The Oceanus Manta is the flagship collection of the Oceanus line, embodying exceptionally high standards not only in materials and finish, but also in design. Since its debut in 2007, the brand has continued to develop models that combine cutting-edge performance with elegant forms, but what is particularly original is the design work on the dial and bezel, which makes use of the brand's color, Oceanus Blue. In 2021, the brand overcame a new challenge in the creation of the bezel, and the latest model, the OCW-S6000, further elevates the graceful proportions of the Oceanus Manta.
Interview and text by Yuzo Takeishi
A sapphire crystal bezel in a brilliant blue
The OCW-S6000 offers a unique look from any other Oceanus Manta model released to date, including models incorporating traditional crafts such as Edo Kiriko, Awa Indigo, and Maki-e. The bezel is particularly striking. Its translucent yet deep blue color evokes the feeling of being sucked into the depths of the ocean, further accentuating the presence of the sapphire crystal bezel.
To achieve this, emphasis was placed on the "CMF (Color Material Finish)" design, which has been actively adopted in recent G-SHOCK models. Takayasu Sato, product planner, explains, "Until now, with Oceanus, we have repeatedly tried and tested various methods to accentuate the blue color, making full use of coloring techniques such as IP and vapor deposition, and materials such as sapphire crystal and ceramics. Of these, we decided that the combination of sapphire crystal and vapor deposition would best express the Oceanus worldview." The all-new sapphire crystal bezel featured on the OCW-S6000 was the result of pursuing a unique approach that could be called "Sapphire CMF."
While previous Oceanus Manta models used a titanium-covered panel for the bezel material, the OCW-S6000 uses a solid titanium bezel. This means that the sapphire crystal is set in its bare state, without any metal covering. The shape is also distinctive, following the polygonal bezel seen on previous models, with 12 facets on the outer periphery, but also with an additional 12 tapered faces from the outer periphery to the top, for a total of 24 facets. This means that the sapphire crystal appears to be shining from within, whether you view the watch from the front or the side.
However, cutting the bezel is not simple. As is widely known, sapphire crystal has a transparent, elegant shine and is highly scratch-resistant. However, it is a very difficult material to work with, as it is prone to shattering when subjected to a strong impact. For this reason, Casio made numerous bezel prototypes when designing the OCW-S6000, and set the tapered surface at the most shatter-resistant angle of 50°. Furthermore, the design ensures that the ridges of the outer surface and the tapered surface intersect precisely, resulting in a shape that requires an even more tedious polishing process to complete, on top of the already difficult task of polishing sapphire crystal.
The man in charge of this innovative design was Akira Fujiwara, Casio's chief designer, who has worked on many models that marked turning points for the Oceanus, including the OCW-S5000ME, which incorporated the Maki-e technique. "If we used cut, pure sapphire crystal for the bezel, the sapphire crystal would emit unique colors depending on the angle of incidence and reflection, giving the Oceanus a completely new atmosphere," Fujiwara thought. With this in mind, he first created a rough draft illustration of the design to bring his idea to life. However, he felt that simply using sapphire crystal symbolically would give the watch a strong, feminine feel, like a jewelry watch. Therefore, in the initial stages, he aimed for an industrial design, combining flat surfaces and edges for the case and bracelet to match the faceted cut of the bezel.
However, no matter how detailed the illustrations, Fujiwara was initially unable to gain any support for his innovative design, so he asked a manufacturer to make a prototype wristwatch. By presenting a sample model that combined a faceted sapphire crystal bezel with a case, the difference in appearance became clear to everyone, and he finally began moving towards commercialization.
(Right) A total of 24 facets are applied to the outer periphery and slopes. If all the ridges were misaligned, it would look bad, so although they recognized that polishing it was a strict order, it was a point they could not compromise on.
However, achieving the deep blue color seen in the actual product was not an easy task. When coloring transparent sapphire crystal, a vapor deposition process is typically used. However, with the vapor deposition method used in previous models, while the bezel appears blue when viewed from the front, it appears colorless and transparent when viewed from the side. The development team aimed for a blue to black gradation - in other words, a bezel that would appear to have the appearance of a deep blue sea from any angle. To achieve this, the exterior development team was also involved in developing a new vapor deposition process. As a result, by performing an unprecedentedly complex vapor deposition process and the tedious process of polishing the inner circumference of the bezel, they succeeded in creating a sapphire crystal bezel that looks like a solid block of blue.
Case design and structure that achieves a setting reminiscent of jewels
The sapphire crystal bezel, with its solid form and complex brilliance, was finally ready for mass production after much trial and error, but simply combining it with the case would not achieve the ideal proportions. Naturally, the case design also needed to be improved in order to further enhance the bezel's presence.
Fujiwara envisioned a structure similar to that of a stone ring, with the jewel set in a crimped setting. To achieve this, the case itself was designed to be thin, while the lugs alone rose to create a three-dimensional form. However, the sapphire crystal is not actually crimped in place by four lugs; the three-dimensional lugs are merely a "design" inspired by jewel setting. The sapphire crystal bezel is firmly fixed in place using Casio's proprietary technology, and has also met strict quality standards.
Previous Oceanus Manta models featured a flowing form incorporating curves throughout, but as mentioned above, the OCW-S6000 was developed with the ideal of a linear look that made the most of the faceted bezel. Fujiwara initially considered the combination of a sleek case and an edgy sapphire crystal bezel to be a disjointed impression, and attempted a bold redesign, renewing the bracelet to a more solid feel. However, some in-house commented that "changing the bracelet would diminish the distinctive character of the Oceanus Manta." Therefore, the case's 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sides retained the linear design originally conceived, while the bracelet retained the five-link design used in previous models. A new Oceanus Manta was born, retaining the iconic design while incorporating a touch of jewelry setting.
