Kurono is a mechanical watch brand founded by master watchmaker Hajime Asaoka.

An extremely talented independent watchmaker from Japan, Hajime manages the premium watch brand Hajime Asaoka based in Tokyo, Japan. The highly exclusive handmade atelier watches by Hajime Asaoka usually sell above US$50,000. Every year, only a handful of clients get the opportunity to acquire one of these extra-ordinary mechanical watches. Hajime Asaoka is also a permanent member of the prestigious AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), Switzerland since 2015.

In 2019, Hajime Asaoka founded a new brand named Kurono to offer affordable yet high-quality mechanical luxury timepieces designed by him and made in Japan. Under this new brand, you will discover more accessible and reasonably priced mechanical timepieces that share the design DNA of Hajime’s exclusive handmade atelier watches.

Although produced in limited editions, the Kurono timepieces are lesser expensive. For example, the retail prices of their latest Kurono Anniversary Green ‘森: mori’ and Kurono Chronograph models (now sold out) were US$1,790 and US$3,680 respectively.

All Kurono watches have been manufactured by Precision Watch Tokyo Co. Ltd, the same company that deals with the prestigious Hajime Asaoka atelier timepieces. Kurono sources cases, dials and movements from highly reputable manufactures based in Japan. For example, the brand’s time-only automatic models use premium Miyota 90S5 calibers and the Kurono chronograph model houses the Seiko SII NE86A automatic movement.

All Kurono watches feature the inscription Bunkyō Tokyo on their dials and case-backs as a reference to the locality in Tokyo where Hajime’s design studio is situated. The brand also donates a portion of proceeds to selected children’s charities in Japan and across the region.