Otsuka Lotec No.8 Jumping Hour and Retrograde Minute

Source: monochrome-watches.com

Rectangular Case with Industrial Character

The watch is housed in a stainless steel case measuring 31 mm by 48 mm, with a thickness of 10.8 mm. The case features sharply faceted upper surfaces that reinforce the mechanical and utilitarian look associated with Katayama’s designs.

A deliberately oversized crown is positioned at 4 o’clock, contributing to the industrial character of the watch. The case is fitted with a curved sapphire crystal, which extends slightly along the right side and provides an unobstructed view of the display.

Jumping Hour and Retrograde Minute Display

As with previous Otsuka Lotec creations, the No.8 avoids a conventional dial with centrally mounted hands. Instead, the watch uses a mechanical system combining a jumping hour indication with a retrograde minute display, both synchronised to operate together.

The jumping hour is positioned on the left side of the dial. A large pointer indicates the hour on a scale arranged in a traditional twelve hour format. Above this display sits a small opening for the seconds indication, which uses a rotating disc completing one revolution every 90 seconds.

On the right side of the dial is the retrograde minute display. The minute indicator travels along a curved scale from the bottom to the top. Once it reaches the 60 minute mark, the hand instantly returns to zero while the hour display simultaneously jumps to the next hour.

Movement and Mechanical Module

The watch is built around the Miyota 90S5 automatic calibre, which serves as the base movement. Attached to it is a proprietary complication module developed for the model.

The module consists of 62 components and incorporates three ball bearings. One of them, manufactured by MinebeaMitsumi, measures only 1.5 mm in diameter, making it one of the smallest ball bearings used in a watch mechanism. The other two bearings measure 2.5 mm in diameter.

Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz, the movement provides a relatively modest power reserve of approximately 32 hours, largely due to the energy demands of the jumping hour and retrograde minute mechanism.

Strap and Price

The Otsuka Lotec No.8 is delivered on a black rubber strap measuring 24 mm in width.

The approximate retail price is 990,000 Japanese yen, which corresponds to roughly €5,390 including taxes.

Distribution Through Lottery

As with previous Otsuka Lotec releases, the watch will not be sold through traditional retail channels. Instead, buyers will be selected through a lottery system.

The lottery is scheduled to begin on 23 March 2026 at 17:00 Japan Standard Time. Participation is limited to applicants who have a Japanese issued bank card and a delivery address within Japan.