Watch Case (SEIKO Credor Special Package)

This product is a package for the Credor, made by the peerless watch brand SEIKO. An uncompromising lacquer box using natural lacquer and adorned with beautiful maki-e leaves has been produced to fit the concept of the product: “the tree of life.”
To align with the Credor concept, several design plans were proposed, each with their own origin stories. Ultimately, a genuine lacquer box made using a black, high-gloss, natural lacquer finish was selected. For the decorative maki-e, genuine polished maki-e was applied under instructions to “use genuine materials, even if it exceeds the budget.”

We were able to offer a product of an appropriate level of quality in response to the client’s true wishes.

Integrated traditional materials and techniques

The product was built using MDF, which is unlikely to warp or split, cut and joined at 45-degrees, making the joint nearly unnoticeable. After this, the surface was covered in cloth to add durability and a surfacer was applied to shorten the production time. As the topcoat, high quality, high-gloss black lacquer produces a mirror-like finish.
Various types of gold powder were used in the maki-e to produce a luxurious container worthy of its contents.

1. Woodworking

   Working with unfinished wood is an important initial process for creating the foundation or frame of a product.
   Woodworking at INOUE is based on the exacting quality found in the traditional arts that have been cultivated by the production of Buddhist altars in the castle town of Hikone since the Edo Period (1603-1868 CE). Craftsmen produced these altars by hand and without nails, demanding uncompromising quality in the careful selection of the best materials for use in mortise and tenon construction. These altars are durable enough to be handed down through many generations. Furthermore, we have connections with woodworking shops in other areas that specialize in mass production, allowing us to select the appropriate methods of woodworking for any project.
   

2. Lacquering

   Lacquer is Japan’s exceptionally beautiful and high-quality traditional method of finishing. It is one of the most protective coatings in existence but can be very difficult to handle. Applying lacquer evenly requires the touch of a skillful craftsman from the first coat. The lacquer must be applied in many coats, from the first coat to the final finish, and the painting and polishing processes must be repeated many times over.
   A high-gloss lacquer finish, considered the highest level of lacquer, involves the painted lacquer being polished flat, after which raw lacquer is repeatedly rubbed into the surface and polished to bring out a deep luster that is nearly mirror-like.
   Based on our extensive knowledge of producing Buddhist altars, INOUE is able to offer the appropriate lacquering methods and craftsmen capable of implementing them, from a black, high-gloss lacquer finishes to a broad range of other coatings and lacquer colors.
   

3. Maki-e

   Maki-e is an artistic lacquer technique that involves drawing pictures or patterns using lacquer and then sprinkling them with gold dust or other fine powders. Maki-e originates in Japan and is one of the unique traditional techniques developed here. Maki-e includes many subsidiary techniques, such as hiramakie, takamakie, and togidashimakie. Furthermore, maki-e includes a wide variety of different end products, such as the expression of depth through different types or sizes of gold powder and the application of a variety of processing techniques.
   At INOUE, we have built a network of maki-e craftsmen with a wide range of skills, allowing us to provide the skills needed for any project, from projects demanding the utmost quality to those needing to fit into a tight budget.
   

4. Finishes (cashew, urethane, etc.)

   At INOUE, the quality of our finishes is consistently and carefully scrutinized with a watchful eye. From sophisticated traditional techniques such as base coats of natural lacquer to cashew finishes made with the natural resin of the cashew tree, also a member of the lacquer family, to urethane finishes made with synthetic resins, we provide a wide variety of finishing techniques.
   Given our extensive network of craftsmen with unparalleled technical skill, we can fulfill requests for finishes of nearly any kind.