2026-05-11
Best Watch Straps for the Orient Mako II and Ray II
Best Watch Straps for the Orient Mako II and Ray II
The Orient Mako and Ray series occupy a specific and important position in the dive watch world: they are the gateway. More watch collectors own an Orient Mako or Ray as their first serious mechanical diver than any other reference at their price point. The combination of an in-house automatic movement, 200m water resistance, a unidirectional rotating bezel, and a case that wears comfortably on almost any wrist — at a price well under $300 — has made the Mako II one of the most recommended entry-level dive watches in the collector community for over a decade.
Orient has been producing the Mako since the early 2000s. The Mako II (ref. FAA02001B9 in black, FAA02002D9 in blue) was introduced in 2015 with an updated Calibre F6922 movement featuring hand-winding and hacking. The Ray II (ref. FAA02004B9 in black, FAA02005D9 in blue) shares the same movement and case dimensions but with a smooth-edge bezel and a different dial layout. Both are the same watch for strap purposes.
Orient Mako II and Ray II Strap Size
Every Orient Mako II and Ray II uses 22mm lugs — confirmed by Orient's own specifications and multiple independent sources. 41.5mm case, 13mm thick, 47mm lug-to-lug. Standard spring bars throughout.
Mako II FAA02001B9 (black dial) — 22mm Mako II FAA02002D9 (blue dial) — 22mm Ray II FAA02004B9 (black dial) — 22mm Ray II FAA02005D9 (blue dial) — 22mm
The 22mm lug width is shared with the Seiko SKX007, Seiko 5 Sports SRPD, Tudor Pelagos, and many other popular dive watches — the same CNS 22mm strap fits all of them.
The Factory Bracelet — Why Owners Change It
The Mako II and Ray II ship on a stainless steel bracelet with hollow links. The bracelet is functional but noticeably lighter and less substantial than the watch it carries. The most consistent piece of advice in the Orient collector community is to change the bracelet — either to an aftermarket solid-link bracelet, or to a quality strap. The watch's case quality significantly outpaces its factory bracelet, and a 22mm CNS strap closes this gap immediately.
Best Rubber Straps for the Orient Mako II and Ray II
Rubber is the most appropriate primary material for a 200m-rated dive watch. The Mako II and Ray II were designed for water — rubber follows this character correctly.
Tropical style FKM in black at 22mm — the most collector-celebrated combination. The vintage basket-weave and honeycomb surface patterns reference 1960s and 1970s dive watch rubber — the same era that the Mako's dive watch lineage draws from aesthetically. On a budget-tier watch that references the great dive watches of the past, tropical rubber creates a surprisingly characterful result.
Brown tropical FKM at 22mm — for the most aged, vintage-inspired combination. The warm brown against the blue dial Mako or Ray creates the most discussed warm-cool contrast in the Orient community.
Classic FKM rubber in black at 22mm — the most practical waterproof daily choice.
Dial-specific FKM recommendations:
- Black dial (FAA02001B9, FAA02004B9) — black FKM for operational coherence; black tropical FKM for collector character
- Blue dial (FAA02002D9, FAA02005D9) — blue FKM for tonal coherence; brown tropical FKM for warm contrast
All at 22mm.
Best Nylon Straps for the Orient Mako II and Ray II
Nylon is the most transformative upgrade available for the Mako II and Ray II — lightweight, low-maintenance, and it makes the watch feel completely different on the wrist.
Single-pass nylon — Original at 22mm with the CNS solid buckle. Most appropriate Mako/Ray colourways:
- Black — the most minimal and most versatile. Black single-pass suits both the black and blue dial variants.
- Navy — for the blue dial variants. Creates tonal coherence with the FAA02002D9 and FAA02005D9.
- Olive / khaki — for the most expedition-adjacent combination. The Mako's field-capable character suits olive nylon naturally.
- Black and grey — the most collector-oriented understated combination.
Marine Nationale elastic at 22mm — the most comfortable daily wear option. Navy or black. The elastic construction suits the Mako II's active everyday character directly.
