The new Kurono Chronograph 3 - nicknamed HISUI:翡翠 - takes a fresh and distinctive art-deco design approach from master watchmaker Hajime Asaoka that sets it apart from its predecessors: highly recognizable on the wrist from afar, but when up-close exudes a certain vibrant nobility.
HISUI:翡翠 takes inspiration from a piece of natural jadeite sensei collected along the coast of Itoigawa years back. The white-green Itoigawa jade (or 'hisui') is unique to Japan, and constitutes all jade used in Japan since the Jomon period 7,000 years ago. Because jade mining is banned domestically, Itoigawa jade can only be picked up as loose stones that have been washed down by streams from the mountains, to the pebble beaches of the Jade Coast.
Preorders start 21 November 11am & 11pm JST
CHRONOGRAPH 3 HISUI:翡翠
Chronograph 3 HISUI:翡翠 is highlighted by a jade-green band around the primary indices. Pointillism technique was applied for the jade-green radial to deliver an expression of the stone texture of jadeite. It is then imbued with micro-metallic particles to mimic the mineral inclusions in raw jade. A final coat of clear glossy lacquer is then applied to seal, resulting in a very pleasant sheen and vibrancy. HISUI:翡翠 introduces a multi-layered dye process that juxtaposes colored textured finishes against a white polished lacquer base, a first in any Kurono timepiece.
The subdials at '3' and '9' are guilloche-engraved radially and finished in light turquoise. Together with the slightly off-white lacquer dial, these three textures and colors come together beautifully to portray the Itoigawa jade.
Chronograph 3 leverages the thinner Mk.2 case construction making it wear significantly slimmer than its predecessors. Extreme light-play is accentuated, taking on rich green to light seafoam tones according to the angle of light magnified through the box-sapphire glass.
HISUI:翡翠 is a limited production watch and will not be repeated.
USD 3,460 excl VAT
50% preorder payment on booking
50% balance payment prior to fulfillment
Free worldwide shipping ¹
Tuesday, 21st November 2023
Preorder Window 1: 1100hrs JST (+9 GMT)
Preorder Window 2: 2300hrs JST (+9 GMT)
SOLD OUT
Expected deliveries by Christmas 2023 thru January 2024
Vibrant Nobility
HISUI:翡翠 introduces a new multi-layering painting process for the jade-green radial on the dial - a first in any Kurono timepiece. The multiple layers give it a slightly raised visual effect against the purity of the off-white lacquer dial, mimicking the taka maki-e (高蒔絵) technique.
Pointillism technique was applied for the jade-green radial to deliver an expression of the stone texture of jadeite. Additionally, the micro-metallic particles introduced are inspired by the mineral inclusions found in raw jade. A final coat of clear glossy lacquer is then applied to seal, resulting in a pleasant and luxurious sheen.
Mk.2 Case
HISUI:翡翠 leverages the new Mk.2 chronograph case which resolved significant engineering challenges that Hajime Asaoka faced in the construction of previous chronographs - he leveraged the Seiko NE86 that was by itself a thick movement at 7.65mm.
Hajime Asaoka overcame the limitations by incorporating a design technique from the 1930s - to make the thickness of the movement imperceptible on the exterior. The Mk.2 is now a three-part case that has a much thinner visual profile, but is also built more robustly and allows for better repairability. It can perhaps be considered the thinnest NE86 chronograph case today.
Hands
The combination of high-polish leaf hands and modern hour and minute hands is iconic to Kurono. The tips of the minute and chronograph seconds hands are bent by hand to match the curves of the dial and glass. The guilloche subdial at '9' is set with a unique subhand in the shape of a traditional Japanese 'kyudo' arrow.
The different shapes of all hands is a device used in the high-end chronographs of the 1950s and 1960s, which Mr. Asaoka is fond of. (Anecdotally, the hands were initially bent by hand over the roof of a die-cast toy car to get a consistently perfect angle. Kurono hands are still bent by hand today.)
Detail
While most modern ébauche movements including the NE86 are designed to have flat dials, Kurono dials are cylinder-shaped with an accentuated curvature. To create a three-dimensional effect, the main dial and the subdials are manufactured separately and then fitted together, with the subdials' steel surround ring being diamond-cut. A high-polish arabic '12' applique at the top is flanked by our iconic polished steel studs as hour markers and a polished steel surround for the date window.
Movement
Hajime Asaoka chose the mechanical chronograph caliber NE86 from one of Japan's most esteemed movement manufacturers. Positioned by SII as its newest flagship chronograph movement and successor to the 6S - it is a premium caliber. The 311-part movement combines traditional chronograph features like a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a magic lever winding system. It has a unique three-pointed hammer system that starts, stops, and resets all three wheels simultaneously.
This allows for all the counters to advance continuously rather than only at one-minute intervals. Additionally, instead of driving the minute and hour counters from the chronograph seconds wheel, each is driven by a powered wheel with its own clutch. This delivers increased accuracy and longer-term durability. The movement also has a power reserve of 45 hours. The NE86 is a movement that even Mr. Asaoka, who makes his own movements, trusts.
