The basket looks rough at first glance, yet its beauty draws us in and causes us to want to keep looking. Its shape, which marvelously conveys the dynamism of the bark itself, has something in common with the works of Rokansai Iizuka, a renowned bamboo craftsman with an international reputation. Moe Watanabe says she has been influenced by Iizuka’s deep understanding and exceptional techniques with materials. Baskets made of bark have been crafted worldwide since ancient times, but Watanabe uses a technique for collecting walnut bark that was adopted long ago in the Tohoku region. Similar to the dial of the SBGC275, which depicts a scene where the sun’s red light illuminates the peaks of the Hotaka mountain range in the Shinshu region, the surface of the bark gradually changes with the angle of the light. Both are excellent examples of practical items being raised to the level of artworks.
The dial of the SBGC275 depicts a beautiful scene in which the rising summer sun’s red light illuminates the Hotaka mountain range, located close to the Shinshu Watch Studio, the birthplace of Grand Seiko Spring Drive. The color-changing dial is achieved through a new technique and takes on different shades depending on the angle of light, evoking a beautiful moment that can be seen for about 30 minutes before and after sunrise. The powerful case design is inspired by the lion, a symbol of Grand Seiko since the first watch in 1960. Its presence is demonstrated in such details as the angularity of the case and the claw-like, hairline-finished lugs. High-intensity titanium, an alloy about 30% lighter than stainless steel, forms the case and bracelet; and thanks to a low center of gravity, the spectacular sports watch achieves a comfortable fit on the wrist.
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Photography: Naohiro Tsukada
Text: Natsuki Ando
