Kurono Tokyo has launched the Diver's, a novel watch that combines a dress style with dive functionality through an innovative case design. Created by independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka, the timepiece allows users to switch between a 35mm inner case for everyday wear and a 46mm outer dive case for underwater activities. Applications for purchase are now open, with priority given to certified divers.
Hajime Asaoka, a prominent figure in Japanese independent watchmaking, founded Kurono Tokyo in 2019 to offer accessible pricing and broader releases. The brand has previously produced time-only, calendar, GMT, and chronograph models, but the Diver's marks its entry into sportier dive watches.
The Diver's features an inner 35mm cushion-shaped case made of 316L stainless steel, measuring 37.4mm lug-to-lug and 9mm thick. This standalone component offers 50m water resistance and resembles a 1920s officer or dress watch, paired with a calf leather strap that tapers from 19mm to 16mm. The stark white dial includes black printed indexes, unspecified luminous material on hands and markers, and cathedral-style blued hands. Powered by the Miyota 90S5 automatic movement, it provides hours, minutes, central seconds, a 40-hour power reserve, and operates at 4Hz with 24 jewels.
For diving, the inner case slots into a 46mm outer case, 13.5mm thick with a 56.7mm lug-to-lug. This setup boosts water resistance to 100m when hand-tensioned via protrusions at 12 and 6 o'clock, or to 300m when secured with the supplied Duoseal tool. The outer case includes a bold red unidirectional bezel with diamond-shaped markings at 10-minute intervals and luminous pips at five-minute marks, plus a larger pip at 12 o'clock. A rubber strap tapers from 24mm to 22mm for the dive configuration.
Asaoka's design addresses dive watch vulnerabilities like the crown by minimizing user interaction points, though time adjustments remain possible. The brand describes the inner case as secured to prevent rotation within the outer one.
Priced at $2,700, the Diver's is a limited release with no specified quantity. Interested buyers can apply via the Kurono Tokyo website until March 11, 11:59 PM JST, with one application per customer. Recreational or higher diving certifications receive priority, though allocation is not guaranteed. Emails for successful applicants will be sent between March 13 and March 16.