Ambition. A beautiful example of auteurial design, made by a man with unparalleled drive. For many years, Jiro Katayama worked in the automotive industry designing cars. After purchasing a metalworking lathe and practising with it by shaping circular watch cases, he became fascinated with the idea of building a watch from scratch. He spent the next four years teaching himself (via YouTube and Google) how to fabricate the various parts needed to build a watch using nothing but his trusty lathe. This "low technology" approach eventually gave rise to the company name; Lotec.
Theme. The double retrograde hour and minute hand complication finds itself on a rhodium-plated “speedometer” dial that was clearly inspired by Katayama’s automotive background. A “small seconds” disc slowly turns at the bottom of the dial, and dial feet have been discarded in lieu of dial screws. Combined with the screw-in case and fully brushed finish, one immediately grasps Katayama’s design principles.
Rarity. Initially, production output was very limited - after all, it was still just Katayama working on each part by himself in his Otsuka workshop. Fortunately, Hajime Asaoka (yes, the Hajime Asaoka of Kurono Tokyo fame) let Katayama borrow three of his employees, allowing production to increase to from little over a dozen per year to nearly 80. Nevertheless, acquiring one remains no small feat. A lottery takes place every few months and is only open to people with a Japanese credit card and Japanese address, with the lucky winners getting to buy one of his watches.
The Case. 316L steel with a richly brushed finished, and case screws that are actual screws (instead of pushed through bolts simply designed to look like screws, as on the AP Royal Oak) complete the mechanical look. A beautifully shaped crystal is solid sapphire.
The Movement. The movement started life as a Miyota 9015, but as you might have realised a Miyota 9015 looks and works very differently. Katayama designed and hand-makes all of the parts for the the double retrograde and second disc complication you see on this watch. The Miyota movement is used as a base movement to which an in-house ratcheting retrograde system (among other things) have been added.
Condition: Brand new in the original box with all of the papers. Unworn.
All of our watches are inspected and verified for authenticity - both inside and out. We have over 15 years of sourcing and collecting rare watches in Japan, which is often considered to be one of the best markets for authentic and fully original vintage watches.
Do you ship globally?
We are based in Japan and regularly ship all over the world. We typically use FedEx and it takes:
3-7 business days to reach North America
3-7 business days to reach Europe
3-7 business days to reach Asia and Oceania.
All of our packages are securely shipped, fully insured, and trackable door-to-door.
Are all of your watches serviced?
Most but not all of our watches are serviced. The "Condition" section of each watch will confirm if the watch has been serviced.
All of our watches are tested by an independent watchmaker - if a service is needed, the watch will be serviced. If a service hasn't been conducted, it's because the watch itself is too new to need a service, or there is evidence of a recent service.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept payment by all major Credit Cards and Wise.com
What condition are your watches?
Due to the vintage and neo-vintage nature of the watches we typically sell, the condition varies from watch to watch. However, our photos are high resolution and our descriptions are accurate. You can buy with confidence knowing there won't be any nasty surprises.
If the condition of a watch is ever misrepresented, we would offer a full refund.
Do I have to pay customs or taxes?
It depends on so many factors, including but not limited to the cost of the watch, the type of watch you've bought (vintage or new), and the import laws of your country. If you're unsure we recommend checking the import laws that relate to your country before ordering.
Are your watches water resistant?
Our serviced watches are typically tested to their original water resistant specifications, but we would never recommend pushing vintage or neo-vintage watches to their depth limits.
What is your returns policy?
Due to the vintage and neo-vintage nature of most of our watches, we do not offer returns under normal circumstances. All sales should be considered final.
