It is the latecomer to this mess that has persistently established his own genre style. Modern Japanese watches with distinctive characteristics and traditional German-based watches have really shaken Switzerland’s position as a mechanical watch for hundreds of years.

G-SHOCK is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It has specially invited the famous fashion brand Maison Martin Margiela to jointly launch a limited edition worldwide. Limited to 3000 pieces worldwide.

Citizen Eco-Drive Radiometer AS5019-56E
During the centuries of watch popularity, major watch brands have persistently followed the trajectory of mechanical watches. Until the advent of Japanese watches. It seems to be a planet out of its original orbit, while revolving around the center of the ‘watch’, it walks out of a ‘side door to the left’-the rise of electronic watches, so that more people understand that the original watch can still be like this. Because of this, some people describe Japanese watches as completely spoilers in the watch industry.

I was the latecomer to this mess, and firmly established his own genre style. Modern Japanese watches with distinctive characteristics and traditional German-based watches have really shaken Switzerland’s position as a mechanical watch for hundreds of years.

Precision, simplicity and practicality

王国 In the realm of mechanical watches, the challenge of limitless precision with infinite complexity has reduced the time error infinitely. Many watch brands are proud of it. The Japanese electronic watches, which have been repeatedly blinded by the Swiss watch industry, are just staggering in precision. The error is only one-sixth of that of mechanical watches. The most representative Seiko watch has been produced for many world sports events. The timer shows its accuracy. Not only that, the moisture-proof and shock-proof effects also make mechanical watches blue eyes.

In the pursuit of precision, Japanese watches and rigorous German watches have a kind of physical similarity. Acting with meticulous style, attaching great importance to the development of the machinery industry, the precision machinery industry … all these make its precision timekeeping manufacturing process almost demanding pursuit of perfection. Some people in the industry have concluded that the two major prerequisites for the development of a country’s watch industry are the development of precision machinery manufacturing and the rigor of nationality.

Instead of trying to make the watch more complicated, but to make the ordinary watch more accurate, the Japanese watch has returned the watch to its original purpose of practicality. I have to say that this is a completely non-following strategic road in the watch industry. If you are not good at carving, then simple design, not sticking to tradition, will innovate technology, Japanese watches are full of modernity. The clean design and sharp edges of the case have become the style of Japanese watches.

What’s more worth mentioning is that Japanese watches are superior to marketing and have obvious price advantages, so they have gained a large market and reputation.

Opportunity, genes and rise

Perhaps idealists are more willing to convince the story of the rise of Japanese watches. On January 27, 1945, World War II was nearing completion. On this day, allied air force formations bombed Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan in an afternoon round, and the city suddenly turned into ruins. Strangely, the clock tower of Hattori Watch Store was not damaged in the fire and still stood tall. Some people are happy to think that this means the future resurgence of Seiko.

Seiko is a clear representative of Japanese watches, and it is also a witness to the rise of Japanese watches.

Before World War II, 90% of the world’s watches were made in Switzerland. By the 1970s, that number had fallen significantly. Opportunity is here, can the Japanese watch industry catch it?

At that time, the absolute status of the Swiss precision machinery industry was still unmatched, and the Japanese watchmaking industry clearly knew that ‘the strength of one’s own strength is the strength of one’s weakness.’ The prevalence of the Japanese electronics industry ‘invigorates’ the minds of the watchmaking industry. So he turned the direction cleverly and implanted the ‘Electronic Gene’ and ‘Quartz Gene’ into the watch. The world’s first quartz watch officially launched on December 25, 1969, is the SEIKO quartz watch ASTRON, which subvert The history of world timing.

Since then, a number of watch rookies such as Seiko, Citizen, and Casio have achieved the Japanese myth of the watch industry, seized the market quickly, and accumulated the power to move the Swiss watchmaking kingdom.

Electronic, mechanical and photodynamic energy

The modern technology continuously integrated into Japanese watches has made more and more people feel the miracle of watch breakthrough machinery.

Of course, although Japanese watches have been advancing in the field of electronic watches, this does not prevent the study of mechanical watches. In the late 1990s, Japan began to focus on the development of mechanical watches, especially Seiko, to enrich its product categories, and there is no shortage of proof of Japanese watchmaking capabilities.

日 The Japanese watches that went further and further on the road of electronic watches took their minds again, staring at the sun that has nothing to do with watches. As early as 1976, Citizen developed the light kinetic energy technology in the industry. Based on this, the first light kinetic energy wristwatch was heard in 1995 and was converted into kinetic energy using any visible light source. The extraordinary and innovative watch completely changed the driving mode of the watch, thereby opening the era of light kinetic energy watches.

The divergent thinking of the next Japanese watch in function is far from stopping. The civilian brand Casio GB-5600, developed in 1983, has been regarded as a pioneer in the design of shock-resistant structures for suspended watch cores. This year, under the premise of maintaining its original appearance, the Bluetooth module is embedded to realize the synchronous reminder of emails and text messages with smart phones. When the mobile phone cannot be found, it can be found within 10 meters by relying on the body search function. Maybe one day, a Japanese watch will become a wrist computer.

[Representative brand]

Seiko

的 The evolution and development of SEIKO watches is a living history of Japanese industrial development. Seiko believes that watches are private friends. The best watch should have a tacit feeling that fits the wearer, and the functions provided by the watch can bring the wearer a sense of peace and reliability and emotional satisfaction. Features such as fast winding, high precision, scanning smooth pointer, and Seiko’s top manufacturing technology ensure the top quality of the product.

