Comments on: Alba Wired Delta and Designer Yoshinobu Kawashima

by: bryanandersen

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:13:49 +0000

– Paul,
You make a good point about the impression many get that Japanese watches are made without as much input from designers as European watches. I want to write more about that in the future. As for the best place to source an Alba XYZ Wired model, try SeiyaJapan.com or Higuchi-inc.com. I’ve also seen a few on eBay, but prices were steep.

– mot_universe,
I agree the casebacks are interesting on many Wired models. Thank you for adding the pictures!

– casiophile,
Seiko does aim Alba at a young demographic, so I agree with your insight. As for the new lug design, I saw it on a new Seiko model featured on one of the US cable TV shopping channels recently. A vice president with Seiko USA said this particular design is a patented Seiko innovation. I’d like to find out more.

Always an honor when you three drop by.

Regards,

Bryan

by: blackdial

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:59:30 +0000

Bryan…thanks again for a behind the scenes view
that you do so well. I think that European watch
designers get a lot of coverage in watch magazines.
But rarely do I see any articles on Japanese watch
designers. This leads me to picture that there
are some gigantic factories in Japan, pumping out
millions of watches, all done with robotics. Not
a single human mind considering anything.

By writing about Yoshinobu Kawashima, you have put
a name and a face behind his “Gazery Japones” store,
and some watches with this name.

Thanks a lot for such an interesting article. Paul
What is the best way to try to buy one of his
watches?

by: casiophile

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:26:25 +0000

Interesting. I’ve long thought that Seiko saves their more daring design choices for the Alba line - probably because it’s aimed at a younger segment of the population. That sideview shot of the lugs puts me in the mind of the watches Hysek designed a few years back; seeing more and more of that lately. Wonder how those faceted crystals will go over?

by: mot_universe

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:26:11 +0000

There’s always cool models in the Wired line-up. AGAVxxx look really good in the photos. As always it was interesting to read about the ideas behind the designs.

Some of these Delta models have really neat casebacks.

by: bryanandersen

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:12:48 +0000

Hi Pete,

The straps are rubber on the watches above (except for the metal bracelet on the Basel model). You have to remember that Kawashima designs metal buckles, and jewelry, too. On the just-released Delta models, his design focuses on the bezels and crystals. The way they are cut is similar to how jewels, such as diamonds, are cut. One of the main reasons I featured the new releases is I’m interested in the new lug design that swivels.

Other Alba Wired models from last year featured leather straps. They remind me of Citizen Campanolas. The image below shows Kawashima wearing one, along with his some of his jewelry.

To see more on the model Kawashima wears above, click here. Interesting comments about PGA golfers and their expensive belts.

Regards,

Bryan

by: petew

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:56:52 +0000

Okay, am I the only one who wonders why the straps on these Kawashima watches appear to be rubber? Not only are they rubber, but they look similar to the strap sold with the 300M 8L35 Marinemaster.

After reading the article, I was reminded about golfers and their belts. A large number of professional golfers on the PGA tour are heavily into high end belts and belt buckles and it’s not unusual for them to spend hundreds if not thousands on a belt/buckle combination.

Thanks for the article, I enjoyed it and looking at those watches, I get a Galante type vibe from them.