Naoya Hida Presents the NH Type 6A, Its First Perpetual Calendar

It’s certainly not the first time we’re talking about Naoya Hida & Co., a niche, artisanal watchmaking company from Japan, but it’s always with great pleasure that I write these articles. NH is one of these hidden gems from the Land of the Rising Sun, a rather young company that focuses on high-end, classic designs with handsome 1930s and 1940s Calatrava inspirations. We have already covered in this magazine notable models such as the Type 3A Moon Phase, the rectangular Type 5A or the 36mm Type 4A Collection. Now, as part of the slightly refreshed 2025 collection, which includes a new yellow gold Type 3 Moon and light updates to the Type 5A, Naoya Hida presents its sixth creation, the NH Type 6A, its first perpetual calendar watch. 

Let’s quickly break down Naoya Hida’s collection. It all started with the Type 1, with a small seconds at 9 o’clock and an unmistakable Calatrava inspiration. It was followed by the Type 2, a slightly more modern watch with central seconds, before returning to classicism and the Type 3, with a moon phase display. Next came the Type 4, with a compact 36mm case and edgier design and a surprising take on the rectangular watch, the Type 5. And as you’ve guessed, it’s now time for the brand’s sixth creation, its most complicated watch to date, the NH Type 6A Perpetual Calendar.

A quick look at this new model leaves very few questions regarding its origin. Even with additional complications, the NH Type 6A remains unmistakably part of Naoya Hida’s lineage, with all classic design elements that have made the success of the brand so far. What that means is that we’re once again looking at a watch that mixes the appeal of a vintage Patek or Vacheron from the late 1940s with a clear artisanal edge and an almost utilitarian feel on certain levels. The case, which measures a mere 37mm in diameter, and 11.5mm in thickness, is made of 904L stainless steel with brushed surfaces and a polished concave bezel. The integration of the correction pushers for the calendar is, well, hardly integrated. In most cases, I would have blamed the brand for such a poor construction, but here, for an irrational reason, I do think these look appropriate, if not adding to the overall appeal of the watch… Try to understand…

An element that always stands out in watches made by Naoya Hida & Co. is how detailed the dials are. And this new QP makes no exception to the rule. In fact, due to the added complexity of the display, there’s even more attention to detail than you’d normally see. In classic Hida fashion, the NH Type 6A has a solid sterling silver (Argentium silver) dial, known for its resistance to tarnishing. The Roman numerals and all sub-dial indications are hand-engraved by engraver Keisuke Kano and then filled with cashew (synthetic Urushi lacquer), adding great depth to the dial. The layout is traditional for a perpetual calendar, with central hours/minutes, and sub-dials for the date (9 o’clock), the day of the week (3 o’clock) and the month with leap year (6 o’clock). The central hours are hand-polished 18k yellow gold and calendar indications are displayed by blued steel hands.

Inside the Naoya Hida NH Type 6A is the same base movement as most other watches made by the indie watchmaker. The base is produced in collaboration with none other than Austrian watchmaking company Habring² on the basis of the 7750 gear train. On top of this hand-wound movement beating at 4Hz and storing about 45h of power reserve is a module sourced from Dubois-Depraz. The movement is visible through a sapphire back with its signature circular striped pattern.

Worn on a black grained leather strap, the Naoya Hida NH Type 6A Perpetual Calendar will be produced in small quantities – expected around 10 pieces between 2025 and 2026. The price will be JPY 7,500,000 (export price without taxes), or about EUR 45,600 at the time of publication.

There are two possibilities for purchasing this watch and other models from the 2025 collection. First, via naoyahidawatch.com with a dedicated page opened from May 19th (as of 10AM, Japan time) until May 22nd. Successful applicants will be contacted as of mid-June. Second, via The Armoury’s website, with an allocation lottery that will open on May 21st and run through June 15th, 2025.