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All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
Japanese independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka wanted to create a brand whose watches were not only high-end but also easily accessible, reasonably priced, and faster to deliver. With this purpose in mind, Asaoka established Kurono Tokyo in 2019. The microbrand, renowned for its Urushi lacquered dials, high-end tourbillons, and chronographs, went on to receive official nominations at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) awards in 2020, 2022, and 2023. Asaoka has also been a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) since 2015.
Since 2022, the brand has unveiled a collection of 34mm timepieces with original designs. It began with a quartet of Art Deco watches in 2022, followed by four sector dial models in 2023. For 2024, the timepieces featured Asaoka’s vision of Breguet numerals, hand-drawn by him on the dial.
Following its yearly tradition, the brand has unveiled its latest timepiece—the 34mm Star Dial—a special project for 2025. Close to the founder’s heart, the timepiece is an adaptation of his atelier watch, Tsunami 'As Time Goes By', which was presented in 2024 in Geneva. As the name suggests, the stainless steel watch measures 34mm in diameter, a popular case size in the mid-20th century. The dial is adorned with highly polished steel applied indices shaped like stars, accompanied by a distinct Art Deco font at the cardinal positions, designed by Asaoka himself. The stepped bezel also draws inspiration from vintage watches from the 1920s and 1930s.
Asaoka states, “For this piece, in addition to the Art Deco numerals, I incorporated stars into the index. This style, known as the 'Star Dial,' was popular in the 1930s.” He further adds, “In fact, I originally wanted to include stars in Tsunami 'As Time Goes By', but due to the complexity of manufacturing, I ended up using only numerals." This time, the brand has mass-produced these stars following Asaoka’s design using molds and forging techniques. As a result, a new version of Tsunami 'As Time Goes By' featuring these stars is expected in 2025.
Two versions of the 34mm Star Dial have been released, featuring either a blue or copper two-toned dial. The central part of the dial and the minute ring are sunray-brushed, while the hour chapter ring has an off-white matte finish. Complementing the design are blue IP-plated, syringe-shaped luminescent hands.
The steel caseback is closed, and beating inside is the automatic Miyota 90S5 movement, with a frequency of 4Hz and a power reserve of approximately 40 hours.
Water-resistant to 50 metres, both watches come with a black textured calf leather strap.
Priced at approximately INR 1,05,000, the watches will be available for purchase in limited numbers, with a restriction of one variant per customer. They will not be reproduced, and deliveries will begin at the end of March.
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What we think -
Kurono Tokyo has steadfastly promoted their own design language across smaller, sub-40mm, case sizes ever since their inception. The brand, and it’s founder’s vision, has delivered beautiful watches over the years and this new 34mm Star Dial models are no exception to the charm of vintage inspired independent watchmaking.
Japanese independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka wanted to create a brand whose watches were not only high-end but also easily accessible, reasonably priced, and faster to deliver. With this purpose in mind, Asaoka established Kurono Tokyo in 2019. The microbrand, renowned for its Urushi lacquered dials, high-end tourbillons, and chronographs, went on to receive official nominations at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) awards in 2020, 2022, and 2023. Asaoka has also been a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) since 2015.
Since 2022, the brand has unveiled a collection of 34mm timepieces with original designs. It began with a quartet of Art Deco watches in 2022, followed by four sector dial models in 2023. For 2024, the timepieces featured Asaoka’s vision of Breguet numerals, hand-drawn by him on the dial.
Following its yearly tradition, the brand has unveiled its latest timepiece—the 34mm Star Dial—a special project for 2025. Close to the founder’s heart, the timepiece is an adaptation of his atelier watch, Tsunami 'As Time Goes By', which was presented in 2024 in Geneva. As the name suggests, the stainless steel watch measures 34mm in diameter, a popular case size in the mid-20th century. The dial is adorned with highly polished steel applied indices shaped like stars, accompanied by a distinct Art Deco font at the cardinal positions, designed by Asaoka himself. The stepped bezel also draws inspiration from vintage watches from the 1920s and 1930s.
Asaoka states, “For this piece, in addition to the Art Deco numerals, I incorporated stars into the index. This style, known as the 'Star Dial,' was popular in the 1930s.” He further adds, “In fact, I originally wanted to include stars in Tsunami 'As Time Goes By', but due to the complexity of manufacturing, I ended up using only numerals." This time, the brand has mass-produced these stars following Asaoka’s design using molds and forging techniques. As a result, a new version of Tsunami 'As Time Goes By' featuring these stars is expected in 2025.
Two versions of the 34mm Star Dial have been released, featuring either a blue or copper two-toned dial. The central part of the dial and the minute ring are sunray-brushed, while the hour chapter ring has an off-white matte finish. Complementing the design are blue IP-plated, syringe-shaped luminescent hands.
The steel caseback is closed, and beating inside is the automatic Miyota 90S5 movement, with a frequency of 4Hz and a power reserve of approximately 40 hours.
Water-resistant to 50 metres, both watches come with a black textured calf leather strap.
Priced at approximately INR 1,05,000, the watches will be available for purchase in limited numbers, with a restriction of one variant per customer. They will not be reproduced, and deliveries will begin at the end of March.
____________
What we think -
Kurono Tokyo has steadfastly promoted their own design language across smaller, sub-40mm, case sizes ever since their inception. The brand, and it’s founder’s vision, has delivered beautiful watches over the years and this new 34mm Star Dial models are no exception to the charm of vintage inspired independent watchmaking.
