Seiko is pleased to present a hands-on exhibition, Ten-chan’s Hairspring – The Secret of Mechanical Watches – to introduce the characteristics and appeal of Seiko’s mechanical watches.
A mechanical timepiece has a driving system that uses a mainspring as its power source to move the hands without using any electricity, and this system can be said to be the origin of modern mechanical timepieces. In this exhibition, the main character Ten-chan, whose name and design are based on one of the most important parts of a mechanical watch, the tenpu, or "balance," and the "hairspring," a part of the balance, guides visitors through the process of disassembling and repairing a mechanical watch, while introducing them to the inner workings of a mechanical watch.
Ten-chan, the character that acts as a guide for this exhibition, is named after the tenpu, or “balance,” one of the most important parts of a mechanical watch. The "hairspring," which is the subject of the story, is one of the parts that make up the balance that is so important for accurate timekeeping. Seiko has been developing and manufacturing watch springs for more than half a century, using proprietary materials and structures.
In this exhibition, Ten-chan invites their owner (the visitor) and the owner's long-stopped watch to the fictional Seiko Village. There, in the village of mechanical watches, other animal characters who act as watch repair specialists explain mechanical watches while performing repairs.
A mechanical timepiece is driven by the force generated by the unwinding of the mainspring. It has a driving system that moves the hands without using any electricity, which can be said to be the origin of modern mechanical timepieces. Mechanical watches can be used from generation to generation, passed from parents to children, by having them repaired and regularly overhauled. For 110 years since the launch of the very first Japanese-made watch, Laurel, in 1913, we have been developing original watches that are easy to use in daily life, have stable accuracy, and can be used for a long time, and we have introduced a number of innovative mechanical watches to the world.
Visitors can feel the weight and comfort of the watch, wind the crown, and observe the movement of the balance up close.
There are four stamp stands within the venue. Match up all four stamps to complete a colorful image of a watch.
Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Tama Art University, Faculty of Art and Design. While working as a UI/UX designer and web designer at Canon Inc. and Yahoo Japan Corporation, she has been publishing her illustrations on social media such as Instagram under the account name tokomo. Currently, as a freelance illustrator, she is working on a wide range of projects, including the serialization of Machigaisagashi (Spot the Difference) in SKYWARD, the in-flight magazine of JAL Group companies, the publication of children’s books, and package illustrations for Morinaga Milk Caramel.
https://www.tokomo.net/
* Please note that the novelty program will end as soon as stickers are run out.
* No watches are for sales.
* Please enjoy this story as a work of fiction.
