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INTRODUCING: The Minase Horizon 2.0 is striking and utterly distinct INTRODUCING: The Minase Horizon 2.0 is striking and utterly distinct

INTRODUCING: The Minase Horizon 2.0 is striking and utterly distinct

Fergus Nash

Minase are such a distinct brand in the marketplace, fitting into the incredibly specific niche of high value luxury. Their watches aren’t cheap by any stretch, but for the level of artisanal expertise and production quality, you could spend twice as much on a more established brand and not get close. The Minase Horizon 2.0 is, as you may have guessed, the Japanese brand’s second run of their unique take on a square watch and manages to be both sophisticated and intense.

The name of the Minase Horizon is inspired by the horizon line when staring out at the vast expanse of open ocean, as you get a pure and uninterrupted view of the Earth’s curvature and majesty. You get this impression from the sides of the case, which shows how extreme yet gentle the curve is on the domed sapphire crystal. The Minase Horizon also happens to be the brand’s thinnest watch at 12mm tall — a particularly impressive feat considering how much detail is crammed into the finishing. The case sides are scalloped and brushed on both sides with the crown side having generous guards and a sawtooth-cut crown pattern. The logo is also etched into the crown with some subtle bluing.

As good as the side view is though, the front view is what we all want to stare at. The case has an expertly divided blend of finely brushed and polished aspects, with the polished areas given the Sallaz treatment for a distortion-free mirror finish. Each watch is hand-polished for at least 15 hours, giving you more than a taste of the ornate. In terms of dimensions, the case is 38mm wide and only 44mm long, however the lugs which look like integrated bracelet links do reach across 51mm. Thankfully due to their rather quick slope, the wearability definitely strays closer to a smaller watch than a larger watch no matter if you go for the rubber or steel bracelet options.

The Minase Horizon 2.0 follows a “case in case” philosophy that uses steel in place of a traditional dial, which also makes room for more experimentation. Just as the case explores a smooth structure, the dial is dedicated to depth and texture. The indices which extend from the case and cross a small chasm into the central section are highly polished to catch the light with ease, while the base goes from a matte blasting, to a circular brushing, to a vertical brushing. The frame for the date window is generous and draws attention to the complication, giving you a very complete experience whenever you wish to check the time. The movement beneath is a KT7002, based on a high end ETA 2892 ébauche with extremely beautiful decoration from the back.

The Minase Horizon 2.0 pricing and availability:

There are six references of the The Minase Horizon 2.0 now available for purchase on the Minase official webshop, with black, silver, and blue dials achieved by PVD coating on either rubber straps or stainless steel bracelets. Price: 4,300 CHF (Rubber) / 5,500 CHF (Bracelet)

Brand Minase
Model Horizon 2.0
Case Dimensions 38mm x 51mm x 12mm
Case Material Stainless Steel
Water Resistance 50 Metres
Crystal(s) Sapphire front and back
Dial Black / silver / blue
Lug Width N/A
Strap Integrated rubber or steel bracelet
Movement KT7002
Power Reserve 50 hours
Availability Available now from the Minase webshop
Price 4,300 CHF (Rubber) / 5,500 CHF (Bracelet)