[SPECIAL RELEASE] LOWERCASE X NAVAL WATCH CO

FRXA001 and FRXB001 watches are now in stock at Nepenthes New York. A collaboration between Japanese design firm LOWERCASE and historic Swiss watchmaker Naval Watch Co. (N.W.C.) these models combine elements of classic sports watches with a vintage military feel. 

LOWERCASE creative director Yoshikage Kajiwara is an active force in Japan’s creative scene, with extensive experience in product design in addition to founding digital media collection Ring of Colour with Hiroshi Fujiwara. But until a few years ago, he had never considered tinkering in the world of watches. 

That changed with a call from Seiko, the legendary Japanese watch maker, who tapped him to design models from their ProSpex line. Through LOWERCASE, Mr. Kajiwara placed his touch on a line of high-precision sports watches, including the Fieldmaster SBDC011 (Field Tuna) and SBEP003 (Digi Tuna).

Freshly armed with expertise and eager to create more, he reached out to N.W.C. to launch this collection. Packed with subtle details like the tan color of the indices on the watch face, these products combine elements of vintage military goods with hi-spec sports watch design - creating timepieces that are both stylish and functional. 

The FRXA001 takes much of its inspiration from classic sports watches, capturing this spirit with its mechanical movement, stainless steel construction, and host of capabilities, including automatic winding, LumiNova G-300F Luminescent paint for telling time in the dark, and water resistance up to 5 bar. Special care is taken on the shape of the lugs, with exacting specifications on their thickness and curve, giving this watch a sense of rugged luxury far beyond its price. 

FRXB001

FRXB001 is more akin to a military field watch, outfitted with quartz movement for a more casual and sporty feel. Below the rotating bezel, the acrylic glass forms a dome as it covers the watch face, providing a retro feel. With the mesh stainless steel bracelet this watch adds just the right touch when worn with a blazer.