The Mastery of Time Tokyo Exhibition Report

KIH · 2014-02-11T23:30:36Z

Explore 'The Mastery of Time' exhibition in Tokyo with KIH's photo report, showcasing historical timepieces from early clocks to grand complications.

KIH

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

11 replies3385 views66 photos

KIH's photo report from 'The Mastery of Time' exhibition in Tokyo offers a rare glimpse into horological history. This article highlights the exhibition's curated journey through time, showcasing significant advancements in watchmaking from early portable clocks to intricate complications. KIH's detailed visuals and commentary provide context to pieces that shaped the industry.

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The Exhibition is making a tour around the world and I just happened to be invited to the preview here, and want to give you some of the notable exhibit there.

In the Roppongi Hills Complex....

That's right. As I repeatedly report, 2014 is the special year between Swiss and Japan.

Exhibit is made for the visitors to experience as the history of horology flows through....

The First Panel - Spring-Driven portable clock

The 2nd Panel - "haute epoque" watch

Pocket watch with one hand and hour strike - 1585 in Holland

Oval pocket watch with one hand - 17th century in London

Octagonal pocket watch with one hand - 17th century in France

The 3rd panel - Improvement to the regulating organ

Yup, that "Huygens".

Pocket watch with second hand - ca. 1800 in London

Quarter repeater pocket watch with inner and outer case - 1760 in London

Pocket watch with alarm - ca. 1730 in Paris

The 4th Panel - The beauty of Enamel

Pocket watch decorated with a bouquet of flowers on a mauve background - ca. 1830 by Bovet

Enameled pocket watch - ca. 1800 in Swiss

Guilloche worked and enameled pocket watch - ca. 1800 in Swiss

The horological advancement history on the other side of the corridor.

The next panel - The chronograph, a functional instrument

Contemporary replica of the inking chronograph made by Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec - 1821, collection historique montblanc

Split-seconds pocket chronograph with pulsometric scale - 1901 by Zenith

Pocket chronograph with pulsometric scale - 1920 by Vacheron Constantin

Solit-seconds pocket chronograph with jumping quarter-seconds

The next: "The extra-thin watch and the miniature watch

Ring watch - 1830, Geneva

Extra-thin watch with enameled and engraved decoration - 1840 in Geneva

Extra-thin pocket watch with 24 hour dial - 1913 by Cartier

Extra-thin pocket watch - 1933 by Jaeger-LeCoultre

Coin watch with fab chain - 1964 by Piaget

The next panel "Complications"

Triple complication pocket watch - 1901 by Vacheron Constantin

Striking pocket watch - ca. 1820 in Paris

Grande Complication pocket watch - 1985 by Patek Philippe

Grande complication pocket watch - 1905 by Jaeger-LeCoultre

Grande complication pocket watch - 1891 by Audemars Piguet

The first Swiss watch exports to Japan during the Meiji Period

Pocket watch signed Girard-Perregaux - ca. 1875

Pocket watch with two dials signed Girard-Perregaux - ca. 1877

Japanese watches:

Bracket clock with balance wheel and fusee - Late Edo era (mid 19th century), The Seiko Museum

Bracket clock with balance wheel and fusee - End of Edo era (mid 19th century), The Seiko Museum

Special exhibit of Japanese "Wa-Dokei" with cooperation by Seiko Museum.

From mechanical watches to Quartz watches.

... and the mechanical watch strikes back!

Modern mechanical watches on display.

That's the gist of the exhibit, but it's really worthwhile to visit and see and feel the history. Will make you re-realize that the things are made upon the history, foundation made by the past.

Great exhibit.

Ken
This message has been edited by KIH on 2014-02-11 23:31:29

Key Points from the Discussion

The exhibition featured an impressive array of historical timepieces, with the 1931 Cartier pocket watch noted for its elegance, characteristic of early Cartier designs.
While the exhibition included a quartz section, the author chose to focus on more historically interesting mechanical pieces like grande complications and extra-thin pocket watches.
The ability of early watchmakers to create such intricate mechanical art without modern tools is truly astounding.
The exhibition included an Audemars Piguet Starwheel, which was highlighted as a particularly cool piece.
The author noted that some pieces from the exhibition were also familiar from a visit to the Seiko Museum, suggesting a shared heritage or collection focus.
A contributor expressed surprise at the apparent lack of Girard-Perregaux pieces, given the brand's strong historical connection with Japan.

The Discussion

amanico

Feb 11, 2014

Thanks for the report, Ken. Some nice specimens, here.

I would have expected more GPs, as it seems that the brand and Japan have a great love story. ;) Best, Nicolas

KIH

Feb 11, 2014

My pleasure - there was, but there were so many watches..

.. and I couldn't take all of them :-) Thanks, Nico! Ken

amanico

Feb 11, 2014

What??? You couldn't take pics of all of them??? :))))

That reminds me a thing which happened to me, once, at the JLC Manufacture. I had to do half a dozen of photo sessions... I just realized that my battery was... Empty. ;) Best, Nicolas

Ronald Held

Feb 12, 2014

very fine report, Ken. Thanks. (nt)

nilomis

Feb 12, 2014

Thank you Ken ...

To take us to an exhibition that I doubt that will land here. Cheers, Nilo

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

Feb 12, 2014

Amazing exhibition

Thank you Ken for the detailed sharing of this amazing exhibition. I can't believe there are so many historical timepieces on exhibit! Very impressive indeed. I especially like the 1931 Cartier pocket watch. So elegant typical of Cartier right from the early days! Were there some quartz watches as well that were not featured on your report? I would have thought there would be some Seikos and Casios. Even though they are quartz and this technology almost wiped out traditional watch making, quartz