Seiko Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition – Ambidextrous Watch

This article is part of a series on the 2024 Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition;

• Sukiyaki Watch – Designed by Akira Yoshida
• Hide-and-Seek Watch – Designed by Masanori Kawamura
• Patternmaker’s Watch – Designed by Kotaro Usugami
• Panda Lovers Watch – Designed by Kiyotaka Sakai
• Masking Tape Enthusiasts Watch – Designed by Yugo Hibayashi
• Sunny Men Watch – Designed by Yu Ishihara
• Ambidextrous Watch – Designed by Kento Ito

The “Power Design Project 2024” will showcase the Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition at Seiko Seed in Harajuku, Tokyo, starting January 19, 2024. Organized by Seiko Watch Corporation, this initiative is part of an annual event that challenges in-house designers to delve deeply into the core of watchmaking, pushing the boundaries of their usual design styles and fostering innovative outcomes.

Centered around the theme of “incredibly specialized watches,” this year’s exhibition features seven designers who have approached the challenge from seven unique perspectives. The objective is to craft watches that are exceptionally exclusive, each creation highlighting fresh appeal through designs tailored to specific roles.

Ambidextrous Watch – Designed by Kento Ito

Ito, with a background in designing home appliances, furniture, miscellaneous goods, and information devices, joined Seiko in 2018 and is currently focused on designing Astron watches.

The Genesis of the Concept

Shifting Paradigms through Ambidextrous Design: A Bowling Alley Epiphany

During a visit to a bowling alley, Ito observed a friend switch his watch from the left to the right hand before bowling with his left hand. This unconventional act challenged the norm that right-handed individuals typically wear watches on their left hands, and vice versa. Prompted by this revelation, Ito contemplated the potential influence of the hand wearing the watch on thoughts, abilities, and actions. This led to questions about the relationship between watch placement and brain function, sparking the idea of a watch designed for ambidextrous individuals as a tool for self-innovation.

Insights from Dr. Toshinori Kato

Dr. Toshinori Kato, a neurologist, shared insights into the brain’s response to wearing a watch on different hands. Drawing on personal experiences as a left-handed individual, he highlighted the impact on memory, comprehension, visual, and motor systems. The concept of a cross-dominant watch resonated with his belief in utilizing every section of the brain through training. Dr. Kato suggested that changing the side of the watch not only alters brain engagement but also enhances awareness and stimulates the brain through a metaphorical exploration of changing shapes.

Bringing the Concept to Life

A World First? Crafting an Ambidextrous Watch

The ambidextrous watch goes beyond being a versatile timepiece; it is crafted exclusively for ambidextrous individuals. The unconventional design aims to provide robust stimulation to both the right and left brain, coupled with an aesthetic appeal. The watch represents a groundbreaking exploration of the relationship between watch placement, brain function, and aesthetics.

The watch’s appearance alters based on whether it is worn on the right or left hand, resulting in a fascinating change in perspective and dial color—a distinctive trait of this ambidextrous timepiece.

When worn on the right hand, the ambidextrous watch showcases a luminous white dial complemented by a captivating metallic hue on the case exterior. Notable features include the distinctive 12 o’clock index and triangular pointed hands.

On the left hand, a transformation occurs, revealing a sleek black dial. The hands and indexes undergo a significant shift while maintaining a cohesive look, sparking a shift in the observer’s perspective and thought process.