Orient Mako & Kamasu: The Best Budget Dive Watches?
The Orient Mako and Kamasu offer in-house automatics, sapphire options and 200m water resistance for around $150. Are they the best budget divers? Our review.
For around $150, the Orient Mako and its successor the Kamasu keep showing up on “best budget diver” lists — and for good reason. Orient (part of the Seiko Epson group) quietly makes some of the best value automatics around.
In-house movement, real specs
Both watches run an in-house Orient automatic movement, and the newer Kamasu adds hand-winding and hacking that earlier Makos lacked. They carry a genuine 200m water resistance rating with a screw-down crown — real dive credentials, not just a printed number.
Mako vs. Kamasu
- Mako: the long-running classic, generally with a Hardlex-type crystal. Multiple generations exist, so check the reference.
- Kamasu: the modern refinement — sapphire crystal, upgraded movement with hacking/hand-winding, and slightly cleaner styling. For a small premium it’s the one we’d pick.
On the wrist
- Comfortable mid-size case that suits most wrists.
- Strong lume and a proper rotating dive bezel.
- Bracelet quality is good for the price (the clasp is the usual budget compromise).
What to keep in mind
These are budget watches, so expect a few cost-savings (clasp, bezel action) that you can feel next to pricier divers. But mechanically, they punch well above the price.
The bottom line
If you want a genuine automatic dive watch on a tight budget, the Orient Kamasu (or a clean Mako) is one of the smartest buys in the category — in-house movement, sapphire and 200m for the price of a night out. Highly recommended.
