As the landscape of independent horology evolves collaborative timepieces are gaining increased appreciation. A key space where these creative efforts flourish is within watch clubs. Along these lines, Hong Kong-based watch club Watch Ho & Co. (WH&C) - co-founded by Jackie Ho with the ethos “Good Vibes Only” - has teamed up with Zentier, an independent watch brand also based in Hong Kong. The result is a watch that masterfully balances design, mechanics, and storytelling. Enter the Zentier Lapis Sauté Mt. Fuji Edition. This limited run of just 88 pieces marks the second collaboration between WH&C and Zentier, following their previous malachite dial edition.

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Jackie Ho’s first encounter with Mt. Fuji served as the inspiration for this timepiece. Its awe-inspiring view is brought to life on the dial, crafted from natural lapis lazuli—a gemstone prized for its deep celestial blue and symbolic ties to wisdom and clarity. The caseback features an intricately engraved illustration of Mt. Fuji, created by digital calligraphy and doodle artist Gerald, from eight.past.ten.

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Technically, the watch employs a jumping hour and dragging minutes display, reminiscent of classic guichet-style complications such as Cartier’s historic Tank à Guichets. The hour is displayed through a rectangular aperture at 12 o’clock, while the minutes are shown in a semi-circular window at 6 o’clock, accompanied by an applied brand cartouche.

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The Lapis Sauté is housed in a 36mm polished 316L high-grade stainless steel cushion case (44mm lug-to-lug, 10.7mm thick), offering a compact and dressy form. Powering the watch is the automatic Seagull ST-1721 movement, operating at 3 Hz with a 40-hour power reserve.

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Finished with a black leather strap and steel pin buckle, the timepiece is priced at approximately INR 92,000. It is available exclusively via @watchhoandco and Zentier’s website, with pre-orders open since March 24, 2025.

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About Zentier

Founded by Morten Loewe in Hong Kong—a region well known for its vibrant luxury watch culture—Zentier reflects the founder’s unique journey. Loewe, a professional dancer turned watchmaker, began collecting watches as a young boy, eventually developing an obsession that led him to wear timepieces at all times, often admiring their design so much that he forgot to check the actual time. From this deep-rooted fascination, his passion for creating timepieces was born.

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Focused on the journey of creation, Zentier blends reverence for traditional watchmaking with modern aesthetics. The brand’s current collections include—Z2 series, a sports watch collection in 40mm stainless steel with 100m water resistance, powered by ST-1701 automatic movement; Z5 Ultra Thin offering a minimalist design with a slim profile available in colours like burgundy, grey, and white; the REVERENCE line featuring elegant designs with hand-wound movements; and the Zentier Chronograph collection which combines vintage aesthetics with modern functionality such as the Vintage White model which features a 40mm case, enamel dial, and Seiko VK-63 Meca-Quartz movement. ​

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What we think - 

The craze for microbrands has already peaked; the craze for microbrands is yet to peak - your view may vary depending upon how deep you are into the microbrand scene in the wider watch world. One thing is for sure - brands like Zentier are paving the way for better watchmaking in the (relatively) affordable range and doing it with aplomb. Collab pieces are great, but their regular catalog offerings are no less. A microbrand worth checking out if all else has already passed through your collection. 

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Images: Courtesy Brand

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