Uruga 31 Bracelet Model [UG02-M01NCP-SSB]

In steel, the URUGA 31 shows its geometry more plainly than in any plated finish. Nothing warms the surfaces, so the facets have to carry the watch, and they do.

Four separately cut clasps clamp the case and the crystal together around the bezel, a structure MINASE modelled on the prong settings jewelers use for gemstones. It replaces the enclosed case-in-case construction the brand uses on its square models with something more open, and it puts the contrast between sharp edges and smooth curvature right on the surface of the watch.

The dial is patterned in horizontal gradated bands taken from the Minase River in Akita, and the indices are obliquely cut, after the crossed front of a kimono, to produce a wavering light. Above them sits a sapphire crystal with a slight vertical curve.

The steel case measures 31 by 39 mm and 9.9 mm thick, on a steel bracelet, which makes for a compact and unusually flat watch. The self-winding KT8001, built on a Swiss ETA 2671 and Sellita SW100 base and finished by MINASE, carries a date. Rated 5 atm for rain and splashes.

Perfect for: all-steel bracelet watches, faceted case designs, buyers who prefer a smaller automatic.