Model: Campanola "Konruri" BU0020-54A Eco-Drive with Moon Phase and Triple Calendar
Year: October 2021
Features:
The Value. Compared to European brands, Seiko offers some remarkably luxurious pieces at affordable prices - urushi lacquer, vitreous enamel, arita porcelain and maki-e gold are just a few of the dials and finishing techniques found on Seiko watches priced under $1,000. As Seiko’s global reputation grows, these bargains are slowly starting to disappear. The Campanola brand is even further behind that curve and can be considered better value for money than many of Seiko’s “deep value” offerings, which in turn are better value for money than many European brands!
The Name. As with many Campanola names, Konruri has two layers of meaning. On the surface, kon translates to navy blue and ruri refers to lapis lazuli, the ultramarine gemstone. But in kanji, 紺 (kon) can mean a deep, night-sky blue, while 瑠璃 (ruri) carries a more poetic association with purity or the pure lands. As Campanola explains, the subdial has been designed to look like the view of earth’s pure blues against the richness of the night’s sky.
The Look. Too poetic? Perhaps. But a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, and the beauty of the BU0020-54A cannot be denied. The subdial’s otherwordly shine comes from titanium being mixed into blue urushi lacquer. Campanolas are renowned for their use of layering, often opting for a distinctly three-dimensional look.
The Eco-Drive. Very few watches offer the same level of convenience and reliability as Citizen’s Eco-Drive. The six-month power reserve that can be charged from only 19 hours of sunlight. However, there has always been one downside - the dials must have a translucent surface to allow light to reach the solar capacitor beneath. As a result, the design possibilities for Eco-Drives have always been somewhat limited - until Citizen began experimenting with translucent bezels.
The Collection. It’s part of Campanola’s more recent collection, and is available to buy new for ¥363,000 ($2450), or for considerably less if you know where to look…
Condition: In very good condition, with hairlines and hard to notice marks on the bezel and case.
Scope: Box and papers.
Movement: 8730 Eco-Drive “Solar Quartz”
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 43.2mm
- Case Thickness: 14.1mm
