Naoya Hida launched his independent watch brand in 2019. The resulting timepieces, inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics and blended with avant-garde mechanisms and designs, exhibit a combination of minimalist style and tech-savvy flair that’s reflective of contemporary Japan.
Hida-san tells Tatler about his journey from novice to pioneering watchmaker, and the challenges he has faced.
How did you decide to get into watchmaking?
I joined the watch business in 1990, working for Desco von Schulthess, a Swiss trading company. In Tokyo, [such] companies were the sole agents for Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre and so on. I joined as a sales representative, dealing with department stores, watch retailers and so on. At that time, Japanese customers saw watches as a status symbol, which is why we mainly saw golden bracelets with diamond watches: very classic and old-generation. I was really frustrated by this, because I love mechanical watches; that’s why I joined the watch industry. This was not the kind of watch I wanted to sell.
I thought I should focus instead on vintage watches. In 1990, [I thought that the] vintage watch business was [more interesting] than that for modern watches but after studying the market, [I found it wasn’t the case]. Then suddenly the situation completely changed. In 1990, Günter Blümlein, a very talented watch leader, was recruited to manage the company. Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a new version of the Reverso and the Master Control complications. When I first saw the Master Control, I felt so excited: if these were the kind of watches that modern watches being created, then yes, I would love to stay.
Tell us about the decision to make your own watch.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من Tatler Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من Tatler Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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