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72
Hajime Asaoka
Tsunami “Art Deco” Prototype
An exquisitely crafted and finished and extremely uncommon stainless steel prototype wristwatch with multi-tone engine turned dial
- Estimate
- CHF40,000 - 80,000€43,200 - 86,300$50,200 - 100,000
CHF228,600
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Hajime Asaoka
- Year
- Circa 2024
- Movement No
- 0/6
- Model Name
- Tsunami “Art Deco” Prototype
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 37mm Diameter
- Signed
- Dial and movement signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present timepiece is number 0/6 of the “Art Deco” variation of the celebrated Tsunami timepiece by Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka. As attractive as it was impossible to obtain when launched – all pieces of the edition instantly being allocated – the watch is defined by its sublimely attractive and devilishly difficult to make dial. The center is decorated with vertical stripes of different colors (blue, green, silver). Around the center there is a brushed track with applied numerals bordered in blue, and finally the outer rim of the dial bears elegant white railway divisions on a blue background.
Hajime Asaoka is a relatively new yet revered name in the market, gaining notoriety with his superbly crafted timepieces that are quite difficult to obtain. His early career as a product designer put him in contact with watchmaking enthusiasts. Inspired, Asaoka purchased a copy of George Daniels’ “Watchmaking,” which lead to the creation of his prototype Tourbillon Number 1, in 2009. This prototype allowed him to be accepted as a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), a Swiss-based organization dedicated to preserving the art of fine handmade watchmaking and independent makers. By 2011, Asaoka was manufacturing a small collection of timepieces – all designed, manufactured, and assembled by himself, resulting in an extremely low annual production of no more than a few pieces.
In 2012, Hajime Asaoka released his Tsunami wristwatch with a completely in-house, manual wind movement. The wristwatch was a classic time-only piece in stainless steel with a 37mm diameter case and a highly attractive two-tone dial with a “zen garden” design to the subsidiary dial. The case has a well-defined sleek look with perfect proportions to suit any size wrist. The extremely well-finished movement is seen through the sapphire caseback and displays incredible attention to detail and masterful technical skills. Designed for maximum timekeeping precision, one can’t help but be impressed with the oversized, 15mm stainless steel balance wheel and the gold “tako wheel” found beneath the balance.
The Tsunami "Art Deco" was a limited edition of 6 pieces, the present prototype bearing number 0/6 was in fact the piece that was presented by Asaoka during the launch and the piece that was entered and exhibited during the GPHG 2024 awards.
Hajime Asaoka is a relatively new yet revered name in the market, gaining notoriety with his superbly crafted timepieces that are quite difficult to obtain. His early career as a product designer put him in contact with watchmaking enthusiasts. Inspired, Asaoka purchased a copy of George Daniels’ “Watchmaking,” which lead to the creation of his prototype Tourbillon Number 1, in 2009. This prototype allowed him to be accepted as a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), a Swiss-based organization dedicated to preserving the art of fine handmade watchmaking and independent makers. By 2011, Asaoka was manufacturing a small collection of timepieces – all designed, manufactured, and assembled by himself, resulting in an extremely low annual production of no more than a few pieces.
In 2012, Hajime Asaoka released his Tsunami wristwatch with a completely in-house, manual wind movement. The wristwatch was a classic time-only piece in stainless steel with a 37mm diameter case and a highly attractive two-tone dial with a “zen garden” design to the subsidiary dial. The case has a well-defined sleek look with perfect proportions to suit any size wrist. The extremely well-finished movement is seen through the sapphire caseback and displays incredible attention to detail and masterful technical skills. Designed for maximum timekeeping precision, one can’t help but be impressed with the oversized, 15mm stainless steel balance wheel and the gold “tako wheel” found beneath the balance.
The Tsunami "Art Deco" was a limited edition of 6 pieces, the present prototype bearing number 0/6 was in fact the piece that was presented by Asaoka during the launch and the piece that was entered and exhibited during the GPHG 2024 awards.