Two new releases just dropped in the timepiece world and they are too good to ignore.
One is a bold industrial design from Jiro Katayama that looks like a mini factory on your wrist, and the other is a Seafoam-green Doxa that shows dive watches can be fun and stylish. Here’s why they are worth checking out:
Ōtsuka Lōtec No. 9
Indie watchmaker Jiro Katayama has officially gone full mad scientist. The founder of cult-favorite Japanese brand Ōtsuka Lōtec just dropped the No. 9, a tourbillon-powered, jump-hour, sonnerie au passage watch that feels like a love letter to industrial design. The announcement came almost casually on Instagram, but the horology world quickly lost its mind – and for good reason.
The No. 9 has been nearly ten years in the making and it shows in every detail. The watch combines a jump hour display, rewinding minutes, a tourbillon, a power reserve indicator, and a striking hour mechanism inside a stainless-steel case measuring just 41.3 millimeters by 26.4 millimeters. Under the box crystal, you can see the industrial hammer slowly drawing power before it strikes the pipe-shaped gong once every hour while the hour disc jumps forward. It feels more like a factory shift bell than a romantic repeater.
Katayama has always embraced the industrial aesthetic and the No. 9 is no exception. The dial is inspired by old Japanese power meters and features cutouts and visible screws that give it a machine-like character. Time is displayed using two transparent discs lit from below with luminous blocks so you can read it day or night. The movement is Caliber SSGT which runs at three hertz with a forty-hour power reserve and is fitted with MinebeaMitsumi’s world-record-holding 1.5 millimeter ruby ball bearing tourbillon.
For many fans, Ōtsuka Lōtec was known for offering rare and creative designs for under USD3,000 (~RM14,000), but the No. 9 marks a major leap forward for the brand. Production numbers are still unknown but will be very limited, making this a true collector’s piece. For those who love rare and unapologetically mechanical watches, this is easily one of the most exciting releases of the year.
The Ōtsuka Lōtec No. 9 will be priced at 16,000,000 JPY (~RM511,000 before taxes) and will be available in very limited quantities later this year through Ōtsuka Lōtec’s official website.
Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Seafoam LE
Doxa is bringing back its fun-loving seafoam color with a new limited edition that pairs a light green dial with the rugged Sub 300 Carbon. Created in collaboration with Watches of Switzerland, the Sub 300 Carbon Seafoam Limited Edition keeps the beloved cushion-shaped case and reimagines it with a forged carbon construction that feels light on the wrist but serious in performance.
The watch features a 42.5 millimeter forged carbon case with a titanium back and offers water resistance up to 300 meters. Inside is the COSC-certified ETA 2824 automatic movement which runs at 28,000 vibrations per hour and delivers a power reserve of 38 hours. Its unidirectional bezel, bright seafoam dial and Super-LumiNova markers make it highly legible whether you are diving deep or just catching the sun.
Each watch comes with two straps: an FKM rubber strap with a folding clasp and a matching light green NATO strap for a casual look. The light green dial stands out against the marbled black forged carbon case, giving the watch a modern feel while honoring the Sub 300’s 1967 heritage. With only 100 pieces made, this is one of the most exclusive Sub 300 Carbon models and a fun, colorful addition to any serious dive watch collection.
The Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Seafoam Limited Edition is priced at USD3,990 (~RM18,700) and will be available exclusively at Watches of Switzerland in the US, UK, and online.
