Ōtsuka Lōtec Debuts Industrial No.9 Watch in a Sleek Rectangular Case

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Summary

  • Ōtsuka Lōtec’s new No. 9 watch features five complications in a squared-shaped, industrial-inspired case
  • It includes a jumping hour, retrograde minutes and an hour-striking mechanism
  • The watch uses custom ruby and the world’s smallest ball bearings from MinebeaMitsumi

Following his nomination for the GPHG Petite Aiguille award with his No. 5 KAI watch, Japanese watchmaker Jiro Katayama has introduced his newest design: the Ōtsuka Lōtec No. 9. The watch features a streamlined rectangular case measuring 44mm by 30mm, made from stainless steel. The right side of the dial displays the hour and minute using stacked discs, which are illuminated for easy reading in the dark. A curved steel back and a 26mm calfskin strap complete the design, ensuring a comfortable fit.

Every hour, on the hour, this watch performs a captivating sequence: the hour display jumps forward instantly, the minute hand swiftly returns to the beginning, and a hammer strikes a unique, tube-shaped gong to signal the time. Beneath this, a complex tourbillon brings the lower dial to life, while a small indicator shows how much power remains – about 40 hours.

The watch’s intricate features are driven by a manually-wound movement, the Cal. SSGT, built entirely in-house. This movement contains 278 individual parts (including 30 jewels and five ball bearings) and operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour. To minimize friction, it utilizes custom 2.5 mm ruby bearings and incredibly small 1.5 mm steel bearings – the smallest of their kind – provided by MinebeaMitsumi, supporting the hour-disc shaft and hammer pivot.

Katayama explains he designed this wristwatch to be like an induction meter, with visible mechanical parts moving inside a clear case. He wanted the watch, called No.9, to feel like industrial machinery under the sapphire crystal – capturing its textures, vibrations, and sounds with every moving piece.

The No. 9 watch, proudly made in Japan, is water resistant to 3 ATM and costs ¥17,600,000 JPY (that’s about $118,890 USD, including tax). It comes with a one-year warranty and is available for purchase on the Ōtsuka Lōtec website.

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2025-09-22 10:26