This piece will be jointly promoted in Taiwan and Japan in collaboration with the renowned watch store in Omotesando, Japan:"H’M’S” watch store.

This time, the Gothic Origin Watch "Japan Collaboration Edition" is inspired by the original work of Japanese independent watch artist Shinichi Hidaka.

The design is derived from his original piece 「あきかぜ」 (Akikaze).

Below is Hidaka-sensei's explanation of the original concept:
「あきかぜ」はプローバーのヴィンテージ時計を参考に作りましたです。

Translation:
"'Akikaze (Autumn Wind)' is a design inspired by vintage Bulova watches."

As a result, BW reinterpreted the concept of the Gothic Origin Watch for this release, blending elements of "castle walls," "Gothic small script," and "relief engraving" into the design.

To achieve a three-dimensional effect for the characters on the dial, each metal character component was independently cast, then meticulously refined through processes such as metalwork adjustments, polishing, and electroplating to create the base.

Only after these steps did the painting process begin.

For this project, we specially invited Taiwanese painting artist:

RF Model Painting Competition award winner Mr. Hsu Chih-Kai.

The entirely hand-painted process preserves the historical and weathered feel of the Gothic-style castle walls, allowing the patina of time to flow naturally.

The Gothic characters positioned at the four cardinal points, combined with the small square blocks at the diagonal corners, actually consist of eight distinct layers at different heights. This exquisitely detailed arrangement is the ingenious work of Taiwanese sculptural artist Mr. Chia Lung-Hsi.

For the watch case production, we specially developed an extremely limited number of cases for this collaboration.

In the current watchmaking industry, mass production of cases typically involves creating molds for stamping and forging, meaning that the minimum production batch for a single case design is usually around 500–1000 raw cases.

However, for this “Gothic Origin Watch Japan Collaboration Edition”
“Winds of Eternity”, we completely stepped away from the mass production model.

BW partnered with one of the last remaining traditional watch case factories in Taiwan,
Shinhui Precision Industry, to develop a fully handcrafted watch case.

We employed one of the oldest modern traditional case-making techniques:
starting with a solid steel plate, wire-cutting it into the rough case shape.

Then, with the expertise of Master Huang, a 70-year-old veteran technician at the factory, each rough case was manually mounted onto a lathe to be precisely cut to its inner and outer diameters.

It’s worth noting that this kind of hand-lathed precision case-making is a vanishing craft in Taiwan, with very few successors left. It is a skill soon to be replaced by cold, multi-axis CNC machines. (Although hand-lathing may not match CNC cutting in precision, it allows for greater flexibility in angles and tool use, enabling metal-turning techniques that are challenging for CNC machines to replicate.)

The most challenging part of this project was undoubtedly the machining of the four corner pillars of the case, a task undertaken by Master Wang, who is now 72 years old.

Master Wang is the most senior technician in the factory, with expert calibration skills. He performs precise manual adjustments on the inner corners of the case using a diamond-tipped tool, carefully cross-checking angles with precision gauges.

After the precision lathe work is completed, the case moves to Master Xu, a craftsman with 50 years of polishing experience, now 68 years old, who performs the polishing and brushing of the case.

You can truly feel the difference when touching the case—unlike mass-produced watch cases, every detail is full of warmth and refinement.

The original concept planning and design coordination were once again led by BW’s chief designer, Mr. Senchieh Chang, who meticulously fine-tuned and integrated all the details. Fluent in Japanese, he ensured seamless communication between the Taiwan and Japan teams, managing all aspects of the collaboration in real time.

The Swiss movement brand Sellita was originally one of the three major OEM manufacturers for the renowned giant ETA and has, in recent years, increasingly been adopted by many top-tier brands for its reliable quality.

For this project, the Goth Origin Watch “Divine Comedy Series” uses the Sellita SW200 base automatic movement, renowned for its durability and reliability—qualities that made it the choice of the Bard's Whisper team for this collaboration.

Professor Shinichi Hidaka specially collaborated on this project, assisting in planning and design, and created an exclusive "Dragon Scale" rotor for this edition. With meticulous craftsmanship, he engraved "Shinichi Hidaka" in micro-lettering at the bottom, perfectly paired with the Swiss SW-200 automatic movement to achieve a flawless finish.

Every detail of this creation showcases the highest level of craftsmanship and sincerity from both Taiwan and Japan. We hope you will love it.

In collaboration with Kaohsiung-based leather artisan "Chang An 30," who specializes in watch straps, we developed a new pressure-relief strap.

Building upon the "Saint George and the Dragon" project, we designed a custom-spec quick-release strap that rivals international luxury brands in thickness, feel, and fit—fully handcrafted in Kaohsiung.

The watch comes in a meticulously hand-painted wooden box with excellent protective qualities, accompanied by a leather carrying case that conceals a highly valuable commemorative coin beneath.

With supporters of Bard's Whisper around the world, we chose a secure shipping method and a protective hand-opening box design. As this Japan-exclusive edition is a limited release, each watch is accompanied by a brass Gothic commemorative coin.

BW’s first Japan collaboration model, “Eternal Wind,” proudly invited Taiwan’s premier watchmaking institution, the Taiwan Watch Academy, to handle the full assembly and technical adjustments for this piece.

The technicians at the Taiwan Watch Academy Maintenance Center hold Swiss independent watchmaking certifications and GIA gemological qualifications. They insist on using formal and traditional methods for cleaning, lubrication, and parts repair, providing maintenance services that meet the highest Swiss standards for luxury watches.

This collaboration represents Taiwan’s closest approach to Swiss-grade assembly craftsmanship, pushing our pursuit of elevated quality even further.

Special thanks to:
Master Chung Chia-Hao, founder of the Taiwan Watch Academy.

We are grateful to Master Chung for nurturing such an essential team and facility, allowing our original Taiwanese watch brand to take another significant step toward the global stage.

• When the crown is unscrewed and released, it will pop out to the winding position. Gently turn it clockwise to wind the movement. (The movement also winds automatically with natural wrist motion while wearing.)

• Pull the crown out slightly to enter the time-setting mode. Gently rotate it clockwise to adjust the time.

• After setting the time, push the crown back to its original position. Press the crown firmly against the case and twist to lock it securely.

Q. How should I handle future maintenance for the watch? Does the movement require servicing?
A. Our watch workshop is located in Taiwan, and we cover any movement malfunctions within one year with repair or replacement. The watch uses the Swiss SW200 automatic movement, known for its quality and reliability. It's durable and easy to maintain—servicing (cleaning and oiling) every 3–5 years at a watch shop is sufficient.

This model is a European-style decorative automatic mechanical watch.
Please avoid using it in the following situations:

• Sports activities

• Swimming

• Showering

• Exposure to fire/steam

• Intense vibrations (e.g., biking)

Channels for watch repair or product inquiries:

1. Send a private message to the Facebook fan page: “吟遊詩人的呢喃 (Bard’s Whisper)”

2. Email us at: bardswhisper@gmail.com

3. Leave a message on the official website: bardswhisper.com