Watchbazar was exicted to see the new masterpiece from Credor. A tourbillon with three-dimensional engraving and lacquer work inspired by the art of the Edo period.
FUGAKU Tourbillon Limited Edition in the Credor brand, Seiko Watch Corporation (“Seiko”) is honoring the Japanese ideals of beauty in a unique and dramatic style. Based on the ultra-thin movement, Caliber 68, this remarkable luxury watch demonstrates Japanese craftsmanship at its finest in its movement adjustment, its metal engraving and its lacquer finishing. Just eight watches will be made and they will be presented at Seiko’s Boutiques worldwide in 2016.
Seiko’s first ever tourbillon movement, caliber 6830, is less than 4mm thick and was created utilizing the utmost in mechanical movement manufacturing expertise, with the base part a mere 1.98mm thick. Including the carriage, the whole movement measures just 3.98mm in depth, and the diameter is just 25.6mm, with the result that it is the world’s smallest tourbillon by volume2 is made and assembled by Satoshi Hiraga. Kiyoshi Terui is the engraver, and the overall design, including the integration of the tourbillon, metal engraving, and lacquer work, is the work entrusted to Nobuhiro Kosugi, the first watch designer to be selected as a Master Craftsman. Urushi expert Isshu Tamura contributes the lacquer finish. Together, their skills and advanced techniques have yielded a work of art that expresses the essence of the Japanese sense of beauty.
Katsushika Hokusai’s series ‘Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji’ is renowned worldwide and is an icon of Japanese culture. Painted in the 19th century in the Edo period, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, brought Hokusai worldwide fame, thanks to its strikingly dynamic composition and use of perspective. This print inspired the creation of this watch. The delicacy of the dial engraving is extraordinary. Kiyoshi Terui worked to the limits of his technical skill in engraving to breathe three-dimensional life into the wave that dominates the scene depicted on the dial. The 18k yellow and white gold wave is 1.6mm at its thickest and 0.5mm at its thinnest, a true marvel of manual craftsmanship.
The reverse side of the watch features the same wave, combining engraving and lacquer finishing to create a modern, sharp and brilliant version of the theme. On the balance wheel bridge is the outline shape of Mt. Fuji, which is so central to Hokusai’s work and to the world’s view of Japan today. The watch’s name, FUGAKU, is another way in which the Japanese language describes Mt. Fuji.
Seiko Credor Fugauku Tourbillon Limited Edition watches are priced at about $450,000
