Murakumo

Murakumo

Philosophy: watch and abstraction

We have two themes:

• Extracting distinctive abstract aspects of the metal and pursuing the art of metal to push beyond its functionality.
• Making an authentic watch as an extension of the golden age of mechanical wristwatches.

The fusion of these two themes is the origin of our creation and gives a unique “unreality” to our work.

Background: KIKUCHI NAKAGAWA

KIKUCHI NAKAGAWA is a small brand founded in June of 2018 by Yusuke Kikuchi and Tomonari Nakagawa. The two met in Paris in 2012 and found that they shared a common vision of watchmaking. Together, they decided to make the ideal watch.

Design: thin but with massive impact

The timeless design of this work was inspired by the golden age of the mechanical watch— from the 1930s through the 1950s. The authentic design of any high-end mechanical watch proceeds according to a conventional system or “code,” much like grammar. We have made the most ambitious attempt possible within this design code. For example, the Murakumo has the thinnest of profiles at only 8.5 mm, but the wide lug width and three-dimensional hands give a massive impression. And the golden ratio of the case diameter and lug width, the index, the railway track and the huge small second circle are perfectly harmonized to represent the unique identity of KIKUCHI NAKAGAWA.

Material and texture: stainless steel and black polish

We painstakingly apply a unique “black polish” to the plane and the quadratic surface of the case. The result looks black because the surface reflects no light other than at a certain angle. Applying the polish is a demanding process, but it adds perhaps the most distinctive feature enhancing the abstractness of the work. Importantly, the less distorted the polished surface is, the more abstract the watch becomes. To ensure the maximum effect, after cutting the parts with a precision machine tool, we delicately hand polish so as not to distort the face. This method takes a tremendous amount of time since—in realizing the aesthetic purpose of this stage—we do not use machines. For the watch case, we use SUS 316L stainless steel. This material has a distinctive, slightly black texture when polished to its limits. We seek always to express the characteristics of the material through our sophisticated techniques and passion for elegance and perfection.

Because this work reflects the surrounding environment directly on the metal surface, the appearance of the watch changes dynamically depending on the environment. This optical phenomenon represents the watch’s inherent abstractness.

We employ high-end finishing in every detail, including the application of perlage to the invisible side of the case back.

Characteristics

Unlike vintage watches that are susceptible to water damage because of their use of plastic watch glass, we have replaced the plastic with box sapphire manufactured by modern technology. The back case is solid and black polished to maximize the appeal of our unique creation.