Meguro GMT Aki Koyo

In the world of horology, typically the mechanical watch genre, there's a nebulous stratum of design choices and pricing for watch enthusiasts. Often, in the case of fine watchmaking, as we know it, it exists on a broad scale spectrum. We have the utilitarian and affordable ones at one end, with rather compelling execution on fit and finishing. Then some are crafted superfluously with premium price tags, like those horology powerhouses.

As cliche as it sounds, we seldom see uncompromising aspects where a sturdy everyday watch with extravagant refinement could come at an affordable price, but there are genuinely some. However, in recent times, many that claim to be don't gain access to and handle the watches. Few have successfully conveyed this vision on the flip side, as nascent Hitori ひとり Watch Co. has with their exemplary watches.

Hitori Meguro GMT Aki Koyo

Known for its blend of traditional, modern craftsmanship and oriental East-Asian design, Hitori or, "ひとり" basically stands for "一人" which further means "one person" in Japanese. With the name in mind, you get a sense of what's coming from this brand. Hitori Watch Co. sets out to be an independent brand that brings timepieces like few others – at a pre-eminently excellent price point for a painstakingly well-executed mechanical watch. Not only that, but through the influence of Japanese culture, and most importantly, their traditional modus operandi. The philosophy in watchmaking displayed by this indie brand is all about value proposition, which shows notably in both the mechanical and aesthetic sides. That said, Hitori builds a unique experience for its community.

Hitori's current four instalments are the Ryukyu Diver, Habuka Deluxe, Yoshino, Somei-Yoshino collections. All of which reflected on not only Japanese deep culture, incorporating elements that reflect the nation's aesthetics, traditions and cultural motifs, but also collaborative crafts from around the world seen in those special sub series. Today, the exceptional watch brand continues to elevate the overarching themes with its fifth collection - the Meguro GMT collection.

Nature-inspired snowy texture like its Fuyu White brethren

The inspiration Of The new Meguro GMT Series


The "Meguro" timepieces are a heartfelt tribute to Hitori’s evolving journey, shaped by the enchanting charm of Tokyo’s Meguro ward. Famous for its serene river, which winds through lively shopping districts and is framed by around 800 cherry blossom trees, the area offers a gentle escape from the city’s hustle. Strolling along the river feels like stepping into a peaceful oasis, a calm sanctuary in stark contrast to Tokyo's vibrant pulse. Just moments away from the energy of Shibuya, Meguro’s laid-back atmosphere invites a slower pace, a perfect balance of excitement and tranquility. It is this cozy, relaxed ambiance that breathes life into Hitori’s GMT sports series, capturing the essence of refined casualness—seamlessly transitioning from the bustle of city life to a peaceful retreat.

The all new Meguro GMT collection continues to merge natural elements with urban sophistication, with the Aki Koyo edition vividly capturing the essence of Meguro's autumn fall. The design pays homage to the leaves of the blossom trees - radiating its beautiful red hues along the river of Meguro, translating the serene beauty of the city into a sporty yet elegant timepiece. Crafted with pride in Asia, the Aki Koyo edition features a slim case with a distinctive sporty form, embodying the ideal daily companion for travelers. Its textured dial evokes the autumn landscape of Meguro, harmoniously blending classic style with a modern, sporty edge.

Brown and white rotating bezel reflects the colors of its inner rehaut

A Sleek Sports Case: Your Perfect Travel Companion

Crafted with care from 316L stainless steel, the limited Meguro GMT Aki Kyo embodies a perfect blend of form and function. Measuring 39.6mm in diameter, with a height of 12.5mm (including sapphire glass) and a lug-to-lug length of 47.5mm, every detail of this timepiece has been thoughtfully designed to ensure a comfortable fit for any wrist size. Its 150m water resistance makes it a reliable companion for life’s adventures, while its slim, elegant profile ensures it never feels out of place—whether you're navigating the city or enjoying a quiet moment away. The intricate case design enhances its slimness, offering a subtle complexity when admired from the side. It’s a watch that feels like part of you, effortlessly accompanying you wherever the journey leads, without ever being a burden.

The brown and white rotating bezel reflects the colors of its inner rehaut, contrasting subtly without overthrowing its overall serenity. It can be rotated in both directions with tightness yet comes with soothing clicks - an execution that punches way above watches in this price category . And it features a sapphire overlay in two colors. Sapphire, known for its exceptional hardness and scratch resistance, ensures durability. The bezel also incorporates SuperLumiNova, making the snow-white portions and numerals glow blue in low-light conditions. A polished metal ring separates the bezel from the crystal, adding a sporty touch that complements the watch’s serene aesthetic.

