Dreamchaser Prestige Black
SIXOFOUR Series One - Limited edition, unique design made especially for @ufc's Featherweight Champ, Max Holloway @blessedmma.
Beautifully & simply supernatural. A classic colour that reflects Vancouver's great outdoors and the abundant natural resources that surrounds this beautiful city.
Black fumé dial in a brilliant Stainless Steel (316L) case.
Automatic Miyota Movement | Sapphire Glass | Waterproof to 5ATM | 40mm | Open Back
]]>Curated watches + custom designed & handcrafted straps, by 47Ronin
For the first time since the launch of 47Ronin in 2018, we are curating some interesting & beautiful watches, with which will be matched with our uniquely custom designed and handcrafted straps.
For the start, we have picked SIXOFOUR LIFE (six-o-four), our long time watch brand partner from Vancouver, Canada who offers well designed and high quality automatic watches with Japanese movement.
SIXOFOUR Series One - Limited edition, unique design made especially for @ufc's Featherweight Champ, Max Holloway @blessedmma.
Beautifully & simply supernatural. A classic colour that reflects Vancouver's great outdoors and the abundant natural resources that surrounds this beautiful city.
Black fumé dial in a brilliant Stainless Steel (316L) case.
Automatic Miyota Movement | Sapphire Glass | Waterproof to 5ATM | 40mm | Open Back
About the watch strap design
First of all, the SIXOFOUR Series One - Max Holloway limited edition design is minimalists yet bold at the same time. The 40mm case is not considered huge, and it has a moderate thickness at 12mm. Yet, it is certainly a watch that sits prominently on the wrist and gathers attentions from the people nearby.
Hence, we have selected this Mocha brown "Crazy horse" calf leather which gives some thickness (4mm) and lots of strength to put up the watch on the wrist.
The leather
Crazy horse leather which also can be referred as saddle leather is made by applying a special kind of wax to a full grain leather surface that has been smoothed out. The wax enhances the leather fibre and that way when they are scratched or rubbed, the leather's natural colour changes its shade that gives the antique, vintage appearance.
Crazy horse leather are durable, strong, and of course its gives a unique look and feel which combines luxury and antique touch. With the wax applied to the leather, it protects the leather with water resistant and makes it more durable.
Kimono fabric from Kyoto
A piece of Kimono fabric from Kyoto Japan is placed beneath the first layer of the leather as an inlay. This piece of Kimono fabric is chosen for its Golden chrysanthemums on a black background which matches the reflective black dial and the golden stainless steel case engraved with tattoo of Max Holloway.
The original piece of Kimono fabric
Since only a small piece of the fabric is applied to the strap, it could be any part of the fabric at random. Hence, the resulting piece of fabric always come as a surprise, as each part of the Kimono fabric offers a unique pattern.
Cutouts
On the leather, two rectangular cutouts with round corners are made to expose the Kimono fabric inlay beneath it. The rectangular cutouts are meant to maximise the exposure of the kimono fabric beneath, as well as to synchronise with the somewhat squarish watch case design.
The stitching
In order to complement the golden case of the watch, a 0.55mm beige nylon thread is used for stitching the edges. The saddle stitching method is done by hand, such that in case any part of the stitching breaks, the rest of the stitching stays in place. Double loops are added near the lug to add strength where the spring bar will be and sprinkle a sense of handcrafted-ness.
The edges
A layer of transparent edge paint is applied to the edge of the strap to prevent water from entering the leather, as well as to retain the original leather colouring of this beautiful Crazy horse leather.
The buckle
Finally, a golden stainless steel buckle of 22mm is installed to go along with the silvery shine of the case. This rather bulky buckle would well complement the rugged and thick strap of 4mm. It is recommended to exercise care when putting on and removing the watch from your wrist, by avoiding excessive bending of the strap. This would help to prolong the lifespan of the strap.
The Materials:
Measurements
Order this watch & strap combo at:
Price: USD$760
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#315 Mocha brown calf leather (22mm, Beige stitching)
Price: USD$280
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases.
Support our content creation at Patreon and earn yourself a strap from us!
]]>Curated watches + custom designed & handcrafted straps, by 47Ronin
For the first time since the launch of 47Ronin in 2018, we are curating some interesting & beautiful watches, with which will be matched with our uniquely custom designed and handcrafted straps.
For the start, we have picked SIXOFOUR LIFE (six-o-four), our long time watch brand partner from Vancouver, Canada who offers well designed and high quality automatic watches with Japanese movement.
]]>
Curated watches + custom designed & handcrafted straps, by 47Ronin
For the first time since the launch of 47Ronin in 2018, we are curating some interesting & beautiful watches, with which will be matched with our uniquely custom designed and handcrafted straps.
For the start, we have picked SIXOFOUR LIFE (six-o-four), our long time watch brand partner from Vancouver, Canada who offers well designed and high quality automatic watches with Japanese movement.
SIXOFOUR Series One - Gastown Red
Beautifully & simply supernatural. A classic colour that reflects Vancouver's great outdoors and the abundant natural resources that surrounds this beautiful city.
"Gastown Red" fumé dial in a brilliant Stainless Steel (316L) case.
Automatic Miyota Movement | Sapphire Glass | Waterproof to 5ATM | 40mm | Open Back
About the watch strap design
First of all, the SIXOFOUR Series One -Gastown Red’s design is minimalists yet bold at the same time. The 40mm case is not considered huge, and it has a moderate thickness at 12mm. Yet, it is certainly a watch that sits prominently on the wrist and gathers attentions from the people nearby.
Hence, we have selected this Mocha brown "Crazy horse" calf leather which gives some thickness (4mm) and lots of strength to put up the watch on the wrist.
The leather
Crazy horse leather which also can be referred as saddle leather is made by applying a special kind of wax to a full grain leather surface that has been smoothed out. The wax enhances the leather fibre and that way when they are scratched or rubbed, the leather's natural colour changes its shade that gives the antique, vintage appearance.
Crazy horse leather are durable, strong, and of course its gives a unique look and feel which combines luxury and antique touch. With the wax applied to the leather, it protects the leather with water resistant and makes it more durable.
Kimono fabric from Kyoto
A piece of Kimono fabric from Kyoto Japan is placed beneath the first layer of the leather as an inlay. This piece of Kimono fabric is chosen for the red and pink patterns which matches the shinny red dial and the silver stainless steel case of the watch.
The original piece of Kimono fabric
Since only a small piece of the fabric is applied to the strap, it could be any part of the fabric at random. Hence, the resulting piece of fabric always come as a surprise, as each part of the Kimono fabric offers a unique pattern.
Cutouts
On the leather, two rectangular cutouts with round corners are made to expose the Kimono fabric inlay beneath it. The rectangular cutouts are meant to maximise the exposure of the kimono fabric beneath, as well as to synchronise with the somewhat squarish watch case design.
The stitching
In order to complement the red dial of the watch, a 0.55mm red nylon thread is used for stitching the edges. The saddle stitching method is done by hand, such that in case any part of the stitching breaks, the rest of the stitching stays in place. Double loops are added near the lug to add strength where the spring bar will be and sprinkle a sense of handcrafted-ness.
The edges
A layer of transparent edge paint is applied to the edge of the strap to prevent water from entering the leather, as well as to retain the original leather colouring of this beautiful Crazy horse leather.
The buckle
Finally, a silver stainless steel buckle of 22mm is installed to go along with the silvery shine of the case. This rather bulky buckle would well complement the rugged and thick strap of 4mm. It is recommended to exercise care when putting on and removing the watch from your wrist, by avoiding excessive bending of the strap. This would help to prolong the lifespan of the strap.
The Materials:
Measurements
Order this watch & strap combo at:
SIXOFOUR Series One - Gastown Red with 47Ronin#320 Mocha brown calf leather (22mm, Red stitching)
Price: USD$690
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#320 Mocha brown calf leather (22mm, Red stitching)
Price: USD$280
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases.
Support our content creation at Patreon and earn yourself a strap from us!
]]>Sad to say, the Covid19 pandemic is still going wild in many parts of the world, however, it is not going to stop us in creating beautiful pieces of wearable art, just to give this world a little more colours and positive vibe.
For the first time, 47Ronin is collaborating with a Singaporean watch modder: Mod Mode Watches. The two artists come together to combine their aesthetic senses, in-depth knowledge of watches & straps, and skilled craftsmanship.
]]>Sad to say, the Covid19 pandemic is still going wild in many parts of the world, however, it is not going to stop us in creating beautiful pieces of wearable art, just to give this world a little more colours and positive vibe.
For the first time, 47Ronin is collaborating with a Singaporean watch modder: Mod Mode Watches. The two artists come together to combine their aesthetic senses, in-depth knowledge of watches & straps, and skilled craftsmanship.
The end result? See for yourself, as we unfold below the design concept and the collab story.
A custom made dial with a Samurai!
1. When you first saw each other's works, how do you feel about them?
Mod Mode Watches: What first struck me about 47Ronin watch straps was the seamless harmony between bold thick leather straps and striking colours of soft kimono fabric. I've always been a fan of traditional Japanese influences and art so it appealed to me instantly.
44mm OEM Seiko Samurai Case with custom hand finishing
47Ronin: I was very new to watches when I first started 47Ronin, and I was amused to found that there are a group of people doing modification of watches, pretty much like self assembly of a bicycle, a car, or a desktop computer. I always wanted to collaborate with watch modders, and Mod Mode Watches does not shy away in using bold colours and unconventional designs. This is totally what 47Ronin believes in: believe in your own philosophy.
Seigaiha or wave crest Japanese print on the dial.
2. What were your thoughts about the idea of having a collaboration with each other?
Mod Mode Watches: I was absolutely stoked about the possibility and said yes almost instantly. I have considered other collaborations before but am really pleased I went with 47Ronin as my first collab.
47Ronin: I am a huge fan of collaboration. I believe that in collaborations, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. After having numerous collaboration with watch brands, shoes, leather goods, it is my first time collaborating with a watch modder. I knew from the beginning that it would be awesome.
A 47mm huge watch face
3. What was your thought process when planning for this collaboration?
Mod Mode Watches: I immediately went about planning the two watches for the collab, both with Japanese influences (the use of the Seiko Samurai case and Seigaiha patterned dial in one and the imagery of a Samurai with bright red lume in the other) I wanted both watches to showcase the straps from 47Ronin well as well as flow along into the entire design of the watch itself.
