Casio is constantly bringing the world one-of-a-kind, innovative watches, led by the "unbreakable watch" G-SHOCK. The most important keyword when discussing Casio's evolution, challenges, and innovations is "CMF," standing for "C" for "Color," "M" for "Material," and "F" for "Finish." These three elements determine the emotional value of a watch, and the designers' extraordinary passion for these elements and their relentless pursuit of technological innovation are embodied here. In this three-part feature, we will focus on each of these three elements, using Casio's latest models as concrete examples, to delve into the heart of Casio watchmaking.
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Interview and text by Yasuhito Shibuya
Focus on Materials
"Materials" are the most important and essential element of the "CMF" that greatly influences a product's functionality, appearance, and feel. Casio continues to take a unique approach in this field. In this second installment, we will focus on "materials" and introduce Casio's latest challenges and innovations.
The Oceanus is dyed with the natural indigo dye, Awa Indigo, an unusual material for a watch.
In the "Materials" section of Vol. 2, the first thing we'll be looking at is the latest model of the "Oceanus" watch for businessmen, which was also featured in the "Color" section of Vol. 1.
From the beginning, Casio has been creating watches by pursuing the finest materials. For example, G-SHOCK is a watch that utilizes the characteristics and appeal of resin. And with the Oceanus, from the first model in 2004 to this latest model, the company has approached materials with an extraordinary passion.
Japan Indigo ~Ai~ Ref.OCW-S5000APL-2AJF
This model features a dial made of mother-of-pearl colored with a paint mixed with Awa indigo extracted using the precipitation method, and a crocodile leather strap dyed with indigo dye made exclusively from natural ingredients in Tokushima Prefecture, the land of Awa. This Bluetooth-enabled solar-powered radio-controlled watch can receive signals from six stations worldwide. It has a power reserve of approximately five months. It has a titanium case (48.8mm x 42.3mm, 9.5mm thick). It is water resistant to 10 bar. It is limited to 500 pieces worldwide. It costs 210,000 yen (excluding tax).
(right)OCEANUS Classic Line
Japan Indigo ~Ai~ Ref.OCW-T2600ALB-2AJR
This watch is made from cowhide, a type of cow, and dyed with indigo, just like the OCW-S5000APL-2AJF. It features a leather strap with a strong indigo-dyed texture, featuring uneven "tie-dye" patterns created in a diagonal pattern. This radio-controlled solar watch can receive radio waves from six stations worldwide. It has a power reserve of approximately five months. It has a titanium case (48.2mm x 42.8mm, 10.7mm thick). It is water resistant to 10 bar. It is limited to 700 pieces worldwide. It costs 120,000 yen (excluding tax).
"Oceanus" pursues materials
Although it is a radio-controlled solar watch, the case is made entirely of metal. Moreover, instead of stainless steel, titanium is used as the case material, which is about 4% lighter and less likely to cause metal allergies. The crystal that covers the dial is also made of sapphire crystal, which is the second hardest and most scratch-resistant after diamond.
Oceanus is also a specialist in sapphire crystal, being one of the first to use it not only for the crystal but also for the bezel. They have even developed and released models handcrafted by Edo Kiriko craftsman Toru Horiguchi, the third generation of Hideseki.
Straps and dials made with traditional Japanese materials and techniques
(Right) Concentrated indigo dye powder extracted using the "precipitation method."
The limited edition OCEANUS model "Japan Indigo" series, which has been on sale since autumn 2020, is a watch developed through uncompromising collaboration with Kinuya, a long-established kimono shop in Tokushima, focusing on Awa indigo, a traditional Japanese material and natural dye.
Indigo dyeing and items dyed with indigo are familiar to us through jeans, bags, and other small items, but most of them use chemically produced synthetic indigo, and only a very small amount is made from natural plants (in Awa indigo, the plant is called Tadashi) and is therefore extremely rare.
The OCEANUS development team focused on this natural indigo dye known as "Awa Ai," which has been produced in Tokushima since the Edo period, leading to the development of a limited edition model featuring a leather strap dyed with "Awa Ai" and white mother-of-pearl.
The cowhide strap, developed in cooperation with Kinuya, a kimono shop in Tokushima with over 100 years of history, is a masterpiece dyed using Kinuya's signature tie-dyeing technique, which creates a pattern of uneven dyeing, with the leather luxuriously cut out at an angle.
The crocodile strap is also a first for Kinuya, and indigo-dyed crocodile straps are rare even around the world.
Furthermore, the mother-of-pearl dial is dyed with a rich indigo dye extracted using the "precipitation method," one of the methods for producing indigo. The color is so rich that even the slightest touch with a fingertip will dye it deeply, and the indigo color will not fade for some time. As with the indigo dye used for the leather strap, the extraction process is carried out using the "natural lye fermentation method," which requires time and effort to create indigo dye using only natural ingredients.
The leather strap and mother-of-pearl dial are key components that demonstrate the uncompromising pursuit of materials in the latest limited edition Oceanus model.
