Naoya Hida & Co., a distinguished Japanese independent watchmaker known for its restrained annual releases and exclusive production, has collaborated with The Armoury, a renowned menswear brand, for the third time. This partnership introduces a remarkable timepiece, the Floating Feathers Reference Type 4A-2. This artistic creation boasts an intricately engraved dial, a testament to the brands' shared commitment to exceptional design and craftsmanship. This launch comes alongside Naoya Hida's unveiling of its 2026/2027 collection, which includes ten new watches and seven new references, featuring a sophisticated chronograph, a sleek Calatrava-inspired model, and a watch with a pristine porcelain dial.

The collaborative spirit between The Armoury and Naoya Hida & Co. is deeply rooted. The Armoury, founded in 2010 by Mark Cho and Alan See, has a strong presence in Hong Kong and New York City, catering to discerning gentlemen. Naoya Hida & Co., established in 2012, has quickly made a name for itself in the independent watchmaking scene, specializing in ultra-classic watches reminiscent of vintage Calatrava designs. Their previous collaboration, the Type2C-1 Lettercutter, explored the art of typography, while the new Floating Feathers Reference draws its creative essence from the natural world, specifically, the delicate and complex structure of a bird's feather.

The concept for the Floating Feathers design originated from The Armoury's co-founder, Mark Cho, and designer Elliot Hammer. Both share an admiration for the decorative dials prevalent in the mid-twentieth century, which often depicted nature-inspired motifs like birds and botanicals. Leveraging Naoya Hida & Co.'s in-house engraving expertise, they brought this vision to life. The dial, a hallmark of Naoya Hida's watches, is meticulously crafted from hand-engraved Argentium silver. This particular silver alloy was chosen for its superior resistance to tarnishing. Master engraver Keisuke Kano meticulously rendered three feathers seemingly floating across the bead-blasted dial surface. Each feather is depicted with individual barbs and a lifelike texture, achieved through exceptionally precise engraving that allows the underlying silver's shimmer to gleam through.

Complementing the exquisite dial, an angled inner flange features twelve hand-polished 18k yellow gold spherical minute markers, each meticulously assembled into the minute track. The brand's logo and the delicate scales are precisely engraved using a micro-milling machine. Time is elegantly indicated by a pair of sharply faceted hands, distinctive to the Naoya Hida Type 4 collection. Crafted from solid 18k gold, these elongated diamond-shaped hands are paired with a blued steel seconds hand, which features a unique "caviar spoon" counterweight.

The Floating Feathers watch for The Armoury is based on the Reference Type 4A and is housed in a 36mm case made of 904L steel. The case features polished surfaces and polished lateral bevels, exhibiting a slightly more refined and less retro aesthetic compared to other models in the collection, while still retaining subtle vintage elements. These vintage cues include a box-shaped sapphire crystal, designed to protect the dial, and a screwed caseback. The case measures 42.9mm in length and 11mm in thickness, offering a water resistance of 50 meters.

Powering this timepiece is the calibre 3020CS, a hand-wound movement meticulously modified from the Valjoux 7750. The chronograph and self-winding functions of the original movement have been removed, transforming it into a three-hander with a center seconds display. The movement incorporates an originally designed click-and-click spring for a smooth winding experience. It also features a custom-made three-quarter plate and balance bridge. Operating at a frequency of 4Hz, the movement provides approximately 45 hours of power reserve.

Presented on a hand-stitched charcoal grey calf strap crafted by Jean Rousseau, the Naoya Hida Reference Type 4A-2 Floating Feathers for The Armoury is a highly exclusive offering. Limited to just ten pieces for 2026, deliveries are anticipated in 2027. This watch is exclusively available through an application process, which must be completed and submitted in-store only between May 17th and May 20th, 2026. The timepiece is priced at USD 33,000 or HKD 257,400. This collaboration continues to showcase the innovative spirit and dedication to high-quality watchmaking shared by both The Armoury and Naoya Hida & Co., further solidifying their positions in the world of luxury goods.