47Ronin: I waited to see the watch faces Mod Mode Watches made before embarking on my part of the collab. I was told one watch is going to need a 26mm strap, while the other is 22mm. Bit by bit, I saw the dials, the cases, etc being put together, as the watches came into shape. As the watches are being built, I started to have some ideas in my mind.
Hand applied bright red lume
4. What was the design process for the watches?
Mod Mode Watches: I first looked at Tong's work at 47Ronin and considered what sort of feel I would be able to draw out from my builds. That's how I ended up with the angular Seiko Samurai on one and the bolder custom Samurai dial on the other.
Exhibition Case Back | 26mm lug width
47Ronin: For the silver watch with the custom made Samurai dial, I have chosen a piece of thick crazyhorse calf leather which will be strong enough to hold the huge watch with 26mm lug. Kimono fabric from Kyoto with red & golden design is selected to match the red armour of the Samurai and the matt golden dial. 0.65mm dark pink thread is then picked and hand-stitched along the edge of the strap, which would complement the dark pink lume markers on the dial. Five loops around the edges of the strap near the lug would give additional strength to hold the leather together, as well as provide an extra vibe of handcraftedness. The loops also symbolises how the Samurai's armour are being fastened together.
Crazyhorse calf leather, 4.0mm
47Ronin: For the black watch, a piece of glossy black calf leather is chosen to maintain the overall black theme of the watch. A piece of Kimono fabric with a black base, golden and silver pattern is picked to give a brilliant contrast. Two 0.65mm beige and white threads are hand-stitched with zig-zag patterns towards the lug area. Such zig-zag stitching pattern resembles the grip handle of a Samurai's Katana sword.
Such zig-zag stitching pattern resembles the grip handle of a Samurai's Katana sword.
5. What are the specs of the watches you have made for this collaboration?
Mod Mode Watches: Both watches differ slightly. In the black watch, the case was a custom finished Seiko Samurai case done by a contact in Australia. I then built the watch around a Seiko Instruments Inc movement and a Seigaiha dial from another dial producer.
Silver:
Mechanical Seagull Movement | Sapphire Crystal | Waterproof to 10ATM | 47mm | Exhibition Case Back | 26mm lug width | Custom Dial with hand applied lume
Black:
Seiko Instruments Inc Automatic Movement | Sapphire Crystal | Waterproof to 20ATM | 44mm OEM Seiko Samurai Case with custom hand finishing | 22 mm lug width
Seiko Instruments Inc Automatic Movement | Sapphire Crystal
Mod Mode Watches: In the silver watch, I contacted a talented dial maker with my own specifications for a larger dial (38.9mm to be precise) and requested a Samurai motif with custom red lume. That brought out the spirit of the build and I thus decided to go with more muted elements for the rest of the watch so as to let the dial and the coupled 47Ronin strap shine through.
47Ronin: For the silver watch:
Materials:
Measurements:
The name in Chinese character is laser engraved on the loop.
47Ronin: For the black watch:
Materials:
Measurements:
47Ronin logo is laser engraved on the loop.
7. Were there any challenges when building the watches and straps?
Mod Mode Watches: With everything that is happening around the world, the main challenge was waiting for delivery. With that many parts coming from different parts of the world, I had to work with multiple delivery partners. Later, I had an issue with one of the movements and ended up having to wait again for a replacement to arrive.
47Ronin: A usual challenge when crafting custom straps is having leather that is too thick which makes it difficult or impossible to fix the strap onto the lug. As I prefer to use the thickness leather possible, in order to give the best durability for the straps, this is often a challenge when working with thicker leather.
The watches in display among tools used by watch modder Mod Mode Watches, and watch strap artist 47Ronin. Can you tell which is for which?
8. What do you think of the straps 47Ronin has crafted for the two watches? What are the features you like or dislike or wish to have?
Mod Mode Watches: My favourite element would have to be the fabric colours Tong has chosen. The colours are outstanding especially when they catch the light. I also really appreciate the custom length as I frequently find myself in the situation of having watch straps / bracelets that are just slightly too big or slightly too small.
9. Overall how do you feel about the collaboration with 47Ronin?
Mod Mode Watches: I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome of the collaboration and look forward to working with 47Ronin on more projects in the future.
10. What are the future plans for your business?
Mod Mode Watches: The aim of Mod Mode Watches has been to bring back the fun of modding or building without having to sacrifice a kidney. From day one, our mission has always been to ensure our prices remain fair and accessible so everyone can have a little custom element in their watches they wear all day. Whether it is a simple swap of a crown or a full custom build, we want everyone to feel welcomed. At the end of the day, we hope to build a community of watch building fans who just want to have a good time.
11. Finally, last question. How long have you worked as a modder? What kind of mod work do you do? What are your styles? How did you start being a modder?
Mod Mode Watches: I started modding when I came across an article about customised watches being built in people's homes. After researching, I realised I had a few "mod friendly" watches I could try out some basic mods. From there I was hooked. These days I focus more on custom builds that are different from "crowd favourites" or "homages" to famous watches. The commissioned builds I take on nowadays have to appeal to me with a unique design sensibility.
For anyone who is interested in starting to mod their watches no matter how simple, my advice is simple:
1) read up, watch videos, analyse carefully
2) try with parts you're not afraid to mess up - do not start digging into your precious family heirloom immediately
3) feel free to approach me with any questions. No question is too basic or too easy, I am always pleased to share.
Order this watch & strap combo at:
Custom Watch & Strap combo with 47Ronin#323 Black calf leather (22mm, White & Beige stitching)
Price: USD$1080
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#323 Black calf leather (22mm, White & Beige stitching)
Price: USD$280
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Order this watch & strap combo at:
Custom Samurai Watch & Strap combo with 47Ronin#321 Mocha brown calf leather (26mm, Pink stitching)
Price: USD$880
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#321 Mocha brown calf leather (26mm, Pink stitching)
Price: USD$280
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases.
Support our content creation at Patreon and earn yourself a strap from us!
]]>
Curated watches + custom designed & handcrafted straps, by 47Ronin
For the first time since the launch of 47Ronin in 2018, we are curating some interesting & beautiful watches, with which will be matched with our uniquely custom designed and handcrafted straps.
For the start, we have picked SIXOFOUR LIFE (six-o-four), our long time watch brand partner from Vancouver, Canada who offers well designed and high quality automatic watches with Japanese movement.
SIXOFOUR Series One - Stanley Park Green
Beautifully & simply supernatural. A classic colour that reflects Vancouver's great outdoors and the abundant natural resources that surrounds this beautiful city.
"Stanley Park Green" fumé dial in a brilliant Stainless Steel (316L) case.
Automatic Miyota Movement | Sapphire Glass | Waterproof to 5ATM | 40mm | Open Back
About the watch strap design
First of all, the SIXOFOUR Series One - Stanley Park Green’s design is minimalists yet bold at the same time. The 40mm case is not considered huge, and it has a moderate thickness at 12mm. Yet, it is certainly a watch that sits prominently on the wrist and gathers attentions from the people nearby.
Hence, we have selected this Mocha brown "Crazy horse" calf leather which gives some thickness (4mm) and lots of strength to put up the watch on the wrist.
The leather
Crazy horse leather which also can be referred as saddle leather is made by applying a special kind of wax to a full grain leather surface that has been smoothed out. The wax enhances the leather fibre and that way when they are scratched or rubbed, the leather's natural colour changes its shade that gives the antique, vintage appearance.
Crazy horse leather are durable, strong, and of course its gives a unique look and feel which combines luxury and antique touch. With the wax applied to the leather, it protects the leather with water resistant and makes it more durable.
Kimono fabric from Kyoto
A piece of Kimono fabric from Kyoto Japan is placed beneath the first layer of the leather as an inlay. This piece of Kimono fabric is chosen for the green patterns which matches the shinny green dial and the silver stainless steel case of the watch.
The original piece of Kimono fabric
Since only a small piece of the fabric is applied to the strap, it could be any part of the fabric at random. Hence, the resulting piece of fabric always come as a surprise, as each part of the Kimono fabric offers a unique pattern.
Cutouts
On the leather, two rectangular cutouts with round corners are made to expose the Kimono fabric inlay beneath it. The rectangular cutouts are meant to maximise the exposure of the kimono fabric beneath, as well as to synchronise with the somewhat squarish watch case design.
The stitching
In order to complement the green dial of the watch, a 0.55mm green nylon thread is used for stitching the edges. The saddle stitching method is done by hand, such that in case any part of the stitching breaks, the rest of the stitching stays in place. Double loops are added near the lug to add strength where the spring bar will be and sprinkle a sense of handcrafted-ness.
The edges
A layer of transparent edge paint is applied to the edge of the strap to prevent water from entering the leather, as well as to retain the original leather colouring of this beautiful Crazy horse leather.
The buckle
Finally, a silver stainless steel buckle of 22mm is installed to go along with the silvery shine of the case. This rather bulky buckle would well complement the rugged and thick strap of 4mm. It is recommended to exercise care when putting on and removing the watch from your wrist, by avoiding excessive bending of the strap. This would help to prolong the lifespan of the strap.
The Materials:
Measurements
Order this watch & strap combo at:
Price: USD$690
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#317 Mocha brown calf leather (22mm, Green stitching)
Price: USD$280
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases.
Support our content creation at Patreon and earn yourself a strap from us!
]]>Curated watches + custom designed & handcrafted straps, by 47Ronin
For the first time since the launch of 47Ronin in 2018, we are curating some interesting & beautiful watches, with which will be matched with our uniquely custom designed and handcrafted straps.
SIXOFOUR Series One - Pacific Pearl
There is nothing like the beauty of a pacific pearl. The look can only say sophistication and endurance. Pair it with a 47Ronin leather strap for a timepiece that will never go out of style.
]]>Curated watches + custom designed & handcrafted straps, by 47Ronin
For the first time since the launch of 47Ronin in 2018, we are curating some interesting & beautiful watches, with which will be matched with our uniquely custom designed and handcrafted straps.
For the start, we have picked SIXOFOUR LIFE (six-o-four), our long time watch brand partner from Vancouver, Canada who offers well designed and high quality automatic watches with Japanese movement.
SIXOFOUR Series One - Pacific Pearl
There is nothing like the beauty of a pacific pearl. The look can only say sophistication and endurance. Pair it with a 47Ronin leather strap for a timepiece that will never go out of style.
