Seiko watches - Seiko's traditional affair

The sound was pure, sweet and haunting. So chaste, that it brought smiles to the faces of enthusiastic watch lovers who were waiting to hear the chime. Seiko's Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater did receive a ‘sound' welcome at BaselWorld 2011. But there's more than what just meets the ear. The mechanism that produces the sound is not made of just any steel. It's been specially forged by celebrated master Japanese steelmaker to resemble that of the famous Myochin wind bell.

Yes, it's one thing to delve into the history of watch making and churn out masterpieces, but a different challenge to blend in a part of your country into a timepiece. And Seiko seeks to do just that.

The famous Japanese bell

For 52 generations, the Myochin family of Japan have been master blacksmiths, making steel for over 850 years. The family's steel forging tradition started in the late 8{+t}{+h} century, in the Heian era, with the manufacture of armour for soldiers and then continued into others, like fire tongs called “hibachi”. They soon made wind chimes by letting two hibachi's hang together on a string and the sound was said to be pleasing, thus leading to the creation of the famous Myochin Wind Bell. When the master craftsmen in the Micro Artist Studio at Seiko's Shiojiri facility looked for a special material to use in the minute repeater bell gongs, Myochin steel was their natural choice. They got it specially forged by Munemichi Myochin, to match as much as possible, the sound frequency, volume and attenuation rate of the Myochin bell.

Art speak

While the Myochin family pitched in to create melodious chimes, Japanese artisans were the one's who motivated the brand to make its Ananta Automatic Chronograph Diver's 130{+t}{+h} anniversary commemorative collection special. Seiko used not just one, but two traditional art forms for this timepiece. Firstly, the design of Ananta was inspired by ‘Katana', the ancient Japanese art of sword making, an innovative skill, which originated more than 800 years ago. Secondly, to increase the legibility of the watch in dark waters, Seiko sought to get its perfect jet black dial by using the services of world-renowned lacquer artist, Isshu Tamura. The artist, a master of ‘Kaga Makie' personally painted the dial, layer by layer and polished it in his personal studio in Kanazawa, Japan to the rich black. Now this is what we call a tryst with tradition!

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