USD 3,460 excl VAT
50% preorder payment on booking
50% balance payment prior to fulfillment
HISUI:翡翠 is a limited production watch and will not be repeated
Worldwide Shipping is Free ¹
Expected deliveries by Christmas 2023 thru January 2024
SOLD OUT
_______________________
ORDERING STARTS TUESDAY 21 NOVEMBER
It will be available for purchase online on Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023, and there will be 2 order windows.
Order Window 1: 11.00AM JST, Tuesday, 21 November
(GMT) London: Tuesday, 21 November, 2:00am
(EST) New York: Monday, 20 November, 9:00pm
(GST) Dubai: Tuesday, 21 November, 6:00am
(AEST) Sydney: Tuesday, 21 November, 12:00pm
(PDT) California: Monday, 20 November, 6:00pm
Order Window 2: 11.00PM JST, Tuesday, 21 November
(GMT) London: Tuesday, 21 November, 2:00pm
(EST) New York: Tuesday, 21 November, 9:00am
(GST) Dubai: Tuesday, 21 November, 6:00pm
(AEST) Sydney: Wednesday, 22 November, 12:00am
(PDT) California: Tuesday, 21 November, 6:00am
Multiple purchases across windows is strictly not allowed. Each registered customer shall only be able to purchase one piece.
¹Free shipping exclude Zone 8 regions (S. America excl Mexico, Caribbean, Africa, Iceland, San Marino, Armenia, Georgia, & Lebanon)
国内税込価格：561,880円
数量限定販売
お一人様１点まで
2023年12月上旬から2024年1月に配送予定
※日本円でのお支払金額はチェックアウトページにて表示されます。
一般販売
[日時]日本時間11月21日（火）二部制 第1部 午前11時～、 第2部 午後11時～
[場所] KURONO公式ホームページ（https://kuronotokyo.com/）にて販売いたします。
すべての皆さまが対象となり、ご参加いただけます。
ご注文時に商品代の50％、発送時に残り50％をお支払いいただきます。
受付時間をまたいだ重複購入は固くお断りします。
事前にKURONO公式ホームページにてアカウント登録が必要です。（登録無料）
日本にお住まいの方限定先行販売
期間：11月11日（土）～ 11月21日（火）
場所：KURONO TOKYO AOYAMA SALON
数量限定・店頭にて先着順・優先発送
先行販売ではご注文時に全額のお支払いをお願いいたします。店頭でのみ受け付けております。
配送は一般販売よりも優先的に発送されます。
実機プレビュー
[日時] 11月11日（土）11時 ～
[場所] KURONO TOKYO AOYAMA SALON
〒107-0061 東京都港区北青山2丁目10−22
TEL：03-6823-8358
営業時間：11時～19時（日曜、祝日定休）
SOLD OUT
"About three years ago, I visited Noto Peninsula In Ishikawa Prefecture to study about urushi application techniques. On the way back home I decided to stop by a city in the neighboring Toyama prefecture. There’s a beach there where you can pick up jadeite so I just thought it might be good if I could pick one up while enjoying a walk on the beach.
It was not a sandy beach, instead it was filled up with countless pebbles. Whether they are jade or regular stones, they were wet with waves hitting and shining beautifully. After strolling a while on the beach, I spotted a fish washed up on the shore. He was a small sunfish of about 30cm. He was still alive and I could not take my eyes off from the rare fish that is not easy to see even in aquariums. Then I realized there was a small stone sitting on his fin. It was a small jade pebble. I carefully picked it up and soon after, a big wave took him back to the sea.
After a while, the sea water on the jade dried and it became an even softer color. Holding up the stone, I could see through the sunlight. Generally jewels are polished and shine beautifully, but I think there is also a simple beauty in these “rough gemstones”. On the train back to Tokyo gazing at the jade, I wondered how I could use this genuine soft hue on a dial.
On the new Chronograph 3 HISUI:翡翠, I have attempted to reproduce the raw stone color of hisui. As always, it started with mixing lacquers myself and making various color samples. However, I learned that I could not achieve the color with a single hue. Therefore, this time, I pursued the color of the stone by layering multiple colors. The dial color is the color of the jade that was delivered to me by the sunfish that day."
~Hajime Asaoka
Specifications & Availability
SPECIFICATIONS
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Automatic winding
Case diameter: 38 mm
Case thickness: 11.7mm (13.5mm incl sapphire)
Case material: Stainless steel (316L, high-polished)
Water resistance: 3 atm
Lug to lug length: 46.8 mm
Lug width: 20 mm
Strap: calf leather
Movement: NE86 (automatic winding, 34 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour, power reserve approx. 45 hours)
Glass: sapphire box crystal
Made in Japan
AVAILABILITY & DELIVERIES
Limited production and will not be repeated
Expected deliveries from Christmas 2023 thru January 2024
SOLD OUT
Conditions of Sale
Any transactions with Kurono means that you unequivocally accept the following terms and conditions of purchase:
Kurono has a strict No Refund policy.
