KURONO is an initiative to create high-quality, Japan-made luxury timepieces designed by independent Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka and aims to deliver to watch collectors a more accessible timepiece that shares the design DNA of Hajime's exclusive handmade atelier watches, at affordable levels.
KURONOは日本の独立時計師・浅岡肇がデザインを手がける日本製の時計です。浅岡肇が独立時計師として全ての工程を手がける時計と、同じデザインDNAをもつ時計を手の届きやすい形で提供することを目的にKURONOブランドはスタートしました。
An Interview with Hajime Asaoka
The Hajime DNA
The production of KURONO is managed by Precision Watch Tokyo Co., Ltd - the same parent company as the more prestigious handmade Hajime Asaoka atelier.
Precision Watch Tokyo has brought together the same case and dial makers that supply to one of the most prestigious of Japanese watch brands, to deliver a high-quality product that is both accessible yet exclusive in number.
The dial and caseback - signed Bunkyō Tokyo - refers to the special ward in Tokyo where Hajime's design studio is located, providing a subtle correlation to the genius and motivations of the watchmaker.
KURONO BUNKYŌ TOKYOは、スイス独立時計師アカデミー（AHCI）所属の独立時計師・浅岡肇が設立した海外向け時計ブランド。BUNKYŌはアトリエのある東京都文京区に由来。浅岡肇がデザインを手掛け、浅岡が代表を務める東京時計精密株式会社が製造しています。KURONO BUNKYŌ TOKYOは「浅岡肇のプライベートウォッチ」がコンセプトであり、1950年代～1960年代のスイス高級腕時計が有する「実用計器の美」を原点とし、腕時計の理想形を追求したものです。細部の特徴として挙げられるのが、先端のカーブした針、ボンベ文字盤、30ミリ台のケースです。日本人である浅岡肇のデザイン、日本製ムーブメント、日本国内の組み立て・検品により作られる時計は、「日本」という一貫したストーリーで、海外の高級時計に挑戦しています。
About
HAJIME ASAOKA
Widely recognized as one of the world's top-ranked independent watchmakers, Hajime Asaoka started his watchmaking journey in 1997, throwing in his unique perspective of refinement and modernity and establishing a watchmaking philosophy that is distinctively Japanese.
Today, owning an original Hajime Asaoka handmade watch is a privilege in itself - irregardless of the long waiting lists and lead times, and the fact that much of his collection gets sold out within months of introduction. If you are interested in handmade atelier watches by Hajime Asaoka, prices start from US$50,000.
2021年現在、世界で31人しかいないスイス独立時計師アカデミー（AHCI）正会員の一人。日本で初めて、歴史ある複雑機構「トゥールビヨン」を自社製ムーブメントに搭載した腕時計を発表。浅岡肇が独立時計師として、デザインから、ほぼ全ての部品製造、組み立て、仕上げまで手掛ける「Hajime Asaoka TOKYO JAPAN」の時計は、年間製造本数は10本前後、顧客には王室や世界的なコレクターが名を連ねています。
※スイス独立時計師アカデミー（AHCI）
「神の手を持つ時計職人の集団」とも称される組織。メーカーに属さない独立時計師により構成されています。1985年設立。
KURONO CELEBRATING COLLECTORS 2021
This year's photobook consists of a collection of brilliant shots by our contributors since June 2020. The online version is available now, with the print version available from end July. All contributors to the book will receive a print copy with our compliments. We will announce public availability and distribution soon. 100% of proceeds for this initiative will benefit charity.
We created this photobook to showcase the relationship between the Kurono customer and his watch through the language of photography. It arrays the passion of the contributor's effort to demonstrate their own best interpretation of their owned Kurono watch.
このフォトブックは時計愛好家の皆様がご投稿されましたKURONOの写真を集めたものです。現在オンラインバージョンが公開されています。ご貢献いただきましたすべての皆様には製本版を贈呈させていただきます。また製本版は将来的に一般発売される予定です。なお製本版の収益は全てチャリティーに回されます。
このフォトブックにはKURONOの時計とオーナーの物語を映し出す写真が掲載されています。そして写真の一枚一枚にオーナーの皆様のKURONOの時計への情熱が込められているのです。
Zach Blass
Time & Tide
As a limited release of 200 pieces, produced in such a labour intensive and meticulous manner, I can say with full confidence there will never be another watch that looks like this... In its current condition it is already unlike anything else in my collection, and every time I have worn it so far I have received comments on how cool the colour is.
JAMES BUTTERY
HYPEBEAST
Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka launched Kurono Tokyo two years ago to offer a more accessible line of watches to young enthusiasts, that offer a similar style to his handmade haute horology pieces, only without the waiting lists and hefty price tag. Like most high-end independent watchmakers, not even Asaoka himself wears one of his own watches, such is the demand.
ORACLE TIME
Chronographs are the most elite measurement tools around and Kurono has really taken that to heart by including almost every possible counter or scale you could want, all packed into the dial without looking cluttered. The layout is the same as the original model and it still looks amazing, the interconnected dials and various measuring scales draw the eye and the longer you look at it the more details you see.
THE HUMBLE HOROLOGISTS
FIFTH WRIST
I was blown away. It looked so much better in real life than in the initial renders. The finishing on the hands, markers and case is, dare I say, almost Grand Seiko-like, and you have to see in person how well they catch the light. The Art Deco details like the pin stripes at the centre of the dial, combined with japanese touches like the Kanji Kurono logo and the kyudo arrow in the minute subdial really set this apart from other chronographs.
Justin mastine-frost
Watchuseek
Looking at the watch itself, the beauty is really layered in its dial and hands above all else... An outer railroad minute track, applied concentric inner rings, and additional high-polish baton indices at 3, 6, 9, and 12, all help in delivering a very classic dial design without feeling derivative or overplayed. At 37mm, he's really sticking to traditional dress watch codes here, more than many players in the market these days.
Interview with elizabeth doerr
quill & pad
“I chose Hajime because I was drawn to the idea of what he does and the fact that he has this other subsidiary brand at a lower price point but still a fantastic quality. I thought it paired perfectly with my character, what he does, what he could afford, and what my character meant to me personally. I saw somebody that exuded these principles within the watch.” ~ Aldis Hodge