A new challenge of Casio "Osianas Manta"."Shine" brought by accumulated technology

The "Osianas Manta" is a collection that is positioned in an Osianus flagship that embodies the level of materials and finishes, as well as the design.Since its first work in 2007, it has been developing models that combine advanced performance and flowing forms, but especially the most creative dials, using the brand color "Osianas Blue".It is a design work that unfolds in a bezel.In 2021, a new challenge in the bezel creation was cleared, and the latest work, OCW-S6000, further sublimated Osianas Manta's elegant proportions.

三田村優：写真　Photographs by Yu Mitamura竹石祐三：取材・文　Text by Yuzo Takeishi

Transparent blue sapphire crystal bezel

The "OCW-S6000" has a different expression from any "Osianas Manta", which has been announced so far, including models that incorporate traditional crafts such as Edo Kiriko, Awa Ai, and Makie.Bezel is particularly impressive.It expresses a deep blue and deep blue, as if sucked into the deep sea, and further emphasized the presence of sapphire crystal bezel.

ファセットカットを施したサファイアクリスタルベゼルは、斜めのカット面と外周面の稜線を揃えたことでジュエリーのようなデザインに。天面にはレーザーで都市コードを刻印しているが、透明なサファイアクリスタルに刻印するために特殊な技術が用いられている。表記の視認性も確保した。

In order to achieve this, the “CMF (Color Material Finish)” design, which has been actively adopted in recent G-SHOCK, has been adopted.Mr. Takayasu Sato, who is in charge of product planning, said, "Osianas has been a coloring technology such as IP and vapor, and using materials such as sapphire crystals and ceramics, to produce a trial and error to distinguish blue expressions.He explains that the combination of sapphire crystal and vapor is determined to be able to express the world view of Osianas. "In pursuit of a unique approach that can be called "sapphire CMF", a completely new sapphire crystal bezel prepared for the "OCW-S6000".

「オシアナス」の商品企画を担当する佐藤貴康氏。「OCW-S6000」の企画を進めていくなかで求めたのは、着けやすさだったという。「サファイアクリスタルはジュエリーのような雰囲気がありますが、オシアナスブルーを意識したブルーからブラックへのグラデーションに仕上げて、スポーティーに着けこなしていただくことを意識しました」。

The conventional Osianas Manta uses a panel that covers the bezel material with titanium, but the OCW-S6000 is solid.In other words, sapphire crystal is set in a bare state that is not covered by metal or the like.The shape is also characteristic, and not only is cut on the outer periphery in accordance with the polygon bezel seen in the past model, but also a total of 24 tapered tapards from the outer circumference to the top.It is configured by facet cut.In other words, if you look at the wristwatch from the front, or even if you capture it from the side, you can enjoy the expression that the sapphire crystal is shining from the inside.

But the bezel cutting is not simple.As is widely known, sapphire crystal is transparent and elegant, but has excellent scratch resistance.Nevertheless, it is a very difficult material that is difficult to process, which breaks when a strong impact is broken.Therefore, in Casio, the bezel is repeatedly prototyped in the design of the "OCW-S6000", and the tapered surface tilt angle is set to 50 °, which is most difficult to break.Moreover, since it is designed to strictly intersect between the outer peripheral surface and the tapered surface, it is a shape that cannot be completed unless the sapphire crystal, which is difficult to polish even, is not added.There is.

蒔絵モデルをはじめ、オシアナスのターニングポイントとなるモデルを手掛けてきたチーフデザイナーの藤原陽氏。「OCW-S6000」のデザインにおいては「サファイアクリスタルを使うと、どうしても女性らしいジュエリーの雰囲気が強くなってしまうので、どうやって工業デザイン的なルックスに落とし込むかが課題だった」と振り返る。

Yo Fujiwara was in charge of this novel design. He is a Casio chief designer who has worked on many models that have become Osianas turning points, including the "OCW-S5000ME" that incorporates the lacquer technique. "If you use a solid sapphire crystal for the bezel, the sapphire crystal will emit a unique color at the incident angle and reflection angle, and you will be able to give an completely new atmosphere in Osianas." Mr. Fujiwara, who thought so, first created an illustration of design to achieve the idea. However, simply using sapphire crystal will make feminine nuances like jewelry watches stronger, so in the initial stage, the case and bracelets combine the flat surface and the edge in accordance with the face cut of the bezel. Aim for an industrial design.

