The Story Behind Kintsugi Dial
The Kintsugi dial is one of the most complex dial we’ve designed so far. By mixing the traditional art to modern design was one of the key factors to the success of the dial.
The History Behind The Kintsugi Dial - A Tale of Perfect Imperfection
Image from: https://www.manetti.com/en/gold-leaves-and-the-art-of-kintsugi/#gref
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with lacquer and gold (or other precious metals) - built on the idea that through embracing its flaws and imperfections, one can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. As every break is unique and uncontrollable, Kintsugi showcases the battle scars and lifetime of both the item and the user.
Kintsugi was originally used for broken ceramic vessels which were used in Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony). As a concept inspired by Japanese aesthetics, Kintsugi values marks of wear through the use of an object, with this being used as a rationale for continuing to keep an object around after it is broken. Kintsugi highlights and repairs the cracks in an object, allowing it to continue to serve its purpose while not disguising the lifetime of use the object had undergone thus far.
Image from: https://itsyonobi.com/blogs/news/wabi-sabi-a-yonobi-guide-to-japanese-aesthetic-and-philosophy
Philosophy of “Wabi Sabi”
Japanese aesthetics are based on the concept of Wabi-Sabi, which is an outlook on life marked by the acceptance and celebration of transience and imperfection. Wabi-Sabi is derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence.
What are the three marks of existence and how do they relate to me?
(三法印, sanbōin)
(苦, ku) - Suffering
Life does not always provide people with their desires and life is ever changing. Therefore, complete satisfaction is difficult as everything has its limitations, which causes people to be dissatisfied.
(無常, mujō) - Impermanence
Things in life do not stay the same, as everything is subject to change.
(空, kū) - Absence of self-nature , emptiness
There is no fixed sense of self because everything is constantly changing.
Characteristics of Wabi-Sabi aesthetics and principles: asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy
Which is the appreciation of both natural objects and the forces of nature.
What Is Kintsugi Dial About?
Inspired by the philosophy of “Wabi Sabi”, each and every Kintsugi Dial is unique and meticulously handcrafted from mother-of-pearl and gold. It pays homage to the unique art of Kintsugi and to the resourcefulness of the human race.
The Kintsugi Dial is designed to represent what the wearer has gone through life to get to where they are today, and to remind the wearer that it is through the flaws and imperfections in one's life that define who we are and that it is through the acceptance and celebration of those flaws that display our uniqueness and resilience.
Concept of Mushin
Image from: https://themindsjournal.com/mushin-the-state-of-no-mind/
Kintsugi can relate to the Japanese philosophy of “no-mind” also known as mushin, which incorporates the concepts of detachment, acceptance of change, and fate as aspects of human life.
The Meaning of Kintsugi Dial?
In many ways, a Kintsugi Dial showcases its wearer's personality and life experience. Based on a traditional Japanese craft, every single Kintsugi dial has the potential to tell time in a unique and elegant way for years to come.
The clothes and accessories we wear tell a story, not just for ourselves but for those around us. What we wear impacts not just our self esteem but impacts how each and every person we meet perceives us.
Building on our experiences working with other dials, the Kintsugi Dial is meticulously crafted with Mother of Pearl and with gold to extremely fine tolerances. Remaining committed to the Japanese design philosophy of Wabi-Sabi , we have included Japanese/Chinese characters on the 3/6/9 indice markers in order to emphasise its fully Japanese look and demeanour.
Collectors Value
As society shifts towards a more sustainable future, automatic watches such as this seiko mod are predicted to increase in price. With a limited number of these Kintsugi Dials being produced, this unique design is sure to turn heads wherever, whenever.
With the rampant rise of mass market consumer goods and wealth during the turn of the century, increasingly discerning consumers are turning to custom timepieces which reflect their personality and preferences. The Kintsugi dial may not be for everyone, as it resonates best with those who have led a storied life.
Do you have a story to tell?
Over the years, watches have evolved to tell more than just the time. Every watch tells us a story, based on its design concept, materials, craftsman, and eventual owner(s).
In this article, we featured @hotshotstudio01 (Instagram) the story of him building the Kintsugi dial into a wonderful timepiece.
Image from: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaPtaVZPuW9/
Above is his concept of building this dial into a Seiko 5 also known as 5KX watch. We’re glad to achieve the look of this dial. It took our team a number of drafts to create a balance in the look of the gold cracks. With the mix of mother of pearl blue to make the look of the dial more outstanding.
Here’s the process of his Kintsugi mod.
This Kintsugi Dial tells us a story about this unique method of repair, which emphasises instead of hiding the break. It showcases the strengths, weaknesses, and ingenuity of the human race. That despite setbacks in life, we are able to heal and grow, whether or not the blows are physical or mental. We will be able to live to tell the tale.
This is what this dial is about.
You may purchase your Kintsugi dial over to this link:
https://komoworks.com/collections/dials/products/kintsugi-dial