"Pacific Pearl" fumé dial in a brilliant Stainless Steel (316L) case.
Automatic Miyota Movement | Sapphire Glass | Waterproof to 5ATM | 40mm | Open Back
About the watch strap design
First of all, the SIXOFOUR Series One - Pacific Pearl’s design is minimalists yet bold at the same time. The 40mm case is not considered huge, and it has a moderate thickness at 12mm. Yet, it is certainly a watch that sits prominently on the wrist and gathers attentions from the people nearby.
Hence, we have selected this Mocha brown "Crazy horse" calf leather which gives some thickness (4mm) and lots of strength to put up the watch on the wrist.
The leather
Crazy horse leather which also can be referred as saddle leather is made by applying a special kind of wax to a full grain leather surface that has been smoothed out. The wax enhances the leather fibre and that way when they are scratched or rubbed, the leather's natural colour changes its shade that gives the antique, vintage appearance.
Crazy horse leather are durable, strong, and of course its gives a unique look and feel which combines luxury and antique touch. With the wax applied to the leather, it protects the leather with water resistant and makes it more durable.
Kimono fabric from Kyoto
A piece of Kimono fabric from Kyoto Japan is placed beneath the first layer of the leather as an inlay. This piece of Kimono fabric is chosen for the large area of silver which matches the shinny pearl white dial and the silver stainless steel case of the watch.
The original piece of Kimono fabric is filled with dancing dragons.
Since only a small piece of the fabric is applied to the strap, it could be any part of the fabric at random. Hence, the resulting piece of fabric always come as a surprise, as each part of the Kimono fabric offers a unique pattern.
Cutouts
On the leather, two rectangular cutouts with round corners are made to expose the Kimono fabric inlay beneath it. The rectangular cutouts are meant to maximise the exposure of the kimono fabric beneath, as well as to synchronise with the somewhat squarish watch case design.
The stitching
In order to complement the pearl white dial of the watch, a 0.55mm white nylon thread is used for stitching the edges. The saddle stitching method is done by hand, such that in case any part of the stitching breaks, the rest of the stitching stays in place. Double loops are added near the lug to add strength where the spring bar will be and sprinkle a sense of handcrafted-ness.
The edges
A layer of transparent edge paint is applied to the edge of the strap to prevent water from entering the leather, as well as to retain the original leather colouring of this beautiful Crazy horse leather.
The buckle
Finally, a silver stainless steel buckle of 22mm is installed to go along with the silvery shine of the case. This rather bulky buckle would well complement the rugged and thick strap of 4mm. It is recommended to exercise care when putting on and removing the watch from your wrist, by avoiding excessive bending of the strap. This would help to prolong the lifespan of the strap.
The Materials:
Measurements
Order this watch & strap combo at:
Price: USD$690
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#314 Mocha brown calf leather (22mm, White stitching)
Price: USD$280
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases.
Support our content creation at Patreon and earn yourself a strap from us!
]]>Some months ago I met Chase Woo of Aries Gold, a true blue Singaporean watch brand started in 1970, whose watches are conceptualised and designed in Singapore, prototyped in Singapore, assembled in Singapore, and finally directly sold to customers from Singapore.
To me, a newbie to watches, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that such an extraordinary watch brand has been serving the watch markets in over 35 countries for the last half a century. It really inspires me to join in the effort to put a Singapore brand on the world map.
Without a second thought, we quickly embarked on an artist collaboration between Aries Gold and 47Ronin by combining both Singaporean creations.
I have selected this golden watch from the Infinum series to work on, as I was very attracted to its skeleton design for this automatic watch, which reveals the center portion of the movement. There are also a few small, subtly blinking red and blue "gems" on the dial, which added some premium and a sense of mysteriousness to the watch. In addition, only a few of the marking are shown in Roman numerals, do we call that "less is more"?
EL TORO G 9005G G-BK
Regular price $419.00 USD
Beneath its reinforced sapphire glass exterior, lies the intricate yet durable handcrafted dial. Each component has been painstakingly constructed to perfection by the veteran watchmakers, meshing seamlessly with the movement in a symphony of finesse and performance.
About the watch strap design
The leather
Diving into the strap design from my side at 47Ronin, first of all, I have decided to use a brown piece of leather to break away from the black leather strap that the watch originally comes with. In addition, it is a piece of calf leather with lizard scales embossed giving it an overall 3D texture.
The stitching
As mentioned earlier, in order to synchronise with the couple of blinking blue "gems" on the dial, I decided to give the strap a blue stitching. Instead of a single colour stitching, I have incorporated two tones of blue: sky blue & navy blue on each side of the strap.
A couple of criss-crossing stitchings are included near the lug as a decorative feature, and also add-on a little handcrafted-ness to the piece.
Kimono fabric from Kyoto
As one of the signature designs of 47Ronin, a piece of Kimono fabric from Kyoto is inserted between the layers of leather, with 4 circular cutouts in a curved arrangement.
A blue & silver Kimono fabric with Sakura Cherry Blossom design is selected as the inlay.
The tapering
The watch strap is also tapered from the 22mm lug to 20mm at the buckle.
The buckle
Finally, a 20mm golden stainless steel butterfly clasp buckle is attached. Since the lizard embossed leather is rather stiff, a butterfly clasp buckle would reduce the bending and twisting of the strap when putting on or taking down.
The Material:
Measurements
Check out Aries Gold watches at:
https://www.h2hubwatches.com/?ref=doghza5p6cda
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#230 Brown lizard embossed calf leather (22mm, Navy blue & Sky blue stitching)
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases.
Support our content creation at Patreon and earn yourself a strap from us!
]]>Crazy horse leather which also can be referred as saddle leather is made by applying a special kind of wax to a full grain leather surface that has been smoothed out. The wax enhances the leather fibre and that way when they are scratched or rubbed, the leather's natural colour changes its shade that gives the antique, vintage appearance.
Crazy horse leather are durable, strong, and of course its gives a unique look and feel which combines luxury and antique touch. With the wax applied to the leather, it protects the leather with water resistant and makes it more durable.
A piece of Kimono fabric from Kyoto Japan is placed beneath the first layer of the leather as an inlay. This piece of Kimono fabric is chosen for the large area of brilliant gold colour it offers which matches the bronze case of the watch.
Since only a small piece of the fabric is applied to the strap, it could be any part of the fabric at random. Hence, the resulting piece of fabric always come as a surprise, as each part of the Kimono fabric offers a unique pattern.
The Material:
Measurements
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#279 Mocha brown calf leather (22mm, Dark green stitching)
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
After gaining over 3k followers organically and collaborating with over 30 watch brands around the world, I am launching my Patreon page!! https://www.patreon.com/47roninwatchstraps
Besides getting design concept previews, your support will also earn yourself a unique artist freestyle design strap from me!
]]>After gaining over 3k followers organically and collaborating with over 30 watch brands around the world, I am launching my Patreon page!! https://www.patreon.com/47roninwatchstraps
Besides getting design concept previews, your support will also earn yourself a unique artist freestyle design strap from me!
Also, for the first 500 supporters, I will be giving each an individual shoutout on my IG story as an appreciation for your support.
Your contributions will also help me put up an exhibition of my works in your city in the near future, as I am planning for a world tour exhibition in post-covid19. Tell me where you are based, and I will plan an exhibition in your city!!
Thank you for your support.
Tong, 47Ronin#0
Join me in my journey and ..........
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>The brand concept
Kaal timepieces are designed to inspire wonder for the world on which we live. Traditional watch dials lock people into a cycle of using time to meter out the space between their next meeting, their next call or their next deal or maybe their next meal. Why use the time in a boring way?
Don't let time tell you what to do. Re-interpreting time & space.
Kaal Watch, taking their name from the Sanskrit word for “time”, celebrate that we are all together on Starship Earth to humanize the process of telling time. Their new Multiverse Edition watches are a trilogy of timepieces designed to present time not just in a unique way, but in a unique context. DELETE ‘hands’ pointing to hours and minutes like fingers pointing to chores and drudgery. INSERT beautifully ornate three-dimensional representations of the three most important celestial bodies, acting as the focal point of a mechanical ballet of spinning dials and markers that mimic their celestial motions.
Kaal Watch "Sol" (the Sun) Specifications:
A special relationship with the Sun
“Sol” (the Sun), lighting our days half of the time and keeping us warm all the time. If it was bright enough to see your way through traffic this morning or warm enough for you to walk outside and if there was food on your plate – you can thank the Sun for that. Our relationship with the Sun is a unique one (don’t believe me?) ask anyone from Venus or Mars, they’ll tell you how lucky we are.
The Material:
Measurements
Features:
Packaging:
Time required:
Price:
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#299 Rose red calf leather (22mm, Beige stitching)
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
This time, 47Ronin has a very interesting collaboration with a Singaporean tattoo artist: Eric Artistica! I am always keen to have interesting collaborations with fellow artists who create beautiful art with their hands.
Eric standing in the 5-foot-way outside his studio at Dunlop Street.
Through an introduction by one of our watch partners @jevorisofficial, I get to know Eric, who started his tattoo artist career in 2006, and is running his own tattoo studio since 2015 at a shophouse along Dunlop Street, an interesting area near Little India.
To be honest, I have ZERO tattoo on myself, but I have always been very fascinated by tattoo, the designs, the graphics, the colours, and the whole culture by itself. Being Japanese influenced, I was also amused by the Japanese style tattoo of the Yakuza culture.
I have always been very fond of Japanese illustrations like the dragon, the Koi fish, the tiger, etc, and painting them on the human skin like an artist's canvas brings it to another level altogether.
You may have heard that foreign tourists visiting Japan with tattoo are rejected from entering Onsen hot spring, but on the other hand, I have also heard that there are special bathhouse or Onsen that serves the Yakuza with tattoo as well.
When I visited Eric's tattoo studio for the first time, I could immediately feel the vibe of the tattoo culture. Located on the second floor of a shophouse, on top of a Japanese izakaya, it is a little space where people come to visit and leave with a satisfying handcrafted art piece somewhere on their bodies.
Although I was a little shy to fix my eyes on how the ink makes their way into the skin, I was delighted by the many decorative toys, figurings, illustrations in frames, little gadgets, small aquariums, etc that have decorated the whole space with character and style.