Gold GMT hand matches the reddish brown dial

Hitori’s Integration Polishing: A Craft Like No Other

The case of the Meguro GMT is a masterpiece of craftsmanship that true watch enthusiasts are looking out for. It features gracefully down-turned lugs, a screw-down case-back, and a substantial screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, ensuring an impressive 150m water resistance. But it’s the attention to detail that truly makes this watch stand out. The signature integrated polishing adds a touch of elegance, elevating its appearance to a refined and premium level. Every contour, every finish speaks of precision and care, setting this timepiece apart from any other GMT on the market. It’s not just a watch; it’s a statement, a piece of art that you carry with you, turning every glance at your wrist into a moment of appreciation.

The case-finishing of the Meguro GMT deserves every ounce of admiration. Hitori draws deeply from the essence of Japanese watchmaking, not just in design but in craftsmanship that pushes boundaries. The multi-faceted case is a true work of art, flaunting high-polishing with unmatched precision and quality. Hitori employs several "integration polishing techniques"—a rare skill mastered only by artisans with years of dedicated experience. Every surface of the slim case, from the visible inner lugs to the incredibly challenging curved sides, is polished with meticulous attention. The result? Flawless satin finishes on the top and sides, beautifully interrupted by bold chamfers with mirror-polished, distortion-free perfection, creating a stunning contrast that effortlessly blends elegance and sportiness.

This is no ordinary case construction; the entire process involves over seven intricate steps, showcasing a level of mastery that many high-end brands can’t match at much higher price points. Each finely polished element not only adds to the watch's aesthetic brilliance but also contributes to a comfortable, luxurious fit on the wrist. With every glance and touch, you feel the quality, the care, and the devotion that went into its creation.

Spectacular polish results in ritzy and sleek surfaces with impressive multi-finishing

A Legible And Fiery Warm Dial

The Meguro design principles continue to focus on legibility. Therefore, the brand enhanced the clarity with a tailored flat crystal applied with inner anti-reflective coatings to ensure that anyone can easily read the time at a glance. The iconic nature theme of the brand is then carried onto the dial underneath the crystal.

Let’s start with the applied markers. Each faceted block mirrors the shape of the case, creating alluring reflections from any angle. The faceted indexes feature mirror polishing on each side, a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship involved. Such embellishments are reserved for designs where the outcomes are assuredly flawless. This precision is also evident in the bold, blunt-ended handsets, resulting in a harmonious yet minimalistic aesthetic that remains distortion-free. As observed, every detail on the dial remains clearly defined from any angle.

Hitori’s design philosophy embodies a commitment to excellence, precision, and craftsmanship. It merges traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern design principles to produce visually captivating and highly functional timepieces. The reddish brown color scheme is inspired by the “Koyo” (red leaves) on the blossom cherry trees of Meguro during the “Aki” (autumn) season, imbuing the watch with a poetic essence of pure beauty. To enhance its sporty theme, the handset and indexes at cardinal points (excluding the second hand and 3 o’clock index) are applied with matching Super-LumiNova, glowing blue for improved visibility at night. We’re thrilled that Hitori is reviving their luminous works, as the brand is truly a master in this art form.

Drilled lug holes for swapping straps with ease

The Aki Koyo autumn dial captures a nature-inspired snowy texture like its Fuyu White brethren, reminiscent of snowpack, with a satin-like sheen that reflects the calm and serene spirit of the season. High-gloss metal trims accentuate the date display at 3 o'clock, with a shorter marker at the edge for visual balance. This meticulous attention to detail underscores Hitori’s design expertise, thoughtful consideration, and dedicated effort. The gold GMT hand is to match the reddish brown tones of the watch, accurately indicating the second time zone. Each hand is perfectly proportioned, gracefully tracing individual markers on the dial, bezel, and minute and 24-hour inner rehaut without appearing stubby.

The textured dial is balanced off with the golden applied "Hitori" logo at the top and white “Meguro // GMT” text down at the bottom. Taking all things as a whole, Meguro GMT’s design is focused on the concept of reflection and interaction with light and nature in perfect harmony, adhering to the Hitori’s ethos.

