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KIH
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A New Collection from Japan - Terui & Sakurada, Shizuku-Ishi

(Note that the article about this will be published in the "World Wrist Watches ("WWW")" magazine in Japan and the interview was done in cooperation with Ms. Kayama, the editor-in-chief of WWW)




A New Collection made by collaboration of Shizuku-ishi (where the mechanical Grand Seiko and Ultra Thin Credor are made) and BIK-GLOBE (watch retailer/ importer with long history).







"Terui & Sakurada, Shizuku-ishi" is the name of the new collection, made possible by the BIK-GLOBE owner's several-year passionate persistence and SII's (Seiko Instruments, Inc.=the actual manufacturer of the mechanical Grand Seiko and Credor) full corporation.

The collection will make eight (8) series, one every year, each of which has only eight (8) pieces LEs.  I had an opportunity to interview the two of the legendary watch craftsmen of Japan (again) and to spend time with the prototype of its first installment - RS-1.

(If you are interested in who they are, please read here first=> home.watchprosite.com )



The TWO - a legendary engraver and a legendary watchmaker - behind the scene as well as in the name of the new collection.  Mr. Terui, the engraver on the left, and Mr. Sakurada, the watchmaker on the right.




On Mr. Terui's wrist - PT ultra thin Credor with 68 movement which can be assembled and serviced only two person on earth one of who is Mr. Sakurada, of course.




 
Before going into the new collection and the new watch, here are some samples of what Mr. Terui, the engraver, does.

The feather actually moves on this one.


























And this is the prototype of the new model.
40mm, PT, crown at 2h, big dragon - no, actually, this is Japanese Dragon (or rather, the big snake in the old legend)




Interview with Messrs. Terui, Sakurada, supplemented by Mr. Nagata from SII (Seiko Instruments, Inc.) as well as the collaboration partner BIK-GLOBE via its PR Ms. Kato.


1. About the project:

KIH:I heard that it took 7 - 8 years for BIK-GLOBE to convince SII to go with this project.  When was the first time did you two hear about this?  And what did you honestly think?

Nagata: The interaction with the owner of BIK-GLOBE has been going on for several years, but actual design has started around 2010 and it was then when those two first knew about this project.

Terui: At that time, I was still like "okay, so?" because until I see the actual design, I can't have any idea what it means to my work.  It is usually the last stage that the watchmakers or engravers are notified of the design.

Sakurada: Same for me.  The first time I saw the design of the watch was when I saw the CG photo of this prototype and then I thought, "oh, this looks very interesting" - it was going to be my first product with such a thick engraved objects IN the watch.  As a watchmaker, I do what I always do - the only difference is that I can assemble the watch looking at the impressive work of Mr. Terui every time because all the completed parts have to come to me to assemble the watch.


KIH: Then, what did you think when you were actually doing this?

Terui: When I saw the design for the first time, I thought that it would be really interesting for me.  I have been doing engraving for a long time but mostly on the flat surface, and honestly I had started to want to do something different.  I felt that this is what I had wanted to do.

Sakurada: My impression to the design is almost the same.  But please note that what I do is what I always do.  Only different thing I do for this model is that I had to use the longest axis or stem to keep the clearance of the hands from the "Orochi (big snake)".


The long shaft for the hands to clear the thick engraved Orochi.





WWW: To tell the truth, I was kind of surprised that SII took special orders from the third parties.

Nagata: Well, not exactly rare or the first time.  Shizuku-Ishi factory of SEIKO Instruments, Inc. has been doing "custom made service" for almost 5 years.  Although it is just for the different case, movement, and dial with a few options for each, we have been actually "promoting" the "Shizuku-Ishi" brand slowly.  That was the part of the reason why we accepted this project.  And now, the senior management of SII is very excited about this project, too.

Kato: Techinically, BIK-GLOBE places orders to SII, but the watches produced in the series of this project will be under the new collection name "Terui & Sakurada, Shizukui-Ishi".


KIH: I understand that this first installment of the collection is called RS-1, and it will continue to RS-8, one series per year.  What do you have in mind now for such a long project?