Coming back to business, Eric has a Seiko SPC185P1 15th anniversary limited edition, and we decided to custom design and craft a watch strap for this watch.
Something about the watch:
15th Anniversary Limited Edition Seiko with only 3900 pieces produced
Water resistance 100m
Diameter : 44mm.
Case : Black PVD Stainless Steel Case with Black PVD Bracelet
Bezel : Stainless steel with Tachymeter
Dial : Black / Red dial with Luminous hands & index.
Chronograph Function: 60 minutes chronograph stopwatch function, and 24hour Indicator
Buckle : Three-fold clasp with push button release
Date : Big Date window at 12 o'clock position.
Glass : Sapphire crystal glass
When considering the watch strap design, I have decided to use a piece of cinnamon brown calf leather, in order to break away from its original black coloured theme.
Eric is sharing a piece of illustration given by another Italian tattoo artist at one of the conventions last year.
This piece of leather is rather soft which provides much comfort to the user. It would be especially so when Eric needs flexibility and comfort at this wrists as he works on his tattoo art for his customers.
To match the red elements on the watch dial, I used a 0.55mm nylon red thread for the stitching, with double loops wrapping the edge of the strap near the lug area to give it extra strength, and a sprinkle of handcrafted-ness.
The piece of Kimono fabric inlay chosen is weaved with Wagara (和柄)Japanese traditional pattern, called Seigaiha (青海波)which means Wave crest. This design is made of rows of ocean waves forming a fan-shaped pattern. It symbolises the desire for continued peaceful living, like the tranquil waves.
In order to compliment the golden element of the Kimono fabric, the strap is matched with a golden stainless steel pre-v buckle, 22mm.
Usually, the design and crafting process of a 47Ronin watch strap would have ended here, but for this time, That is not all!
Finally, a skull illustration designed by Eric is then added to the tip of the strap by laser engraving, to complete this piece of collaborative work.
About the watch strap:
Materials & design:
Measurements:
About Eric Artistica:
Started tattooing since year 2006, Eric Artistica specialises in Blackngrey and Blackwork tattoos. He also enjoys customising unique designs for his clients.
IG: @eric_artistica
74A Dunlop St, Singapore 209402
For enquiry and appointment contact
eric.artistica@gmail.com
+65 82222604
Order this watch strap at:
47Ronin#231 Cinnamon brown calf leather (22mm, Red stitching)
* Contact us for customised lug width, length, and thickness (Whatsapp +65 86567631, hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
Get a gift for someone special with our Gift Card.
]]>We at 47Ronin have been designing and crafting Japanese inspired watch straps for luxury timepieces such as Panerai, Rolex, & Grand Seiko, iconic fashion pieces such as G-Shock, as well as many well designed and high quality micro brand watches from many different countries. And certainly, last but not least, Wearable tech.
Photo by Mobvoi
Our aim is to put a piece of Japanese art and our craftsmanship on your wrist, regardless it is a vintage piece with sophisticated mechanical movement, a quartz driven daily wear, electronics wrapped in rubber, or 5G/ WIFI/GPS equipped wearable computer of the future.
Sometime earlier, I got in touch with TicWatch, a smartwatch brand produced by Mobvoi, who also develops other trendy gadgets such as ear-pods and headphones. While sharing my design stories, we decided to design and craft a couple of straps for one of their smartwatches, the TicWatch C2+.
The TicWatch C2+ comes in 3 colours, which are ONYX (20mm, a shade of black), rose gold (18mm), and platinum (20mm). I received a TicWatch C2+ platinum for designing and crafting some unique straps to give it a makeover.
Unlike mechanical watches and dive watches, smartwatches are rather light in weight. Thanks to modern technology which has managed to squeeze a high performance computer into a tiny space. Hence, we don't really need to consider the thickness and strength of the strap to hold things up, but rather, the thickness and material in consideration would be more for aesthetic purposes.
The TicWatch C2+ platinum comes with a decent grey leather strap (20/18mm), and simple stainless steel pin buckle. It also comes with the quick-release spring-bar for easy change of straps, which is what we are going to do.
When we design straps for watches, we usually consider many aspects such as the shapes and colours of the case, the dial, the hands, the bezel, the sub-dial, the markers, etc. However, for smartwatches, there are usually just the case, the black screen, and a couple of buttons. Of course, anything or any colour could appear on the black screen.
Photo by Mobvoi
The Watch Strap
Materials:
Leather: Grainy black calf leather
Fabric: Dragon scale Kimono fabric from Kyoto
Stitching: Lemon Yellow stitching (hand-stitched)
Buckle: Silver stainless steel Pre-v buckle 20mm
Spring bar: Quick release spring bar
Measurements:
Length: 125mm/75mm,
Lug: 20mm
Thickness: 2.5mm
Buckle: 20mm
Hence, due to such minimalist external feature of TicWatch C2+, we found that we could just let our creative juice flow freely. It will be up to the users to pick a design that calls out to their unique style and personality.
Photo by Mobvoi
The Watch Strap
Materials:
Leather: Grainy grey calf leather
Fabric: Navy blue & silver Kimono fabric from Kyoto
Stitching: Navy blue stitching (hand-stitched)
Buckle: Black stainless steel Pre-v buckle 20mm
Spring bar: Quick release spring bar
Measurements:
Length: 125mm/75mm,
Lug: 20mm
Thickness: 2.5mm
Buckle: 20mm
One advantage of smartwatches is that you can always have a new look for the watch by changing the watch face design. In addition, you can change the watch faces to match the straps, or switch the straps to match the watch faces. There are endless possibilities!
Photo by Mobvoi
The Watch Strap
Materials:
Leather: Crazy horse calf leather
Fabric: Orange & gold Kimono fabric from Kyoto
Stitching: Beige stitching (hand-stitched)
Buckle: Golden stainless steel Pre-v buckle 20mm
Spring bar: Quick release spring bar
Measurements:
Length: 125mm/75mm,
Lug: 20mm
Thickness: 3.0mm
Buckle: 20mm
Photo by Mobvoi
About the watch: TicWatch C2+, 20mm
Dimensions (mm): 42.8x42.8x12.7
Watch Case: Stainless steel (front)
Operating System: Wear OS by Google
RAM/ROM: 1GB/4GB
Compatibility: Android™, iOS
Platform: Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 2100
Display: 1.3” AMOLED 360 x 360 px
GPS: GPS + GLONASS + Beidou
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Heart-rate sensor
NFC payments: Yes (Google Pay)
Battery capacity: 400mAh (up to 2 days*)
Waterproof rating: IP68
For more information, check out HERE, and use the code "AMHQNM" to enjoy 10% discount for any product from Mobvoi!
For all TicWatch users, we are now offering complimentary name engraving when you commission a handcrafted strap from us, just mention "TicWatch" when you send us an enquiry.
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>Everyday we meet new people, but we connect easily with those with common interest and passion. Similarly, when I met Eric, the founder of H.I.D Watch in Hong Kong- we bonded easily over our common interest; passion and love towards Horology. While exchanging our thoughts about Horology, I received a H.I.D watch as a collaboration piece.
When Eric created H.I.D watch, his concept was to create a unique watch product that has never been seen in the market. So, I also decided to give a completely new and unique look to the watch I received by designing and crafting something out of the box.
Introduction of H.I.D Watch:-
The founder & creator of H.I.D watch, Eric was equally passionate about automotive since he was a kid. And to flourish & live his dream, he became an engineer. With vast knowledge on Horology, he started to conceptualise a unique watch that will link & integrate his two hobbies- Cars and Watches. And as a result he designed a D.I.Y transformable watch case inspired by automotive concept. Isn’t that exciting!
And finally his dream-child was born. A unique watch with equally unique case. As he was particularly keen towards vintage watches he named it H.I.D (Heritage Innovative Design).
Introduction of H.I.D Watch M010103:-
H.I.D Watch M010103 is a classic cars’ series “T1D1” (Type1/Design1), an automatic wind mechanical wristwatch in black/steel tone. The dial is in all black with a red indicator to indicate the time in hours. The minutes and seconds are displayed by 2 rotating discs underneath. Time in minutes is to be read by the indicator at 12:00 position, whereas the hours are displayed by the window at 6:00 position. At the centre is the small seconds display. The dial design was inspired by 1960s classic car Corvette C1 model.
About the watch strap design:-
Due to the silver, black, and white organic colour theme of the watch, it gives us a very wide range of colour themes that we can experiment with the straps. It is quite a heavy duty watch, hence we have chosen thicker leather, and a straight design for the straps. One thing to take note is that although it has a 22mm lug, due to the inter-changable outer casing, a longer 26mm quick release spring bar will be needed to secure the strap to the watch, as well as to the casing.
47Ronin#105, is our iconic Kimono fabric design with Bronze brown calf leather, yellow stitching, yellow edge paint, matched with a golden stainless steel pre-v buckle.
Notice that we use a thicker 0.8mm flat lemon yellow thread for the stitching to give a more solid feel that matches with the watch.
From the original black leather strap, we have transformed the watch into a golden-yellow Japanese art piece for the wrist. It would probably be a nice conversation opener in all occasions.
This is the original piece of Kimono fabric used for the strap. It is pretty hard to image from just looking at the small pieces deployed in the watch strap. We do not intentionally decide which part of the fabric will go into the strap, but rather we randomly leave it to "fate", which the Japanese called it 「ご縁」(Go-En). Therefore, no two straps we craft will be identical, even they may be crafted from the same piece of material.
The Watch
H.I.D Watch, Model : M010103
Watch diameter: 45 mm
Movement: Mechanical automatic wind movement. 4Hz (28,800 A/h), 21 jewels
Watch case: Stainless steel 316L round case (size 40mm diameter without crown / 15.5mm thick overall).
https://www.hidwatch.com/shop/m010103/
The Watch Strap
Materials:
Leather: Bronze brown calf leather
Fabric: Kimono fabric from Kyoto
Stitching: Lemon Yellow stitching (hand-stitched)
Buckle: Golden stainless steel Pre-v buckle 22mm
Spring bar: Quick release spring bar
Measurements:
Length: 125mm/75mm,
Lug: 22mm
Thickness: 3.0mm
Buckle: 22mm
You can order the strap here:
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>About Von Doren:-
A Norwegian watch brand Von Doren, who believes in quality over quantity reflects their uniqueness and elegance in every design of their watches. Inspired by the Norwegian heritage, Von Doren’s each and every watch brought to life with the finest Swiss movement.
