With the Kurono Grand Jubilee Calendar (2025, salmon dial), Hajime Asaoka’s micro-brand delivers a triple calendar watch that quietly yet confidently marks his 60th “Diamond Jubilee.” It deserves attention both for its refined execution and for the way it channels Kurono’s DNA into a more elevated complication.
Kurono’s Place in Today’s Micro-brand Landscape
Kurono Tokyo is the more accessible arm of Hajime Asaoka’s watchmaking vision. Born from the hands of an independent watchmaker better known for his haute horlogerie passion projects, Kurono offers pieces that combine Japanese aesthetics, careful craftsmanship, and deliberate scarcity. Over the years, the brand has cultivated a following by maintaining tight control over editions, minimizing speculation, and focusing on dial execution and detail. The Grand Jubilee Calendar is the logical crescendo of Kurono’s Jubilee year, following the earlier Jubilee Sensu EOL release. In that sense, this new calendar model isn’t a divergence—it’s a statement piece built upon the same ambition of slow, steady refinement.
The Mechanics & Design That Set It Apart
At 38 mm in diameter and 11.5 mm thick (around 10 mm without the box-type sapphire crystal), the Grand Jubilee Calendar remains compact and elegant. The case, fully polished in 316L stainless steel, features a smooth concave bezel rather than the usual coin edge—a deliberate nod to classic dress watch design. The screwed caseback bears a solid gold medallion engraved with Asaoka’s personal signature, while the black onyx cabochon set into the crown adds a discreet touch of luxury. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters, underlining that this is first and foremost a refined timepiece rather than a sports watch.
Inside beats the Miyota 9122, an automatic triple calendar movement with 26 jewels, a 28,800 vph frequency, and a 40-hour power reserve. While it’s a robust and widely used caliber, Asaoka has re-engineered its display: the date window is recessed within a circular step to improve legibility and balance the dial. Speaking of the dial, it’s rendered in a matte salmon tone with vertical guilloché—a texture echoing Asaoka’s higher-end creations—accompanied by two sunken sub-registers for month and weekday. The polished, domed hands curve gracefully to follow the crystal’s arc, their deep black finish matching the onyx-tipped crown. A date window at six o’clock completes the harmonious symmetry.
The watch comes on a black calfskin strap with a 20 mm lug width tapering to 16 mm, fastened by a traditional steel pin buckle—simple, timeless, and perfectly aligned with the design’s restrained ethos. Asaoka also advises owners not to adjust the calendar when the display shows “31,” a small but thoughtful note typical of his mechanical attention to detail.
For Whom, and How It Speaks
This Grand Jubilee Calendar is aimed at those who value subtlety over spectacle. It’s a timepiece for enthusiasts who appreciate a dressy complication with tangible craftsmanship, but in a format that still feels wearable and contemporary. The salmon dial lends warmth and sophistication, evoking vintage references while remaining resolutely modern. Its proportions make it suitable for both formal and casual-elegant wear—paired as easily with a suit as with a cashmere sweater and jeans. For collectors already following Asaoka’s journey, it represents a more mature expression of Kurono’s philosophy: accessible Japanese refinement backed by an authentic watchmaker’s sensibility.
Final Thoughts, Price & Availability
Within Kurono’s Jubilee year, the Grand Jubilee Calendar stands as a culmination of thoughtful evolution rather than a radical shift. Every detail, from the curvature of the hands to the concave bezel, demonstrates the kind of restraint that defines Asaoka’s work. It’s priced at 2,380 USD (excluding taxes and duties) and will be available online worldwide from October 17, 2025, at 11 PM JST, limited to one piece per customer. The watch will also be displayed in Kurono’s Tokyo and Shanghai salons ahead of release.
If you’re lucky enough to secure one, this isn’t just a triple calendar—it’s a quiet celebration of Japanese craftsmanship and an ode to refined taste, just like the Vermilion Chronograph ‘SHU’.
