I heard from a friend...

News about Hajime Asaoka ?

By: Mark in Paris : January 6th, 2014-07:53

I wanted to know how were his projects going and especially the 16mm Titanium Balance (is he selling it yet?) ? Maybe Ken you have some fresh news for us? Mark This message has been edited by Mark in Paris on 2014-01-06 08:04:18

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All I know is ...

By: small-luxury-world : January 8th, 2014-02:52

he just go a new hair cut ... He is quite active on Facebook :-) I have no information about the current status of his projects, but in general I like his approach and his attention to details. Sorry, Mark! Oliver ...

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Lol

By: Mark in Paris : January 8th, 2014-02:56

That are still news Oliver, thanks! I've juste added him on FB (only have to learn japanese now :p ) Thanks for the refreshing pictures, I would really like to find that he decides to sell his 16MM one day. Cheers, Mark

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YouTube too...

By: MontesquiousPinkie : January 10th, 2014-12:19

Hajime is also (relatively) active on YouTube. The last week has seen the upload of some peeks at his work in progress.

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I sent an email

By: radone : January 10th, 2014-23:51

to the address indicated on his site but never got an answer. I was interested in the price and availability/delivery of the 16 mm balance wheel watch. R

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Thanks Radone, keep us in touch :) [nt]

By: Mark in Paris : January 11th, 2014-02:38

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By: Goldenlutin : January 15th, 2014-13:40

A friend from Japan who knows HA told me that he received a letter from the Swatch Group regarding the titanium balance and requesting him to stop immediately to use balance wheels in titanium as he apparently was violating a Swatch Group's patent. After ...

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Indeed

By: Theodore Diehl : January 15th, 2014-14:29

Yes, I heard the same story indeed... However, I sincerely doubt anyone (read: company) can actually patent the use of titanium for a balance wheel, in the same way that one cannot patent milk as a health drink ;-0) The usage/functionality 'titanium balan...

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Exactly what I thought while reading Goldenlutin's post

By: Mark in Paris : January 15th, 2014-14:36

but I understand now what seems to be the aim of SG from your post. Thanks for explaining. I hope he'll be able to find a way out. Mark

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I fully agree with you but...

By: Goldenlutin : January 15th, 2014-15:05

I fully agree with you but Swatch Group managed to get a "general" patent. I also think that it is amazing they got it but the fact is that they received it in Switzerland (which is easy), EU (which is more difficult), USA and Japan. I have read the paten...

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Re:

By: Mark in Paris : January 15th, 2014-14:38

Thanks a lot for the news! That is indeed what I thought could be weird... before reading Theodore's answer. I hope he will manage to overcome this issue. Cheers, Mark

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Silence is golden....

By: Theodore Diehl : January 16th, 2014-03:39

If he just made it with titanium, and did not engrave the fact on the caliber (like he did previously) no-one would have bothered with it at all ! As goldenlutin correctly pointed out, anyone can make a Swiss patent; it is not researched the same way as t...

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Devil is in the details

By: Mark in Paris : January 16th, 2014-04:38

Thanks for explaining Theodore. Mark

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The name has changed:

By: Mark in Paris : January 31st, 2014-14:30

It is called TSUNAMI 16 now. I hope it will settle the problem with the SG.

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some heavy rumors

By: amerix : January 17th, 2014-03:51

If someone gave me a nudge in the right direction, I too could read the patent. Why not post these letters as photos or their contents from Swatch? What is really special about the Asaoka titanium balance? Is Asaoka making an advertisement for Apple? Can ...

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