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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Kurono Tokyo GMT 1, 2023

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Kurono Tokyo (maker)
Date
2023
Country of origin
Japan
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 38 mm
Stock no.
Product 8515985637559
Credit line
Dealer listing, Huntington Company (product 8515985637559)
Catalogue title (original)
2023 Kurono Tokyo GMT 1 - Box and papers (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Huntington Company (dealer) (stock number Product 8515985637559), this is a wristwatch by Kurono Tokyo, made in Japan, dated 2023. The Atlas places it in the Contemporary Horology period (2010 – Present) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 38 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Huntington Company

History and Significance Kurono Tokyo is the more accessible arm of Hajime Asaoka’s independent watchmaking work, offering design-driven pieces that still carry the visual language and restraint of his higher-end creations. The GMT 1 is one of the brand’s more playful executions, combining classical proportions with a distinctly modern dial layout. This reference stands out immediately for its layered dial construction. The stepped inner 24-hour ring, paired with the deep black center and contrasting burgundy outer track, gives the watch a sense of depth that feels far more considered than a typical GMT layout. The red GMT hand ties it all together, adding just enough color without overpowering the design. Kurono pieces are produced in limited batches and tend to sell quickly, which has created a strong following among collectors who appreciate independent design but want something wearable and usable day to day. The GMT 1 fits squarely into that space. Writer’s Thoughts The colors on the dial might not sound perfect on paper, but in person, it just clicks. The burgundy ring, the black center, that red hand cutting across everything. It feels a bit like a vintage instrument panel. It’s also the kind of GMT that doesn’t scream travel watch. It’s quieter, more personal. Something you wear because you like looking at it, not because you need to track a second timezone. Our Promise Every watch is thoroughly vetted, carefully described with complete transparency, and guaranteed authentic. Each piece is offered in honest condition, ensuring collectors receive a timepiece that reflects both originality and integrity. Specifications Brand: Kurono Tokyo Model: GMT 1 Year: 2023 Case Material: Stainless steel Case Size: 38mm Dial: Black and burgundy multi-layer dial with inner 24-hour scale Movement: Automatic Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap Buckle/Clasp: Kurono signed buckle Contents: Box and papers Condition Case: The case is in excellent condition with minimal signs of wear and sharp edges throughout. Dial: Dial is mint with no wear. Hands: Clean and original, with no wear. Crystal: Crystal is clean with no visible scratches. Strap/Bracelet: Strap is in excellent condition with very light wear.

Historical context

Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)

Silicon components, connected watches, optical-lattice research clocks and a thriving independent scene.

Smartwatches became the world's best-selling watches, while mechanical watchmaking focuses on craft, innovation (silicon components, new escapements) and independent makers.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Mechanical Renaissance

Atlas type guide

Military, pilot and travel watches

The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.

In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.

What to look for

  • Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
  • High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
  • 24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
  • Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
  • Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
  • GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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