Founder Oyvind Von Doren Asbjornsen not only inherited a treasured Swiss watch from his great-grandfather at the age of 12, but also inherited the atypical Horological passion which paved the path of Von Doren Watches. This young boy in his home town of Aalesund, Norway, was just at the beginning of a journey that destined to last a lifetime.
Established in 2016, Von Doren perfectly amalgamates high-quality with vintage flair. Inspired from the awestruck landscapes, Von Doren is known for their defined and classy designs.
47Ronin received a watch from Von Doren:-
47Ronin and Von Doren might differ by culture & distance apart but unites by passion -the same horological passion. Thus, when we collaborated, we truly created magic together.
For this, we have chosen Aksla Mark II Frost White model and I was dedicated to design 2 pieces of unique handcrafted leather watch straps for the watch. And guess what? When the watch and the handmade strap came together it was indeed magical, a perfect combo of tech & craft.
As an artist I find solace in crafting these straps, so it is essential for the inner me to be satisfied with every aspect of the strap- from designing, choosing material to cutting and stitching it with perfection.
Introduction of Aksla Mark II Frost White – Gold:-
A gold case & detailing with frost white face, Aksla is the other name of grace and perfection. Complementing its luxurious case, this Aksla offers understated sophistication for the discerning gentleman. As with all their timepieces, only premium components and materials, including a high-quality Swiss quartz movement, are used.
About the watch strap design :-
Since the watch casing is golden, I opted for a golden and orange theme to design the strap.
A piece of dark brown crocodile embossed calf leather is chosen, which will matches with the golden casing.
We choose not to use real crocodile skin because some crocodiles are considered endangered, and since we ship our straps internationally, crocodile leather might not get through the custom in some countries. Hence, we have adopted the use of crocodile, snake, lizard embossed calf leather as an alternative. They look equally good, save our planet, and we can ship them internationally for our customers to enjoy them.
For the fabric inlay, it is an orange and golden kimono fabric from Kyoto. It has patterns of Japanese paper fan which symbolises prosperity, and floral patterns from the original piece of fabric.
The window cutout of the leather is in the shape of a traditional Japanese print of the mist or fog 霞(かすみ, Kasumi) which is viewed from afar, often during early morning or in the evening.
This is commonly used as decorative patterns in traditional Japanese houses, such as on the doors, walls, and decorative panels. This window cutout reveals the orange and golden kimono fabric underneath.
To match the kimono fabric, a piece of 0.55mm bright orange thread is hand stitched around the strap with extra loops done near the lug.
The original golden stainless steel buckle 18mm from Von Doren is attached.
The Watch
Watch diameter: 42 mm
Movement: Swiss made, Ronda Powertech 5
Glass: Domed sapphire crystal, anti-scratch surface, anti-reflective coating inside
Watch case: Stainless steel 316L. 6 mm + case 2 mm (8mm total)
Water resistance: 5 ATM, 50 meters
Straps: Italian handcrafted leather, 20mm
Other: luminous hands
https://www.vondoren.com/product-page/aksla-mark-ii-frost-white-gold
The Watch Strap
Materials:
Leather: Croc embossed brown calf leather
Fabric: Orange & Golden Kimono fabric from Kyoto
Stitching: Bright orange stitching (hand-stitched)
Buckle: Original Von Doren buckle 18mm
Spring bar: Quick release spring bar
Measurements:
Length: 125mm/75mm,
Lug: 20mm
Thickness: 3.0mm
Buckle: 18mm
You can order the strap here:
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>
Handcrafted, Hand-stitched
Watch brand collaboration @47ronin_watchstraps x @travaillertimepieces
*All images are from Travailler Timepieces & 47Ronin Watch Straps, special thanks to @typeface.page
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
A couple of months ago, when Samuel Koh, one of the co-founders of JEVORIS, came to visit us at our studio, I was very surprised. A young man in his early 20’s is one of the masterminds behind a new watch brand from Singapore. While talking to him I asked the secret behind naming the company as JEVORIS, he explained a very interesting fact.
]]>A couple of months ago, when Samuel Koh, one of the co-founders of JEVORIS, came to visit us at our studio, I was very surprised. A young man in his early 20’s is one of the masterminds behind a new watch brand from Singapore.
Dreamchaser Prestige Black
While talking to him I asked the secret behind naming the company as JEVORIS, he explained a very interesting fact. He lives near a place called Jervois Road in the River Valley area of Singapore and with some twitting of the spelling they established the brand JEVORIS.
Dreamchaser Prestige Black
The brand not only believes in chasing after one’s dream but also to define oneself. They have also supported several sportsmen and sportswomen in Wushu (Chinese martial art).
About the brand:
JEVORIS was founded by two very motivated and passionate young boys Samuel Koh and Sky Ho from Singapore. With full of zeal they created their first watch and meaningfully named it as “Dreamchaser”. And when you chase your dream with determination the outcome is sure to be worth it.
It comes in two elegant colours and designs- 1. Prestige Black and 2. Prestige White. These watches go through a precise watch test instrument that is used for ensuring the proper working and accuracy through a time graph. With thorough professionalism and sheer passion JEVORIS designs your watch with an anti-shock system which keeps your watch safe from any fall and damage. Their watches are also water resistant up to 165 feet.
Dreamchaser Prestige Black
'Elegance is elimination.' The Jevoris dreamchaser Prestige. A mechanical automatic watch made with miyota caliber 82S5 with 21 jewels, 3 pieces of clear quartz on the dial and case made with 304 Stainless steel. Leather styles are made of bamboo grain leather. This watch is the perfect watch to represent elegance.
Original strap and style of Dreamchaser Prestige Black
Custom designed & handcrafted watch strap by @47Ronin_watchstraps in collaboration with JEVORIS
Design concept
A dark chocolate brown glossy calf leather is chosen to complement the black dial of the watch. It has 3 square cuts which reveals the inlay fabric, this is in-tuned with the 3 pieces of square clear quartz on the dial at 12, 3, and 9 positions.
A beautiful golden and yellow theme is used for the in-lay fabric and the stitching in order to create contrast with the dark chocolate brown leather. Don’t forget the special stitchings that are made at the lug and at the buckle to give more strength to the strap, and unique styling.
Materials:
Leather: Chocolate brown glossy calf leather,
Fabric: Golden Kimono fabric from Kyoto,
Stitching: Yellow stitching (hand-stitched),
Buckle: Original JEVORIS buckle,
Spring bar: Quick release spring bar
Measurements:
Length: 125mm/75mm,
Lug: 22mm,
Thickness: 3.0mm,
Buckle: 20mm
Handcrafted, Handstitched
Watch brand collaboration @47ronin_watchstraps x @jevorisofficial
*All images are from JEVORIS & 47Ronin Watch Straps, special thanks to @typeface.page
Dreamchaser Prestige Black
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
Dates:
Postponed to May 2020 or beyond depending on Covid-19 situation!!
Location:
FLOR Patisserie
2 DUXTON HILL #01-01 SINGAPORE 089588
* Before visiting, RSVP by DM @47ronin_watchstraps, hi@47ronin.co or Whatsapp +65 86567631 to receive a free gift.
* Use the code "47RONIN" to enjoy a cake set at $12 nett (UP: $15.30, include a slice cake and a hot coffee/tea)
Takeaways at a 20% discount.
Content:
Special Events:
Opening event: TBC
Closing event: TBC
Topics: Watches, Fashion, Footwear, Lifestyle, , Sharing, Networking
RSPV: hi@47ronin.co
Collaborators:
Venue partner, FLOR Patisserie
Creative partner, TYPEFACE.PAGE
Watch Brand Partners:
Advisor Watches (Singapore)
Travailler Timepieces (Singapore)
JEVORIS (Singapore)
VARIO (Singapore)
Grundstof Watch Company (Singapore)
Phantoms Lab (Hong Kong)
JW Watch (Hong Kong)
Von Doren Watch Company (Norway)
The Abingdon Co. (USA)
SIXOFFOUR LIFE (Canada)
Watanabe Kobo (Japan)
Collaborating Artists:
Japanese collage artist @Collage_Memarii
Sneaker artist @hypebaysg by Reiko
Media Partners:
Wah So Shiok
Akadot TV
* Before visiting, RSVP by DM @47ronin_watchstraps, hi@47ronin.co or Whatsapp +65 86567631 to receive a free gift.
* Use the code "47RONIN" to enjoy a cake set at $12 nett (UP: $15.30, include a slice cake and a hot coffee/tea)
Takeaways at a 20% discount.
Advisor is an independent watch brand from Singapore founded by Andy.SWC which its designs draw inspiration from horological history. The unique twist comes from its modern interpretation of classic designs to create timepieces that are completely contemporary.
When I first met Andy, I found he looks so familiar and later found out that we used to be in the same SAF 1st Commando Battalion for our military service, some 17 years ago. I feel that such Commando spirit can be found in some of his watch design and features. Perhaps, it is only a common feeling among those with the Red Beret :)
The SUPA Diver Bronze comes in 3 colours, and I have the pleasure of viewing and designing & crafting a strap for the "Green Monster" version right before its launch on Kickstarter this evening 19th Feb 2020 7pm SGT.
I will leave all of you to check out the design from the Kickstarter page, and I shall work on the strap uniquely designed and crafted for The SUPA Diver Bronze.
First of all, I have hand-picked this Gingerbread brown croc embossed calf leather that will go well with the rather sturdy watch body. The thickness of the leather will provide some strength to hold down the watch which weights 150g.
Gingerbread brown would go well with the bronze case that patinas overtime, giving its own "fingerprint" from its owner.
One of our signature design: Kimono textile fabric inlay from Kyoto.
A Kimono textile fabric with a combination of gold, green, and black is chosen to compliment the "Green Monster".
Lime green waxed threads are hand-stitches around the edge of the strap, especially around the lug and buckle areas to add strength to the strap, and extending the product lifespan.
Did we mention the bronze watch case will patina with bluish green by oxidation? Together with lime green stitching, these little colouration can absolutely spice things up.
To match this bronze beauty, a 22mm Golden stainless steel butterfly clasp buckle will be the most perfect piece of metallic element for the strap.
Have you noticed another additional feature in the strap we have added for this "Green Monster"? Edge paint: Forest green
Tell us what you think about this watch brand collaboration with 47Ronin x Advisor Watches. Remember to check out The SUPA Diver Bronze's launch on Kickstarter this evening 19th Feb 2020 7pm SGT.
