Independents

Born on February 8, 1983 in Hokkaidō, Japanese watchmaker Masahiro Kikuno is one of the most original and unique independent creators.

He became the youngest member of the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants) and the first Japanese full member, at age 30. 

credit: Masahiro Kikuno

I find his watchmaking work very interesting, so let's take a look at his creations in chronological order.

I have tried to be as complete as possible, but I might have missed some pieces, of course.

A/ HIS FIRST TIMEPIECE

A time-only wristwatch with a retrograde display made during his four-year course at the Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry in Shibuya, Tokyo.

credit: Masahiro Kikuno

B/ PERPETUAL CALENDAR TOURBILLON - 2011

Case: φ44.0mm,thickness:17.3mm

Base movement: eta.6497-1; Manual-winding

Hand made train-bridge

Perpetual calendar; Tourbillon

Dial: Hand paint calendar disk

Hands: Blue steel

C/ WADOKEI - TEMPORAL HOUR WATCH - 2011

“Wadokei” means “Japanese clock” and refers to a Japanese traditional method of counting time, where hours between sunrise and sunset are divided into 6 and used as one counting unit. 

The time of sunset and sunrise varies along the season, so this unit hour changes by season.

Therefore, in the Temporal Hour Watch, the space between index will be longer in daytime and shorter in night time on the summer solstice, while shorter in daytime and longer in night time on the winter solstice.

Case: 50.0x44.0mm, thickness:16.0mm

Base movement: eta.6498-1; Manual-winding;

Hand made train-bridge; Temporal hour display

Dial: Hand-painting index

Hands: Blue steel;Golden steel (Tempered steel).

credit: Masahiro Kikuno






"Saku" means the "new moon" and "Bou" means the "full moon", so this word "SAKUBOU" means both new and full moon. 


credit: @ahci_updates


H/ SO - 2024

Powered by a Seiko cal. NH34A with uniquely designed celestial display module, the constellation disk represents the starry sky as seen from the ground at 35 degrees north latitude. 















credit: @swisswatchgang, Masahiro Kikuno, @t_blue473 & @hiro_beachi Thanks for reading.

  login to reply