Orient traces its origins to 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened a watch shop in Tokyo, later evolving into Toyo Tokei Manufacturing in 1920 and officially becoming the Orient Watch Company in 1950. The brand quickly gained recognition for its high-quality mechanical timepieces, launching the Orient Star in 1951 and the Grand Prix 100 in 1964, which featured an impressive 100-jewel movement. Unlike many brands that shifted to quartz movements during the 1970s, Orient remained dedicated to mechanical watchmaking, maintaining its reputation for affordability and reliability.
In 2009, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corporation, ensuring its continued innovation while preserving its heritage as a leading producer of automatic and mechanical watches.