Saturday, February 11, 2023

KURONO Tokyo – Grand Urushi Aoyama Trio Edition


KURONO Tokyo Grand Urushi Aoyama Trio Edition  

Grand Urushi Aoyama

In celebration of our new salon in Aoyama, Kurono is proud to introduce the very limited Kurono Grand Urushi Aoyama - three exceptional urushi executions limited to 188 pieces each (including those sold as a set. It takes the very best of what we have done in terms of finishing - hand-made urushi dials - and displays without any embellishments the purity and beauty of an urushi-based design by Hajime Asaoka.

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The Grand Urushi Aoyama will be available as a set of three in a special Japanese paulownia wood presentation box, or individually in regular packaging. 88 sets of three will first be available in Dec 2022 with individual watches available from Feb 2023. Either set or individual can be ordered at the salon now.

Fulfilment from Dec 2022:
Set of Three: JPY 889,000 excl VAT
(Collection from 22nd Dec, customers will be contacted directly)

Fulfilment from Feb 2023:
Individual: JPY 358,500 excl VAT

The Grand Urushi Aoyama can only be ordered and picked up at the Kurono salon in Aoyama, Tokyo. All bookings require full payment and are strictly non-refundable. The watches are now exhibited in the salon.

 Handmade Urushi Purity

Urushi lacquer is made from the filtered sap of the Japanese rhus vernicifera tree. It is seen as a miraculous substance that cures naturally into a material with remarkable properties. The lacquer absorbs moisture from the air as it hardens, making the lacquered surface perpetually shiny and slick. Over time, urushi will become harder and more scratch-resistant as the curing process continues even after the initial manufacture. Suki-Urushi (or clear lacquer) seals the specific patterns on each dial. Sunlight - specifically UV light - will, over time, lighten and make it more translucent and warmer or cooler.

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Urushi has been used as a lacquer in Japan for thousands of years. The sap from the lacquer tree is refined and colored with pigments and other ingredients to produce a final work characterized by its beautiful finish and durability. Lacquer trees are 10 to 20 years old when their sap can finally be harvested. After the sap is collected, the trees die, and new trees are planted by hand. Only about 200 grams of sap can be extracted from each tree, making it extremely valuable and increasingly rare.

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The subtle, distinctive trait of the urushi is that when exposed to natural and UV light, it will turn brighter over time due to moisture loss which usually takes years. For our Kurono customers, depending on the country you are situated in, the urushi dial will change color, creating a unique piece for each of you.

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Urushi dials have perhaps the highest rejection rate amongst all Kurono watches, if not across the industry. The surface has to be pristine, like the surface of a calm lake in autumn. Additionally, urushi dials require up to 2 months to dry and prep. Throughout the lengthy process, whether a mistake made during handpainting or even a single retained speck of dust - it would amplify imperfections during the drying process and hence has to be thrown out.

Presentation

A special presentation box in Japanese paulownia wood will be prepared for customers that purchase a set of three Grand Urushi Aoyama. Embellished directly on the wooden cover is the word 'Time' in Japanese, with the font personally designed by Hajime Asaoka.

Caseback

Kurono watches with the 'Grand' designation feature an elevated level of artisanal craftsmanship, and is differentiated not only by its innate beauty, but also with a signature caseback exclusive to 'Grand' watches.

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The focal point of this exclusive caseback is Hajime-sensei’s signature embellished in bold kanji calligraphy alongside the impression of his one-of a-kind hanko stamp. 

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Specifications & Availability


Hand-applied urushi lacquer dial
Japan-made Premium Automatic movement 90S5 by Miyota
Unique box sapphire glass
Embellished caseback
28,800 vibrations / hour
Power reserve 40 hours
Waterproof to 3 ATM
316L high-polished 37mm stainless steel case
Thickness: 7mm (excl sapphire glass)
Black calf leather band with red/green/black embellished sides
20mm at lugs, 16mm at buckle
Made in Japan
3 exceptional urushi watches limited to 188 each (including those sold as a set), there will be no re-editions

Sales Process For Grand Urushi Aoyama

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The Grand Urushi Aoyama can only be ordered and picked up at the Kurono salon in Aoyama, Tokyo.

