The Tsuba Blue and Tsuba Dong Son
The first two timepieces made by PS Horology
The Tsuba Blue
The first Tsuba timepiece designed by PS Horology, the Tsuba Blue edition is influenced by elements from early vintage wristwatches combined with modern materials and manufacturing techniques. Classic index and hand design is combined with modern techniques of printing on sapphire resulting in a visual depth to the dial details.
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Tsuba Blue details
The case is made in Le Locle, Switzerland from 316L stainless steel. Both front and back glasses are made from sapphire and water resistant to three atmospheres. From 3 to 9 o’clock across the case excluding the winding crown the case measures 38.3mm and 8.91mm thick.
The movement is made by Vaucher Manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland, calibre 5401 with micro-rotor automatic. It measures in thickness 2.60 mm and in diameter 30.00 mm (13 ¼”’). The number of components is 176, and the number of synthetic jewels 29 with a personalised tungsten micro-rotor, turning on a ceramic ball race. The power reserve lasts 48 hours, and the balance wheel is free-sprung. Balance frequency 3 Hz (21.600 A/h).
The dial centre is made from sapphire, the dial frame anodised metal.
The intergrated bracelet has a butterfly deployment buckle.
Available from: Switzerland, PS Horology
Delivery by August 2025.
The Price is CHF 19,500.- (excluding tax and shipping), 30% reservation deposit.
There will be 100 pieces made in 2025, 99 for purchase by collectors.
Available from:
The Tsuba Case
The ergonomic shape of the case was inspired by the tsuba, a shaped guard at the end of the grip of a Japanese sword that contributes to both the balance of the weapon and the protection of the hand from the blade. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), these guards evolved from simple and practical to highly ornamental and were made by whole dynasties of craftsmen whose only craft was to make tsubas.
Although tsubas are now collectors’ items in the present day they were often heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next. Japanese families with Samurai roots often had their family crest crafted onto a tsuba, immortalising their lineage.
Tsubas were fashioned in a range of different shapes, and this tsuba-inspired case is a hybrid of the quince shape and the octagonal shape. The quince shape represents a cross-section of a quince fruit symbolising prosperity, while the octagonal shape, representing stability and balance from the number eight, was considered sacred and auspicious in ancient Japan.
The Making of the Tsuba Case
The Tsuba’s research and development began in 2019. Darren Jones provided the guiding design, and Peter Speake developed and executed the project. The most challenging element of manufacture was the Tsuba’s case, because of its scalloped and rounded surfaces, which are complex to machine and hand finish.
The decoration of the case requires a five-stage finishing process, including brushing of the external surfaces and polishing of the concave surfaces. A range of different techniques were used to protect the polished surfaces from being touched during the graining process.
The Tsuba Dong Son
The timepiece was born from a curiosity about the culture, history, and artistry that I experienced during my early travels to Asia, combined with a request to represent this in the form of an original watch.
The Tsuba Dong Son reflects a cultural essence of Asia with influences from both Vietnamese and Japanese history and craft. Artistry from these regions is represented by the Tsuba case, inspired by elements found on Japanese swords, and the Dong Son dial that carries symbols found on ancient Vietnamese ceremonial Bronze Age drums.
The Dong Son Dial
The dial of the timepiece features concentric circles of symbols taken from Dong Son drums, paired with shaped hands bearing the forms of Dong Son spears. Discovered by archaeologists in 1924, the Dong Son culture was a Bronze Age civilisation that flourished in northern Vietnam between 1000 BC and the first century AD.
Its people were highly skilled bronze casters, who left behind a rich window into their ancient culture in the form of giant ceremonial Dong Son drums that were used for warfare, mourning, festivals and prayers.
Decorated with intricate geometric patterns, mythical creatures, warriors, and ritual scenes of daily life, these masterpieces have become symbols of Vietnamese culture from over 2000 years ago. The completion of the Tsuba Dong Son timepiece in 2024 marks one hundred years since the discovery of the Dong Son civilisation in 1924, and its launch in 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
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Editions
Tsuba Dong Son Ultramarine
Tsuba Dong Son Slate
An integrated bracelet will be available to add to the original Tsuba Dong Son by mid 2025
Tsuba Dong Son details
The case is made in Le Locle, Switzerland from 316L stainless steel. Both front and back glasses are made from sapphire and are water resistant to three atmospheres. From 3 to 9 o’clock across the case, excluding the winding crown the case measures 38.3mm wide and 8.91mm thick.
The movement is made by Vaucher Manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland, calibre 5401 with a micro-rotor automatic winding mechanism. It measures in thickness 2.6 mm and in diameter 30.0mm (1 3/4 inches). The number of components is 176, the number of synthetic jewels is 29 with a personalised tungsten micro-rotor turning on a ceramic ball race. The power reserve lasts 48 hours, and the balance wheel is free-sprung with a Balance frequency of 3Hz (21.600 A/h).
The dial is made from 18K gold and is hand-finished.
The deployment buckle is also 316L stainless steel with a single hinge.
The straps are synthetic and humid-resistant.
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Gallery
