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What's the fuss all about??!!
Kikuchi Nakagawa is a small independent Japanese brand that produces eight watches a year (that is 45 days per watch!). It produces three models currently - the Murakumo, the Ichimonji and the Genmon and on their website, a waiting time of 96 to 120 months is quoted. That is a waiting list that would put many people off! I have been informed by Kikuchi san that they will be employing another watchmaker to reduce this waiting time which they acknowledge is unacceptable.
I was one of the fortunate ones as I had ordered a Murakumo in April 2021 and received it in June 2022. So in a space of a year, the waiting list had extended almost 10 times! So what's the big deal about this brand that uses a Vaucher 5401 automatic movement which is not even visible as the watch has a closed case back. The watch is a tribute to vintage watches especially that of the Patek Philippe 96 and a closed case back was deemed a more accurate tribute. Most of us (me included!) have no idea the amount of work that black polishing entails because this watch has arguably been black polished more than any other I have come across giving the case a mirror polish unlike any other. Kikuchi Nakagawa refer to this as imaginary watchmaking.
I have had the privilege to own many watches in the last thirty years and I can say whole heartedly that the Murakumo is the most perfect watch I have ever owned. That is quite a sweeping statement indeed as I do currently own a Roger Smith Series 1, a Patek Philippe 7200R London Edition, a Vacheron Constantin 1921 American and a Moritz Grossmann Atum 37. What sets the Murakumo apart is its perfect dimensions (36.8mm in diameter and 8.5mm in height), the ivory dial, the sublime three dimensional hands, the beautiful raised Breguet numerals, the box sapphire crystal glass, the smooth winding mechanism, the lightness of the watch and the amazing finish of the entire watch. In addition, the watch has been fitted with the most comfortable alligator strap which makes it heavenly to wear. And fellow purists, that is what makes a watch perfect for one self - how comfortable it feels on the wrist. I do not want a watch to sit on my wrist; I want a watch to blend with my wrist and to be a part of it. I prefer not to feel that I am wearing a watch as I want it to be a part of me. The Murakumo ticks every single box and is therefore my candidate for a one watch collection if ever there was one.
Thank you for reading and a bag thank you to my buddy and fellow purist. Joey Lee for taking many of the photos below.
The Murakumo with the ivory dial. The watch can also be ordered with a black dial.
A close up of the seconds counter
The perfect fit for me! This is the worst photo of the lot as I took it myself!
All one ever needs on a watch!
The hands
Three dimensionality on show
Next to the magnificent RW Smith Series 1
What's the fuss all about??!!
Kikuchi Nakagawa is a small independent Japanese brand that produces eight watches a year (that is 45 days per watch!). It produces three models currently - the Murakumo, the Ichimonji and the Genmon and on their website, a waiting time of 96 to 120 month...
This watch has a closed case back
and perhaps many purists may prefer otherwise but for me it is the dial and case that matter more as these are what we see all the time when the watch is worn. I am attaching a photo of the movement which is hidden under the closed case back. ...
The dial is a beauty
Given the waitlist, I'd expect a higher grade version of the movement, like the one Laine uses with 4 internal angles. Nevertheless, it's a stunning timepiece.
Looks wise yes
and it does resemble the Patek 5196P. But i think one reeds to handle the watch and see it in the flesh to appreciate it. One purist who saw it preferred it to the Smith Series 1. Another marvelled at the case and dial. But as they do say, beauty is in th...
Thank you for your feedback!
Quite interestingly, i had ordered a Laine with Breguet numerals and a guilloche centre dial with a hammered outer circle around the hours counter. When the Laine arrived in July, I placed both watches side by side and instantly decided to sell the Laine ...
Agreed 100%
The Laine though represents good value at more than half the price lower than the Murakumo! Same movement just a higher level of finishing in terms of extreme black polishing.
It's a nice looking watch
But I don't understand the waitlist. Does he have a second career and makes these watches as a hobby?
i doubt so
Kikuchi Nakagawa comprises Yusuke Kikuchi and Tomonari Nakagawa, Eight watches a year may sound like a very small number but again I cannot stress enough the work that has gone into the polishing of this watch. Does it make the watch better or more accura...
I didn’t know you had this amazing watch my friend.
I can see why you like it so much . Like you said 10+ years waiting is just to much .
Thank you for your kind comments my friend
I will bring it with me one day when we meet again!
Extremely nice looking watch
I love the black polish all around but not perfect without the black polished applied breguet numerals.
Wow just wow, this is such a beautiful watch
I contemplated ordering o e but was quoted almost 8 years and I was shocked Watch aside , those hands are pure bliss and sublime The last photo paired with the RS1 made my heart skip beats Enjoy in the best of health
Mohannad, thank you for your kind compliment!
Coming from you a major collector means a lot. Yes the hands of the Murakumo are quite something even if compared with the Smith, Laurent Ferrier or Moritz Grossmann, all of whom make the best hands in my opinion. Put your name down if I were you because ...
How do you get these serviced?
Do they go back to Japan? If they have such a backlog producing them, how can they service them?
The watch can be easily serviced
by any good watch repairer. It uses a Vaucher VMF5401 automatic movement with a mini rotor used by Parmigiani and Laine among others. Nothing complex about it. The wait list by the way is now up to 12 years!
That is arguably the longest wait
for any watch in the industry and is bordering on being quite absurd in my opinion.
Yes that is crazy
I guess if you are a celeb or vip or something, the wait won’t be that long. I learned of this watch when seeing the Hodinkee video where Ed Sheeran and John Mayer talked about theirs, and I guess they didn’t need to wait that long for theirs.
I only waited a year for mine
and I am not a celebrity. The wait list was short until 2021 and it increased dramatically during the watch craze in 2022. I doubt that a celebrity would get the watch any quicker. This is a small Japanese set up and they produce only eight watches a year...