Beyond a mere “wristwatch,” it’s a concept of “listwear” to be enjoyed and changed with your outfit｜Knot
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The Adult's Everyday "Smartwatch": Simple and User-Friendly
We want to connect people and cultures around the world with high-quality, well-designed Made in Japan timepieces.—This was the sentiment that led to the birth of "Maker's Watch Knot," a custom-order listwear brand, in 2014. This autumn, Knot has unveiled its first-ever "Made in Japan" smartwatch.
Text by KOIZUMI Yoko
Imagine a Smartwatch: Effortless, Elegant, and Easy to Use
Knot's new "Electric Hybrid Series EH-38." At first glance, it's a refined analog watch with a minimalist design, but it's also a smartwatch that links to your smartphone to offer practical functions.
"Smartwatches have become a common item in the watch industry, but they are still perceived as high-end and specialized timepieces."says Hiromitsu Endo, Knot's Creative Director and Representative Director.
He expresses dissatisfaction with the notion that smartwatches, often born from tech companies, are the antithesis of traditional analog watches.
"A smartwatch is simply a timepiece with added functionality. Watches have evolved over time by incorporating various features like solar power or radio wave reception; connectivity is just another one of those advancements."
However, there's also the reality that the perceived "exclusivity" of smartwatches might make them feel inaccessible to many adults.
This is precisely why Knot developed the "Electric Hybrid Series EH-38." The key development goal was to create "a smartwatch that feels approachable and can be used more casually, without any psychological barriers."
"We focused on enhancing its compatibility with analog dials, selecting forms and colors that would seamlessly integrate with suits. We also paid close attention to the wearing comfort, achieving a thickness of just 11mm, among the thinnest for smartwatches."
The design, which eschews the typical smartwatch aesthetic, is also evident in the simplicity of its dial.
Knot
Knot
Creative Director and Representative Director
Hiromitsu Endo
Born in Tokyo in 1974. A watch producer who established the American special forces watch "LUMINOX" in Japan and grew Scandinavian watch brands like "SKAGEN," "noon," and "BERING" into a market of 200,000 units annually. In 2014, leveraging his experience, he founded "Knot," Japan's first custom-order watch brand, with the theme of "conveying Japanese traditional culture and technology to the world through listwear."
By streamlining functions and incorporating only essential everyday features rather than trying to pack everything in, the dial design naturally became simpler. The absence of icons on the screen contributes to its stylish appearance.
However, it's more than just a two-hand watch. Through push-button operation, the hour and minute hands move, allowing for seamless use of functions such as "calendar," "chronograph," "dual time," and "alarm."
This is made possible by the hybrid movement, which allows for free control of the hands.
It also includes essential features for the smartphone generation, such as "Link Loss," which notifies you via vibration if the Bluetooth connection is lost, and "Phone Finder," which makes your smartphone ring when within Bluetooth range.
It also notifies you of incoming calls and emails through the hands and vibrations.
Perhaps its most notable feature is the ability to indicate which app sent a message through the position of the hands. The indices between 6 and 12 o'clock are divided into six sections, labeled A through F. This allows for immediate recognition of which app, such as LINE, Messenger, or Instagram, sent the notification.
You can also select any six from a total of 10 apps, including Facebook and Gmail.
The appeal of Japanese products ultimately lies in their "consideration" for the user's ease of use. This sometimes requires the courage to elegantly omit features, and the new "EH-38" embodies this Japanese aesthetic of "less is more." To proudly bear the "Made in Japan" label means not only excelling in design and quality but also embodying this spirit. Knot's smartwatch emanates a profound sense of pride in its Japanese craftsmanship.
Now, for another compelling feature of the "EH-38" that shouldn't be overlooked.
"Knot is a SPA company that handles everything from planning and manufacturing to retail. This allows us to offer the EH-38 in its first lineup starting at ¥19,000."
This price point for a smartwatch is unprecedentedly reasonable. We encourage you to experience its exquisite finish firsthand at our stores.
Ref. | EH-38SVWH (left), EH-38SVNV (center), EH-38BKBK (right)
Functions | Displays correct time via smartphone link. Also includes calendar, chronograph, dual time, alarm, link loss alert, phone finder, and app-specific notification functions.
Case Material | SS (316L)
Case Diameter | 38mm
Water Resistance | 3 ATM
Price | ¥19,000 (left, center), ¥20,500 (right) *All prices exclude tax