INTRODUCING: The Minase Horizon and 5 Windows Midsize

Fergus Nash

There has been no shortage of love for Minase in recent times, and for good reason. The Japanese brand is consistently producing watches that challenge the artistry of much larger luxury brands for a fraction of the cost, and their originality goes far beyond simply changing up some dial designs. Expanding their list of potential customers, Minase have released a range of new references for their popular Horizon and 5 Windows watches in a smaller case size for those who either need or prefer them, regardless of gender.

The Horizon is one of Minase’s easiest watches to fall in love with, perfectly riding the line between simplicity on the dial and complexity with the case. The rectangular profile with jutting, blocky lugs has been taken down to a 37mm diameter with a 46mm lug-to-lug length, suiting a smaller wrist well without losing any of the watch’s magnificent presence. There are plenty of versions to choose from, with various combinations of dial colours and case materials. You can go stealthy with a black-on-black coated case, versatile with a classic steel and blue scheme, modern and summery with a white dial on matching rubber, or even floral with a blush pink dial and diamond-studded case.

The Minase 5 Windows is slightly dressier with its more pronounced rectangle shape and blocky case, with the sides featuring the extra three panels of sapphire which give the 5 Windows its name. It’s also a little bit smaller with dimensions measuring 32mm wide by 40.3mm long between the lugs. Viewable from almost every angle, the inner dial of Minase’s “case-within-a-case” construction also varies wildly from reference to reference, each bringing its own personality to the watch from blue, white, pink, or even customised works of unique art. The cases are also available in different materials such as steel, palladium, yellow or rose gold, with the option of diamonds along the sides.

Both of these watches use the Minase calibre KT8001/1 with a power reserve of 38 hours and a beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, as it’s based on the ETA 2671 movement. The 2671 is a close relative of the famed 2824, although better suited for use in small watches. These Swiss-produced movements are then customised by Minase to feature extraordinary hand-finishing on the plates and bridges, extending their quality workmanship to the rear of the watch as well as the front.

The Minase Horizon and 5 Windows Midsize pricing and availability:

The diamond-studded models are limited to 16 pieces for the 5 Windows and 54 pieces for the Horizon, and. you can find the Minase website here. Price: Starting from CHF 3,180 (Horizon) / CHF 3,480 (5 Windows)