藤原氏が最初に起こした直筆のデザインイラストと、それを基に試作した最初のプロトタイプ。ベゼルのファセットカットに合わせて、ケースやブレスレットもソリッドなデザインを組み合わせていた。

However, at first, no matter how detailed the illustrations were made, Fujiwara asked a manufacturer to prototype a wristwatch.Presenting a sample model that combines a facet -cut sapphire crystal bezel with a case will reveal the difference in facial expressions, and will finally start to commercialize.

（左）サファイアクリスタルベゼルは、カット面はもちろん、狙いとするブルーからブラックへのグラデーションカラーを具現化するために試行錯誤が繰り返された。（右）外周と斜面に施された合計24面のファセットカット。すべての稜線がズレると見栄えが悪くなるため、その研磨は厳しいオーダーであるとは認識しながらも、譲れないポイントであったという。

However, the deep blue coloring as seen in the actual product was not straightforward. When coloring a transparent sapphire crystal, it is common to perform evaporated processing. However, in the vapor method used in the conventional model, the bezel can be represented when viewed from the front, but it looks colorless and transparent when viewed from the side. What the development team aimed at was a bezel that can be seen from any angle of expressions like blue to black gradation, that is, "azure sea." In order to achieve this, we have also developed an exterior development team to develop a new vapor. As a result, we succeeded in creating a sapphire crystal bezel like blue lumps by applying unprecedented complicated vapor -deposits and polishing the inner periphery of the bezel.

左（オシアナス カシャロ OCW-P2000）のように、これまではサファイアクリスタルをチタンでカバーするパネル使いだったが、「OCW-S6000」のサファイアクリスタルベゼル（右）は、剥き出しのままセットする新しい表現を採用。24面ものファセットカットを施すことに加え、万が一腕時計が落下しても破損することがないよう、サファイアクリスタル風防には3.1mmもの厚さを与え、厳格な品質基準をクリアしている。また、ここまで厚みを持たせることより、時計を横から見るとサファイアクリスタルが浮いているかのように感じられる効果も狙ったという。

Case design and its structure with a jewel -like setting

ソリッドなフォルムと複雑な輝きを放つサファイアクリスタルベゼルは、数多くのトライ&エラーを繰り返すことでようやく量産化への道筋が見えたものの、これを単純にケースと組み合わせるだけでは、理想とするプロポーションには到達しない。ベゼルの存在感をより引き立たせるためには、当然のことながら、ケースのデザインにも改良を施す必要がある。

ジュエリーセッティングをイメージし、ラグをわずかに迫り上げた立体的なケースデザインを採用。4つのラグがサファイアクリスタルをかしめているようにも見えるが、実際には独自の技術を用いて頑強に固定されているという。一方で、女性的なデザインにならないよう、ベゼルのファセットカットに合わせてケースには直線的なデザインを取り入れ、エッジの効いたプロポーションに仕上げた。

Fujiwara imagined that the jewelry was squeezed in Ishiza, just like a stone ring.For this reason, the case itself was designed to be a three -dimensional form with only the lag part.Nevertheless, it is not actually sapphire crystal with four lags, but the three -dimensional lag is a "design" inspired by jewelry setting.The sapphire crystal bezel was strongly fixed by Casio's unique technology and cleared strict quality standards.

Until now, the Osianas Manta was characterized by a beautiful form that incorporates curves everywhere, but as mentioned above, the "OCW-S6000" is ideally developed with a linear look that makes use of the facet-cut bezel. It is a model that has been advanced. Mr. Fujiwara, who thought that combining a flowing case and an edgy sapphire crystal bezel would give a tingling impression, initially attempted a bold design change to renew the bracelet into a solid atmosphere. However, in the company, there was an opinion that "if you change the bracelet, the oscianous manta -likeness will be impaired", so the bracelet is brushed up the linear design at the 12:00 and 6 o'clock side of the case. Inherited the five -series design that was used in the previous model. A new Osianas Manta was born, with the image of jewelry settings, leaving the iconic designs firmly.