Automatic winding-rotor harmonized beautifully

A Masterpiece of Japanese Design, Powered by a True Japanese GMT Movement

With its screw-down case-back, the reverse side of the Meguro GMT belies essential information and proudly exhibits its premium Japanese engine through a customized case-back crystal rendered with pinkish-red AR coating. Beneath this crystal lies Hitori's choice of mechanical movement—the GMT automatic calibre Miyota 9075. This particular GMT movement, with its flyer-style setting, is highly coveted by true watch enthusiasts.

The Japanese 11.5-ligne movement utilized by Hitori offers a slimmer case profile and is an upgrade from the Seiko NH calibers previously found in the brand's collections. Made with 24 jewels, the movement features manual winding, primary hour hand adjustment, and quick time adjustment capabilities, all controlled through the 3 o'clock screw-down crown. Beating away nostalgically at 4Hz/28,800 BPH, the Citizen caliber allows for hacking seconds for precise time-setting and a GMT “flyer” adjustment of the local hour hand. This means the wearer can set the main handset to local time and easily adjust the local hour hand to a new time zone without affecting the home time or the minute hand, perfect for frequent travelers.

All that panache comes with around 41 hours of power reserve when fully wound. Another truly incredible feature is the heat-treated winding rotor, embellished with a traditional Japanese wave pattern. This creates an appealing look that pairs harmoniously with the overall watch theme, reflecting both elegance and a nod to Japanese craftsmanship. The custom ultraviolet winding rotor crafted by Hitori showcases detail and commitment to individuality which are impressive. The unique hues of each rotor, never repeating, must make every piece truly one-of-a-kind.

Hitori also features a Japanese quote by Mitsuo Aida, a renowned poet and calligrapher, on each rotor: “人生において 最も大切な時 それはいつでも いまです,” which means, “In life, the most important moment is always now.” This translates to “The most important time in life is always the present.” Often referred to as The Poet of Zen, Mitsuo Aida underscores the profound significance of the "now" in life, as it is what shapes our future. Regardless of past regrets or future worries, his message encourages focusing on actions that can improve our lives in the present moment.

Sports bracelet with the emblematic "ひとり" engraved

A Sporty Bracelet That Elevates Everything

Each Meguro GMT watch comes on a reliable 20mm sports bracelet with the emblematic "ひとり" engraved clasp onto the strap option. The Meguro bracelet is thoroughly designed and fabricated - from the nifty "integration polishing techniques" to execute its satin-polished surface, only to be contrasted with mirror-finished stripes in the middle and sides, to the ergonomic yet robust solid end-links - giving the case and bracelet not only a uniform look but a sense of purpose. Each screwed link is crafted to the same level as its ritzy case without compromising sturdiness and comfortability. Once handled upon the bracelet, the quality punches way above its price point, unlike most metal bracelets you held before. Trust us, pick one up, and you will get what we meant immediately.

With the considerate drilled lug holes, strap hobbyists can easily change to other straps. In addition, Hitori has an assortment of fabric military nylon and rubber straps, allowing wearers to switch up the vibe to their liking while still having a complete Hitori package.

On the wrist

Crafting The Ultimate Travel Companion For Hitori’s Global Adventurers

Crafted to the highest standard yet to be found near the expected price point, the Meguro GMT is limited in production and exudes marvelous quality with attention to essential details that honor Japanese craftsmanship, particularly in watchmaking. The blend of fine design elements has all the prerequisites of a perfect everyday watch yet stands out with its sophisticated quality and ideal proportions. While it is decidedly sporty in its aspiration, the finesse and detailing in the execution are unmistakably Hitori.

In person, the exceptional finish is on full display from the case to the hands and indexes, signaling a richness in design that allows the Meguro GMT to stay within the realm of a high-end timepiece despite its tough construction and character. While it’s more than capable of being called a ‘tool watch,’ it chooses instead to sport its tastefully overt luxuriousness, seamlessly blending rugged functionality with refined elegance.

Since its inception, Hitori Watch Co. has been committed to building a strong community of supporters. Each owner of a Hitori watch becomes part of the brand's journey, with future incentives integrated or rewarded to each individual. Owners are invited to be part of the brand's upcoming projects in the watch space, including special series on existing and future watch collections and exclusive real-life experiences for collectors. Hitori Watch Co. and their community are in this for the long term, valuing owners as highly as their watchmaking.

In the meantime, the Meguro GMT is the perfect timepiece for your next trip to Tokyo. And don’t forget to check out the laidback Meguro city while you're there.