Specifications in details
Advisor Watches | SUPA Diver Bronze Swiss Automatic Watch
47Ronin#149 Custom designed & handcrafted watch strap
Watch: Advisor Watch SUPA Diver Bronze Swiss Automatic Watch (Green Monster)
Lug size: 22mm
Buckle size: 22mm
Strap Length: 125/75mm
Design: Kimono textile fabric inlay from Kyoto
Leather: Gingerbread brown croc embossed calf leather
Fabric: Kimono textile fabric (green, gold, black)
Stitching: Lime green
Buckle: Gold stainless steel butterfly clasp buckle 22mm
Edge paint: Forest green
Handcrafted, Handstitched
Watch brand collaboration @47ronin_watchstraps x @advisorwatches
*All images are from Advisor Watches & 47Ronin Watch Straps
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>We want to be sustainable by introducing an up-cycling program for your watch straps. This will not only save Earth’s resources but also preserve your unique watch straps, and give the materials a new life!
To all supporters of our up-cycling program, when you order a custom designed & handcrafted strap, we will give you a complimentary name engraving on the watch strap for supporting our up-cycling program!!
* For sending us watch straps and materials, please contact us for the shipping address.
Contact us by email and Instagram.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/47ronin_watchstraps/
Email: hi@47ronin.co
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>Some months ago I met with Ivan, founder of Singapore watch brand Vario.sg, to share our passion on watches and watch accessories such as watch straps and watch cases which Ivan also designs.
Almost immediately, we decided to have a collaboration between Vario watch and 47Ronin watch straps.
Ivan showed me The Eclipse, which is a Bauhaus Inspired High Beat Quartz Dress Watch. It features a Seiko TMI VH31 movement with Clean Sweep Hands, a Double Dome Sapphire and a signature luxurious Harris Tweed Strap.
In short, I am amused by Clean Sweep Hands which I had almost mistaken it as an automatic watch. Ivan said: it ticks 4 times per second due to the quartz used inside.
At the back of the watch is also a piece of art with the engraved design of the legendary hound, as well as the sign of the legend in traditional Chinese characters 天狗蝕月 which translate "Heavenly Hound devours the Moon"
On the watch face are Double Dome Sapphire crystals that give the watch an unusual luxurious feature and feel.
Back in our 47Ronin studio, after studying about Vario's brand and the watch's story, we finally decided to match this very special strap of ours to The Eclipse.
No, we didn't have 2 sets of straps for the watch. This is 1 set of watch strap with different materials and designs for the longer piece and shorter piece of the strap.
Viewing from above, you can clearly see one side is brown, and the other is greyish green, with our "Second Button" design for both sides.
For the shorter pieces, we used a brown calf leather with crocodile print embossed. It is decorated with "Second button" from Japanese junior high school uniform, and hand-stitched with orange-beige thread along the edge.
You may have noticed we coated the edge with a layer of blue paint for protecting the leather and serve as part of the design. It is also matched with a silver stainless steel butterfly clasp buckle.
For the long piece, we used a greyish green calf leather with crocodile print embossed, decorated with "Second button" from Japanese high school uniform, and hand-stitched with luminous yellow threads.
Eclipse is astronomical phenomenon that occurs once in a while. Before the advancement of science, it is a phenomenon that was amused, feared, or confused by many. Even with today's scientific explanation, the eclipse remains a mysterious event for many of us.
Our design in having 2 different colours and different materials for both side of the strap coincides with The Eclipse story, which shows irregularity can also be adopted in things around us. Thinking out of the box, and embrace the differences that appear in our lives from time to time, would allow us to see the world with new perspective, and find happiness and joy within.
The Eclipse SPECIFICATIONS
Case diameter: 38mm
Case thickness: 7mm (quartz) OR 8mm (handwound)
Crystal: 3mm double dome sapphire (anti-reflective coated on inner surface)
Case material: 316L stainless steel
Dial: convex sunburst dial in silver, red, green, blue, grey and black colour
Movement: Seiko VH31 Sweeping Quartz movement (4 ticks every second)
https://vario.sg/pages/story-of-vario-eclipse-watch
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>Phantoms Lab is a brand that produces authentic tourbillon watches that fuses both traditional craftsmanship and modern technological engineering. Founded in 2014 and based in Hong Kong, the first prototype Phantoms tourbillon watch arrived in the market in the first quarter of 2016, after 2 years of research and development. Every watch produced is handcrafted and uniquely assembled in its own unique way. Phantoms Lab believes that while the design can be the same, each timepiece has its own soul.
So what exactly is a tourbillon watch? To understand what they are, we must first understand the difference between a mechanical watch and a quartz watch. A mechanical watch uses a clockwork mechanism to measure the passage of time while quartz watches function electronically by utilizing a small battery. A tourbillon is an addition to the mechanics of a watch escapement, the main part of a mechanic watch that advances the clock’s hands. In tourbillon watches, the escapement and balance wheel are mounted in a rotating cage that revolves at a slow rate. This is to improve time accuracy by preventing watch positional errors that occur as a result of gravity.
While time accuracy is no longer a problem in modern quartz watches, tourbillons are still manufactured in some watches as a novelty and to show watchmaking craftsmanship. Although modern tourbillon watches are known to be very expensive, Phantoms Lab manages to keep it at a reasonable price point.
https://phantomslab.com/product/cyber-blade-limited-edition-copy/
47Ronins has received the Cyber Blade tourbillon watch from Phantoms Lab, which is also part of their mechanical flagship Blade series. The Cyber Blade fuses metallic elements with futuristic design to create a cyborg-inspired, high-end exterior.
The first thing you will notice is the watch is time-coffin shaped instead of the usual round design you see in most mainstream watches. The watch is technically complex, featuring see-through movements with matte black coating, a multi-layered structural dial, a 316L stainless steel case, and scratch resistant anti-reflective coated sapphire glass.
At an affordable price point of USD$540.00, the ground-breaking yet sophisticated style of this watch is sure to keep both its user and passerbys who set their eyes on it enthralled for years to come.
Phantoms Lab watches come in silicon straps shaped perfectly to fit the lug of the watch. However, some customers have requested for leather straps, which Phantoms Lab does not produce. This is the trigger behind the collaboration between Phantoms Lab and 47Ronin. 47Ronin founder Tong met Phantoms Lab co-founder Felix in his Hong Kong office to discuss about producing some leather straps for the watches.
The watch has a 24mm lug, while the strap has a wide of 34mm right after the lug. The strap then tapers to fit a 24mm buckle.
After taking care of the shape of the strap, we have selected a piece of bronze brown leather as the base, and flowery Kimono textile fabric with some golden shine for the in-lay as the main design.
A golden yellow thread is chosen, and is hand-sewn along the edge of the straps to secure the two layers together. Extra stitches are added to wrap up the corners to strengthen the protruding corners.
A golden stainless steel butterfly clasp buckle is then attached to compliment the overall bronze and golden colour theme.
When attached to the Cyber Blade tourbillon watch from Phantoms Lab, the dark, and mysterious mood is instantly transformed into a bright, shinny, playful, yet elegant style with a great deal of handcraftedness.
The lug and width of the strap just fits perfectly to the watch, despite the very narrow space between the spring-bar and the bezel.
Thank you Phantoms Lab for the collaboration!
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>Grundstof was founded by two co-workers in a prestigious watch company who had a dream of creating innovative watches with a high level of craftsmanship and a unique style that utilizes modern technology blended with nature-inspired design. One of the biggest accomplishments Grundstof has achieved is that their Kickstarter campaign in 2018 was fully funded in under 10 hours!
The design philosophy behind Grundstof watches is to merge the natural elements of wood with precision Swiss technology. This is inspired by Bahhaus design principles, which states that material should be used in its most honest format, its nature should not be changed. All Grundstof watch dials are made of natural, hand-picked, quality wood. This makes sure that every dial is slim and unique, and no two dials are identical. Behind every manufactured watch, an elegant wood grain pattern is etched and each watch is individually numbered.
The specifications of Grundstof watches do not pale in comparison to its elegant exterior as well. Grundstof watches, including the Wald Olive Burl watch that 47Ronin has received for our collaboration, feature superior Swiss movement with scratch resistant double domed sapphire crystal, water resistance up to 50m, a stainless steel watch case, and an Italian leather watch strap.
47Ronin is known for using different Japanese materials to design and craft watch straps. For our collaboration with Grundstof, we used Kimono textile fabric from Kyoto to design a strap for this Wald Olive Burl watch.
47Ronin#106 Orange brown calf leather, Japanese kimono fabric (20mm, green stitches) We have chosen a bright orange calf leather for the strap, which is total change of mood compared to the original black or brown straps.
A piece of Kimono textile fabric consists of flowery patterns in red, green, golden outline, and a navy background is inserted between the leather as in-lay for the watch strap design.
A rose-gold brushed stainless steel pre-V buckle is chosen to go with the orange leather and wooden dial.
Stitching was done using lime green 0.45mm waxed thread with 3mm diamond shaped pricking iron tool from Japan.
It is finished off with black edge paint for the side of the strap that contrasts with the overall vivid colour theme.
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>47Ronin has just received an aviation watch from The Abingdon Co., a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing aviation watches solely catered for the female crowd with the functionality that usually only male aviation watches possess. Pilot and company founder Chelsea “Abingdon” Welch founded the company due to her colleagues’ desire for an aviation watch that is fashionable, versatile, and exclusively made for women.
The Abingdon Co. aviation watches are all top-quality accessories that feature genuine leather, Surgical-Grade stainless steel, Japanese movements, and Swiss Manufacturing. The watch comes in 20mm lug. 47Ronin has started designing and crafting straps for the watch we received. Let’s take a closer, more detailed look at the watch.
Jackie in Dreamy White
The Jackie comes with many functions while keeping to The Abingdon Co.’s design philosophy of being fashionable for women. Functions include a stopwatch and the E6B Flight Calculator, which has the ability to divide, multiply, convert currency or between imperial and metric systems. All the different bezels may look intimidating and overwhelming at first, but The Abingdon Co. provides simple to understand video manuals on their website.
47Ronin's design for Jackie, The Abingdon Co.
Coming to our design inspiration for the Jackie, we have adopted our signature design in our approach for Jackie, which is a combination of leather and Japanese print fabric.
