Otsuka Lowtec's "7.5" is a unique worldview discovered through daily use

Otsuka Low-Tech watches are attracting global attention after a new structure was put in place in 2023 and orders resumed. Currently, orders for each lottery continue to exceed the number of units produced. We review the size 7.5 model. The more we use it, the more we understand what Jiro Katayama, the founder of the brand, was trying to express with this watch.

"No. 7.5" is the fruition of Jiro Katayama's idea

　Katayama Jiro's tastes and interests are consistent: he loves heavy industrial products, the well-used machine tools that produced them, and the meters and tools that were created to make various industries possible, which is different from the flimsy and frivolous mass-produced goods that are so prevalent today.

　Katayama develops analog mechanisms and further metalworks them to realize the ideas that flow from his personal interests, creating what is known as a "wristwatch" that displays time as a function. These are the products of Otsuka Low-Tech. The "No. 7.5" in particular displays the hours via a jumping hour mechanism that is appropriately magnified by optical design, and the minutes on a rotating disc. Additionally, the seconds disc, which was added when the watch evolved from the No. 7 to the No. 7.5, allows you to check whether the watch is running or not. It is a unique mechanical device with a distinctive appearance that is unlike any other watch.

　Glancing sideways at the idea sketches for this piece, which are also on the Otsuka Low-Tech website, I take a look at the actual watch in my hands. It becomes clear that the design began as a way to realize the designs and concepts that came to Katayama's mind, and that this product was born from a consistent pursuit of the final goal, despite repeated trial and error. For example, the hour disc protrudes from the outer periphery of the base movement's main plate, but I've heard that in order to realize the hour display location as conceived, measures such as shaving the inside of the case to allow for clearance were taken. This story speaks to a strong determination to realize the design concept.

　To expand on what was said above about the source of Katayama's ideas, we can see that they include, for example, the air-cooling fins of old-school horizontally opposed BMW motorcycles, Meguro engine blocks, and machine tools such as lathes and jig borers that have likely been in use since the Showa era. Or, while it would be easy to categorize them as Showa-era home appliances, they also include the appearance of knobs operated by humans and various dials, gauges, and indexes used for visual confirmation on industrial products and tools. Otsuka Low-tec's watch is a reflection of Katayama's worldview, rooted in these kinds of objects that he finds "good."

　I heard another interesting story. The "No. 6," for which lottery applications began this January, features the words "Mechanical, Toshima, Tokyo" at the top of the dial, inspired by a font used on highway signage, which "misses a horizontal bar but still looks like the kanji, making it easy to read even from a distance." Katayama used this font as inspiration to create his own original font. Of course, the fonts for the hour and minute displays on the No. 7.5 watch are also very tastefully designed. It's the accumulation of these various details and an uncompromising approach to craftsmanship that has brought this unique worldview to fruition. The contrast of wearing a watch like this in a modern, electronic-device-filled lifestyle is one way to enjoy this gadget.

A unique presence created by a metalwork-like finish and high processing precision

　The three independent windows that indicate the hours, minutes, and seconds are each held in a chimney-like part, and although the designs are all completely different, especially when viewed from the side, there is a certain sense of unity, which reminds me of the shape of an old camera lens. What the motif will look like will vary depending on the viewer, but that is also one of the joys of this watch.

　The case and the aforementioned parts are made of SUS316L, and you can see the cutting marks made by tools, which makes it easy to imagine that they have been carefully maintained. The top of the case is sandblasted, and the surface of the raised part is finished with concentric circular grooves, creating a nice contrast between the light reflected by the grooves that are unique to grinding and the sandblasted surface. The finish of the cases of high-end watches is often described as "satin and polished," but the Otsuka Low-Tech case is more appropriately described as "grooves and sandblasted."

　As mentioned above, the hour disc is larger than the main plate, and if you keep this in mind when looking at the shape of the case side, you will notice the rationale behind this. Watches with case sides shaped like this are quite rare. Furthermore, while the lugs appear to be threaded at first glance, they actually hold the spring bars securely, making strap changes easy.

　The glass case back allows a view of the MIYOTA movement, asserting its mechanical nature even from within. Glass case backs generally tend to be thicker than solid case backs, which can lead to a number of disadvantages in terms of comfort, considering the watch's center of gravity and sweat exposure. However, this watch's design minimizes the thickness of the module, resulting in a more than practical case thickness of 11.2mm (14.8mm protruding). The lugs are also perfectly balanced, providing excellent comfort. The case back's shape smoothly transitions from the case side. The six holes for opening the case back are a design feature that combines functionality with Katayama's signature style, making it appealing.

Made in Japan, it uses a Miyota movement

　Swiss movements don't suit Otsuka Low-Tech watches. Therefore, the use of the Caliber MIYOTA 82S5 as the base movement makes sense. It's a simple, smooth-balance movement with a standard regulator, 11.5 lignes, and a small seconds hand at 21,600 vph, without any silicon parts or free springs. It would be a letdown to see the latest technology applied to a watch movement that exudes such a unique aesthetic. The Caliber 82S5's small seconds hand is located at 4.5 o'clock, and keeping this in mind, the location of the crown on this watch makes sense. The crown is also a natural attraction, with fine knurling that evokes the image of a watch being finished under constant pressure. One thing to note is that, although the jumping hour module has a safety mechanism, you must still turn the crown forward to set the time. In this case, the time advances when you turn the crown counterclockwise, which is the opposite direction to winding.

Although it is difficult to obtain, I hear they are preparing to increase production.

　In the 1970s, the watch industry, particularly in Europe, was hit by the Quartz Revolution, which caused devastating damage to the industrial structure itself and brought about a major transformation. While many existing 70s watches, especially mechanical watches, strongly reflect the background of this period of change, the 70s was actually a golden age in which technological innovation advanced in many industrial fields, not just cars and motorcycles, and there was a major leap in design along with advances in machining technology, resulting in the emergence of many famous cars. This watch has me reflecting on the dual nature of the industrial world, which centers on the mechanical watch industry and other manufacturing.

　I've been using this watch for about a month, and have been using it regularly in my daily life, so I'm now able to write my impressions. This Japanese-made watch embodies Katayama's unique worldview with the texture he aimed for. Its presence sets it apart from other Swiss watches, and it's surprising that it's still being made in Japan, the country that once sparked the quartz revolution. While it's currently difficult to obtain, I've heard that they're preparing to increase production, so I hope that it will find its way into the hands of many desired users.