DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles
Hajime Asaoka captures the imagination of the independent watchmaking enthusiast almost with a surreal magnetic charm. Here is a Japanese gentleman, who hardly speak any English, obviously highly idiosyncratic in his outlook. A self taught watchmaker, who willed himself the knowledge to make watches by hand by reading the landmark book by George Daniels – Watchmaking and by watching YouTube videos. Intriguing does not begin to describe the man. Here we visited his lair just a few minutes from the bustling Harajuku in the Shibuya area in Tokyo, and get to see perhaps more than a glimpse at the personality behind the beautiful watches.
Its not a secret that we love Asaoka’s watches. We have covered them in detailed analytical write-ups several times. His watches never fail to impress, and carry the DNA which is a reflection of his character. For reviews of the Asaoka watches click here for our introductory article with the T, and here for Project Tsunami, and here for his latest creation, the Chronograph. So when the chance came to visit his atelier, we jumped at it. Tucked in a residential building in an up market residential area just a few minutes from the bustling Harajuku area in Tokyo, the atelier occupies a ground floor unit.
Let the visit begin.
Watchmaking. Hand made style.
The machine room
In a small room by the side is the machine room. This is a really small room. the photograph below is shot on a medium format digital camera (Hasselblad H3D-39) with a sensor size double that of a full frame DSLR on a 28mm lens (equivalent to roughly 21mm on a full frame DSLR).
In this room are the machines used for turning, including the lathe, drills and a CNC machine for making parts and tools. Yes, Hajime even makes his own tools.
The Turning Room, with machines. Hajime Asaoka welcomes us by his CNC machine with the signature wry smile.
He has his own CNC machine to make the bridges and movement plates.
The CNC machine sits in one corner.
He proceeds to show us how he makes a tool to hold the movement.
The cutting lathe. This is the exact same model and make of a precision lathe used by the late George Daniels. Hajime bought this machine based on the recommendation by George Daniels in his book Watchmaking, as seen on plate XII in the book. In this photograph, he is cutting a tool to hold a movement part.
Hajime examines the plate after it is cut with the precision lathe.
The balance wheel is also made in-house by Hajime. He chooses to use stainless steel as a material for the balance, a material also used by Daniels. He explains that the combination of the stainless steel balance with the Nivarox balance spring (no, he does not make this, but buys them), there is a kind of symbiotic relationship.
In this photograph, he is drilling the balance wheel.
The precision drill, with his name proudly embossed.
The main room
We then moved into the main room.
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Article from: DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles, by Peter Chong
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