【STOCK】 The Diver 「蛇」 "SNAKE"

Celebrating the year of snake with red face. Why? Because it is my father's Japanese/Chinese zodiac. And yes, I loved red so much when I was young. I was wearing red a lot. I had red flannel double breasted jacket and all red Air Max 90 which was celebration model of American Independence day. So very mix reasons to made this model. But of cause most importantly, is this beautiful or not as watch.

◆About "Eto" 「干支」

I think Japanese/Chinese zodiac and "Eto" 「干支」 is getting famous for watch enthusiast. But I assume that most of them doesn't know what's all animal there etc. so let me explain a bit. Because it's one of Japanese culture.

Similar to "Zodiac sign" but it's yearly not monthly. So we call 「年男」"Toshi-Otoko" which means The year of men. Easy. And there is not much meaning nowadays. But it was not.

「年男」"Toshi-Otoko" does all important duty during new year seasons. Such as Year-end cleaning, special decoration of new year "Shou-gatsu"「正月」🎍 (← like this) , 「若水の水汲み」which is First draw water from own house well to make tea. Then drink to avoid bad luck of that year, the offering for the year of the god etc...

Last of is quite interesting culture of Japan, but it will be very long so may be next time. About small Shinto altar at home. Shinto is Japanese religion but not much religion things. More like culture.

・What's all animal?

The Eto is a cycle of 12 years, each named after a different animal: Rat (子), Ox (丑), Tiger (寅), Rabbit (卯), Dragon (辰), Snake (巳), Horse (午), Sheep (未), Monkey (申), Rooster (酉), Dog (戌), and Boar (亥).

I think all Japanese can name all animal in order. Not much people care about it anymore but stay in culture. 

・Why those animal and that order?

Long, long ago, God said, "The first 12 animals to arrive here at new year, will be the 12 signs of the zodiac. And you will be boss of that year"

The ox was slow, but started early and arrived first. But the rat was sneaky and on the back, so he got first place. The tiger was fast, but he was too arrogant so 3rd. The rabbit was clever and run hard, 4th.

 

The dragon and the snake arrived almost same, but the dragon was more superior so 5th and 6th. The horse was energetic but too much eating grass.

 

The goat was kind and got lost. The monkey and the dog went together, but they had fight. And the rooster helped to settle down. So the rooster is middle of them.

Lastly, the Boar was fast and arrived 1st. But the Boar can go straight only so he passed goal. 12th.


So that's the story of how the animals got their places in the zodiac. I still remember those from childhood.

Of course it's not just those. More scientific and spiritual things and mith too. So please search about it if you have time. Good to know other cultures and also searching deeper about culture you know to find out more. To keep culture alive.

◆About this piece

Let's back to original story. About this piece. Eye-catching red face with special engraving on back. Snake in the middle with 2025 and "Carefully-made by KATABAMI" in Japanese. I adjusted my laser engraving machine to make this engraving goldish grey colour instead of black. To match with hands.

My vintage aging on red is tone-down vividness of red. Make this vintage feel more. Still classy but very unique.

Beautiful gradation of fading of bezel. More fading on 10 o'clock side to still a bit shiny 4 o'clock side.

Only second hand is gold and others are heavily tarnished aged silver. I wanted to put gold hands but it was too much. So only second hand is gold was great choice. Also there was some only second hand is gold. Based on vintage watch.

Also big thick domed which I usually use for The Diver was too much for all red face. So I got less height domed plexiglass from France to make more stylish. But still vintage feels.  

This one is stock one. So you will get this exactly model and don’t need to wait few weeks to build.

Don’t miss it if you like it. 

 *I can change bracelet for no extra charge.

Cost Detail

The Diver  : €980

Laser Engraving : €100

With date : €50