Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker • Hacker News Board

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#111

Post by watchesbysjx » Fri, Jun 23, 2017, 3:24 PM UTC

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?

Kikuno does not because he has made only a handful of watches. But the income from the kind of work he does - intensive labour, low volume and extremely esoteric mechanics and design - means he will never have the kind of commercial success to make it a big business.

There is only one independent watchmaker ever who has become a multimillionaire (approximately CHF125m net worth) and that is Franck Muller. But his business (which he no longer owns) is a vast, mass production enterprise.

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#112

Post by soapdog » Fri, Jun 23, 2017, 5:56 PM UTC

So, how do one goes to learn watchmaking? I know there are some really impressive and traditional schools and that apprenticeship still going on but besides the George Daniels book, is there a friendlier and more approachable book for hobbyists? Can someone recommend some pointers?

Re: Masahiro Kikuno, Japanese Independent Watchmaker

#113

Post by keithpeter » Fri, Jun 23, 2017, 7:08 PM UTC

Inconel wrote: post #30

keithpeter wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that the income is (relatively) modest compared to the training time and skill level involved. I suspect that the income could grow organically in the future with apprentices &c. I'd imagine a 'return' would be a trip to the chap's house and personal attention until the watch was working properly. My old hand-assembled clockwork camera (a mass produced item compared to the mechanisms in the OA) has worked fau…

To add to your comment, from what I know of the independent watch industry, it's exceedingly difficult to branch off on your own as a watchmaker and survive long term. Those apprentices need salaries after all. It seems to take not just incredible technical and artistic ability, but a knack for business and entrepreneurship as well. In addition, the independent watchmaking brands tend to have so much of their prestig…

Looking at link [1]

I wonder if those huge street 'watches' are actually apprentice pieces? The large scale of the movement making them easier to make and, I presume, less susceptible to small errors in the making of the parts?