KURONO TOKYO, created by Hajime Asaoka, has released a new watch for 2025. The Kurono Vermilion Chronograph 'SHU' features a dial decorated in vermilion, a traditional Japanese color. This model will be available exclusively at the company's salons in Aoyama, Tokyo, and Shanghai, China, from Friday, August 22, 2025.
"Kurono Vermilion Chronograph 'SHU'" is sold exclusively at Kurono Tokyo Aoyama Salon and Shanghai Salon
KURONO TOKYO, led by Hajime Asaoka, an independent watchmaker and CEO of Tokyo Watch Precision, offers a collection of watches with classic design exteriors and modern specifications, finished with high quality in every detail. Despite this quality and performance, the brand is also notable for selling its products at affordable luxury watch prices. However, supply has not kept up with demand, and limited edition models have been known to become a "fight" or require customers to wait on long waiting lists.
The new model announced by KURONO TOKYO, "Kurono Vermilion Chronograph 'SHU: Vermilion'", will be sold in limited quantities, but the company aims to create a model that "users who visit the salon can purchase at any time."
Automatic movement (Cal. NE86). 34 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 45 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 38mm, thickness 13.5mm). Water resistant to 3 bar. Price: 598,950 yen (tax included).
Like the brand's previous chronograph models, the small 38mm case, pump-type pushers, and box-shaped sapphire crystal are classic features, but the vibrant vermilion dial gives this watch a completely different feel from any of the previous models.
Vermillion is a traditional Japanese color that represents power and nobility. It has been widely used since ancient times on shrine gates and samurai armor, and is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.
Asaoka says he had wanted to create a chronograph watch with a vibrant orange dial like this for some time, but the reason it hadn't been released was because there were very few orange pigments that could pass the UV exposure tests conducted at KURONO TOKYO during the product development stage.
To understand what this test entails, a prototype dial is attached to a south-facing window in Asaoka's studio, with half of it covered with black tape. It is then exposed to sunlight for approximately 40 days in the summer and 60 days in the winter. After the test is complete, the black tape is removed, and if there is no difference in color between the two halves of the dial, the test is passed. The only oranges that pass this test are Cen Red and Vermilion. The new model released this time is the "vibrant orange dial that does not fade" that he has finally discovered.
How to buy
As mentioned above, this work will be sold exclusively at the Kurono Tokyo Aoyama Salon in Tokyo and the Shanghai Salon in China. Sales will begin on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:8 AM (based on each country's time zone), the same time both salons open.
No reservation is required to visit the store, but purchases are limited to one per person. In addition, you must register for a Kurono account to purchase. New users can purchase the product at the store or through the registration form (https://kuronotokyo.com/account/register) to register. Please note that as this is a limited edition product, there are no plans to restock it once it has sold out.
Actual machine displays have already begun at both salons, so readers who are interested should definitely go and check it out.
Kurono Tokyo Aoyama Salon
Address: 2-10-22 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0061
TEL：03-6823-8358
Business hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (closed on Sundays and public holidays)
Kurono Tokyo Shanghai Salon
Address: No.667-1, Weihai Road, Jing'an District,Shanghai,200041
TEL：021-6380-9768
Business hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (closed on Sundays)
