Orient Kamasu (Mako III) RA-AA0001B
Specs, Market Price & Buying Guide
- The Orient Kamasu RA-AA0001B is the black-dial benchmark of the affordable automatic diver tier: an in-house F6922 caliber (hacking, hand-winding), sapphire crystal, and 200m with a screw-down crown.
- Market range: roughly $220–$280 against a $340 retail price (verified Aug 17, 2026 — recheck before acting).
- Availability: in current production; black (RA-AA0001B) is the cheapest colorway — blue, burgundy and green run $20–$70 more.
Representative photo of the Orient Kamasu/Mako diver family. Reference RA-AA0001B (black dial) is the line's best-seller.
Market range $220–$280 · verified 2026-08-17
$340
Flat
Flat
Flat — street price has been stable for years
Editorial estimate compiled from public listings (~$230 black; $280–$300 colors). Ranges move weekly. Verified 2026-08-17.
Checked 2026-08-17: in current production. Orient direct lists $340; dealers and Amazon routinely stock the black RA-AA0001B at $220–$260.
Full specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 41.8mm stainless steel |
| Lug-to-lug | 46.8mm |
| Thickness | 12.8mm |
| Lug width | 22mm |
| Weight | ~172g on bracelet |
| Movement | Orient Calibre F6922 — in-house automatic, hacking, hand-winding, 22 jewels |
| Power reserve | ~40 hours |
| Crystal | Sapphire — the Kamasu's headline upgrade over the old Mako II |
| Water resistance | 200m, screw-down crown |
| Bezel | Unidirectional 120-click, aluminum insert |
| Bracelet | Steel, stamped clasp, hollow end links |
| Dial | Black, day-date at 3, applied indices, barracuda-tooth hands |
How it wears, by wrist size
Wears compact for 41.8mm thanks to the 46.8mm lug-to-lug; on the edge for very slim wrists.
Ideal — this case size is why the Kamasu is the default recommendation.
Perfectly proportioned tool watch.
Wears great; the 22mm lugs suit chunky NATOs if you want more visual mass.
Buy or skip?
Editorial take: 9/10 — the best first automatic diver, period.
There is a reason the Kamasu ends every 'best diver under $300' argument: an in-house Japanese automatic with hacking and hand-winding, sapphire, 200m, a screw-down crown, and Orient's century of watchmaking — at $220–$280 on the street. The bracelet is the one real compromise (stamped clasp, hollow end links), and the bezel action is good rather than great. Neither matters enough to dethrone it.
- You need ISO 6425 certification — the Kamasu is a 200m dive-style watch, not ISO-rated.
- Bracelet quality is your top priority — the Islander or a strap swap solves this.
- You want a display caseback — the Kamasu's is solid steel.
Available alternatives (Amazon-priced)
The affordable-automatic-diver tier is stacked. These Amazon-priced alternatives each take a different angle on the Kamasu's brief.
Seiko 5 Sports SRPD
The Kamasu's eternal rival: 4R36, 100m, bigger brand; $240–$295.
Check Amazon price ↗Islander ISL-01
Sapphire, ceramic bezel, drilled lugs, NH36; $299–$329 — the finishing upgrade.
Check Amazon price ↗Citizen Promaster BN0151
ISO 6425 and solar-powered; $230–$280 — the zero-maintenance option.
Check Amazon price ↗Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB
The NH35 automatic for under $80; the budget floor of the tier.
Check Amazon price ↗RA-AA0001B vs. the affordable-automatic field
| Watch | Case | Movement | Crystal | Water | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orient Kamasu | 41.8mm × 12.8mm | F6922 in-house auto | Sapphire | 200m | $220–$280 |
| Seiko 5 Sports SRPD | 42.5mm × 13.4mm | 4R36 auto | Hardlex | 100m | $240–$295 |
| Islander ISL-01 | 43mm × 13.5mm | NH36 auto | Sapphire | 200m | $299–$329 |
| Citizen Promaster BN0151 | 44mm × 11.5mm | Eco-Drive solar | Mineral | 200m ISO | $230–$280 |
Ownership costs
| Cost item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service | F6922 service runs $100–$180; many owners regulate instead — the movement responds well. |
| Bracelet | Budget a $30–$60 strap (NATO, rubber, or upgraded bracelet) — the stock one is the weak point. |
| Accuracy | Spec is -15/+25 sec/day, but most examples run far closer; easily regulated by any watchmaker. |
| Resale | Holds reasonably for the tier — black Kamasus exit around $150–$180 used. |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Orient Kamasu better than a Seiko 5?
On specs, yes: sapphire vs Hardlex, 200m vs 100m, screw-down crown vs push-pull — for similar money. The Seiko 5 counters with brand ubiquity, a display caseback, and the mod scene. Spec-sheet buyers take the Kamasu; tinkerers take the Seiko.
Is the Kamasu ISO certified?
No — it is a 200m dive-style watch with a screw-down crown, perfectly capable of recreational diving, but it does not carry ISO 6425 certification. For that, the Citizen Promaster is the pick.
What does Kamasu mean?
Barracuda in Japanese — named for the tooth-like shape of the hour and minute hands. The line is also called the Mako III, as the successor to the Mako I and II.
Kamasu vs Mako — what is the difference?
The Kamasu is effectively the Mako III: sapphire crystal (the Mako II's mineral was the community's biggest complaint), the F6922 with hacking and hand-winding, and sharper hands. The newer 'Mako Sapphire' closes the gap with Mako-styled dials on the same platform.
Where to buy safely
$340 retail with full factory warranty.
$220–$260 for the black dial — the default route; verify the seller.
$230–$280 new; colors beyond black run $20–$70 more.
$150–$200 used; check bezel action and confirm the F6922 hand-winds smoothly.