power design project 2024

Santa Claus' Specialized Watch

As I was contemplating what kind of incredibly specialized watch to design, I suddenly heard a Christmas song sung by a certain artist. The image that came to mind was of Santa Claus, delivering presents to children all over the world. I thought to myself, what if I created a special watch for him to use on his journey? I let my imagination run wild, picturing Santa Claus delivering presents, bringing smiles to children’s faces as he traveled the world.

The time scale is marked with Arabic numerals from evening to dawn (7 p.m. to 6 a.m.) to suit Santa Claus, who is active during the night. The red reindeer marks the second hand, while the long and short hands indicate the current time. The glass features the Seiko logo and the slogan “For the happiness of all children” arranged to represent a smiling face, symbolizing the wish to deliver presents that will bring smiles to the faces of all children.

Reflecting on Santa Claus’s activities—navigating the pitch-dark night sky to deliver presents to children worldwide—I recognized the need for a device capable of performing across diverse environments. To address these unique challenges, I considered several critical factors: ensuring time legibility in the dark, tracking the time remaining until dawn, managing time across multiple time zones, and enabling him to deliver gifts discreetly without being noticed. With these factors in mind, I set out to design a watch that allows Santa to instantly grasp time-related information at night and seamlessly supporting his deliveries without being seen.

The dial features Lumibrite, which makes it glow in the dark, enhancing its legibility at night. The star-shaped GMT hand points to the scale along the outer edge of the dial to indicate the second time zone. This allows Santa Claus to easily check the time in the area he's about to visit as he travels around the world.
The case is designed with soft, rounded curves, and the watch as a whole reflects the gentle presence of Santa Claus. By closing the lid attached to the case, the light from the Lumibrite can be concealed, allowing Santa to distribute presents in the dark without being seen.

Another aspect I focused on was incorporating Santa Claus-like qualities into the watch’s design. I wanted to capture the essence of Santa—generous and full of kindness—so I designed the case with soft, rounded curves. I also aimed to evoke the serene beauty of the night sky and the quiet time that flows through it, using a reindeer for the second hand and a star for the GMT hand. My hope is that this watch evokes the image of Santa Claus, tirelessly delivering presents and guiding his sleigh through the quiet night.

By positioning the crown at the 6 o'clock position, the watch prevents contact between the crown and the wearer's wrist, ensuring a comfortable fit. Additionally, the leather strap with its broad base beneath the case ensures that the metal case does not come into direct contact with the skin in cold environments.

Expert’s Comments

Officially recognized by the Greenland International Santa Claus Association as Japan’s Santa Claus representative Mr. Paradise Yamamoto

He's the jolly old man we all picture delivering presents to good children on Christmas Eve—dressed in a red and white outfit, with a thick belt and black boots. That’s the image we have of Santa Claus, isn’t it? Yet, the truth is, he’s quite a stylish figure. Beneath his iconic costume, he wears carefully chosen Japanese-made underwear, along with understated luxury brand items. The annual World Santa Claus Congress in Denmark brings together officially recognized Santas from around the globe. At first glance, they all appear the same, but the subtle details of their costumes—reflecting the unique character of each country—make each one of them quite captivating. Watches and pocket watches are among the standout features, ranging from classic timepieces and those adorned with precious metals to whimsical toy watches. It’s like a watch expo with something for everyone! Now, there’s a Japanese-made specialty watch designed specifically for Santa Claus, perfect for casual wear and sure to impress. Japan’s official Santa has been eagerly anticipating this moment!