Haven't heard of this one before but striking is definitely the best way to describe it! The lugs are super cool from every angle and I haven't seen another dial dial like this one. I think it's found a place in my wishlist👍
Yeah it's just such an exciting shape and it's nice to see a watch that just does it's own thing. I still miss seeing that dial! And it's does it own thing with the bracelet adjustment as well lol but at least it's secure once the puzzle is solved😄
This is a very interesting design TWI. Like you I thing the date aperture although super practical (you can work out the date when it's a quarter passed the hour) but jars somewhat with the rest of that brilliant dial. I like the multifaceted case and the bracelet is interesting. Bracelet adjustment is another matter. Like you I love working out a puzzle but many may not. It also looks like quite an expensive way of doing things as far as manufacture goes. Although the inner polished links have a longitudinal bevel these could be a magnate for scratches on that bevel point. It does look good on the strap though.
Ohhh wow I never thought about reading the date when the minute hand is over a normal date window even tho it's something I've noticed quite a few times on my own watches when the window is obscured😅 But that's a very good point and I'm going to cut some more slack to the older IWCs that had the same 3 date date windows lol Yeah the dial is definitely the star of the show here and I suppose the complexity of the bracelet adds to the charm of the complex looking watch as a whole too! And as far as scratches goes it definitely racks up the scratches quickly at that point exactly so not sure how well it would age if the scratches are so concentrated but like you say it's great on a strap too which is always a plus point
It's definitely a lot to take in no doubt, I would have preferred a simpler date window here to let the dial sing more but still its such a special experience overall!
It is not meant for mass market taste. Remember that there's a limited target audience for luxury Japanese watches, even the likes of Grand Seiko. Minase caters for a subset of that limited audience, looking specifically for something unique. They're not really competing with Tudor, Omega, Longines etc, thus their aesthetics are completely different
I’ve got the Minase 5 windows and honestly besides the movement being eta (which is great for me from maintenance cost perspective), it’s really on GS level!
Ah yeah the 5 windows is such a cool concept! Seeing the movement and dial from the side is so cool especial when there's so much to see given the dial's 3 dimensionality, I was really close to choosing that one to review! And yeah since the eta movement is fully decorated by minase I think it's the best of both worlds, fantastic looking and serviceable!
I generally hate date windows. But, I kinda dig this one. Maybe because it’s just so far out there, like the whole watch. I think the bracelet is cool, but seems impossible to get a perfect fit. Making the system so complicated seems unnecessary. I had never heard of this brand. Thanks for educating me on it.
They do a no date version of this, although sadly not with this stunning dial texture. I think, given the price, I would need to see one before purchase. Doesn’t seem super likely.
very cool dial treatment. Wish everything else was simplified in the design and have never liked multi-date date windows. Serves no purpose unless you dont know how to count 😂
I have been interested in them for several years but unfortunately I don't have the chance to check any in person. Their artistic dials(urushi and maki-e) must be even better than this.
Minase nowadays goes to some watch shows so you can check with then to see where they'll be next? They were at the Windup watch fair last year and they were at another show before they sent me the watch. I was close to choosing a urushi or maki e dial bc they look incredible but I'm too much of a sticker for the light play of the "standard" version 😂
Yeah the date window could have been simplified for sure but their design language is pretty consistent throughout through I their lineup so I didn't get a sense of them trying to look different for the sake of it. Although the finicky bracelet adjustment did have an air of being more complex than it needed to be lol!
Haven't heard of this one before but striking is definitely the best way to describe it! The lugs are super cool from every angle and I haven't seen another dial dial like this one. I think it's found a place in my wishlist👍
Yeah it's just such an exciting shape and it's nice to see a watch that just does it's own thing. I still miss seeing that dial! And it's does it own thing with the bracelet adjustment as well lol but at least it's secure once the puzzle is solved😄
This is a very interesting design TWI. Like you I thing the date aperture although super practical (you can work out the date when it's a quarter passed the hour) but jars somewhat with the rest of that brilliant dial. I like the multifaceted case and the bracelet is interesting. Bracelet adjustment is another matter. Like you I love working out a puzzle but many may not. It also looks like quite an expensive way of doing things as far as manufacture goes. Although the inner polished links have a longitudinal bevel these could be a magnate for scratches on that bevel point. It does look good on the strap though.
