No Detail Is Too Small For These 3 New Japanese Watches

Let’s take a breather from Swiss watches and see what our Japanese neighbours have done to deserve our attention.

Above Credor Spring Drive Eichi II. (Photo: Seiko)

Credor Spring Drive Eichi II

The high-end Credor’s Eichi range is defined by minimalism, stripping away all unnecessary distractions for time-reading at its purest. The latest iteration is no different. The dial is made of white porcelain, a material favoured by the Japanese, and it features hand-painted hour markers in charcoal grey. The blued hands include a seconds hand with crescent tip at one end. The 18k gold case is given the Zaratsu treatment, a special finishing that combines a cold forging process with meticulous hand-polishing.

Performance-wise, the exceptional Spring Drive movement is enhanced with the Torque Return System that re-channels unused energy to rewind the mainspring, resulting in at least a 25% increase in power reserve, which in this case is 60 hours.

Also read: The difference between mechanical and quartz movements

Above Seiko Presage Shippo Enamel Limited Edition with power reserve indicator

Seiko Presage

A specialist workshop in Nagoya, which has existed for more than 100 years, is responsible for the unique enamel dial of this watch. Called Shippo, the enamel was developed in Japan in the 17th century. A craftsman first paints the lead-free glaze by hand on the surface of the dial, which measures no more than 1mm in thickness. It is then fired at 800°C. Both painting and firing are repeated several times to ensure perfect consistency, no mean feat considering the dial is only 1mm thick. The result is an attractive deep blue dial with wave-like pattern. Available as a simple automatic or automatic with power reserve indicator, it is limited to 2,500 pieces for each version.

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Above Casio MRG-G2000HA Tetsu-Tsuba. (Photo: Casio)

Casio MRG-G2000HA Tetsu-Tsuba

Inspired by an aesthetical element on traditional Japanese swords, tsuba means “sword guard” and it serves as a protection for the hands. At the same time, it is notable for its bold look thanks to the indentations made by hammering the iron into shape. To achieve this look on a Casio, a third-generation artisan, Asano Biho, whose resume includes the restoration of Important Cultural Properties of Japan, was commissioned to give the bezel and centre row that battle-ready appearance.

Traditional colourings inspired by the murasaki-gane metal alloy and the suaka copper are realised by the use of Arc Ion Plating, a hardened coating to which a deep-layer hardening is applied for high abrasion-resistance. The result is a copper/gold grainy surface that looks powerful and regal, the perfect foil for the internal Connected Engine 3-Way Module.

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Topics

Credor Grand Seiko Casio Japan Japanese Watchmaking Watches

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No Detail Is Too Small For These 3 New Japanese Watches