Introducing: The Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro” Exclusive Edition

The third time’s the charm. Well, the Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro” exclusive edition sure is charming. Fratello’s third take on the M-3 again makes the versatile model available outside Japan, and it looks crispier and cooler than ever. This time, the star of the show is a frosty white dial that is clean and dynamic thanks to a subtle structure and carefully applied Japanese lacquer. Then, touches of red and blue put some color on the face of our latest collaboration with the artisans at Minase. The result is a clean, subtle, comfortable, and versatile wristwatch with a great story.

For our latest collaboration, the M-3 “Shiro,” we at Fratello and Minase chose three colors that are symbolic but also work perfectly together — white, red, and blue. Apart from picking particular tones of the three colors, we also looked for different structures to deepen the color effect. One thing was paramount: the watch needed to look cool. And “cool” is most definitely a word that applies to the watch’s dial, which gives it its name — “Shiro.”

Introducing the Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro” exclusive edition

In Japan, white — or shiro (白) — is a deeply symbolic shade. Particularly in the country’s Shinto religion, it represents divinity and cleanliness of the body, mind, and spirit. As you can see in the pictures, the dial is not just white; it also shows a delicate embossed pattern finished with traditional Japanese lacquer. The combination resulted in a dynamic silvery white dial that reflects the light and creates an ever-so-subtle depth effect.

There’s also a touch of color on the dial of the Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro.” The tip of the long and slender central seconds hand is red. In Japanese culture, red symbolizes good luck and happiness. And since everybody needs good luck and happiness, why not put some of them in a watch?  The crimson red we chose is the exact color of the circle in the flag of Japan, otherwise known as Hinomaru (日の丸), meaning “Circle of the Sun.” The hue is vibrant but not harsh and indeed not too bright. It’s a small and subtle detail that almost goes unnoticed but would be dearly missed if it weren’t there.

A tribute to Japanese denim

The blue strap is hard to miss. And yes, you might have guessed it already: it pays homage to Japanese denim. There are quite a few denim fans among the Fratello team, and Japanese denim is everyone’s favorite. Why? Because the craftsmanship, dedication, and passion that goes into Japanese denim is just phenomenal. It’s a way of doing things that is very much like high-end watchmaking. And just like a mechanical watch, quality denim can last a lifetime. Plus, when denim ages, it becomes better looking and cooler. Jeans are a personal statement of style that can define a person, just like a carefully chosen wristwatch.

We didn’t want to transform our love for denim literally, so there is no blue jeans strap but a Denim Blue buffalo leather strap instead. LIC in Belgium makes the strap, and it is supple and comfy. With its curved ends following the case shape of the M-3, it looks superb and adds a luxurious touch to the watch that has both sporty and more traditional qualities.

The Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro” is an exclusive, limited-by-time edition

Until 2022, the year of the first Fratello and Minase M-3 collaboration, this model was unknown outside Japan. After the purple “Very Peri” and green “Nori” exclusive editions, the M-3 “Shiro” once again flaunts its 39 × 10.5mm steel case featuring signature Sallaz polishing that accentuates its clean and crisp lines. The watch is made in Minase’s atelier in the Akita Prefecture. Fewer than 500 timepieces leave the atelier every year. The Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro” is a limited-by-time edition from a brand that essentially only produces limited timepieces anyway. How exclusive is that?

The handmade M-3 “Shiro” embodies Japan’s values, traditions, and typical crafts. At Minase, innovation is combined with assiduous craftsmanship. After joining forces with Fratello on the M-3 for the third time, the result is a meticulously made watch that looks cool and clean. It’s easy to wear, and the added style bonus is that the M-3 “Shiro’s” cool-as-a-cucumber look matches your attire with effortless ease.

The 100m-water-resistant case houses a reliable automatic Sellita SW200-1 movement with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. As you may be able to tell, the movement was modified. We removed the date function because we didn’t want an aperture to mess up the perfect balance of the “Shiro’s” crisp and cool dial.

Once again, the Minase × Fratello M-3 “Shiro” is an exclusive edition limited by time. This watch will be available for pre-order only through the Fratello Shop starting Tuesday, September 17th at 16:00 CEST. The pre-order window will close at 16:00 CEST on Tuesday, September 24th, and the price is €2,470 excluding VAT.

If you’d like to learn more about Minase, please check out the brand’s official website. To read about Minase on Fratello, you can find the brand page here. And if you want to, sign up for our mailing list for reminders about this watch. Finally, don’t forget to let us know what you think of this watch in the comments.