Introducing The Japanese Indie Watchmaker Otsuka Lotec Newest Releases The No.7.5

Jiro Katayama's “Otsuka Lotec” brand stands as one of the unknown Japanese independent watchmakers. Katayama's journey into the world of craftsmanship commenced in the automotive industry post-graduation from design school. With an innate appreciation for captivating cars, he transitioned into freelancing as a product designer, showcasing his talents in crafting diverse items, including cars, helmets, and household devices.

A pivotal moment occurred when Katayama acquired a bench lathe machine through an online auction, sparking his curiosity in metalworking. As he experimented with metal, he soon realized the limitations of his kitchen-sized lathe for producing cars. In a moment of inspiration, he redirected his efforts towards crafting a watch case, initiating his foray into watchmaking around 2008, during his mid-thirties.

To the self-taught watchmaker Katayama, a watch transcended its utilitarian purpose of timekeeping. He found joy in wearing them and realized that merely placing them on a table and admiring their presence brought contentment. This experience sparked a natural affinity for watches, mirroring the deep connection he felt with cars. Katayama fervently delved into machining, honing his skills by studying and replicating the components, mechanisms, tools, and techniques of independent watchmakers worldwide. This research culminated in the creation of several prototypes, culminating in the release of the inaugural commercial model, No.5, in 2012.

The latest addition to the Japanese brand's offerings is the No.7.5, featuring a distinctive three-aperture design. Drawing inspiration from 8mm movie cameras popular in the 1930s, particularly the asymmetrical design of interchangeable lenses, the apertures in varying diameters and heights serve to display the jumping hour, minute, and running second, creating a unique and visually captivating timepiece.

The No.7.5 boasts a sleek, rounded case measuring 40mm in diameter and a slender 11.2mm in thickness with a crown positioned at 4 o’clock. Notable mention, Katayama has recently elevated the quality of his watches by incorporating upgraded materials for enhanced durability. These improvements include the adoption of sapphire crystal in place of mineral glass, a custom-made sapphire lens with anti-fingerprint coatings as a replacement for the acrylic fisheye lens and in case you don't know the difference click here, and a superior grade of SUS316L, surpassing the original SUS303L stainless steel.

The dial is protected by solid steel, with a design featuring three steel-framed display windows. Each window offers a distinct fish-eye sapphire crystal highlighting the jumping hour at the 10 o'clock position, a minute disk positioned at 2 o'clock, and a seconds disk elegantly placed at 6 o'clock. Through the sapphire case back, you can observe the Miyota 82S5, which incorporates the in-house jumping-hour module—an automatic and hand-winding movement operating at 21,600vph (3Hz) and providing a 40-hour power reserve.

The watch comes with a calfskin leather strap, priced at ¥297,000, approximately AED 7,550. Otsuka Lotec maintains a modest annual production output. In 2022, the production was 71 watches, encompassing the fundamental models—No.5, No.6, No.7, and now the No.7.5. Commencing this year, he plans to augment production rates by collaborating with more watchmakers, in partnership with Precision Watch Tokyo, owned by the independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka.

For more information please visit Otsuka Lotec official website.