Armor Watch “Date Masamune” with Limited Production
Who is your favorite Sengoku warrior? The name of Masamune Date” is often heard as the answer to this question. This time, an armor watch “Date Masamune” was born through the collaboration among a traditional armor making craftsman, a high quality watch manufacturer and a product designer. This is a project conducted by “Makuake,” which is a crowdfunding site.
Press Release
The Collaboration between an Armor Making Company and a Watch Manufacturer! “Armor Watch Date Masamune”
The sale of the product starts on Masamune Date’s birthday in an online shopping site, “Makuake.” You can buy the watch from September 5th to November 29th, 2021.
September 15th, 2021
Okoshi Chu Mfg., Inc.
Kyowa-Seiko Co., Ltd.
A traditional Edo armor making companyin Koshigaya City, Saitama Pref., Okoshi Chu Mfg., Inc., introduced a new product called “ Armor Watch Date Masamune” in an online shopping site “Makuake” on September 5th, which is the birthday of Masamune Date.
Okoshi Chu Mfg., Inc. has skills to make armors which have been passed down since the Edo period. This company is known across Japan for its brand name, “Tadayasu.” Kyowa-Seiko is famous for its high quality watch “MINASE,” and Yusuke Taguchi is a product designer, who works in Tokyo and Milan in Italy. They worked together to make an armor watch, “Date Masamune.”
Armors and warriors’ helmets were a protective gear for warriors. In addition, they used these products to show their power, and various kinds of armors and warrior’s helmets were made based on warriors’ individuality. Among them, Masamune Date’s armor with black color and a crescent moon is famous in Japan and in the world.
This is a watch which reflects Masamune Date’s viewpoint to protect himself while expressing his individuality. You can feel the delicacy of the craftwork and the dignity of history by wearing this watch. We hope that this product encourages you to feel the greatness of Masamune Date.
The First Motif of Armor Watch Is Masamune Date, a Popular Sengoku Warrior
The first armor watch was made based on the black-lacquered armor with 5 pieces cuirass used by Masamune Date.
It is said that Masamune Date preferred simple armors, which expresses his sense of beauty and represents the dignity and luxuriousness of “Date Culture.” Here are some features of his armor and cuirass.
Representation of Masamune Date, An Armor with a Crescent Moon – Unsymmetrical Crescent Moon Shaped Crest
A crest shows warriors’ belief. A big crescent moon, a symbol of Masamune Date, represents immortality because the moon becomes full again after it falls into an eclipse. The shape is also convenient for warriors when they raise their sword because it doesn’t interrupt their right hands.
Warrior’s Helmet with 62 Steel Boards
Thin and long steel boards are overlapped to make the helmet stronger without showing any tacks to connect each steel board. What the helmets are called depends on how many steel boards are used.
Black Lacquered 5-pisces Body Armor
Black color makes the crescent moon and the silk thread look better. Regarding the color, it is said that Masamune Date followed a Chinese warrior, who called himself “one-eyed dragon” and ruled the country leading the army unified with black color. The body armor is divided into 5 pieces so that it is easily carried, and it is more practical on battlefields.
Features of “Date Masamune Armor Watch”
Second Hand: A Crescent Moon, The Symbol of Masamune Date
A crescent moon is adopted to represent Masamune Date.
Drive System: Producing About 4 Times More Torque
In order to move a second hand called “Quartz Seiko Movement,” which is made in Japan, A special watch movement is used, which makes it possible to produce about 4 times more torque than a typical one.
Dial: Based on “Mitsuhiki-Ryomon,” “62 Koku of Rice,” or “62 Keicho-era Mission”
Black is adopted as the base color, and the design represents the family crest with three lines, which can be seen in an armor placed in Zuiganji temple. A warrior’s helmet with 62 steel boards comes from the 62 koku of rice in the Sendai Domain. The Roman figure of Ⅱ and Ⅵ stood out to show respect to the domain because it made an effort to send the Keicho-era mission. The dial reminds us of the unsymmetrical one-eyed dragon’s eyepatch.
Buckle: Original Processing
The shape is so special that the typical processing for mass production cannot be used. Each part is cut from the block of stainless steel.
Armor Parts: Traditional Technique
“Odoshi,” which is used in a lamellar armor, is used as a decoration in the watch belt. You can enjoy the strength and beauty of each “odoshi.”
Bezel: Unique Design Inspired by Warrior’s Helmet with 62 Steel Boards
The design of the bezel is inspired by the warrior’s helmet with 62 steel boards. Stainless steel which is good in corrosion resistance and tolerant with changes in temperature is used for this part. One of the most important features of the bezel is the beautiful contrast of the uneven surface. In the polishing process to make the mirror surface, skilled workers use their hands to polish the parts keeping the same amount of pressure through the process.
Waterproof: 3ATM Water Resistant
The watch has a 3ATM water resistant function (except the armor part). It can tolerate sweat and drops of water from face washing in daily life, or rain. However, kitchen work, water-sports, scuba diving and diving are beyond its capacity. Also, the condition in which the water pressure changes in a wide rage should be avoided.
Winding Knob: Original Design with a Seal
The winding knob has a clear laser seal.
Hidden Tacks: Hidden Tacks Used to Connect Leather Belt
Hidden tacks are used in the back of “Odoshi.” This is for a better function of the watch, but it also shows the delicacy of the work. Lether and the double-ply belt of the armor part go well together, and they are sewed with yellow thread. The leather belt matches the design of the watch case.
The Back of the Body: Traditional Crest of Tadayasu
The crest of the brand, Tadayasu, is carved on the back of the body of the watch. A serial number is carved one by one, which makes the product your own special one. This imitates the warriors’ action to pray for the protection from the god and add carving to their swords.
A paulownia box containing Tadayasu and Tadayasu Fukusa
| Name: | Armor Wristwatch Date Masamune |
| Gross Weight: | About 100g |
| Size: | Case: Length 26.5 x Width 26.5 x Total thickness 12mm (including glass) |
| Warranty: | 1 Year |
| Accessories: | Paulownia box, Tadayasu Fukusa, warranty card, manual |
| Date: | Project Schedule Start date: September 5, 2021 | End date: November 29, 2021 |
| Target: | Target amount 4,235,000 yen |
| Website: | Official Cloud Funding Site “Makuake” |
Hello. I’m Haruka. I have lived in Saitama prefecture for more than 25 years. I would like to introduce Saitama focusing on food and culture. I hope my articles help you get some information about Saitama. Also, I’m happy to tell you about interesting aspects of Japan. Check out Haruka’s profile page here.
