Hitori X Kolahon Meguro GMT Pale Planet - Ltd Ed 55pcs

Introduction To The World Of Hitori

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.

Hitori X Kolahon Meguro GMT Pale Planet - Ltd Ed 55pcs

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 “Pale Planet” edition vividly capturing the essence of Hitori’s enamel works once gain. The design is solely led by Kolahon, translating his artistic beauty of surrealism into a sporty yet elegant timepiece. Crafted with pride in Asia, the Kolahon's edition features a slim case with a distinctive sporty form, embodying the ideal daily companion for travelers. Its enamel dial evokes the artist’s whimsical yet profound world, harmoniously blending with the classic watch style with a modern, sporty edge.

Distinctive colors of Kolahon’s signature palette

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 Fuyu White edition vividly capturing the essence of Meguro's wintery charm. The design pays homage to the snow-covered streets of Meguro, translating the serene beauty of the city into a sporty yet elegant timepiece. Crafted with pride in Asia, the Fuyu White edition features a slim case with a distinctive sporty form, embodying the ideal daily companion for travelers. Its textured dial evokes the snowy landscape of Meguro, harmoniously blending classic style with a modern, sporty edge.

Who is Kolahon?

If you’ve explored both the traditional and digital art worlds, you’ve likely come across the name Kolahon. This alias, meaning ‘chaos’ in Thai, aptly embodies his artistic identity—a reflection of his passion for expressing the chaotic thoughts and emotions that shape our existence.

Driven by his mantra, "attempting to reinvent oneself in a chaotic world," Kolahon masterfully captures the beauty that emerges from life’s turmoil. His enduring character designs and symbolic depictions delve into themes of dreams and freedom, always in pursuit of balance, often symbolized by the timeless yin-yang. Each piece created by our distinguished partner Kolahon tells a profound story, serving as a reminder to embrace our inner fragility and discover our place in the world.

Kolahon: X // Instagram

Blue and pink rotating bezel reflects the colors of its inner rehaut

A Whimsical Enamel Dial

The Meguro design philosophy remains rooted in legibility, with every element crafted to ensure ease of reading. A custom flat crystal, treated with inner anti-reflective coatings, ensures the time is always visible at a glance. Beneath this crystal lies the brand's signature nature-inspired theme, seamlessly carried into the dial design.

Let’s delve into the dial itself. The intricate art of enamelwork, mastered by the craftsmen at Hitori, is on full display here. Drawing from traditional Japanese enamel pottery and art, the brand has perfected a multi-stage process for this limited-edition timepiece, produced in small quantities to maintain its meticulous craftsmanship. The result? The Kolahon edition’s dial exudes a soft, lustrous finish with a vivid richness that sets it apart from other watches.

The process begins with a unique molding technique that creates precise depth and cutouts for the markers, date window, and hands. Kolahon’s remarkable artwork is then 3D-printed onto the surface, followed by glazing and firing at high temperatures. This not only hardens the enamel but brings out the bold, distinctive colors of Kolahon’s signature palette. After the first firing, the dial undergoes a polishing treatment, then a second round of glazing and firing, ensuring both the gloss and smoothness are flawless. Each cutout and the date window frame are meticulously cleaned and inspected before the final firing, resulting in a luxurious, soft gloss that highlights Hitori’s expertise in enamel craftsmanship.

These finishes offer exceptional durability, making the enamel dial as resilient as porcelain while maintaining its pristine appearance for years. The watch hands and date frame are attached with precision, ensuring seamless integration into the enamel work with no margin for error.

The sharp handsets extend the attention to detail, contributing to a clean, minimal aesthetic free of distortion. Every element on the dial is clearly visible from any angle. Like the bezel and chapter ring, the pastel pink GMT hand is perfectly color-matched to Kolahon’s signature hue, complementing the enamel dial's vibrant design.

Hitori’s design showcases a deep commitment to excellence, precision, and artistry. By blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern design principles, the brand creates timepieces that are both visually stunning and functionally superior. The stark enamel dial features Kolahon’s surrealistic artwork, titled "Pale Planet," with no additional markers, logos, or wording to interrupt the artist’s canvas. Instead, a unique star-shaped design serves as the hour markers, and gold accents on the date window at 3 o’clock mirror the artist’s use of gold strands—underscoring Hitori's meticulous design approach. Each hand is perfectly proportioned, effortlessly gliding over the dial and minute rehaut without appearing stubby.

The vibrant enamel dial is signed with both the "Hitori" and "Kolahon" logos at the bottom, tying together the entire design. In essence, Meguro’s design centers on the concept of reflection and the interaction of light, achieving perfect harmony between form and function.

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

Artist Rationale

The "Pale Planet" artwork gracing the enamel dial brings a vivid dreamscape to life—a rabbit rising from a deep blue pool against a soft, pink-hued horizon. This whimsical scene draws from Kolahon's heartfelt reverence for the way the sun melts into the sea, painting the evening sky with delightful colors. Ethereal golden paths meander through this surreal world, accompanied by playful planets that evoke a sense of the infinite and the unknown. The striking contrast between the rabbit and the enchanting backdrop draws the viewer into an immersive, otherworldly experience. Meticulously crafted for Hitori's exclusive Meguro GMT series, this piece captures the essence of time's elusive nature through its imaginative and surreal design.

A Sleek Sports Case: Your Perfect Travel Companion

Crafted with care from 316L stainless steel, the limited Meguro GMT Pale Planet 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 blue and pink rotating bezel mirrors the colors of the inner rehaut and the artist’s distinctive palette, offering a subtle contrast that enhances the watch’s overall tranquility. It's a refreshing and delightful choice to see such soft hues on a professional tool watch. The bi-directional bezel operates with a satisfying firmness and smooth, precise clicks—an impressive feature for a watch in this price range. The bezel also boasts a sapphire overlay in two colors, ensuring durability through sapphire’s renowned hardness and scratch resistance. For added functionality, SuperLumiNova accents make the snow-white numerals glow blue in low-light settings. A polished metal ring separates the bezel from the crystal, infusing a sporty element that perfectly balances the watch’s serene design.

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 signed with the iconic “rabbit” from Kolahon, and then 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 ultraviolet 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.

Box deisgned by Kolahon

Putting the Finishing Touch with Kolahon's Signature Flair

Now the icing to the cake, each watch comes with a box deisgned by Kolahon himself. Upon flipping the wooden box within, the inside is made out of grained wood, while the watch is protected by velvet “envelop” folds in the middle. Once the navy blue outer box is opened up, the watch would sit beautifully within a leather finished inner box reminiscent of a sixties watch box from Japan. All these have yet again shown how much works are meticulously carried through each of Hitori’s release.

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. This particular edition further exemplifies Hitori’s dedication to the community. Owners are invited to be part of the brand's upcoming projects in the watch space, including special series, like this particular collaboration GMT, 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.