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Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

watchesbysjx.com

71–80 of 113 posts

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#71
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.

Seiko and Orient have lots of nice mechanical watches in that price range.

to recite the rest of that refrain, Orient in particular is worth a look because they not only make some lovely stuff, but all of their movements are manufactured in-house.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#72
post #67

Permanence - One of the beautiful things about these watches is they will be treasures for hundreds of years. I serious doubt anyone will look back at my code in one hundred years and be amazed by the beauty. Not that it is not beautiful, software just doesn't feel like it has any lasting permanence. You can create amazing things with software but does any implementation actually have permanence?

i've read that the original Doom code is essentially a work of art, no? (a bit different with regards to watchmaking in terms of art, of course)

That may well be true, but how many people can appreciate it? Too really appreciate it you would have had to be making 3D engines in the early 90's. Since otherwise its hard to appreciate the limitations Carmake overcame. I happen to know a guy who was doing just that, and he can twiddle bits like no other, but his style is stuck in 1992.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#73
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 pe…

Yet another example of the mods contributing to the downfall of HN. I strenuously disagree with dang here (as a cursory look at my own comment history will indicate).

The ongoing destruction of the Web is something which all of us, particularly the start-up community, should fight.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#74

Permanence - One of the beautiful things about these watches is they will be treasures for hundreds of years. I serious doubt anyone will look back at my code in one hundred years and be amazed by the beauty. Not that it is not beautiful, software just doesn't feel like it has any lasting permanence. You can create amazing things with software but does any implementation actually have permanence?

Well, does bread? https://www.instagram.com/sourdough_nouveau/ Not everything beautiful need be permanent. Some of it can last just one morning. (In Tibetan Buddhism, there is also the Sand Mandala that epitomizes this) There's a beauty to lasting treasure, but there's a beauty to ephemeral treasure too, I think. Something crafted with ultimate care to be shared and consumed immediately.

There is beauty in transitory experiences too most certainly! The unseen rainbow has beauty, but as a human I like to think I am more than a blink of a cosmic eye.

Even though I know I am not....

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds a lot like he was forcing himself to do the work in order to succeed and to be "regarded honorably".

I think the idea is that the key to being regarded honorably is to be really good at what you claim you do. And a life time is only long enough to master, i mean, really master, a single thing. I think it must be a totally alien, or even irritating, idea to a bunch who expects to paid enormous sum of money because they have done a crash course in JavaScript spanning a month and claims to be able to build websites tha…

>I think it must be a totally alien, or even irritating, idea to a bunch who expects to paid enormous sum of money because they have done a crash course in JavaScript spanning a month and claims to be able to build websites that can "deliver value" to the business..

What's funny is that some of them are actually being paid enormous sums of money for very little skill investment.

So in light of that, programming is apparently not a field that expects you to master anything before your salary is maximized.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#76

Permanence - One of the beautiful things about these watches is they will be treasures for hundreds of years. I serious doubt anyone will look back at my code in one hundred years and be amazed by the beauty. Not that it is not beautiful, software just doesn't feel like it has any lasting permanence. You can create amazing things with software but does any implementation actually have permanence?

Well, does bread? https://www.instagram.com/sourdough_nouveau/ Not everything beautiful need be permanent. Some of it can last just one morning. (In Tibetan Buddhism, there is also the Sand Mandala that epitomizes this) There's a beauty to lasting treasure, but there's a beauty to ephemeral treasure too, I think. Something crafted with ultimate care to be shared and consumed immediately.

That is some great sourdough bread by the way!

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#77
post #10
post #9

I love watchmakers, it is such a blend of skills that I don't even know where to begin with my praise or interest in the field. I just want to throw out there that Dan Spitz, of Anthrax fame makes watches as well, and has an interesting story too. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/interview-meet-dan-spitz-a...

Wow this is incredibly cool. I also found that he produces his own benches for watchmakers and other tinkerers. Looks really great: http://danspitz.com/watchmaker_bench/

Those are really wonderful benches.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#78
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.

Seiko and Orient have lots of nice mechanical watches in that price range.

Indeed :)

http://www.orient-watch.com/products/category/item/?category...

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#79
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seiko and Orient have lots of nice mechanical watches in that price range.

to recite the rest of that refrain, Orient in particular is worth a look because they not only make some lovely stuff, but all of their movements are manufactured in-house.

[deleted]

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#80
post #6

This reminds me actually a lot of Jiro Ono (famed sushi-maker). "Once you decide on your occupation, you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success and is the key to being regarded honorably."

(Serious) Is being regarded honorably a source of happiness? How is one's individual happiness seen in those cultures?

Regardless of culture, it can be a source of happiness for people who are extrinsically motivated.

Taking myself as an example, I've learned over the years that I respond to affirmation a lot more than I'd like to admit (always thought that was "shallow", until I realized I'm like that). In turn, if I produce good work that holds me in honorable regard, it creates affirmation that drives me. This is a way for me to hack my personality trait into something good. Of course, there are pitfalls in that failure produces the opposite result and I must not reduce my identity to the result of my work.

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