Minase takes its vision of Japanese watchmaking into unusual territory with two exceptional pocket watches: Asagimadara and Phoenix. Produced strictly to order and available in stainless steel or 18K gold, both models combine high-end watchmaking with artisanal techniques deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Their hand-crafted maki-e dials, together with Tamahagane steel used for the bow and caseback, make each piece far more than an instrument for measuring time.

A case inspired by the tradition of the katana

The 39mm case features a twelve-sided geometry and is finished using the distinctive Sallaz polishing technique, emphasizing the precision of every surface. Yet one of the most unusual elements can be found on the back of the watch. Both the caseback and bow are made from Tamahagane, the traditional steel used in the making of Japanese swords.

Tamahagane is not simply a decorative material. Its production involves repeated forging to remove impurities and achieve the properties required for swordmaking. Over time, the steel used by Minase will develop a black patina through controlled oxidation, gradually taking on a deeper tone. The owner is encouraged to participate in this evolution by handling and caring for the watch, allowing the passage of time to become part of its appearance.

Asagimadara: A journey between Japan and the world

The first dial is dedicated to the Asagimadara, a migratory butterfly capable of traveling up to 2,000 kilometers across seas and islands throughout Asia. In Japan, the butterfly is associated with travel, seasonal change, and connections that can endure across great distances.

Artist Junichi Hakose transforms this idea into a maki-e composition conceived as a bridge between Japan and the wider world. The white areas of the wings use the rankaku technique, incorporating tiny fragments of quail eggshell onto the lacquered surface. Around them, small square windows evoke the lights of a distant city, creating a dialogue between human presence and nature.

Phoenix: Rising through lacquer

The second model features the Phoenix, a legendary creature traditionally depicted with characteristics drawn from different birds and symbolizing transformation, resilience, and hope after destruction.

Hakose portrays the bird in full flight through an extraordinarily detailed composition. Every feather is rendered with a level of precision that pushes the maki-e technique to its limits, including details that are almost impossible to perceive with the naked eye. After months of meticulous work, the artist's final gesture is to paint the Phoenix's eye. A single brushstroke completes its expression and, symbolically, brings the dial to life.

The spirit of Mederu

At the heart of both creations lies the Japanese concept of Mederu, associated with discovering beauty in details, appreciating subtle textures, and caring for something considered precious. It is a philosophy particularly suited to a watch designed to be observed, held, and cherished.

To create these timepieces, Minase brought together two specialists: Junichi Hakose, responsible for the lacquer and maki-e work, and swordsmith Ishida Kunihisa, who crafted the Tamahagane steel. The result brings together two traditionally distinct disciplines within a single object.

A presentation worthy of the watch

The experience extends beyond the watch itself. Each piece comes with a wooden stand crafted by a local artisan manufacturer near the Minase factory and individually lacquered by Hakose. Its stainless steel ornament mirrors the faceted geometry of the case and receives the same Sallaz polishing technique.

A leather pouch and two braided cords of different lengths, traditionally made in Asakusa, Tokyo, complete the set. Everything is presented inside a handmade luxury box crafted from Akita cedar wood, ensuring that every component contributes to the same story.

A work of art that lets time play its part

Inside, the KT5002 movement, based on the CHRONODE C101, provides seven days of power reserve through a manually wound mechanical construction. The movement is protected by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment.

With Asagimadara and Phoenix, Minase is not simply translating Japanese aesthetics into a pocket watch. The brand offers something more intimate: a piece in which craftsmanship, traditional materials, and natural aging continue to tell its story long after it leaves the workshop. Here, time is not only measured. It is observed, touched, and ultimately allowed to become part of the work itself.