Two new CAMPANOLA models celebrate the brand's 20th anniversary with traditional Japanese crafts

CAMPANOLA

Limited Edition "Ayamekin" and Regular Model "Kasanekyo" Celebrate CAMPANOLA's 20th Anniversary with Lacquer and Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

Two new models from Citizen's CAMPANOLA mechanical collection, designed for those who savor time, are set to launch in late November 2020. The limited edition "Ayamekin," with only 80 pieces produced, and the regular model "Kasanekyo" commemorate the brand's 20th anniversary.

Text by OZAKI Sayaka | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi

A Special Model Featuring Lacquer with Gold Dust and Mother-of-Pearl Inlay for a Dreamlike Beauty

Since its debut in 2000, Citizen's watch brand CAMPANOLA has championed the theme of "enjoying time, enjoying the everyday, enjoying individuality," releasing original models that leverage cutting-edge technology and masterful craftsmanship. With a design concept of "the beauty of empty space"—encapsulating infinite universes within the slight gap between the glass and the dial—its watches are characterized by a three-dimensional, architectural design featuring a multi-layered structure combining parts like the circular 'gotoku' ring.

To celebrate CAMPANOLA's 20th anniversary, the limited edition "Ayamekin" and the regular model "Kasanekyo" have been unveiled. These watches, befitting an anniversary year, feature dials and inner bezels crafted by Tetsuo Gido, a traditional craftsman of Aizu lacquerware.

Two CAMPANOLA 20th Anniversary Models Featuring Japanese Traditional Crafts Debut | CAMPANOLA

Ayamekin

The "Ayamekin" features a beautiful lacquer dial finished using an arrangement of the traditional "Kinmushikui-nuri" technique. First, the dial is coated with lacquer, and before it dries, rapeseed is scattered and allowed to dry. The seeds are then removed, creating a textured surface on the lacquer. Gold dust is applied to these uneven areas, followed by another layer of lacquer. After drying and polishing, a unique 'hyo' (leopard) pattern emerges. The inner bezel, built up with multiple layers of lacquer, is also dusted with gold, creating a resplendent atmosphere.

The "Kasanekyo" utilizes a deep navy lacquer, developed by Gido himself, for both the dial and inner bezel. Mother-of-pearl inlay is arranged in a mosaic pattern, creating a dreamlike model whose impression changes with the viewing angle. This design is said to represent life, likened to the diverse forms seen through a kaleidoscope.

Both models are equipped with automatic mechanical movements from La Joux-Perret SA, a Citizen Group company. These special watches, befitting the 20th anniversary, fuse traditional Swiss mechanical watchmaking with the traditional Japanese craft of Aizu lacquerware.