A beautiful finish with a traditional Japanese aesthetic
The team at the Shinshu Watch Studio was determined that the exterior of the first watch with Caliber 9RA5 should be as exceptional as the movement itself and they wanted it to reflect the beauty of the natural world in the area of Shiojiri where they live and work and where Spring Drive was invented. They chose a winter theme and were inspired by the hoarfrost-covered trees seen in the early days of winter and the star-speckled sky that they glimpse in the gaps between them.
“Hoarfrost is characterized by an uneven texture peculiar to the ice layer and it has a sparkling radiance that I love to experience. It isn’t showy, and neither does it strongly assert itself but its understated charm has a unique beauty that makes you want to gaze at it forever. We applied a delicate finish processing to the bridge surface to incorporate that image into the movement. The bridge ridge lines, end pieces and hole edges on the other hand are diamond-cut, receiving and diffusely reflecting light from all angles and emitting a beautiful, sharp radiance, like stars shining in the night sky. The finish has a sharp radiance that Japan has cherished since times of old, typified by the traditional Japanese rock garden.”