Ohhh wow I never thought about reading the date when the minute hand is over a normal date window even tho it's something I've noticed quite a few times on my own watches when the window is obscured😅 But that's a very good point and I'm going to cut some more slack to the older IWCs that had the same 3 date date windows lol
Yeah the dial is definitely the star of the show here and I suppose the complexity of the bracelet adds to the charm of the complex looking watch as a whole too! And as far as scratches goes it definitely racks up the scratches quickly at that point exactly so not sure how well it would age if the scratches are so concentrated but like you say it's great on a strap too which is always a plus point
Bit too much going on for me. Bracelet and case shape looks great - should have kept the more clean / minimal imo.
It's definitely a lot to take in no doubt, I would have preferred a simpler date window here to let the dial sing more but still its such a special experience overall!
Yeah, too much is too much
It is not meant for mass market taste. Remember that there's a limited target audience for luxury Japanese watches, even the likes of Grand Seiko. Minase caters for a subset of that limited audience, looking specifically for something unique. They're not really competing with Tudor, Omega, Longines etc, thus their aesthetics are completely different
That's a very nice looking time piece , including date window! Very different.
I've been looking at Minase for a while. Very interesting designs.
Great review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reminds me of a Bulova for some reason can't point my finger on it and why, love the over all look good review
What’s the lug-to-lug measurement? I’m not sure if this would fit on my 6.5” wrist.
What a great watch
I’ve got the Minase 5 windows and honestly besides the movement being eta (which is great for me from maintenance cost perspective), it’s really on GS level!
Ah yeah the 5 windows is such a cool concept! Seeing the movement and dial from the side is so cool especial when there's so much to see given the dial's 3 dimensionality, I was really close to choosing that one to review! And yeah since the eta movement is fully decorated by minase I think it's the best of both worlds, fantastic looking and serviceable!
I generally hate date windows. But, I kinda dig this one. Maybe because it’s just so far out there, like the whole watch. I think the bracelet is cool, but seems impossible to get a perfect fit. Making the system so complicated seems unnecessary. I had never heard of this brand. Thanks for educating me on it.
They do a no date version of this, although sadly not with this stunning dial texture. I think, given the price, I would need to see one before purchase. Doesn’t seem super likely.
The date window is awful.
I respect the engineering and finish. I appreciate it as an object. It’s not something I’d wear.
Beautiful engineering but a little over the top for my taste. Too much like a Transformer watch in my opinion.
very cool dial treatment. Wish everything else was simplified in the design and have never liked multi-date date windows. Serves no purpose unless you dont know how to count 😂
Something new but frankly, not really to my liking. The shiny polished metal bracelet is a little too much. Great review anyway, kudos!
I have been interested in them for several years but unfortunately I don't have the chance to check any in person. Their artistic dials(urushi and maki-e) must be even better than this.
Minase nowadays goes to some watch shows so you can check with then to see where they'll be next? They were at the Windup watch fair last year and they were at another show before they sent me the watch.
I was close to choosing a urushi or maki e dial bc they look incredible but I'm too much of a sticker for the light play of the "standard" version 😂
@@thewatchidiot I live in Taiwan so watch shows there aren't practical for me to attend. Probably the easiest way is visiting Japan directly
Date ruined it for me and the general odd look of it deliberately trying to be different. Meh
Yeah the date window could have been simplified for sure but their design language is pretty consistent throughout through I their lineup so I didn't get a sense of them trying to look different for the sake of it. Although the finicky bracelet adjustment did have an air of being more complex than it needed to be lol!
Not a fan. It reminds me of a fake diesel watch I bought in Thailand
A bit over the top to my taste
🪩😬
Looks like its trying too hard. Pass.
Too convoluted
As we say in Canada - butt ugly, not to mention much too large for a watch with a very narrow bezel.