Paratrooper elastic at 22mm — the most comfortable daily-wear option.
RAF single-pass nylon at 22mm — for the most specifically military-heritage combination.
Canvas at 22mm in olive or black — for a more structured fabric option with the Mako's rugged character.
Perlon at 22mm — grey or navy perlon gives the Mako II an unexpectedly refined character for smart-casual wear.
Best Leather Straps for the Orient Mako II and Ray II
Leather on the Mako II is the most dramatic transformation available — the budget dive watch becomes a characterful sport-dress piece. The round case, polished case sides, and clean dial architecture are all receptive to leather.
Brown vintage two-stitch calfskin at 22mm — the most celebrated Mako II leather combination. The warm brown creates a striking temperature contrast with the blue dial that the collector community consistently identifies as the most rewarding Mako strap pairing. The two-stitch construction and warm tone also reference the 1960s and 1970s dive watch heritage that the Mako draws from aesthetically — a surprisingly specific and historically coherent combination for a watch at this price.
Dark brown padded calfskin at 22mm — the most proportionally appropriate everyday leather. The padded construction suits the 13mm case thickness.
Classic black calfskin at 22mm — the most formal Mako combination. On the black dial variant, black leather creates a unified dark palette where the luminous indices become the sole accent.
Tan suede at 22mm — the most relaxed leather option. Tan suede on the blue dial creates a warm, casual character that is particularly well-suited to the Ray II's slightly more refined dial layout.
Navy calfskin at 22mm — for the blue dial variants. Creates tonal coherence between strap and dial.
The Mako vs the SKX — Shared Strap Logic
The Orient Mako II and Seiko SKX007 are the two most-discussed entry-level dive watches in the collector community, and they share the same 22mm lug width. Every CNS 22mm strap fits both watches identically. Owners who upgrade from a Mako to a Seiko 5 Sports SRPD (also 22mm) keep the same strap rotation. The 22mm standard is one of the most useful things about the Orient diver family — the strap investment scales with the watch collection.
Recommended Combinations
Most collector-celebrated — black tropical FKM at 22mm — vintage dive rubber on a modern dive watch.
Blue dial — most celebrated contrast — brown vintage two-stitch leather at 22mm — warm leather against cool blue.
Blue dial — warm vintage active — brown tropical FKM at 22mm.
Most practical daily — black FKM rubber at 22mm.
Most comfortable daily — Marine Nationale elastic at 22mm in navy or black.
Most versatile nylon — navy single-pass nylon for blue dial; black single-pass nylon for black dial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size strap does the Orient Mako II take? 22mm — confirmed by Orient's own specifications. The same lug width covers the Mako II (FAA02001B9 and FAA02002D9) and the Ray II (FAA02004B9 and FAA02005D9).
What size strap does the Orient Ray II take? 22mm — identical to the Mako II. Both watches share the same case dimensions, the same movement, and the same lug width.
What is the best rubber strap for the Orient Mako II? Black tropical style FKM at 22mm — the vintage basket-weave pattern gives the budget diver an unexpected character that references 1960s dive watch rubber directly. Brown tropical FKM for the blue dial variant.
What is the best leather strap for the Orient Mako II? Brown vintage two-stitch calfskin at 22mm — the warm brown against the blue dial is the most discussed Orient Mako strap pairing in the collector community. The warm-cool contrast is immediately compelling and transforms the watch's character.
Does the Orient Mako II take the same strap as the Seiko SKX007? Yes — both use 22mm lugs. Every CNS 22mm strap fits both watches identically. The Seiko 5 Sports SRPD also uses 22mm — one strap rotation serves all three.
What is the difference between the Mako II and the Ray II for straps? None — both use 22mm lugs and accept identical straps. The Mako II has a coin-edge bezel and more traditional diver dial; the Ray II has a smooth-edge bezel and a slightly different dial layout. The case dimensions, movement, and lug width are identical across both references.
All CNS straps for the Orient Mako II and Ray II are available at 22mm. Standard delivery worldwide. 30-day returns.