One of the big stories about Zenith’s new G.F.J Naoya Hida (full name: G.F.J. Calibre 135 Double Signed with Naoya Hida & Co.) is that it marks the announcement of a new ‘Double Signed Program’. Through this program Zenith plans to collaborate with respected watchmakers from around the world. The first independent watchmaker to take part is the rapidly up and coming Japanese independent Naoya Hida, whose minimalist ethos works perfectly in harmony with the G.F.J design.
Naoya Hida’s interest in this collaboration came predominantly from his fascination with the calibre 135 – a legendary movement from the mid-20th century that won multiple chronometry awards. It’s a calibre he has admired and studied for decades, so the opportunity to collaborate on a watch housing the modern, re-engineered version launched in 2025 with the new G.F.J collection was a dream come true.
The case is based on that same 2025 G.F.J release. Meaning it measures 39.15mm in diameter with a thickness of 10.5mm and is produced from platinum. It has polished lugs with faceted edges that lead into the case body below the polished bezel. The lugs themselves attach to a choice of three straps that are all provided with the watch: two traditionally crafted Japanese leather numbers or a Japanese denim piece.
Where Hida’s influence comes to the fore is the dial. It’s crafted from silver with hand-engraved hour markers filled with blue Urushi lacquer. The double signature at the centre of the display between 12 o’clock and the central handstack is also engraved by hand. For the hands, it takes the rounded white gold style of the Naoya Hida Type 2A while the small seconds hand is made from blued steel. If you remove the Zenith co-sign and the G.F.J inscription, I could easily believe this was a Hida original, it’s stunning.
Through the Zenith G.F.J. Naoya Hida exhibition caseback you can see the titular movement. It’s based on the original 135 with an extended 72-hour power reserve. It maintains the Breguet overcoil balance spring and 2.5 Hz frequency as well as being COSC certified with an accuracy of +/- 2 seconds per day. It’s finished with a combination of Côtes de Genève and sunray brushing along with chamfered edges.
For pricing and availability, it’s CHF 58,900 (approx. £55,750) in a limited edition of just 10 pieces. Without question this is my favourite version of the G.F.J to date, the minimalist take on the sector design works really well adding a sense of restrained beauty. Plus, it feels like it highlights the movement inside even better than previous editions. Naoya Hida is the perfect choice for the first collaborator in the Double Signed Program, though if I were to choose a dream future collaboration, it would have to be Kari Voutilainen who played a major role in restoring vintage Calibre 135s for Zenith.
Price and Specs:
More details at Zenith.
