Orient Bambino 38 mm – Men's Automatic and Manual Winding Mechanical Classic Leather Strap Stainless Steel Case Analogue Display – RA-AC0M

Last year my grandfather passed away and left me his very expensive dress watch. I wanted something I could wear more often and not feel like I was carrying around a ticking time bomb of fiduciary responsibility.Fast forward 10 months of research, false starts, and bad buys I had to return, and I finally settled between the Orient Bambino 38mm and the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Negroni. I didn't want a Bambino because it felt pedestrian and "expected" in the value automatic watch range. But I was put off the Negroni because it was too flashy to be a real Dress Watch, and called attention to itself in a way that wasn't versatile enough.And I am very pleased to have picked this one over the Negroni.Do you want a dress watch that can also wear casual? Do you want a watch that sings "Classic" instead of screaming for attention? That's this watch.Most Bambinos wear too large to be true Dress Watches. The 38mm on my average sized wrist is just right, and wears thinner than the dimensions would indicate, looking way more expensive than the sticker price.I went with the champagne dial with blue hands, but as you can see from the photos, the hands read black in most light, making for easy legibility. But play with it outdoors and that blue peaks and is lovely to look at.I cannot express how nice this watch looks. It is far more impressive in person than the photos show. The champagne dial is more like a the aged pages of a gently loved classic book from the 60s found in a good shop, just waiting to be picked up and read again.But anyway, the specs. That's what I'd want.After a two week wear and tear, this is what I've found.Accuracy: +11 seconds out of the box after five days, which is impressive in this price range.Strap: Serviceable, but has a patent leather shine that will dull after a few days of wear to a comfortable "old world" sheen. The branding on the buckle is a nice touch, but a better strap would be advisable for serious daily wear.On Wrist Wear: Classic design, easy readability in most light. Looks thinner on wrist than every automatic anywhere near this price range.Lume: None...But it's a dress watch. Lume should never be on a true dress watch.In short, is this the watch you want? Well, I've done a year's worth of fretting and research. Everything from $6,000 Rolexes to Walmart Casios. And after all that, and after trying a few out, if you want the best, most versatile watch for casual or dress wear that won't cost you a used car, or be dunked in the ocean and will look amazing with a tuxedo or board shorts? This is the one I'd pick.I got this one for around $200, and that's the price I'd look for. It's not a Rolex or a Hamilton, but it is the best dress watch for the price, even at retail, hands down.Honestly, if you want a better rundown on this watch then look up Just One More Watch on youtube and Teddy Baldassarre. They've done a better rundown on this wonderful piece of horological glory than I ever can.