Toshihiko Kita

The Ignition Point of Innovation

The Santama Project (tentative) began with a call from the design magazine AXIS. The director of AXIS had many opportunities to ride the Seibu Line for a special issue, and upon looking at the map again, noticed that three companies—Bridgestone (Kodaira), CITIZEN (Tanashi), and Hitachi (Kokubunji)—are located in close proximity within the Tama region. The idea was that by having companies from different industries that are geographically close collaborate, they could generate new ideas and help solve local issues. The first meeting was held at Bridgestone, the second at CITIZEN, and the third at Hitachi. Incidentally, the project name will remain tentative until a concrete goal is decided.

Refined Materials

Although this is an epoch-making model that uses a light-powered cell as the energy source for the watch, the design is carefully packaged without excessive emphasis or decoration. Presumably, due to the technological limitations of the time, it was impossible to hide the solar cell, so the designers took a reverse approach and incorporated it boldly into the dial design. The exposed solar cell itself becomes an attractive feature. While the bezel adds an accent at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions, the case is kept to subtle adjustments—such as the connection with the band and the angle of the lugs—so that the dial stands out even more. Designers are sometimes compared to chefs, and this is a fine example of making the most of a challenging ingredient. In that sense, the approach is somewhat reminiscent of Japanese cuisine, which values the natural qualities of the ingredients.

Leveraging the Characteristics of Materials and Technology

This watch has two key features. One is that it uses titanium as its material. The other is that, although the dial is made of metal, it generates power and operates using light. With titanium, it is more difficult to create sharp edges compared to stainless steel, which often reduces its appeal. However, this challenge is overcome through organic shapes and a bold polished finish. The dial generates power by receiving light only through the three sub dials, allowing the rest of the dial to be made of metal. Unique processing further enhances the appeal of the metal dial. By combining the bold polished finish of titanium with the distinctive allure of the metal dial, the overall design is well-balanced and crafted to easily catch the consumer's eye. It is a product that immediately attracts attention and clearly conveys its appeal to consumers.

Captivating Without Revealing

A model with a minimalist, subtractive design, free from ornate decoration. Because of this, both boldness and delicacy are accentuated. The structure, which hides the joints and screws of each part, is so precise that at first glance, you wouldn't realize it has an 8-piece construction. The lugs, making the most of the structure, have a bold, clean, vertically polished shape, with beautiful edges that stand out. While there are many models that showcase their complex construction, this one deliberately chooses not to, exuding a mature allure.

Fusion of Beauty

A captivating model that beautifully fuses the 'beauty of the cosmos' with 'Japanese aesthetics.' Despite the many complex elements—such as hand-applied lacquer and Chirijiraden by artisans, a three-dimensional dial structure, and a moon phase—there is no sense of excessive ornamentation, giving it an allure that makes you want to gaze at it forever. This is likely due to the excellent balance of adding and subtracting elements, not only in size but also in color and finish. The case, simple yet dynamic, serves as a vessel that perfectly highlights the dazzling dial, which is meticulously crafted down to the finest detail.