Please ensure that you are certain in your purchasing decision before commencing to pay for your order. Finalizing and paying for your order will mean that you unequivocally understand and accept that you forfeit the right to cancellations and refunds for any reason, even in the pre-order stage. As this is a high demand limited edition item, this policy allows us to prevent hoarding/fraud and ensures that the product reaches the wrists of real collectors and fans. Any cancellations will be subject to a restocking fee of 19.23% of the watch’s MSRP to cater to card transaction and platform costs. The extra will be donated to our selected children’s charity of the season.
Shipping dates
Before making a purchase, please refer to the product pages on the shipping advisory. Depending on current world situations, there may be countries or jurisdictions where we may be allowed to ship to.
Precautions against resale accounts
Accounts that are suspected of being linked to reseller profiles will be banned immediately. We will take measures to prevent future purchases by such accounts.
Multiple purchases
To combat the existing reseller problem, we have a stringent one watch per customer policy. In the case of duplicate purchases, our system will detect this and both orders will be canceled.
Payment provider/Credit card errors
If a credit card error occurs at checkout, it is primarily due to either the security policies or restrictions put in place by your card issuer, and not our payments transactions provider. Please ensure that your card has overseas purchases enabled before you participate in this order. Please note that our payments provider will put in place strict verification processes such as OTP codes and matching addresses to your card.
Alternatively, you might want to consider alternative payment options such as Apple Pay or Android Pay. Please note that for Apple Pay, a Safari browser is necessary for it to work.
Loss of package/Custom delays
We will only use DHL International Economy from the point of origin and international airmail for all international orders or local delivery courier service. Please refer to DHL/local delivery courier's terms of service in your respective country should you require more information on shipping terms, conditions, and requirements.
You understand that any loss of packages or customs delays shall not be within the purview of Kurono, and any claims and correspondence shall be with DHL/local delivery courier, or with your country’s customs authority. While Kurono shall provide assistance with regards to paperwork on a best effort basis, you understand that Kurono shall not be held liable for any matter with this regard.
Additional Measures to stem Speculation and Unauthorized Resale
Warranty for Limited Edition Items
- Warranty or service claims within the first six months of receiving your watch by anyone other than the original buyer on record will be rejected.
- Warranty for any watches discovered on the resale market within the first six months will be voided.
Shipping Policy
We will only use DHL International Economy from the point of origin and international airmail for all international orders or local delivery courier. Please refer to DHL/local delivery courier's terms of service in your respective country should you require more information on shipping terms, conditions, and requirements.
VAT/GST/Excise Taxes
Please note that you have not been charged domestic VAT or related taxes at the point of order, DHL or the local delivery courier that they use may require you to pay the necessary VAT/GST/excise taxes applicable to your country of receipt before releasing the shipment. These taxes are unique to your country of domicile, and we shall not be held responsible for the payment of such taxes, except for local domestic taxes.
Exchanges & Repairs (Warranty)
All items are thoroughly inspected by watchmakers before they leave the factory for shipping. In the unlikely event that your item arrives damaged during transit, you may be eligible for a one-to-one exchange. Eligibility for exchange shall be on a case-by-case basis and only after your return is received and inspected. We will notify you of the approval or rejection of your exchange.
If you are approved, a new watch (if stock is available) shall be shipped to you without charge. If stock is unavailable, we will offer either a replacement of the affected part(s), a repair, or a refund.
We only repair or replace items if they are defective or damaged in transit. You will need to send pictures of the exterior of the shipping package in its entirety to help in your claim. You will be requested to take a picture of your warranty card to ensure the information tallies with your original order details as well. From there, we will make the necessary arrangements.
Please note that repairs may take up to 2-3 months depending on the condition of the watch. If you are uncomfortable with the waiting time, do consider before sending your watch back to the repair center.
Purchasing Questions
No, the 50% preorder payment is not refundable as you have made a booking to secure your timepiece. As mentioned in our Conditions of Sale, Kurono has a strict No Refund Policy. Finalizing and paying for your order will mean that you unequivocally understand and accept that you forfeit the right to cancellations and refunds for any reason, even in the pre-order stage.
Yes, a valid account is necessary before purchase. We recommend that customers register for an account prior to any pre-order, so that the checkout process will not be delayed.
All warranty and service claims within the first six months of receiving your watch must be made through the original purchaser, otherwise it will be denied.
We accept the following payment methods: VISA, Mastercard, American Express (AMEX), Apple Pay, Android/Google Pay, Alipay, & Wechat Pay.
Payments outside of Japan will be charged in USD ($).
A tracking number will be sent to you via e-mail once the package has been sent out. If you have more enquiries regarding this, do contact the Kurono team through e-mail at info@kuronotokyo.com
We sincerely apologize as our payment processing partner is only able to process one credit card per cart checkout.
Due to the very short lead times between allocation and delivery, changes of addresses will not be allowed. Successful customers are advised to enter an accurate shipping address at the invoice finalization stage. Any changes after the fact may result in cancellation of your order and reallocation of your watch to another customer.
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