Terui: This first model was really fun doing it and I want to make RS-2, RS-3 and so on better and better, more evolved engraving models.

Sakurada: As for me, I won't have to change at all.  I will just assemble what Mr. Terui has engraved.  Of course, due to this massive engraving, I would have to be extra careful about the dust or small particles.  The crown location is 2h, but it doesn't affect what I do.  I just have to rotate as such.

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2. About the Watch





KIH: Why dragon?

Kato: This is not the dragon as in China.  This is Japanese "Orochi (Big Snake)" in the legend from thousands of years ago.  The owner of BIK-GLOBE has really wanted to work with these two gentlemen since he started watch business some 25 years ago, hopefully a collaboration brand or collection.  As for the design concept, Tohoku Earthquake disaster happened during the preparation period and we decided that it should be about the resurrection of Tohoku and Japan itself.  We want to tell the world that Japan is capable of getting back on its feet - so the motif is determined: "Japan".



The MOP and the dial shapes the "Rising Sun".




Kato: When we searched for the right motif for the watch, we arrived at the old book, "Koji-Ki" which was published in AD712, some 1300 years ago, full of Japan's root, story of Japan's origin, thus full of motif subjects.  But from the beauty of Mr. Terui's engraving, we finally chose "Yamata no Orochi (Eight-headed with one tail, giant snake)".  See that there is no hands on this dragon.





As explained, the model reference number "RS-1" stands for "Rising Sun - 1".  There will be up to RS-8, each series every year.  In the end, RS-8 will probably have 8-headed "Orochi"......




KIH: Tell me about the material of this "Orochi" and about the case.  Looks like this case has very little "flat" surface and mostly curvy design and makes me think that this must be made with "cutting or machining" only, no?





Terui: The "Orochi" is made of brass and I engrave it, along with the movement parts while it is still the brass color.  When the engrave is done, they are all plated with rhodium.





















Mr. Terui's name on the back.




.. so is Mr. Sakurada's name.








Tail part on the back will not change through the series but the body/ head part on the front will change.




Nagata: The case is made by, just like Grand Seiko, Hayashi Seiki (Hayashi Precision or Hayashi Seiki Seizo).  The factory was almost completely destroyed by the quake (please read=> home.watchprosite.com for its professionalism during the disaster).  As you may know, we asked Hayashi to make 44GS re-issue cases.  It is very rare to ask Hayashi to make small number of cases, but not the first time.  We once asked Hayashi to make just ONE case for Credor 12-beat LE of 1.  And as for your question, of course as with other GS cases, the case is made with several times of forging followed by machining and polishing.  We know that it costs extremely high to make the forging die for such a small number of cases.  There is yet another legendary craftsman at Hayashi who makes cases with all five senses and this special mostly curvy case made by numerous forging and machining/ polishing is overseen by him.


The crown at 2h tip is diamond.




Almost all sides curvy case....  Forged?  Wow.....









RS-1 Specification:

Manual Winding
VHP - 21,600
Power Reserve - 37 hours
Number of jewels - 26
Thickness of the movement - 1.98mm

Case - PT950, 40mm
Crown and screw - 18K WG and diamond
Tang Buckle - PT950

Will be available: September end, 2013

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Wrist shots!
























The buckle also motifs "rising sun".








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  Official photo of Mr. Terui (seriously) at work.




... and of Mr. Sakurada..





Official PR photo of Mr. Terui - dressed a bit like a bad guy (?)




... same for Mr. Sakurada (looks like Mick Jagger....?).  Doesn't look like a watchmaker at all....



I am very much looking forward to the masterpieces to be made by those two legendary craftsmen, and I am so happy that we can enjoy it 8 more years!

Special thanks to:

SEIKO Instruments Inc. - Mr. Terui, Mr. Sakurada, and Mr. Nagata
BIK-GLOBE (Long Slow Distance) - Mr. Anada
Qualite (PR) - Ms. Kato
"World Wrist Watch" magazine - Ms. Kayama


Thank you, all!

Best,
Ken

This message has been edited by KIH on 2013-08-25 09:47:13

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