Minase Divido 1st Impressions (GS Rival)
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- The origin. And pride.
The new brand logo of MINASE is designed in the motif of a “step drill,”
which is the basis of our watchmaking and still has an important meaning.
Step drills are our origin.
We constantly pursue advanced watches based on creative ideas
and technologies while adhering to our basic principles.
This logo represents the spirit and pride of MINASE.
Looking back, the origin of MINASE was probably a single step drill.
MINASE started with the question, “What type of watch could we make if we try to make the ideal watch using our original tools, which have come to be used by many watch manufacturers?”
MINASE is based on Kyowa Co., Ltd., which was founded as a cutting tool manufacturer in 1963. The company first handled precision drills for metal machining. Later, Kyowa’s expertise in drill manufacturing and metal cutting caught the attention of watch manufacturers, who asked us to produce a drill that could make a crown hole at one time. In Japan in those days, there were no drills that could make precise concentric stepped holes and that were highly wear-resistant. For this reason, Kyowa started to make its original step drills. Since then, our drills have been used for efficient, precise metal machining in various industries, although we did not think of making watches by ourselves at that time.
Taking advantage of our original step drills, we entered the watch manufacturing industry and started the business of manufacturing watch cases in parallel with our tool business. We have created our own drills and jigs to meet the machining requirements of watch manufacturers’ designs. As we gained more experience in pressing and cutting, we naturally came to handle increasingly complicated watches.
Later, we started to manufacture bracelets and cases not only for mass-produced watches, but also for high-quality ones, including those of world-famous watch manufacturers. High-quality watches necessarily require high-precision machining and fine polishing, and so we mastered polishing techniques. At first, we were only imitating others, but our pride as a tool manufacturer eventually drove Kyowa to become an expert watchmaker. Thus, Kyowa expanded its watch business from drilling to case cutting/forging, bracelet manufacturing, and polishing.
We have tools, we can make cases, we have carried out OEM of finished products. But we still want to make our ideal watches.
Therefore, in 2005 we decided to establish our own new brand, MINASE. The brand name comes from the place name Minase in Akita Prefecture, where our workshop is located. Minase looks rather like Vallee de Joux, which is known as the birthplace of the Swiss watch industry. The snowy, remote location of Minase geographically restricts its residents, but it also increases their patience, which is essential for craftsmen. Having developed excellent tools and jigs, manufacturing know-how, and skilled craftsmen, we decided to make our ideal watches that would be treasured for more than 100 years.
Our know-how accumulated through case manufacturing is still alive in MINASE today. Sallaz polishing, a substrate preparation technique for cases, is just one example. MINASE has learned the sallaz polishing technique which is unique to Japanese high-quality watches through manufacturing the exterior of high-quality watches. Thus, by meeting the challenging demands of watch manufacturers, in 1996 we became a general watch manufacturer engaged in design, development, and manufacturing.
Starting from the Master Craft Series in 2005, we completed our goal with the HiZ Series in 2011. The complex design employing the MORE structure, sallaz polishing, case-in-case structure, etc. requires many exterior parts and makes manufacturing difficult. And yet we were determined to embody the spirit of “Japanese monozukuri” (Japanese art of making things) with our HiZ Series.
Our challenge started from a single drill, and will continue into the future.
In 2017, the original movement was completed, and we will continue to line up models incorporating the original movement.
Very distinguished look. Never heard of them prior. Thanks for sharing here!
I do think there a bit special Matt
An interesting watch. And very pretty, lovely dial and bracelet looks amazing.
Thanks for introducing this brand to us.
I’ve looked at their website and as some comments have said already some lovely models there
The complexity of the dial is top notch and you can tell they were an engineering company first as its almost brutal , I really like finding these smaller unheard of brands as they offer something different
@@ClickSpringReview it’s also a huge credit to them that they responded to you and sent you a watch to review.
