Summary
- Ōtsuka Lōtec’s new No. 9 watch features five complications in a squared-shaped, industrial-inspired case
- It includes a jumping hour, retrograde minutes and an hour-striking mechanism
- The watch uses custom ruby and the world’s smallest ball bearings from MinebeaMitsumi
Following the recent GPHG Petite Aiguille nomination for his No. 5 KAI, independent Japanese watchmaker Jiro Katayama unveils his latest creation: the Ōtsuka Lōtec No. 9. Housed in a sleek 44mm x 30 mm rectangular case crafted from stainless steel, the dial’s right half features stacked hour and minute discs, backlit by an embedded luminous block for low-light legibility, while a gently curved solid-steel caseback and 26mm-lug calfskin strap ensure ergonomic comfort.
At each top of the hour, three mechanisms spring to life in an industrial ballet: the jumping-hour disc advances instantly; the retrograde minute disc – driven by a central hairspring – snaps back to zero; and a hammer strikes a pipeline-shaped gong for a crisp chime. Below, an offset tourbillon animates the lower dial, and a slim indicator just right of center tracks the roughly 40-hour power reserve.
Powering these complications is the in-house Cal. SSGT, a manual-winding caliber with 278 components (30 jewels plus five ball bearings) beating at 18,000 vph. Custom 2.5 mm ruby bearings and the world’s smallest 1.5 mm steel bearings, supplied by MinebeaMitsumi, support the hour-disc shaft and hammer pivot for ultra-low friction.
“I came up with the idea of designing this wristwatch that, much like an induction electric meter, would let you see different mechanical parts arranged inside a transparent case and watch them in motion,” explains Katayama. “With No.9, I wanted to create a watch where every moving part under the sapphire crystal gives off the feeling of industrial machinery — its textures, vibrations and sounds.”
Water resistant to 3 ATM and priced at ¥17,600,000 JPY (tax included; approx. $118,890 USD), the No. 9 is proudly Made in Japan, comes with a one-year warranty, and is available via Ōtsuka Lōtec’s official website.
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