Citizen

成立 Citizen, founded in 1930, expresses infinite respect for the craftsmanship. Citizen’s watchmaking process encompasses everything from the manufacture of a single component to the final assembly of a watch. Photodynamic energy is the core technology of Citizen. It uses natural light or artificial light to power the watch. Solar-powered watches can turn any visible light source into the power that drives the watch

Casio

Casio watches are one of Japan’s three major brands, and have been known for many years for their truly versatile G-SHOCK watches. Casio watches represent a vibrant, young, stylish, and versatile brand image that has become popular. There are two major categories of Casio watches, one is a jumper table for sports and leisure images; the other is a young and stylish pointer watch. Seasonal special products and new products will be introduced in accordance with the changes of the seasons.

Dongfang

ORIENT (Eastern) was founded in 1950. Compared with Citizen and Seiko, Oriental watches are Japanese ‘Western-style’ watches, it pays more attention to the international line in style design, emphasizing the traditional European style. Because its LOGO is two lions, it was commonly known in China as the ‘double lion’ brand, and it is known as the ‘wearable king’ and ‘the king of sex price’.

Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is specially designed for sailing competitions, bringing together the best Rolex technology with outstanding performance. This regatta chronograph is extraordinary and designed for yacht lovers and experienced sailors. The Yacht-Master II has a mechanical memory preset countdown function, upholding Rolex’s style, combining precision technology, integrating innovative thinking and sports performance into one.
   In order to make the Yacht-Master II, Rolex invented a new and unique horological complex: it integrates the mechanical memory setting countdown and real-time synchronization functions, especially designed for the start of the regatta. This new watch takes into account not only the timing requirements of the captain, but also the watch’s timing function and ergonomic design.

   Although the Yacht-Master II combines sophisticated technology, it is easy to operate and clear when read; it is now equipped with new hands and dial to fully reflect the professional Rolex watch style. In spite of the complexity of the design, the watchmaker ingeniously retained the unique and aesthetics of the Oyster collection while retaining the excellence and reliability of Rolex.
Legible

   The first technical challenge is the time display. Because the regatta is ready to go, the countdown display must be legible. Just like a traditional chronograph, the sailing seconds are displayed with a central hand, and this red central seconds hand stands out on the dial. A red triangle hand displays the countdown minute, with a scale from 10 to 0 (with a half-minute mark), which indicates the position of three quarters of the circumference of the dial. The numbers 10 to 0 on the circle are also in large font format, which is clear and clear at a glance. This watch is different from the ordinary hour and minute hands, the time is clearer and easier to read, and it also has a second dial at 6 o’clock.
Type 4161 permanent magnet
   The second challenge, the official countdown to the regatta, will vary depending on the nature of the event. Therefore, the countdown of a watch must be easy to adjust. Rolex engineers spent 35,000 hours researching and developing this complex device, and finally achieved a masterpiece-the new movement 4161. The 4161 movement is modeled on the 4130 chronograph movement. The 4130 caliber was launched in 2000, and was specially designed for the Cosmograph Daytona. The 4161 movement has an innovative countdown device that resets the time period from 10 minutes to 1 minute. This setting device is also equipped with mechanical memory, and the pointer can return to the same period when the next countdown. Later, the wearer can also set and store different timing times as needed. This new device is a unique feature of the Yacht-Master II and was successfully patented. This device is mounted on the top of the movement and is connected to the main chronograph by a horizontal column wheel, which is another innovative feature of this movement.
Interaction between outer ring and movement

   Perhaps the most difficult challenge is to make these functions easy to operate. In fact, the interaction space between the traditional chronograph and the movement has been fully utilized: the button at 2 o’clock is responsible for starting and stopping the countdown function; the button at 4 o’clock is used for reset; and the crown is used for setting Set the time and wind the watch. In view of this, Rolex decided to innovate and invented the Ring Command outer ring, which is directly connected to the movement of the movement. Turn the outer ring 90 degrees to start the countdown setting function, and use the winding crown to adjust the countdown period. Turn the Ring Command outer ring in the other direction to lock and record the settings. This pioneering innovative device, from design, research and development to production, is fully monitored by Rolex. The movement, case and strap are without exception, fully showing the brand’s unique advantages, which can also prove to be important advantages here.
Real-time synchronization

   To secure its position as the best regatta chronograph, the Yacht-Master II has to meet one last challenge. At the start of the race, the captain must synchronize the watch with the countdown to the conference. When the countdown is in progress, this synchronization action must also be started in ‘real time’. The solution is to integrate the flyback reset function into the second hand. When the button at 4 o’clock is pressed, the hand will ‘fly back’ to its starting point. After releasing the button, the hand will run again. The countdown minute hand will automatically synchronize with the nearest minute, thus correcting the gap when the countdown is activated too late or too fast.
advanced technology
   The 4161 movement, which combines 360 components, is refined from UV-LiGA technology. This micro-manufacturing technology can expand the metal structure in the resin mold and revolutionize the design of the watch movement. Because of this, components can now use materials with small proportions, complex geometries, or innovative materials that were previously unavailable due to traditional production technologies. Without these components and UV-LiGA technology, which is fully controlled by Rolex, the Yacht-Master II would not have been available. The story behind the Yacht-Master II proves Rolex’s unremitting efforts to create an elegant and reliable regatta chronograph for the captain. This watch is simple and easy to use, and fully meets their needs at the start of the game, to grasp the best time.