Naoya Hida NH TYPE 3B: a moon with a face, and handwork with a purpose

NAOYA HIDA & Co. · NH TYPE 3B

The model in detail

Meet the watch

The moon on the NH TYPE 3B has a face, and it really is engraved by hand. A separate gold component is attached to an 18-karat yellow-gold disc, accompanied by engraved stars. In a watch measuring 37 mm across, this small scene attracts most of the attention: its companions are just two blued hands and Roman numerals. Naoya Hida makes a familiar moon-phase display the main reason to study the dial, without enlarging the case or turning the watch into a showcase for its movement.

The dial itself is German silver. The Roman numerals are engraved by hand, while the logo and scales are produced using high-precision equipment; Japanese Cashew synthetic lacquer provides the infill. This division matters: handwork has a specific location here, rather than serving as a blanket promise. The outer minute ring is a separate component. The official close-up reveals the depth of the numerals and the changing surfaces, which give this quiet composition depth even without applied hour markers.

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The steel hands acquire their blue colour through heat treatment. The watchmaker bends the minute-hand tip by hand to align it with the minute scale. This small intervention connects shape with reading the time: the long hand should point precisely to the outer ring, rather than merely end in an attractive silhouette. The curved sapphire crystal has anti-reflective coating on both sides. A promotional photograph nevertheless cannot replace checking legibility from different angles, particularly for a buyer initially drawn to the decorative finishing.

Details and limitations

Inside is the manually wound Cal. 3021LU, with 18 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and approximately 45 hours of power reserve. The manufacturer specifically highlights its own click and click-spring design, developed for the sensation of winding. That is a relevant detail in a watch regularly wound by hand, although the tactile result cannot be judged from specifications. The reserve sets a daily rhythm: winding every day is more convenient than trying to remember the watch after two days on a shelf.

The moon disc completes a revolution in 59 days, and its indication is adjusted with the crown pulled to its first position. This does not justify attributing multi-year astronomical accuracy to the model: the page provides no such guarantee. The case dimensions also deserve to be read together: 37 mm in diameter, 44.5 mm from lug tip to lug tip and 10.8 mm thick. The 904L steel, screw caseback and stated 5-bar water resistance describe the construction, but trying it on will settle the question of fit more reliably than the compact diameter alone.

The watch comes with a hand-stitched Jean Rousseau strap, combining an Alcantara upper surface with calfskin underneath; it measures 20 mm at the case and 16 mm at the buckle. The official programme envisages approximately 20 examples during 2026–2027, which should not be read as a promise of immediate availability. The listed Japanese price is JPY 3,630,000 including tax, or JPY 3,300,000 before tax. The TYPE 3B makes its strongest case through its dial details: engraving and the character of the moon face are more persuasive reasons to choose it than the number of functions.