Glossy black full grain calf leather
First of all, we have selected a glossy black full grain calf leather for the strap. The leather is relatively thin that we believe will elegantly fit on the wrist of a lady.
Red, pink, golden flowery Japanese print fabric
Next, we have a flowery Japanese print fabric inlay in red, pink, and gold. The flowers appear to be the popular cherry blossom (Sakura), which only bloom around the second week of April in Spring. During this period, the Sakura turns the streets and parks in Japan into a sea of pink and white. The flowers only last for 2 weeks before they will all fall to the ground.
Hand-stitched with matching red thread
A matching red thread is stitched on by hand, using 3mm diamond-shaped pricking iron tool from Japan.
A golden stainless steel buckle
Finally, a golden stainless steel buckle (20mm) is attached, which matches the gold on the Japanese print fabric. While the Jackie has a beautiful silver stainless steel case and a sparkling white dial, a turn of the wrist will reveal another set of colours in red, pink, and gold.
This collaboration has given 47Ronin the opportunity to design and craft straps for a lady's watch, which is not what we usually do. We are excited about the challenge to design our straps with the lady users in mind while keeping true to our design philosophy and using authentic and exotic Japanese materials. We hope you are as excited as us about the possibilities that can result from this collaboration!
About The Abingdon Co.
The Watch: Jackie in Dreamy White
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>
You may have read our previous blog post on Japanese School Uniform Second Button which we use for our watch strap design. This time, we would like to introduce another type of uniform button from Japan, which has a rich history and heritage, something that has shaped modern Japan, and has since been discontinued since 1987 when the Old Japan Rail Company transited to its new name in the new era of train transportation.
Nippon Railway came into existence in 1881 as the first private railway company in Japan. As the company was formed to assist in expanding the national railway network, it received strong backing from the government. The first railway tracks were constructed between Shinbashi and Yokohama during the start of the Meiji period and by the end of the period, railway tracks across most of the country have been completed.
Another method Nippon Railway used to expand railways was via acquisition of other companies. In 1906, the entire operation of the company (1,385km of railways as of 1906) was purchased by the Japanese government under the Railway Nationalization Act.
The design used in the uniform button of Nippon Highway is that of a train driving wheel, symbolizing the train and railway itself. The design was not only used in uniform buttons, but also on caps of train conductors and engineers as well. Another design widely featured on caps was the paulownia tree, one of the family crests of the imperial family of Japan.
Not only are Japanese trains affordable and convenient, they have also transformed the culture of Japan in many ways. Railways have been and are still the most important means of passenger transportation in Japan, ever since the late 19th century. Japan pioneered the shinkansen or bullet train, a high-speed train running at speeds of up to 320km/h. The development of trains has led to a romanticization of train culture among train enthusiasts (a.k.a. train otaku or tetsudou otaku) who are into photographing or riding trains. Some would also be interested in train uniforms or model trains.
Another important factor behind the romanticization of trains is the ekiben, the station lunchbox. Ever since the first station lunchboxes became a huge success at Utsunomiya station in 1885, many stations countrywide soon followed and made lunchboxes featuring local specialties. Ekiben are complete meals and would contain rice, seafood, meat, and/or vegetables.
Japanese trains embody a significant aspect of Japanese culture – punctuality. Rail officials would hand out “late slips” to delayed commuters so that they can hand the slips over to their companies to explain their situation. Punctuality is taken so seriously to the point that early departures are equally worthy of an apology.
However, off-schedule trains are highly unusual unless an accident or an earthquake occurred and the Japanese train system is generally efficient and excellent. The tourism and business industries have a reciprocal relationship with the train system, with numerous rail passes available for tourists and most companies paying for employee train passes for workers. Trains have now become an irreplaceable part of Japan and Japanese culture, for both locals and foreigners alike.
We hope that through this post, you can further appreciate the meaning behind the design of the train uniform button and see how far the development of Japanese trains and train culture have come.
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>47Ronin recently made a trip to Hong Kong (yes, again!). This time round, 47Ronin sat down with Flora from Unwire for an interview and conducted a mini work shop on watch strap making. To start off, I shared with Fiona step by step, the process for the materialisation of the watch strap. Depending on the wrist size of customers, I first measured the length and width necessary from Full Grain leather.
Making sure that the leather cut out is not slanted
For someone who might be unfamiliar with Japanese culture, kimonos may seem ubiquitous, especially the designs. However, because there is so little room to showcase the textile, I tend to go for ones with outstanding and colourful designs to feature in our watch straps. It is also important that 47Ronin features unique materials, hence I will curate textiles which are from different regions, prefectures and from varying independent artists.
In retrospect, having consistent and neat stiches was really difficult when I just started 47Ronin. It was after countless practice and mistakes that enabled me to hone my craft and put out bespoke products that I am immensely proud of.
So, what is 47Ronin’s modus operandi? In the midst of modernity and globalization, traditional culture has, often inevitably and unfortunately, became obsolete. What a waste, I thought. Which is why I started 47Ronin: to make use of my platform to promote the unknown and often overlooked beauty of traditional Japanese culture to the public.
Technology and tradition need not be opposing spectrums; their fusion may produce unexpected results and surprising harmony.
47Ronin would like to extend our sincere gratitude towards Unwire Hong Kong for the engaging interview. Check out the article here and the video here!
All photos courtesy of Unwire.
]]>I didn’t started out as a craftsman.
I started off my career as a business consultant bringing Japanese products to Singapore, South East Asia.
Then I came across this idea of making something very small that you can showcase it anywhere you go, which is a watch strap.
I always think of new ideas, new elements of Japan to incorporate to the watch straps design.
There are many different designs for Tatamiberi, which is the fabric that wraps around the edges of Tatami to keep the straws together.
Here is a design with the chrysanthemum, which is the very common design in Japanese print.
This is the gold and here is white one
Same for Kinomo fabrics, it's a mixture of a various colors like blue, gold, red, pink, and black
It’s the fusion of colors that gives a very amazing design to it.
Matching with the golden coated leather here, it looks really striking.
This is called the second button, Dainibotann.
This comes from a war movie from the 1960s, which tell the story of a Kamikaze pilot.
When he was going to have his last flight and saying goodbye to his girlfriend, he wanted to give her something closed to the heart, so he took out the second button from his uniform.
One particular material that I have sourced recently is called “Menuki”.
Menuki are pieces of metal that are used in the handle of Katanas.
These watches are in collaboration with a Japanese handcrafted watchmaker called Watanabe Kobo.
The watch case itself, the watch mechanism, including all these letters are all handcrafted.
The level of handcrafting and quality is so high that you can only find only one piece of these watches in the world.
I have about 5 years of working and living experience in Kyoto, it is a ancient capital of Japan, full of Heritage sites.
Then I realized for Japanese craftsmen, making profit is not their priority.
A craftsman could be doing his crafts for the past few decades, that he still continues to perfect it.
Making the best products for his customers has always been his Ikigai.
This is something I am very impressed with.
It has impacted me in such a way that I also would like to create something that is perfect.
it also creates a relationship between myself and the customers, who will have a piece of my design, my product, that will serve them in their daily lives.
Japanese calls it “Goen”, which means being fated to have this kind of relationship.
僕の本業はレザークラフトではありませんでした。元々はコンサルタントの仕事に勤めていて、日本製品をシンガポールなどの東南アジアで展開する支援をしていました。そのとき、身につけやすくいつでも他人にお見せできる小物を作る発想に至りました。
僕は常に日本から新しいものを探し続け、デザインに取り入れるようにしています。畳縁には様々なデザインがあります。畳縁とは畳を補強するために畳の端に縫い付けられた布のこと。ここは和柄によく見られる菊の花を使ってみました。黄金色と白色がありますね。紺色や黄金色、紅色、桃色、黒色などが交じり合って、カラフルなデザインに仕上がりますね。
この金でコーティングされた革との組み合わせが気に入っています。これは第二ボタンです。第二ボタンのストーリーは1960年代のある戦争映画に由来しています。映画の主人公が神風特攻隊に選抜されました。彼は出撃前に、大切な人に別れを告げるため心を表す何かを彼女に送りたいと考え軍服から第二ボタンを市議って渡しました。最近取り寄せた素材の一つは目貫です。目貫というのは、日本刀の柄に装着する金具のこと。この時計は「渡辺工房」という日本の手作り時計作家さんとのコラボ作品になります。時計本体、駆動部位と文字盤、それぞれが手作りのものです。そのため、一つ一つの時計が世の中にたった一つの存在です。
僕は5年間京都で働いて暮らしていました。京都は昔の都で、世界遺産にあふれています。そこで出会った職人は、自分たちの利益を優先していたわけではありませんでした。何十年もやってきた職人でも、技を磨き続けます。お客様に最高のものを届けるのが職人さんの生きがい。僕はその考え方にとても感動しました。その影響を受けて、僕も最高のものを作りたいと思うようになりました。ものはお客様と僕をつないでくれると思っています。僕のデザインしたものを、お客様に日常生活で使っていただけたら。日本では「ご縁」と呼ばれますね。このような人と人のつながりのことを。
Produced by AKADOT
]]>When you look at 47Ronin's logo, I am sure you see "47" but do you know that below it is "浪人" (Ronin) the Kanji character in its ancient Chinese font? This logo comes from a handcrafted stamp (hanko), carved out from wood, a master piece by the hands of a Japanese craftsman in Kagoshima, Japan.
47Ronin logo stamps comes in a very nice box.
Sandwiched between nondescript shops in the city of Kagoshima, it might be difficult to spot the humble shop front of 永長印房 (Nagaosa Printing), a specialty stamp carving business.
A photo of Nagaosa-san and I in front of his shop in Kagoshima.
While on a business trip to Kagoshima to meet travel industry experts to discuss plans to promote Kagoshima travels in Singapore, I visited Nagaosa Printing. The shop owner who greeted me was an elderly man in his seventies. Beyond his wrinkles and slight frame, Nagaosa-san was still bright and energetic.
Some very elaborated hand-carved stamps on display inside the shop.
Apparently, Nagaosa-san’s family has been in this line of business for many years and Nagaosa-san himself is a 3rd generation stamp carver. As personal stamps (or hanko) are used to verify official documents and are easily replicable, his family was tasked by government bodies in Kagoshima to check the authenticity of stamps on documents. This is certainly telling of Nagaosa Printing’s expertise! Unfortunately, Nagaosa-san will also be the last generation of stamp carvers in his family as there will not be anyone else who will continue this craft.
