Ōtsuka Lōtec, founded by independent Japanese watchmaker Jiro Katayama, remains one of horology’s best-kept secrets. Its latest creation, the Ōtsuka Lōtec No. 9, is the brand’s first true luxury watch, drawing inspiration from the precision dials of vintage Japanese power meters.

Measuring 48 mm long but only 30 mm across, the rectangular stainless steel case with sapphire crystal makes a striking sculptural statement on the wrist. The design celebrates exposed mechanics at their finest, merging horology with industrial art. On the right of the dial, two transparent overlapping discs display the hours and minutes, backlit for legibility in low light. At six o’clock, an offset tourbillon commands attention, while a slim power reserve sits just right of centre. On the left, an exposed gong and hammer evoke classic instrumentation.

At the heart of the watch is the newly developed in-house Cal. SSGT, a 278-component hand-wound movement. Its name alludes to complications layered like sushi on a geta board — an aptly Japanese metaphor for meticulous engineering. The calibre drives an ambitious array of functions: jumping hours, retrograde minutes, tourbillon, hour-striking, and a power reserve. At the top of each hour, three systems engage simultaneously: the retrograde minute disc snaps back to zero, the jumping hour disc advances, and a hammer strikes a visible pipeline-shaped gong with a crisp industrial chime. Movement details can be admired through the sapphire crystal, while the curved solid steel caseback ensures comfort on the wrist.

Though unconfirmed, production of the Ōtsuka Lōtec No. 9 is expected to be limited, with each piece priced at JPY 16,000,000 before tax.