It’s time to talk about the LT Project x JSV Orbit. They launched a really amazing watch late 2025 and honestly they deserve more and more visibility.
In an industry where technology increasingly makes it possible to reproduce almost anything with perfect consistency, there is something particularly compelling about a watch made by hand.
The JSV Orbit, born from the collaboration between Link and Tag Project Watch and Taiwanese engraving artisan Jacky of JSV Engraving, is precisely that kind of watch. It is a timepiece that deliberately places craftsmanship at the heart of its identity, combining a classically proportioned case with a colorful hand-finished dial and, most importantly, a continuously rotating hand-engraved sub-dial.
To get you through more info about this cool collab, note that case & glass are from Sunrex, strap is from HasNoBounds (Selten), main dial is made by Eric from Havaan Tuvali, the second disc is modified by Kirk from Link & Tag and so, as said, the second disc engraving is made by JSV Engraving.
Rather than simply decorating a conventional watch, the creators of the Orbit have made the rotating element the soul of the design. As the engraved disc slowly turns, the patterns catch the light from constantly changing angles, giving the dial an almost hypnotic sense of movement.
Available in three original interpretations — Shippou, Gingko and Dragon Scales — the Orbit brings together horology, traditional engraving and cultural symbolism in a distinctly contemporary package.
Limited to just 100 pieces, it is a watch designed not merely to tell time, but to invite its wearer to stop and look.
The Case
The Orbit is housed in a 316L stainless steel case measuring 40 mm in diameter, 10 mm in thickness and 48 mm from lug to lug.
At first glance, the architecture is deliberately familiar. Its polished surfaces and traditional proportions give the watch a timeless character, avoiding the temptation to make the case overly complicated simply for the sake of originality.
But the apparent simplicity is intentional.
According to Link and Tag, particular attention was paid to the length and position of the lugs. They were shortened and brought downward to improve the way the watch follows the wrist. Combined with the relatively modest 10 mm thickness, this gives the Orbit a surprisingly wearable profile despite the large hand-wound movement inside.
The polished finishing also plays an important role. Light is constantly reflected from the case, creating a subtle contrast with the more artisanal and colorful nature of the dial.
Water resistance is rated at 50 meters, making the Orbit suitable for everyday wear while remaining clearly positioned as an artistic mechanical timepiece rather than a sports watch.
The Dial
This is where the JSV Orbit truly comes alive.
The main dial is hand-painted in Taiwan, with each color carefully selected to complement the engraving found on the rotating sub-dial. Surrounding it is a polished minute ring featuring multi-layer printed indices. The four-layer printing process gives the markers additional depth, despite the intentionally clean architecture of the dial.
What would normally be a small-seconds display has been transformed into a continuously rotating, hand-engraved disc. Instead of simply indicating seconds with a conventional hand, the Orbit uses movement itself as part of the visual experience.
Achieving the correct balance was far from straightforward. The designers spent approximately six months experimenting with the weight of the disc and its behavior, searching for the ideal rotation speed — slow enough to remain mesmerizing, yet fast enough to make its movement constantly perceptible.
And then there is the engraving. Each Orbit is available with one of three motifs, each carrying its own symbolism.
The Shippou pattern is based on interlocking circles forming a repeating floral-like geometry. Traditionally associated with harmony, eternity and the interconnectedness of life, the pattern creates an almost endless visual rhythm as it rotates.
Paired with the deep blue dial, it gives the Orbit a calm and sophisticated personality.
The Gingko version takes inspiration from the distinctive fan-shaped leaves of the ginkgo tree.
The ginkgo has long been associated with resilience, longevity, hope and renewal across Asian cultures. Its green dial reinforces those ideas, bringing a sense of vitality and natural energy to the watch.
The most dramatic of the three, Dragon Scales, draws inspiration from the scales of the legendary Asian dragon.
Dragons have traditionally represented power, strength and nobility, while their scales evoke protection and resilience. The purple dial adds another layer of symbolism, historically associated in China with prestige and imperial power.
Despite their differences, all three versions share the same philosophy: the decoration is not simply ornamental. The engraving tells a story.
And because it is executed by hand, no two dials can ever be completely identical.
The Movement
Behind the artistic dial lies the ST3620, a manually wound mechanical movement closely related in architecture to the Unitas 6498.
Its relatively large dimensions played an important role in the design of the Orbit. According to Link and Tag, 40 mm was essentially the minimum case diameter that could comfortably accommodate the movement.
The ST3620 provides approximately 40 hours of power reserve.
More importantly, its architecture allowed the designers to rethink the traditional small-seconds display. Instead of simply placing a seconds hand over a conventional sub-dial, they transformed that position into the rotating engraved disc that defines the Orbit.
This is an excellent example of mechanical design being used not simply for functionality, but as part of the watch’s visual identity.
The movement becomes an enabler of the artistic concept.
The Strap
Completing the watch is a handmade genuine leather strap produced by HasNoBounds.
The strap was not treated as an afterthought. Link and Tag experimented with numerous colors and combinations before settling on the final configuration, with the intention of creating a complete aesthetic package straight out of the box. The result is a strap designed to complement rather than compete with the dial.
Its handmade character also fits naturally with the philosophy of the Orbit: traditional materials, human craftsmanship and attention to details that mass production cannot easily replicate. Even the underside carries the LT Project Watch branding, adding a discreet signature to the otherwise understated leather construction.
The Collection
The original JSV Orbit collection consists of three interpretations, each combining a different hand-engraved motif with a complementary hand-painted dial.
– Version – Engraved Motif – Character –
Shippou – Interlocking circular pattern – Harmony, balance & eternity
Gingko – Ginkgo leaves – Hope, resilience & renewal
Dragon Scales – Dragon scales – Strength, protection & nobility
The collection is limited to 100 pieces worldwide, reinforcing the watch’s position as a collectible rather than a conventional production timepiece.
The Orbit concept has also evolved beyond these original versions, with later variations introducing different dial treatments and materials, including fumé and gemstone-inspired interpretations. This demonstrates that the rotating engraved disc is more than a one-off design element — it has become the defining language of the Orbit family.
At its core, however, the original three watches remain the clearest expression of the collaboration between Link and Tag and JSV.
Conclusion
The JSV Orbit is an unusual watch in the best possible sense. It does not attempt to compete through specifications alone. Instead, it takes something traditionally associated with mechanical watches (small seconds display) and turns it into an artistic experience.
The combination of a polished 40 mm case, hand-painted dial, multi-layered indices, mechanical movement and, above all, a hand-engraved rotating disc gives the Orbit a personality that is difficult to reproduce through conventional manufacturing.
Its greatest strength may ultimately be the philosophy behind it.
JSV’s Jacky brings decades of experience in precision work and a commitment to traditional hand engraving, deliberately avoiding the shortcuts offered by CNC and laser techniques for his artistic pieces. Link and Tag, meanwhile, provide the design framework and contemporary microbrand approach. Their collaboration demonstrates how traditional craftsmanship can be brought into a modern independent watch without feeling nostalgic or outdated.
The result is not simply a watch with an engraved dial.
It is a small mechanical canvas where time, movement, color and craftsmanship continuously interact.
And every time the engraved disc begins another rotation, the Orbit quietly reminds us that sometimes the most fascinating part of a mechanical watch is not what it tells us about time, but how it makes us look at it.
If you want to more about the brand or if you want buy one, just click HERE.
I invite you to follow them on their social networks profile : LT Facebook / JSV Facebook
Jonathan Kopp
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