@@wisamal-hakim5531 To be fair I was surprised as I still only have a small channel in comparison to many others out there
@@ClickSpringReview exactly. Your reviews are fantastic which is why I keep coming back to watch them but at some point you’re gonna need a camera with a good macro lens 😉
So few reviews on these watches, really appreciate that you are going to do one.
It's a gorgeous watch, just sizes the bracelet is a joy as each link is made up of 6 parts. I even did a quick video on how to do it as I thought it was worth it :)
Very interesting
Quite a bold look, I like it
Wonder when the big Minase hype train will take off
I hope they do well as they offer something different from many other brands
@@ClickSpringReview I've been on a Minase YT binge today. I agree, their take and look are distiguished enough to almost call unique.
I hope as well that they do well.
I've never seen one in flesh, but from the screen.. Minase looks like jewelry watches from an alternative sci-fi universe. very futuristic looking imo ⌚
Did you see the video were I size the bracelet to this ? its so over engineered I love it , ua-cam.com/video/PJNBAdEplIk/v-deo.htmlsi=5hYNiGvdQpPwiCTT
They make some beautiful watches. Had my eye on them a while back 😉
Honestly Stuart its very impressive with so many little details to see
The face of the watch makes it look like there's a constant smudge on the crystal. I kept wondering when you were going to wipe that smudge.
Have to say I really liked this one the details are amazing but I know what you mean :)
Thanks Barry! I'm a bit of a closet Minase fan boy, actually, and I'm really taken with their history and philosophy, their original designs and exquisite finishing. Their movements are basically ETA 2892 calibres in drag, so I don't really see them as Grand Seiko competitors. You've got what I think is one of their nicest watches, but as you can see from their website they do some amazing work.
For a further insight into the brand, Watch Spirits Tokyo ran an interview with one of the Minase managers a short time ago. It's in Japanese, but has English subtitles. I'm looking forward to your full assessment of this Barry. Take it (a bit) easy mate, cheers, Bob ☕🍰👋
Will do Bob , I was think of a GS rival because of the Zaratsu polishing and brush work plus being Japanese but you are which about the ETA movement . I had to remove one of the links from the bracelet and its a work of art 6 parts make up one link its crazy 👍🏻
@@ClickSpringReview Yes, they do amazing work. I think that they're actually a bargain considering the attention to detail and overall quality. 🙂
Hey. So I subscribed just because you had a Minase for coverage 🙂.
Just one request, when do the full review, could you please do a section on how to swap between the bracelet and the oem rubber strap, there seems to be no substantial information anywhere about this and the company website is a bit intimidating about it all. Will help in getting some clarity, thanks for the coverage
Hi Sir I’ve a quick little video coming on Tuesday showing how to size the bracelet because I was just so impressed with it, but unfortunately they didn’t supply me the rubber strap , I’ve the full review coming in the next few weeks , Sorry I couldn’t be more help
@@ClickSpringReview Hey, thanks for the reply. No problem, could you figure if a normal strap tool could be used to disengage the bracelet, actually what I’m not sure about is if the screws on the back of the case are for holding the case together or do they interfere somehow with the spring bar. Figuring out the rest should be easy. Looking forward to both the videos, keep up the fantastic work.
P.S.: And please call me Fahad, no headmaster I’m 😄
I would like to know more about those elevated side pilons;
Are they added on? Can they be removed?
Another interesting thing to see would be a close up of the pass through view as well for the bracelet and dial.
Also if possible some background, who is this manufacturer and how they came to build watches.
Thank you!
P.S. I like the date display style.
I'll add all that in the full review Adrian, The watch and brand are pretty interesting, in fact I've a short video off me sizing the bracelet as I thought its a very clever system,
Its only a few minutes long and going to bore most out there, but the links are made up of 6/7 parts in total and its so over the top ,I love it.
@@ClickSpringReview Sounds exciting!
It's ok. Not my favourite
Thats fair enough Gary but I do like the details of this one