Urushi Series MAKI-E “SEVEN WINDOWS ~Four seasons” Leather model [VM15-CBKMA1-SSD]

A year, drawn on a checkerboard. The MINASE Urushi Series maki-e dial “SEVEN WINDOWS ~Four seasons” sets all four seasons into a traditional ichimatsu check, then varies the shapes on purpose so an old pattern reads as something modern.

Maki-e means sprinkled picture. Lacquer is drawn onto a prepared brass base and gold or colored powder is scattered into it before it dries; the dial is then re-lacquered, dried and polished, and the sequence repeats for months. It is a Japanese art form refined over more than a thousand years, and every dial in MINASE's JAPAN ART COLLECTION is made by hand, one at a time.

Look past the grid and the background is water: ripples inspired by the abundance of water in Minase, the Akita town the brand takes its name from, balanced against blue shells that flash as the wrist moves. The SEVEN WINDOWS case is a six-faceted square with the crown divided in two on its flank, which is how the count of glass windows reaches seven. Stainless steel, 37.4 mm wide, 46.5 mm tall, 13 mm thick with its sapphire, about 89 g on the black leather strap. The self-winding KT7002, a Swiss ETA 2892-A2 / Sellita SW300 base finished by MINASE, adds the date. Rated 5 atm.

A watch for someone who wants the calendar on the dial rather than in a window.

Perfect for: Japanese seasonal art motifs, checkered pattern dials, hand-lacquered watch collectors.