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November 18, 2015
Campanola 15th Anniversary Models Fusing Japanese Artistry | CAMPANOLA
CAMPANOLA
CAMPANOLA 15th Anniversary Models Fusing Japanese Artistry
CAMPANOLA, beloved by fans for its unique watchmaking that combines a立体 (three-dimensional) and artistic dial with cutting-edge technology and masterful craftsmanship, celebrates its 15th anniversary since its debut. Precious commemorative models, merging the beauty of Aizu lacquer with intricate mechanical movements, are now available.
Text by KAWADA Akinori
Celebrating a Milestone with Authentic Mechanical Models
"CAMPANOLA" debuted in 2000 with the themes of "Playing with Status" and "Enjoying Time, Enjoying Daily Life, Enjoying Individuality." Since then, it has consistently offered unique timepieces that go beyond mere time-telling tools, by fusing Citizen's advanced technology with dials adorned with the "beauty of the void"—a layered, architectural structure—and high artistry achieved through masterful craftsmanship.
2015 marks the 15th anniversary of "CAMPANOLA," with a commemorative collection launching on November 18th.
The collection features three types of watches: "Ryuga," which captures the appearance of stars with the brilliance of raden (mother-of-pearl inlay); "Ben-ake," with its beautiful deep vermilion gradation; and "Juraku," created by sprinkling gold powder and repeatedly applying a unique washing technique. Each model achieves a distinct beauty through different urushi lacquer decorative techniques.
The decorative work is handled by Tetsuo Gido, a traditional Aizu lacquer craftsman who has been providing artistic dials for "CAMPANOLA" since 2002. His dial production process is extremely precise. For example, the "Ryuga" dial requires five layers of extremely thin undercoating, each only 30 microns thick, with drying in between, taking a full month to complete the base. Then, mother-of-pearl pieces are selected and applied one by one, followed by additional layers of lacquer and meticulous polishing, a painstaking process that takes over three months to complete a single dial, resulting in a precious work of art.
Furthermore, the dial features a "Sora-zora no Bi" (beauty of the void) design, including a Gotoku ring, and the round case measures 42mm, a size that sits comfortably on Japanese wrists.
The movement is supplied by La Joux-Perret, a Swiss movement specialist company that has been under Citizen's umbrella since 2012. The company is renowned for its development and manufacturing of high-end movements, and it was also responsible for CAMPANOLA's first mechanical movement in 2014.
The watch features a Big Date display at the 12 o'clock position, using two discs to show the date, and a power reserve indicator at the 6 o'clock position. The automatic movement, with its beautifully decorated Côtes de Genève on the rotor and bridges visible through the see-through case back, is truly a masterpiece.
These models are worthy of being called commemorative editions in every respect. "Juraku," in particular, is a limited edition of 50 pieces available exclusively at Citizen concept shops, making it highly rare. For fans with a fondness for "CAMPANOLA," this is a collection that one would surely want to own.
Ryuga
Ben-ake
Juraku
CAMPANOLA 15th Anniversary Mechanical Collection
Ryuga, Ben-ake, Juraku
Case: Stainless steel
Diameter: 42mm
Movement: Automatic (Cal. Y513)
Functions: Big Date (date display with two discs), Power Reserve indicator
Dial: Urushi lacquer dial
Strap: Alligator
Water Resistance: Daily life water resistance
Limited Edition: 50 pieces only for Citizen Concept Shops (Juraku only)
Price: ¥810,000 (Ben-ake), ¥864,000 (Ryuga, Juraku)
Inquiries
Citizen Watch Consultation Service
0120-78-4807
http://campanola.jp/