This New ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Anime Watch Gets Its Iridescent Shine From Crushed Seashells

1 min readIf you’re an anime and manga fan who thought Casio and Seiko were the only Japanese watchmakers behind big-ticket collaborations, think again. Garrack, an affordable brand best known for its jazzy tributes to popular franchises, has just launched a model marking the return of Ghost in the Shell.The legendary cyberpunk manga launched in 1989 and was adapted into a now cult-classic film six years later. Now it has been revived for a new series, titled The Ghost in the Shell, which began earlier this month and will continue with weekly episodes streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime Video. To celebrate the comeback, Garrack is releasing a dress watch with a distinctive dial inspired by the Fuchikoma, the combat vehicle used by characters in the franchise.Garrack ; KodanshaNeedless to say, the dial is the draw. It is made using raden, a traditional Japanese technique in which thin pieces of iridescent shell are applied to a lacquered surface, giving the watch a shimmer not unlike stained glass.The watch comes in a 42mm case, features an open heart on the dial, and is powered by a Japanese automatic movement. Pre-orders open on July 17, priced at ¥79,200 ($488), with the general release scheduled for two weeks later.Unfortunately, it is expected to be sold only in Japan, and it is not yet known whether worldwide shipping will be available.