Press Release
Urushi Silver Makie Dials for DIVIDO
Minase’s latest addition to the Divido collection pays tribute to Japan’s finest traditional crafts. Following the success of the blue hand-lackered embossed copper dial of the standard series, Minase is launching a special, artisanal version! This latest offering features blue, red and green Urushi silver maki-e dials. Handcrafted in the Kyoto studio of Megumi Shimamoto, a master of traditional Urushi work, these new Divido dials need many hours to be crafted, but it is so worth it!
Urushi and Maki-e
Urushi is a special lacquer fabricated from the sap of the Urushi tree, which is native to Japan, China, and Korea. Lacquer sap (which happens to have some pretty nasty toxic qualities in its “raw” state) is frequently used as a lacquer in Japan because of its very resistant properties. Indeed, it contains a resin that becomes very hard, durable, and plastic-like when exposed to moisture and air. Owing to its potential toxicity, it is not the easiest or most forgiving substance to work with.
Maki-e is a dial painting technique, that literally means “sprinkled picture”. A painted lacquer base is sprinkled with metal powder, silver in the case of Divido.
Urushi and Maki-e Dials
Urushi is a special lacquer fabricated from the sap of the Urushi tree, which is native to Japan, China, and Korea. Lacquer sap (which happens to have some pretty nasty toxic qualities in its “raw” state) is frequently used as a lacquer in Japan because of its very resistant properties. Indeed, it contains a resin that becomes very hard, durable, and plastic-like when exposed to moisture and air. Owing to its potential toxicity, it is not the easiest or most forgiving substance to work with. Maki-e is a dial painting technique, that literally means “sprinkled picture”. A painted lacquer base is sprinkled with metal powder, silver in the case of Divido.
Traditional technique from Japan
After blending and straining the Urushi, the copper base dial is painted with a first layer of lacquer. Then, the silver powder is applied, or sprinkled over it with the use of a special wooden tool. Owing to the strong adhesiveness of lacquer when it dries, the powder will remain and harden. Another layer of lacquer, a mixture of blue pigments and transparent Urushi is then applied acting as a seal. The process is repeated twice. After drying, the dials are polished several times enabling the silver powder to shine out. Thereafter, the dials are exposed to sunlight in order to bring out the color to its final shade. Lastly, the Minase logo will is printed.
Minase Swiss automatic movement with black and “or” rotor
This new model is powered. By Minase regular Swiss automatic movement in high end execution with hand-finished surfaces and perlage. Treated in black and “or”, Minase uses its new customized rotor, decorated with tiny versions of the Minase logo – a drill head paying tribute to the brand’s parent-company Kyowa.
Watch Specifications
Prices indicated on Minase’s official website are excluding of VAT, which will be added to the indicated price according to the shipping address at checkout.
Model : Divido Deep Blue Urushi Silver Maki-e dial
Case : Stainless steel 316L. Domed box type sapphire crystal (non reflective coating) on top, see-through sapphire case back. Water resistant up to 50 meters (5 Bar).
Dimensions : 40.5 mm. Thickness : 12,0 mm.
Lug to lug: 48 mm
Weight : 150 g.
Movement : KT7001/1, power reserve 38 hours, Swiss ebauches, customized by MINASE with hand-made polishing and « perlage » on plates and bridges.
Face : Copper base. Deep blue Urushi laquer sprinkled with silver Maki-e
Hands : Polished, luminous material on hours’ and minutes’
Functions : Hours, minutes and central second hands. Date at 3.
Bracelet : Synthetic rubber band. Steel deployment buckle. (also available on stainless steel bracelet upon request)
