製造商: Seiko Izul 年份: Circa 2008 型號: SDAA005/5R85-0AB0 錶殼號碼: 700'009 型號名稱: Izul 材料: Titanium 機芯: Automatic, cal. 5R85, 49 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Stainless steel Seiko stamped "D3G8 - BG" to the clasp endlinks, max length 175mm 錶扣: Stainless steel Seiko deployant clasp, max length 180mm 尺寸: 47mm Diameter 簽名: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
圖錄文章
The Izul is most likely one of the coolest watches you never heard about. Made exclusively for the Japanese market for a couple of years between 2007 and 2009, the line was inspired by olympic chronographs and immediately impresses with its 47mm titanium case and usual crown/pushers positioning at 12 o’clock. It actually features two case constructions: beyond the present one, a second one which allows for the dial to be rotated upside-down. Intriguingly, the case construction is vertically asymmetric, with shorter and higher top lugs. This results in the watch sitting on the wrist with the dial slightly inclined toward the wearer, similarly to a driver’s watch: and unusual and practical construction.
The “Izul” brand joined Credor, Grand Seiko and Galante as the top line of the Seiko production, before being quickly discontinued due to the lukewarm reception it received from the Japanese market, most likely due to its size and unusual looks which proved unsuccessful in the country. This explains not only its rarity, but also the fact that the model is mostly unknown even by long-time collectors: a true hidden gem of watch collecting.
Izul watches are powered by the spring drive calibre 5R85 without GMT function - a modification only seen in this watch. Spring Drive calibres were developed by Seiko over the course of decades, with first patents requested in 1982 and eventual commercialisation starting in 1999. Its revolutionary architecture substitutes the oscillating balance wheel with a continuously revolving wheel. The energy from the mainspring rotates the “balance wheel”, which in turns powers a control unit (composed of a quartz crystal and integrated circuit) which then controls an electromagnetic brake acting on the wheel itself to maintain the requested rotational speed (8 revolutions per seconds). As the back-and-forth motion of a classical balance wheel is replaced by a continuously rotating gear, the seconds hand’s motion is absolutely continuous and smooth.
Incorporating a groundbreaking movement, impressive looks, and an incredible level of rarity, the present piece will satisfy the most demanding collectors of uncommon timepieces.