Kurono Tokyo - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

A year and a half ago, I stopped by the Kurono showroom, a charming place where I was able to try out the few models on display that were all out of stock. The Reiwa 2024 had not yet been released, but the tests had confirmed the quality of manufacture, the refinement, and the "portability" of the brand. It's as if making cases that fit small wrists was a Japanese specialty (exclusive?). When the anniversary Reiwa came out, in the photo, the dial looked much more worked than the old models with a beautiful shade of translucent blue surrounding a deep black: a marriage of the most beautiful effect. So I rushed to acquire it. Tracking and delivery: as usual, perfect Japanese service. The watch is in a beautiful case wrapped in a furoshiki fabric. In real life, because of its small size, the watch is even more precious than in the photo: a real little gem that is very pleasant to look at. The dial, the hands, the horns, the case, everything is delicate. On the other hand, I will not talk about minimalism. The bracelet is very flexible, very pleasant to wear, its edge of the same blue-worm as the edge of the dial magnificently accentuates the harmony given off by this watch. But big black point for me: the length of the hour and minute hands. The 2 leaf-shaped hands are certainly not the same length, the minute hand extends into the blueish zone which has concentric and metallic circles of the same shine. Depending on the exposure, I have a lot of trouble distinguishing the 2 hands, and therefore reading the time... With lacquered dials like those of the urushi models, the time is much more readable. I went back to the store last month, I saw the Shanghai edition chrono (which was not out of stock and could apparently be bought in store): superb, but no more readable and much more expensive. I'm posting a photo where you can clearly see that a light dial doesn't make it easier to read the time...

I was lucky enough to be able to buy the watch directly on the website and, after a wait of about 4 months, I had it in my hands! The manufacturing was delayed because, according to the brand, this dial would be the most complicated ever made: 5 dials selected out of 100 manufactured, a very low ratio. Aesthetically the watch is refined, sober and very elegant. The creator, Hajime Asaoka, started watchmaking after attending art school and we can indeed feel a very artistic touch, especially with this deep black dial and this very particular blue outline that reflects the light in many different ways. The watch is thin and you would almost forget it once on your wrist. This is what bothers me, generally speaking, this watch is too discreet. Visually I find it magnificent, but once on your wrist something is missing. It lacks that little extra that makes you want to look at your watch at any time of the day. Technically, nothing incredible, the case is fully polished and the movement is a Miyota. I have nothing against that, but given its specifications I find the price (2150€ if I include VAT and customs) very high for what the competition can offer. In summary, I have here an artist's watch, a unique and rare object that will show great discretion on your wrist and that will go perfectly with a suit. However, we can be left on our end given the price offered.

This chronograph is for me a combination of wonders. It combines Japanese art with the technicality of watchmaking. Its jade green color, which was missing from my collection, gives it a unique and singular character on the wrist. Its small size, ideal for my small wrist, eliminates that bling bling side that can be associated with certain watches