Asaoka Kurono Watches

Asaoka / Kurono

Hype meets high horology — and somehow it works.

Every now and then, a name drops into collector circles and immediately splits the room. Asaoka and Kurono Tokyo? They didn’t just split the room. They blew the doors off.

On one side: serious independent watchmaking. On the other: sleek, stylish, accessibly-priced designs that sell out in seconds and flood Instagram. And the twist?

They’re both the same guy.

Brand History

Hajime Asaoka is a self-taught Japanese watchmaker who started making watches from scratch in his Tokyo workshop in the early 2000s. And when I say “from scratch,”

I mean really from scratch — designing, machining, and finishing components himself.

He became a cult favorite among hardcore collectors for his high-complication pieces: tourbillons, chronographs, crazy regulators — all produced in tiny numbers under the

Hajime Asaoka name. Pure independent fire.

Then in 2019, he did something wild: he launched Kurono Tokyo — a spinoff brand offering his aesthetic at a much more accessible price point. The goal? Give younger or

newer collectors a way into the world of Japanese independent watchmaking. And it worked. Big time.

Collector Highlights

Let’s break this into two camps:

Asaoka (High Horology)

  • Tourbillon Noir, Chronograph, and Project T – Hand-finished, complex movements, often made by Asaoka himself or under his direct supervision.

  • Often limited to 3–5 pieces per year. Museum-grade stuff. If you see one, buy it. Then guard it.

Kurono Tokyo (Design-Forward, Limited Production)

  • Kurono Chronograph 1 / 2, Kurono Anniversary Editions, Kurono Calendrier – All designed by Asaoka, but built using Miyota mechanical movements to keep costs down.

  • Dials are the star here — Japanese lacquer, Art Deco vibes, and a finish that punches way above the price.

  • Collectors treat these like sneakers: they drop, they vanish, and then they resell for double.

Whether you’re in it for the art or the hype, both sides have legit collector interest.

Why Collectors Care

Because this is one of the only times in modern watchmaking where a true independent watchmaker has successfully crossed into “mainstream cool” without selling out.

Asaoka is a unicorn. His atelier stuff rivals Dufour in finish. His Kurono line gives younger collectors a seat at the table — and still manages to feel special.

It’s not about hype for the sake of it. It’s about desire, backed by real watchmaking credentials.

Modern Watches & Current State

Asaoka continues to handcraft a few high-end pieces each year, often bespoke. You won’t find these in stores — they’re commissioned, collected, and coveted.

Kurono Tokyo, meanwhile, runs a few tightly-controlled drops annually. You either get in… or you don’t. And with each new release, the styling gets sharper, the finishing

gets cleaner, and the community gets more obsessed.

For collectors who want independent credibility without dropping six figures, Kurono is the gateway. And for those with the budget and patience, Asaoka’s atelier

work is grail material.

Fed’s Take

I’ve never seen a brand walk this line so well.

Asaoka’s atelier pieces are the real deal — the kind of watches that shut people up in a room full of tourbillons. And Kurono? They’re just plain cool. You can wear one

enjoy it, and not feel like you're cosplaying a hedge fund manager.

They’ve earned the hype — which is rare these days.

Explore Asaoka & Kurono at Delray

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for Hajime Asaoka and Kurono Tokyo watches — especially atelier tourbillons, Kurono chronographs, and limited-edition dials.

If you have an Asaoka or Kurono you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

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