JeweLuxe Features: AHCI Master watchmaker Masahiro Kikuno is in town showing at JeweLuxe, and will be part of our panel discussion – “Not Only the Swiss”. We take a moment to introduce this talented watchmaker.
Masahiro Kikuno
Born in Fukagawa, Hokkaido in 1983, Masahiro attended the Tokyo School of Jewelry before embarking on his journey to make watches completely by hand. Like Hajime Asaoka who we covered in detailed here, he also learnt how to make watches completely by hand by reading George Daniels’ book Watchmaking. It is rather interesting to me that Daniels’ book has had such a powerful influence over Japanese independent watchmakers. He began his career with Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon which he made in 2011. He enlisted as an AHCI candidate in 2014 he became a full member.
His mastery comes principally from the extraordinary amount of handwork in his pieces. All the pieces offered by him are made completely by hand, solo in his atelier. Engraving works is done by his friend Keiji Kanagawa.
Wadokei Temporal Hour
One of the pieces he is showing in Singapore during JeweLuxe is the Wadokei Temporal Hour. This is a further development over the original Temporal Hour watch he made in 2011.
The concept is based on the Japanese method of counting Temporal Hour. Unlike our classical timekeeping model, where each hour is an equal division of time, each Temporal Hour may be longer or shorter depending on the season.
This Japanese traditional method (Wa-dokei – meaning Japanese clock) divides a day by day and night. Each is further divided by 6, and known as one Japanese hour. In the summer, the days are longer, and thus each daylight hour in summer lasts longer than the night. And the reverse for winter. The length of the day and night over summer and winter is also dependent of the latitude. In a place like Singapore, it is almost always equal, while further North (like Japan) or South (like Australia) the length of each day and night will depend on the season.
The Wadokei Temporal Time Watch is encased in an oxidised bronze and stainless steel case measuring 43mm x 34mm. The case has a water resistant rating of 30m, and the movement is handmade by Masahiro. Known as the Cal. mk15, it beats at 28,800 bph and is manual winding. The temporal hour is adjustable by replacing a cam, allowing it to show the day and night from north latitude 51.3 and south latttude 51.3.
Availability is 1 per year at JPY 18,000,000 before taxes.