Nagaosa-san starts to design the stamp by drafting out Kanji characters in their ancient fonts using brush and ink.
I had a hard time wondering which design to choose from. LOL
In an age of rapid technological transformation, stamps are considered archaic and impractical, only existing for cultural value. Although personal seals or hanko are still used for signing official documents (e.g. opening a bank account, law documents, etc…), this practice is soon to be overhauled.
Nagaosa-san shows me this very very old booklet full of records of his company and the hanko industry's history, all the way to his grandfather's era.
For instance, in 2016, MUFG announced that online processes put in place will eradicate the use of hanko. The creeping up of digitalisation inevitably demands such practices to be abolished in favour of a paperless society. In such a society, the sunset industries of stamp carving, along with other traditional Japanese practices like kimono weaving, will probably exist only for cultural preservation and tourism novelties.
This is an old group photo fo all the stamp crafters in the whole of Kyushu area.
The stylised characters drawn up by Nagaosa-san captured exactly what 47Ronin was about – trendsetting, unique and one-of-a-kind. This was a feat done by someone with years and years of practice and expertise.
Nagaosa-san rolls up his sleeve and starts to work. One hand is securing the the wood block firmly while the other hand holds the carving knife, dancing gracefully over the wood block.
The carving knives and tools.
There are also hanko stamps made from exotic animal bones and horns.
These high class black hanko stamps are made from buffalo horns.
Hanko stamp carving is a creative craft which you can simply have any design, font, and shapes on a little piece of wood.
So, this is how 47Ronin Watch Strap's logo came about. 47Ronin logo is unique, one of its kind in this world, created by generations of dedicated craftsmen, with centuries of combined skill, knowledge, and creativity. More importantly, it is created with the craftsmen's spirit, with the end customer in mind, and devotion in providing a perfect piece of craft to the user.
All these craftsman spirit and preservation of tradition are also very much embraced by us at 47Ronin Watch Straps.
If you are interested in having a personal hanko stamp for yourself, or to create a unique logo for your brand, do reach out to us and we can provide you a unique piece from Nagaosa Printing from Kagoshima, Japan. (contact hi@47ronin.co)
Interested in our watch straps?
Feel free to contact us for any enquiry at: hi@47ronin.co
Show us some love on Instagram @47ronin_watchstraps
Visit our website for more information and regular updates on new releases
]]>
Located at the heart of the vibrant Wan Chai area in Hong Kong, The Fleming Hotel stands prominently in contrast to its older neighbours. It is here where Lifestyle Journal has very kindly extended an invitation to 47Ronin for a staycation and interview session.
The Fleming Hotel, located amidst the hustle and bustle of Wan Chai
Upon arrival, one will perhaps be immediately drawn to the unique architectural layout and style of The Fleming – classy and edgy, fused with a hint of timeless industrial character which lends the space its iconic aesthetic.
Stylish interior at the reception area (Arch Daily, 2017)
Elevators (The Fleming, 2018)
Matching the gold accents with 47Ronin watch straps
Originally opened in 2006, the establishment was given a new look two years ago by the architecture company, A Work of Substance. The original 70s building was given new life as it was rebranded, redesigned and refurbished to become the trendy boutique hotel it is today.
Spacious interior – atypical of the usual Hong Kong hotel room
When travelling, especially for business, a conducive environment for rest & work is what I always hope to get.
The smallest details matter – gold accents everywhere, inspired by Hong Kong’s iconic cross-habour ferries
The touch of leather: makes a difference for a simple door handle.
What a retro design lamp, bringing me through a time slip.
Playing around with natural material and textures is also a thing for 47Ronin.
Found this perfect spot for this golden handcrafted watch on a golden tap & sink.
Very interestingly designed golden cutlery set. Yes, there are chopsticks, we are in Hong Kong.
With a wide variety of drinks in the mini bar, you can skip the Seven-Eleven on the street.
Complimentary still water and even sparkling water! That's new.
How I always wish there is such a thing like a hardness-adjustable bed in hotels. The Fleming doesn't have that neither but I find the hardness just nice for a good night sleep.
Though not everything from 70s’ Hong Kong is replicated – smoking is prohibited
Inspired by the Star Ferry, an iconic harbour that has served generations of locals, the hotel shows great attention to details. From its predominant colour scheme of carmine reds and bottle green, complemented with embellished gold accents and amber notes, The Fleming is a true embodiment of modernity and nostalgia that characterizes contemporary Hong Kong.
While light switches are golden vintage knobs, do you notice a USB charging outlet? A necessity for modern gadgets.
47Ronin watch strap collection
I love this. Although it is a common feature in hotel rooms, never have I seen such aesthetic version of it.
Another one of the most important places of a hotel room. Do you feel the Omotenashi here?
The hotel room has different style of tile in various locations. Small hexagon off-white tiles for the washroom.
Have you notice how many items are golden so far? Yes, including the dustbin.
They even have their own "brew of the day". Coffee addicts, you are well taken care of.
Did I just mention having a party here?
Simple, symmetrical marble tiles for the dressing room.
What it really looks like in a 1930s cruise ferry.
The Fleming's bespoke ‘Shen Nong’ bathroom amenities tailor-made based on principles of Chinese apothecary, with different selections for morning and evening. A signature scent evokes a feeling of old Hong Kong, an aroma of sandalwood and amber reminiscent of the fragrant harbour scents that emanated across the harbour of old.
I remember when I was a kid, I went to my grandma's place in Hong Kong and I saw the floor numbers are written like these too. My grandma's place had since been demolished for new development many years ago.
Found something from Singapore! High quality tea from TWG, popular as a souvenir.
A very old style glass pattern with straight multiple strips running vertically.
Same goes for this glass wall separating the bathroom and the bedroom.
Quality toiletries at at your service.
Besides being golden, the shower is also another pleasant surprise for its unique design: there is only a single row of waterholes on the shower-head.
Affixing Japanese School Uniform Buttons
After exploring the hotel, I sat down with Lifestyle Journal to share some insights on his experiences with founding and managing the brand.
Photoshoot with Lifestyle Journal
Behind the scenes – the meticulous process that goes into every 47Ronin watch strap
It was a fruitful session as I shared my motivations and visions for starting 47Ronin, the uniqueness of Japanese materials, as well as the time and labour devoted to each and every customized watch strap. Lifestyle Journal also took the opportunity to document the rare behind-the-scenes production of 47Ronin watch strap.
End of work – time for a cup of coffee! A complimentary welcome drink from The Fleming.
47Ronin would like to extend a sincere gratitude and appreciation to Lifestyle Journal and The Fleming Hotel for their hospitality and providing the opportunity for an engaging session. Till next time, Hong Kong!
A last selfie before checking-out, totally in love with the bottle green tiles.
Signing off, Tong from 47Ronin Watch Straps
Text by Xiu Ting
Special thanks to:
Jaz Kong (Lifestyle Journal, Journalist)
Ben Tam (Lifestyle Journal, Photographer)
Janice Mo (Voltage PR, PR & Events Executive)
Featured watches:
SIXOFOUR (Vancouver)
Watanabe Kobo (Tokyo)
JW Watch (Hong Kong)
AVI-8 (Hong Kong)
Phantoms Lab (Hong Kong)
Partner artist
Hypebaysg (Singapore)
Sources
https://www.archdaily.com/883596/the-fleming-hotel-a-work-of-substance
https://www.aworkofsubstance.com/en/project/the-fleming/
https://retaildesignblog.net/2017/12/05/the-fleming-hotel-by-a-work-of-substance-hong-kong/
As part of 47Ronin’s aim to collaborate with 50 artists and makers, I am always on the lookout for emerging talents looking to expand their portfolio. This time, I had the opportunity to work with Hypebaysg, a sneaker customisation artist specialising in adding hand-painted designs to sneakers. Hypebaysg is the brainchild of Reiko, a full-time 19-year-old student from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Reiko’s keen artistic sensibilities is showcased in her beautiful paintings on plain sneakers, which she customises by order, according to the preferences of customers. Do check out Hypebaysg’s Instagram page to view more of Reiko’s creative works.
Removing the swoosh and the remaining stitches.
For this collaboration, I exchanged creative artefacts with Reiko and we thought about how we could piece together these artefacts to create unique artworks. After bouncing off several ideas, we decided on using the Kanagawa wave as a common motif – Reiko would paint the Kanagawa wave on 47Ronin’s watch straps, while I would craft designer patches from Japanese print fabric for Reiko’s sneakers.
Creating the draft with pen.
From the pictures, you might recognise this familiar wave that is now widely seen on many merchandise, decorations and references in popular culture. While many might think that this is a recent artwork, the Kanagawa wave painting actually dates back to the late Edo period, with historians putting it between 1829 and 1833.
A special kind of paint for leather is used by Reiko for her art work.
The Kanagawa wave painting (or more accurately, woodblock print) was done by Hokusai, a famous ukiyo-e artist. Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) is a form of Japanese art which was popular from the 17th century to the 19th century. Ukiyo-e translates as “picture(s) of the floating world” because artists frequently used motifs of the “floating world” (i.e. entertainment platforms such as kabuki, courtesans and geishas). Most ukiyo-e works were done using woodblock where blocks of wood were carved with the desired design. Ink would be added on and the woodblocks would be pressed onto hand-made paper to create the final artwork.
Hokusai’s Kanagawa wave, colour woodblock.
Hokusai’s use of vivid blues might conjure the image of a majestic wave, but many interpretations point to it being a malicious tsunami wave. A closer inspection of the original woodblock print reveals three boats being threatened by the wave, off the coast of Kanagawa (present-day Yokohama).
Preliminary outline of the Kanagawa wave and swoosh patches made from Japanese print fabric.
Using the Kanagawa wave motif, Reiko incorporated this design into 47Ronin’s watch straps. Instead of overwhelming the whole strap with intricate designs, Reiko delicately painted on the wave only at both ends of the strap, which added a nice touch of colour and sense of strength to the whole feel of the watch.
I really enjoyed the designs Reiko painted onto the watch strap and for someone so young, she truly is talented! I look forward to collaborating with Reiko more and can’t wait to see what more she has in stall!
47Ronin Watch Straps Instagram
Hypebaysg Instagram
Watch: SIXOFOUR
Text: Isabel Yap
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