Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe. When it comes to Hollywood celebrities’ watches, the names tend to be more or less always the same. This time, Jonah Hill chose something decidedly less predictable: a NAOYA HIDA NH TYPE 1.
And for us enthusiasts, spotting becomes immediately much more interesting.
The American actor and director was, in fact, spotted wearing one of the most recognizable watches from this small Japanese independent brand: the NAOYA HIDA NH TYPE 1, the model that marked the beginning of the brand’s history, founded in Tokyo in 2018 by Naoya Hida.
Why is Jonah Hill’s *NAOYA HIDA NH TYPE 1* so interesting?
At first glance, it might seem like an extremely classic dress watch. It is precisely here, however, that the NH TYPE 1 reveals its uniqueness.
The collection was launched in 2019 with the TYPE 1B, following a single TYPE 1A prototype built the previous year that was never put on the market. Since then, production has remained extremely limited: just seven units of the TYPE 1B were sold, while subsequent generations continued to be produced in quantities of only a few dozen.
The design draws inspiration from wristwatches of the first half of the 20th century, but the execution is decidedly contemporary. The first TYPE 1 models feature a 37-mm case, a small off-center seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock, and the manual-winding 3019SS caliber.
Then there’s the detail that makes Naoya Hida’s work instantly recognizable: the dial. On the TYPE 1B, for example, the numerals are individually hand-engraved and filled with urushi-based lacquer, accompanied by slender, thermally blued hands. It’s an almost anachronistic craftsmanship for a contemporary watch.
Jonah Hill just took NAOYA HIDA out of the niche
NAOYA HIDA isn’t the kind of name you’d typically choose to make yourself recognizable from a distance. It’s almost the exact opposite: a small Japanese company, an extremely limited production run, and watches whose value can be truly appreciated only when you understand the story behind them.
Today, the TYPE 1 has reached its fifth generation with the NH TYPE1E, unveiled for 2026 with a case size reduced from 37 to 36 mm. The entire NAOYA HIDA production run scheduled for 2026 is already sold out, and the Maison has indicated spring 2027 as the next opportunity to submit a purchase request.
That’s why seeing a NAOYA HIDA NH TYPE 1 on Jonah Hill’s wrist tells a different story than the usual Hollywood sighting. It’s not just another expensive watch on a celebrity’s wrist; it’s one of those watches that, if you recognize it, you probably already know why it was worth taking a look at.
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