Naoya Hida Watches

Naoya Hida Watches

Naoya Hida isn’t trying to scale. He’s trying to perfect.

This is Japanese independent watchmaking at its most refined — small-batch, hand-finished, and rooted in a very specific idea of what a perfect

watch should be. No gimmicks. No marketing fluff. Just deeply considered design, mechanical honesty, and craftsmanship you can feel.

If you’re the kind of collector who notices serifs on numerals and bevels on subdial cuts, you’re in the right place.

A Little History

Naoya Hida & Co. was founded in 2018 in Tokyo by Naoya Hida, a watch industry veteran with decades of experience — including stints with

Breguet, F.P. Journe, and Ralph Lauren Watches.

After years of working with Swiss maisons, Hida set out to create something quietly exceptional — combining Japanese craftsmanship with vintage

European aesthetics, all wrapped around traditional mechanical calibers.

The result? A line of watches made in ultra-low quantities (we’re talking ~20–30 per year), with every detail considered, refined, and intentionally minimal.

What Collectors Love

Naoya Hida watches are about restraint and precision. Everything is clean, but not sterile. Classical, but not derivative. The dials? Hand-engraved.

The numerals? Carved, not printed. The cases? Compact, slim, perfectly proportioned.

Core models include:

  • NH Type 1 — the original: a time-only piece with engraved Breguet numerals, leaf hands, and just-right proportions (37mm x 9.8mm).

  • NH Type 2 — adds small seconds at 9 o’clock, balancing symmetry with subtle depth.

  • NH Type 3 — includes a center seconds layout, maintaining the same classical feel with slightly different character.

Movements are heavily modified ETA/Peseux 7750-derived calibers, stripped down to basics, then refined in Japan — with custom bridges, new

gear trains, and gorgeous decoration.

Why Naoya Hida Belongs on the Shortlist

Because in a sea of overbuilt hype watches and startup minimalism, Hida’s pieces are refreshingly honest. These are not "design watches." They’re

watchmaker’s watches — clearly influenced by the best of 1930s–1950s Swiss design, but executed with obsessive modern standards.

Everything is done in tiny batches, with hand engraving, polished German silver plates, and case tolerances that rival the top-tier independents.

No celebrity collabs. No influencer drops. Just world-class horology, made in Tokyo, for the kind of collector who doesn’t need a logo to tell them what’s good.

What’s Out There Now

Naoya Hida watches are made to order — and each model year (Type 1B, 2C, 3A, etc.) is capped at very limited production, often under 20 pieces.

So far, models have included:

  • NH Type 1 (and 1B, 1C)

  • NH Type 2A / 2B / 2C (with small seconds)

  • NH Type 3A (center seconds)

  • A handful of collaborative editions, including unique dials and materials

If one hits the pre-owned market, it doesn’t sit long. These are already collector grails.

Fed’s Take

Naoya Hida is one of those names that comes up when collectors stop talking and start listening.

I’ve never had one in stock (yet), but I’ve handled a few — and they’re every bit as good as the photos suggest. They wear exactly like a mid-century

Patek or Vacheron, but with this clean, Japanese sharpness that you can’t unsee once you notice it.

If you’re looking to quietly own one of the best watches in the world — and I mean that literally — Hida’s at the top of the list.

Check Out Our Naoya Hida Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Naoya Hida watches — especially Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 models.

If you have a Naoya Hida watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

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