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Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

watchesbysjx.com

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Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#41

Post by tyingq »

thjan wrote: post #39

Since so many knowledgeable people interested in watches are around here ... What are some affordable, good quality watch brands? Somewhere around 100 to 300 Euro maybe? I like those beautiful, elegant designed watches but 10k EUR upwards is way out of my league.

I am not an expert, so I can't vouch for build quality, but skagen.com watches are my favorite in the low end of your price range.

Mostly because of the look. They have styles that are different, without being oversized, gaudy, or obvious knockoffs of expensive brands. The thin titanium ones are understated and nice looking to me.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#42

Post by qarioz »

thjan wrote: post #39

Since so many knowledgeable people interested in watches are around here ... What are some affordable, good quality watch brands? Somewhere around 100 to 300 Euro maybe? I like those beautiful, elegant designed watches but 10k EUR upwards is way out of my league.

If you want automatic you can't go wrong with Seiko low end such as Seiko 5 series. Some even rated for diving.

If you value accuracy as in quartz, can't go wrong with g shock. Basically known for it's toughness.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#43

Post by penetrarthur »

thjan wrote: post #39

Since so many knowledgeable people interested in watches are around here ... What are some affordable, good quality watch brands? Somewhere around 100 to 300 Euro maybe? I like those beautiful, elegant designed watches but 10k EUR upwards is way out of my league.

I was heavily spammed with vincerocollective.com watch ads up to the point when I just ordered one. I am not an expert, but the one I got does its job - it looks good.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#44

Post by DanBC »

hemdawgz wrote: post #19
hgdsraj wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's down. No need for the anti JavaScript task force here.

I remember at some point on HN those sorts of comments were reasonably well-voted, and now they litter the bottom of any thread they appear in. I wonder when that changed.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9236332#9238739

> A reader emailed to complain about how this and other HN discussions often become derailed by off-topic carping about blog design. I agree completely. Could there be a more classic form of bikeshedding? It would seem parodic if it weren't sadly real. This has become more of a thing on HN lately. It needs to become less of a thing.

> I don't mean to pick on you personally, or just on this one comment. (Your second sentence alone, by the way, would have been a helpful contribution.) The problem is the tedious stampedes such comments spawn.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#45

Post by jumanjisama »

thjan wrote: post #39

Since so many knowledgeable people interested in watches are around here ... What are some affordable, good quality watch brands? Somewhere around 100 to 300 Euro maybe? I like those beautiful, elegant designed watches but 10k EUR upwards is way out of my league.

I would highly recommend JUNKERS https://shop.junkers.de/en/ For the mechanical options, they use either ETA or Miyota (Citizen), both of which are very good. And the build quality are excellent. Best of all, it doesn't break the bank to get their watches.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#46

Post by ilitirit »

thjan wrote: post #39

Since so many knowledgeable people interested in watches are around here ... What are some affordable, good quality watch brands? Somewhere around 100 to 300 Euro maybe? I like those beautiful, elegant designed watches but 10k EUR upwards is way out of my league.

There are different ways to look at a watch - as a basic timepiece, a fashion accessory, a status symbol, an investment vehicle, a collector's item etc or any combination of these (and more). The way you see them (and your budget) will determine what type of watch you should get.

Generally though you would be fine with just sticking to the established brands. While I don't know what style of watch you prefer, for 300EU I don't think you can go wrong in terms of quality with a Seiko.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#47

Post by Spearchucker »

wowtip wrote: post #22
keithpeter wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The watchmaker is selling his watches for between $45k and $250k and producing one a year on average so yes, he'll need rich customers. I suspect that there may be a different market in Japan though - perhaps older and more traditional people. Sooner or later he will need to take on an apprentice - it would be nice if he can start a school like that. You mentioned electronics, and the Japanese tradition of craftsmen…

That is not that much of an income taking into the skill going into these watches. Wonder if he has to deal with much repairs and returns?

That's how it goes for many things hand-made. My mother was a spinner and hand-weaver, barely getting by selling to some very, very wealthy people.

Another example is that I build 1:10 scale truck bodies for radio control cars. One takes anything from 2 to 12 months, depending on the amount of detail I'm willing to put into engines, opening doors/hood/trunk, backlit dashboard, and so on. I'm often asked to sell them, or to take commissions. I always refuse, as one (basic) body, counting time and materials, should go for at least $10k to be even marginally profitable.

I've given some away, which is a lot more rewarding than selling one for $500.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#49

Post by taneq »

wapz wrote: post #31
tpeo wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, given enough effort, a person actually passionate about his work is indistinguishable from a person just faking it, which is also indistinguishable from a person who just does whatever - but for whatever reason is curious enough to try and get to the bottom of it. Can't say that you can really tell what's on his mind.

Do you really think that someone passionate about work is indistinguishable from someone "faking it" after 40 years? I can't imagine doing what I would consider a mundane task for even 5 years straight at regular work hours. 20+ years and I think you would be able to distinguish someone who's doing it for the money and someone who's passionate about the task.

20+ years and someone who started out faking it would have begun to actually care. After 40 years, they would be much less distinguishable than after 5.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#50

Post by pm215 »

monk_e_boy wrote: post #13

Well... that's the first I've every heard of seasonal time. That's amazing. http://museum.seiko.co.jp/en/knowledge/wadokei/huteijihou/in...

If you like that kind of thing and happen to be visiting Tokyo, the Daimyo Clock Museum is worth dropping into. It's a little one-room museum with a couple of dozen old clocks that implement that variable-hours setup, some of them running.
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