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SHANGHAI SPECIAL EDITION

CHRONOGRAPH P1

Mon 25 Nov, 11PM JST

In celebration of Kurono's first salon overseas in Shanghai, we are proud to introduce a one-time-only chronograph small-batch - the new Chronograph P1 Shanghai Special Edition - our first date-less chronograph with a unique dial design, with pointilism technique used to achieve the red-brown hue of the dial accent.

A very special off-schedule release to commemorate our first overseas salon in Shanghai, the P in the P1 denotes Purists - with this being the first dateless chronograph Kurono has launched. This strive for dial purity is in response to collector requests since the very first Chronograph 1 was launched.

The result is an extremely refined chronograph with the purest interpretation of Hajime Asaoka's design language.

Creating a date-less chronograph is not as simple as just removing the date function, and took years to perfect in prototyping. Hajime Asaoka took time to improve and personally modify the original movement into a single-pull design.

Now powered by an in-house modified NE86PWT vertical clutch and column wheel movement, for the P1 Hajime-sensei designed a classically clean dial with a Gothic typeface on its 12 and 6 indexes, and showcases a medium carmine, white, and black color palette.

A significant amount of watchmaking hours is needed to modify the movement in-house and to ensure seamless operation and high reliability. This contributes to the once-off availability of the Chronograph P1 Shanghai Special Edition. The P1 will not be repeated.

The Chronograph P1 is available online worldwide, and for in-person viewing and ordering at the Shanghai and Aoyama salons. For more information on specific sales locations and availability, please click here.

US$3,590 excl VAT

11:00PM JST, Monday 25 November 2024

  • This is a small batch commemorative edition and will not be repeated
  • Orders are non-refundable and cannot be canceled.
  • Stricter anti-reseller policies will apply.
  • Kurono ships worldwide to most major destinations.

Expected deliveries from mid-December 2024 onwards

"The original Japan-made NE86 movement is an automatic chronograph movement that features a vertical clutch and a column wheel, and I highly value its performance and reliability.

However, one unfortunate aspect is that there are no movements available without a date. As a result, every time we release a chronograph, some customers have shared that they would prefer a version without a date. Unfortunately, due to these circumstances, it has been difficult to fulfill this request." ~ Hajime Asaoka

"If you simply remove the date window and keep the crown as a two-stage pull, it's easy to create a Time-Only watch, and some watches do just that. However, such a rough approach doesn't suit Kurono Tokyo.

Therefore, we decided to remove the date window and change the crown mechanism to a single-stage pull. The Chronograph P1 we are releasing this time features my own unique modification of the NE86." ~ Hajime Asaoka

"The conventional date window is also a design element, so removing it means creating a completely new dial design. The numbers 12 and 6 are the same as those used in the Calendrier indexes. To be honest, this chronograph was designed before the Calendrier, but the Calendrier was released first because it took longer to modify the chronograph to a single-stage pull." ~ Hajime Asaoka

In-house Modified Movement

The Chronograph P1 is powered by a modified version of the esteemed NE86 movement, a testament to Hajime-sensei's relentless pursuit of horological excellence. While the original NE86 was already a remarkable achievement, Hajime-sensei identified an opportunity for further refinement.

By carefully modifying the movement, he has eliminated the date window, resulting in a cleaner and more minimalist dial. This modification required significant engineering expertise, as it involved reconfiguring the movement's internal components and adjusting the crown operation.

The result is a highly precise and reliable timepiece that offers a pure and uncluttered aesthetic. The modified NE86 movement continues to showcase the technical prowess and innovative spirit of Kurono Tokyo.

DIAL

The Chronograph P1's dial is free from the clutter of a date window, it presents a clean and unadorned canvas that allows one to focus on the essential elements of timekeeping. The radial in medium carmine color against the white dial and black subdials give the timepiece a pop of color, and is achieved using the same pointilism method previously introduced in Hisui.

The high-polished distinctively Gothic numerals at 12 and 6, reminiscent of the Calendrier series, add a touch of visual interest and identity.

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 Hajime-sensei 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.)

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