambino 38, purity takes center stage. The 40.5mm models retain the date while balancing their proportions with a more contemporary layout.

Orient Bambino 38 “No Date”

For the first time in the Bambino’s history, Orient has removed the date window on a mechanical watch. I don’t mind a date complication, but eliminating it makes perfect sense in a design that prioritizes timeless elegance. The Bambino has been a huge success for Orient for well over a decade, with the 38mm collection arriving in 2021. Despite the name, the watches actually have a 38.4mm case, though I can forgive Orient for rounding down for brevity.

We’ve covered plenty of Bambino variations over the years, including last year’s 75th-anniversary collection and the Small Seconds models. Somehow, though, this release feels like the Bambino that always should have existed. At the very least, it’s the version that fully realizes the collection’s potential. The dial combines Roman numerals at alternating hours with baton markers in between. A 3Hz-calibrated seconds track sits just outside the hour markers, while a separate minute track occupies the perimeter. The two scales add visual interest, even if one could easily do the job alone.

Power comes from Orient’s in-house F6524 automatic caliber. It offers more than 40 hours of power reserve, hand-winding capability, hacking seconds, and a stated accuracy range of +25/-15 seconds per day. The movement remains visible through the exhibition case back.

Six new styles

The Bambino 38 range introduces six new references. Five come in regular stainless steel, while the last one receives a gold-plated case. This outlier is the 125-piece webstore-exclusive RA-BB0005V, which combines a vibrant purple dial with gold-tone details. As that description suggests, this model won’t be available through authorized dealers. Given how many Orient watches are now purchased online, that’s probably less significant than it once was, but it’s still worth noting.

Another interesting addition is the gray-dial RA-BB0006N, limited to 3,300 pieces. It pairs silver Roman numerals with gold-toned hands for a distinctive look. Alongside these models sit white and ivory dials with blue-coated hands and silver markers, plus green and brown variants accented with gold details.

Orient generally does a good job matching hand and marker colors to each dial. For me, the ivory-dial RA-BB0003Y is the standout. The combination of blue-coated hands and silver markers feels effortlessly classic. The conical crown also remains easy to grip and operate. With a 12.5mm profile, the case is a little chunky for a dress watch but not thick enough to upset the proportions. My bigger criticism is the 30m water-resistance rating. That’s fairly modest for a watch that boldly proclaims “Water Resistant” on the dial. Every model comes on a croc-embossed leather strap with a pin buckle. Most feature shades of brown, while the gray-dial limited edition receives a matching gray strap, and the purple model comes on a black strap.

Orient Bambino 40.5

Stepping up in size brings us to the Bambino 40.5. While the overall character remains unmistakably Bambino, the dial design adopts a more modern approach. Elongated trapezoidal markers pair nicely with sharp dauphine hands, while minute hashes create a cleaner, more Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic.

The traditional silver dial is available in stainless steel, while the white dial comes paired with a gold-plated case. Beyond those are four new gradient dials in green, light blue, purple, and a particularly attractive copper tone. The copper-dial variant is also a webstore exclusive limited to 130 pieces.

Because the Bambino 40.5 includes a date window, it uses the F6724 caliber rather than the date-free movement found in the Bambino 38. Otherwise, the specifications remain largely identical. Curiously, despite the larger diameter, the Bambino 40.5 actually has a slightly thinner 12.3mm profile. It also uses wider 21mm straps to better suit the larger case. Most versions arrive on brown leather straps, while the light blue dial receives a complementing blue strap, and the white dial comes paired with a black one. All come standard with steel pin buckles.

Pricing

That makes 12 new Bambino models spread across two case sizes. Pricing remains refreshingly straightforward, with most references costing €399.99 / £294.99 and only the gold Bambino 40.5 priced at €369.99 / £319.99.

You’ll also spot the ivory-dial reference RA-AC0033Y in some of Orient’s promotional images. While it may still be available through certain retailers, it has already sold out on Orient’s webstore. That’s why it hasn’t been included among the new releases discussed here.

So, which is your favorite? Does the no-date Bambino finally perfect the formula, or is there still a missing variation you’d like Orient to build? Let us know in the comments. For more information, visit Orient’s website.