Christopher Ward C1 Bel CantovsOrient Star M34 Avant-garde F8 Skeleton

The Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto presents a three-dimensional, futuristic aesthetic with an exposed chiming mechanism, drawing comparisons to avant-garde designs. Reviewers note the Grade 5 titanium case, measuring 41mm by 13mm, is finished with fine brushing and polished accents, featuring small, curved lugs. The Cielo blue dial transitions from pale blue to grey, while the Lumière variant offers a luminous sunray pattern and a smoked sapphire sub-dial with a blue Globolight ring that glows blue and green at night, with the hands also glowing green. The Classic variant features a laser-etched guilloché dial with Roman numerals and a blue handset, replacing the original's sunray dial and applied indices. The chiming complication includes hand-finished anglage on visible levers and hammers. The movement is a Sellita SW200-1 base with an FS01 jump-hour or chiming module, regulated to within ±20 seconds per day, with a 38-hour power reserve.

Owners praise the Orient Star M34 Avant-garde F8 Skeleton for its semi-skeleton blue dial, useful power reserve complication, and incredible value at its price point, with some noting its case and bracelet geometry is similar to Grand Seiko's Evolution 9 series. The in-house F8F64 automatic movement is considered reliable and mesmerizing through the skeleton window. The Orient Star M34 Avant-garde F8 Skeleton is available for around $1000 and includes both leather and steel straps. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Orient Star M34 Avant-garde F8 Skeleton highly for its impressive finishing and value proposition.