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Friday, February 10, 2023

IWC – PORTOFINO Complete Calendar and Pointer Date

 

IWC Schaffhausen –  PORTOFINO Complete Calendar and Pointer Date Automatic 2023

THE PORTOFINO COMPLETE CALENDAR
JOINS IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN’S RANGE
OF CALENDAR WATCHES

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Schaffhausen, 9th February 2023: IWC Schaffhausen introduces the Portofino Complete Calendar. Presented in 18-carat 5N gold or stainless steel, it is the first timepiece to feature the new complete calendar module developed by IWC. Joining the perpetual and annual calendars, the complete calendar underscores the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer’s unique expertise in engineering robust and functional calendar complications. The complete calendar shows the date, day of the week, month and moon phase in two subdials and only needs to be manually adjusted at the end of a month which has less than 31 days. In addition, IWC launches the Portofino Automatic Pointer Date, the first Portofino model with a jumping date indication in a sub counter at 6 o’clock.

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After bringing the iconic perpetual calendar back to the Portofino line, IWC Schaffhausen presents three new models with calendar and date complications. While underscoring the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer’s extensive know-how and experience in engineering functional and robust complications, these references also reflect the casual yet elegant design code that has distinguished the Portofino line since it was created in 1984.

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Presented in a 41-millimetre case size in 18-carat 5N gold or stainless steel, the Portofino Complete Calendar (Ref. 3590) is the first IWC timepiece to feature the newly developed complete calendar module. The subdial at 12 o’clock displays the day of the week and the moon phase, while the date and month are shown at 6 o’clock. 

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The calendar module consists of 69 individual parts. Each display is driven by a separate gear train and can be adjusted independently of the others via the crown or using two two correction buttons integrated into the side of the case. 

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The calendar only needs to be adjusted in months with less than 31 days. On the last day of the month, the date must be manually set to position 31 via the crown. All displays, including the high-precision moon phase display, will then automatically advance by one day around midnight. The calendar module is mounted on top of the IWC-manufactured 32150 calibre. This highly precise and reliable automatic movement features a pawl winding system and a power reserve of 72 hours.

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One version (Ref. IW359002) features an 18-carat 5N gold case, a silver-plated dial, gold-plated hands, solid gold appliques, and a taupe calfskin strap. The second model (Ref. IW359001) is presented with a stainless steel case, a silver-plated dial, gold-plated hands and appliques, and a blue calfskin strap. Both references are fitted with straps made of traceable Swiss calf leather, boasting a natural and soft finish and a contemporary, luxurious look.

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The Portofino Automatic Pointer Date (Ref. IW359201) features a pointer date indication in a sub counter at 6 o’clock. On the analog display, a small hand points to the current date. Every night around midnight, the pointer jumps to the new date. This classic and elegant Portofino features a 39-millimetre stainless steel case, a silver-plated dial, and gold-plated hands and appliques. It is fitted with a brown calfskin strap with a quick-change system.

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The Portofino Complete Calendar will be available as of April 2023, while the Portofino Automatic Pointer Date will be available as of February 2023 through IWC boutiques, authorised retail partners, or online at IWC.com. Additionally, they are eligible for registration under the My IWC care program, benefitting from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model  PORTOFINO Complete Calendar 41mm

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Ref.  IW359001  Steel  - $ 10,800  / IW359002 Gold -  $ 20,400

 FEATURES
IWC-manufactured Mechanical movement
– Complete calendar with display for the date, day, month, and moon phase
– Central hacking seconds
– See-through sapphire glass back
MOVEMENT
    IWC-manufactured calibre: 32150
    Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
    Jewels: 21
    Power reserve: 72 h

    Winding: Automatic
WATCH
    Materials:
Ref. IW359001: Stainless steel case, silver-plated dial,
gold-plated hands and appliques, blue calfskin strap
Ref. IW359002: 18-carat 5N gold case, silver-plated dial,
gold-plated hands, solid gold appliques, taupe calfskin strap
  Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
  Water-resistant: 3 bar
  Diameter: 41 mm
  Case height: 11,80 mm

STRAP
Blue / taupe calfskin strap

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

 Model  PORTOFINO Automatic Pointer Date 39mm 

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

Ref.
IW359201  Steel  - $ 5,550    

 FEATURES
IWC-manufactured Mechanical movement
– Central hacking seconds
– Pointer date indication
– Quick-change system for easy change of the strap
MOVEMENT
    IWC-manufactured calibre: 35160
    Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
    Jewels: 25
    Power reserve: 50 h

    Winding: Automatic
WATCH
    Materials:
Stainless steel case, silver-plated dial, gold-plated hands and appliques
  Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
  Water-resistant: 3 bar
  Diameter: 39 mm
  Case height: 10,80 mm

STRAP
Brown calfskin strap with a quick-change system in stainless steel

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Press releases - 2023
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 IWC Schaffhausen
Uwe Liebminger
Department Manager Public Relations
Mobile  +41 (0)79 957 72 52
E-mail  uwe.liebminger@iwc.com
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