Independent Japanese watchmaker Naoya Hida & Co. has made a significant horological leap with the introduction of its Type 6—the brand’s first perpetual calendar and most ambitious timepiece to date.
This release marks a dramatic evolution for the boutique manufacturer, which has built its reputation on elegantly minimalist time-only watches since its founding in 2018.
Timeless Complexity
Despite incorporating this complex complication, the Type 6 maintains the brand’s commitment to compact proportions with a 37mm diameter case crafted from 904L stainless steel.
At 11.5mm thick, it remains remarkably svelte for a perpetual calendar, with a shaped midcase and downturned lugs that further minimize its presence on the wrist. Three discreet calendar adjusters along the case flank provide functionality without compromising the refined aesthetic.
The dial represents a material departure for the brand, utilizing sterling silver rather than the German silver featured in previous models. This choice delivers a bright, clean canvas less prone to patination over time.
Three subdials display the calendar functions: the date and day of week indicated by heat-blued leaf hands, and the month shown via a rounded baton hand. A subtle polished silver disc with a single black-infilled dot serves as the leap year indicator. Distinguished from these calendar functions, the hours and minutes are tracked by a pair of 18k yellow gold leaf-style hands—the minute hand meticulously hand-bent to precisely align with the minutes scale.
True to Naoya Hida’s signature aesthetic, the Type 6 features extensive hand-engraving by master craftsman Keisuke Kano. Beyond the expected Roman hour numerals, every piece of text on the dial—all dates, days, months, and leap year indicators—is individually hand-engraved and filled with cashew lacquer, representing an extraordinary commitment to traditional craftsmanship rarely seen at this price point.
Collaborative Masterpiece
What makes the Type 6 particularly fascinating is its movement—a unique collaborative creation drawing from multiple sources of expertise.
Rather than adapting the Valjoux 7750 that powers many of Naoya Hida’s other timepieces, the Type 6 represents a sophisticated partnership between Austrian independent watchmakers Habring², Swiss complication specialists Dubois-Dépraz, and Naoya Hida’s own watchmaker Kosuke Fujita.
The Cal.3025PC begins with components from Habring²’s A11B caliber paired with a perpetual calendar module from Dubois-Dépraz. Naoya Hida then applies its signature modifications, replacing bridges, screws, and other elements to create a movement that combines Austrian engineering, Swiss complexity, and Japanese finishing philosophy.
Perhaps most notably, the brand’s distinctive click-and-click spring design delivers the exceptional winding tactility for which Naoya Hida watches are renowned—a thoughtful detail inspired by vintage calibers.
Priced at $57,300, the Type 6 will be produced in extremely limited quantities—approximately 10 pieces over the next year. Prospective owners must navigate a purchase application process through either Naoya Hida’s website (May 19-22) or The Armoury’s lottery system (May 21-June 15). While not technically a limited edition, the minuscule production capacity effectively ensures exclusivity.
For collectors who appreciate the meticulous fusion of traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing precision, the Naoya Hida Type 6 represents independent watchmaking at its most thoughtful—a perpetual calendar that honors horological heritage while maintaining the distinctive Japanese design sensibility that has made this young brand a favorite among discerning enthusiasts of fine watchmaking.
