MINASE 5 WINDOWS

Masterpieces in the purest Japanese spirit

October 07, 2019

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The Watch: MINASE 5 WINDOWS

Minase’s most original model, the 5 Windows, is a masterpiece of design. One of its creators, Hirokuni Yamamoto, said its creation broke down every design concept he had learnt and practiced during his 30 year design career. The movement, three-dimensional round dial and hands are all visible through the 5 sapphire windows. The movement, seemingly floating in space, bathes in the light coming from its windows. This watch breaks with typical design by placing a circular dial into a rectangular case. The sapphire crystal has a non-reflective coating and is spherical on both axes, underscoring the contrast between the clear base and the polished satin surface of the watch case.

The watch’s very singular shape is the result of the high degree of manual finishing work found in every watch Minase makes. The most striking feature is the polishing of the case itself. Minase has mastered the Sallaz polishing technique: Highly skilled craftsmen spend more than 30 hours for a single watch in order to polish each of its surfaces. This model is a masterpiece of design and this is the reason why Minase has chosen it to embody several Japanese traditional crafts for unique watches belonging to the Masterpiece collection. (https://www.minasewatches.ch/masterpieces)

ENAMEL PAINTING

Champlevé dials are engraved from a solid sterling silver plate, that is then filled with enamel. Each theme is limited to a maximum of 8 strictly numbered pieces. Crafted of solid palladium, “Minase One” is the first watch of this series. The first model in the line pays tribute to Akita Prefecture : Clear spring water, ducks and maple leaves.

AKITA SILVER FILIGREE

Long ago, Akita Prefecture produced large amounts of gold and silver. Akita became a center for the production of high quantity gold and silver products, producing more than in any other area of Japan. The gold and silver mines are no longer in operation, but the skill of Akita Silver Filigree continues to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Akita Silver Filigree is a traditional technique using two or three pure silver wires measuring just 0.2 mm diameter that are twisted together. Today, a highly skilled young craftswoman, Kasumi Takahashi, collaborates with Minase, creating unique Filigree dials for some of Minase’s most exclusive watches.

TRADITIONAL CARVING BY KENJI KANAGAWA

The famous Japanese artist and sculptor Kenji Kanagawa engraves each case with either 2 or 4 customized top sides, each watch thus becoming a unique piece of art. These timepieces can further be enhanced with a dial created using traditional Japanese arts and crafts. Finally, the customer may choose his favorite kanji symbol to complete this very exclusive and custom-made timepiece.

NEEDLE ART SERIES

From a stainless steel dial, the artist will design the pattern of your choice (except portraits) by using a needle that will remove the PVD color that was applied and let the original steel base appear.

5 Windows Specifications

Case

316L Stainless steel, palladium or 18K rose or yellow gold. Dual spherical box type sapphire crystal (non-reflective coating) on top, see through case back and sides with sapphire crystals on bottom and both sides at 9, 2 and 4 o’clock. Water resistant up to 50 meters (5 ATM).

Regular size: 38 x 46.5 mm. Thickness: 14.00 mm. Weight: 100g /156 g.
Mid-size: 32 x 40.3 mm. Thickness: 11.6 mm. Weight: 66.3g /118.7g.
Gold weight: 160g.

Movement

KT7001/1 (base ETA 2824) and KT8001 for mid-sizes (base ETSA 2671) hand- finished by Minase, with hand-polishing and perlage on plates and bridges. Power reserve of 38 hours.

Dial

“Case in case” structure.

Functions

Hours, minutes and central second hands. Date at 4.

Bracelet

Solid stainless steel execution featuring MORE concept. Palladium, genuine leather or alligator strap.

Clasp

Deployment buckle with steel side pushers. Tongue buckle in solid 18K gold or palladium for gold and palladium models.

Diamonds

5 Windows mid-size: 54 pieces, 1.5 mm, 0.6 carats

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