The Armoury and Naoya Hida Debut Third Collaborative Timepiece
- David Chokron
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
The New York-based lifestyle brand has reunited with the independent Japanese watchmaker to unveil the Reference Type 4A-2 "Floating Feathers," marking the latest chapter in their ongoing partnership.
The independent Japanese watch brand Naoya Hida & Co. typically maintains a low profile, releasing just a limited number of new models annually and operating with a restricted production capacity. Last week, the brand unveiled its complete collection of models for 2026/2027, with 10 new watches and 7 new references, including an impressive chronograph, a small Calatrava-style timepiece, and a porcelain dial. However, it is not all the brand had to present. In collaboration for the third time with The Armoury New York, both entities unveil the Floating Feathers Reference Type 4A-2, an artistic creation featuring an etched dial and a complex pattern.
The Floating Feathers Reference signifies the third collaborative model between The Armoury and Naoya Hida & Co. A menswear company established in Hong Kong in 2010 by Mark Cho and Alan See, with locations in both Hong Kong and New York City. On the opposite side is an emerging name in Japanese independent watchmaking, a brand established in 2012, dedicated to producing ultra-classic timepieces inspired by historic Calatrava designs. Their initial cooperation examined typographic craftsmanship (the Type2C-1 Lettercutter), but the Floating Feathers is inspired by nature, particularly the complex architecture of a bird's feather.
The Armoury
The design was created by Mark Cho, co-founder of The Armoury, and designer Elliot Hammer. Both enthusiasts of mid-twentieth century ornate dials, including cloisonné designs with avian, botanical, and natural sceneries, they successfully produced a distinctive pattern using the in-house engraving proficiency of Naoya Hida & Co. The dial, consistent with Naoya Hida's timepieces, is crafted from hand-engraved Argentium silver, an alloy selected for its tarnish resistance. Conceived by Keisuke Kano, the brand's master engraver, it has three feathers delicately suspended over the bead-blasted dial surface, each intricately detailed with distinct barbs and the realistic texture of a vane, showcasing exceptional engraving precision that reveals the luster of exposed silver beneath.
The base dial is encircled by an inclined inner flange with 12 meticulously polished 18k yellow gold spherical minute markers, each built separately along the minute track. The brand's emblem and the scales are inscribed using a micro-milling equipment. The time is displayed by a pair of precisely faceted hands, characteristic of the Naoya Hida Type 4 collection. Composed of solid 18k gold, these elongated diamond-shaped hands are accompanied with a blued steel seconds hand featuring a unique “caviar spoon” counterbalance.
The Floating Feathers for The Armoury, according to Reference Type 4A, is encased in a 36mm housing constructed from 904L steel, with polished surfaces and lateral bevels. In contrast to the remainder of the line, it features a more refined, less retro-inspired design, while yet including vintage elements, such as the box-shaped sapphire crystal safeguarding the dial and the screwed caseback. The casing measures 42.9mm in length and 11mm in thickness, including a water-resistance rating of 50m. Inside resides the calibre 3020CS, a manually wound movement featuring a uniquely constructed click-and-click spring for ease of winding. It utilizes the gear train of the Valjoux 7750, which is subsequently modified to eliminate both the chronograph and self-winding mechanisms, resulting in a center seconds three-hand configuration. The mechanism, with a bespoke three-quarter plate and balance bridge, oscillates at 4Hz and retains around 45 hours of power reserve.
The Naoya Hida Reference Type 4A-2 Floating Feathers for The Armoury, affixed on a hand-stitched charcoal grey calf strap crafted by Jean Rousseau, is issued as a limited edition of 10 pieces for 2026, with delivery anticipated in 2027. The watch is available solely through an application process, which must be completed and submitted in-store between May 17th and May 20th, 2026, or via The Armoury’s website. The price is USD 33,000 or HKD 257,400. For additional information, kindly visit thearmoury.com.
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