The Speake-Marin Kennin-ji Temple Masters Project

Watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin and three specialist engravers have created a one-of-a-kind watch inspired by an iconic Japanese Temple. 

The Kennin-ji Temple Masters Project was commissioned by an experienced collector, described by the watchmaker as being “passionate about high-quality artisanal craft and believes that it is the people involved that impart a timepiece with its soul.”

The inspiration for this timepiece is the Kennin-ji Temple, a historic Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1202, it is considered to be the oldest Zen temple in Japan, and the temple's founding abbot, Eisai, is credited with introducing the Zen philosophy to Japan.

To commemorate the temple’s 800th anniversary in 2002, the Hatto building (Dharma Hall) was enhanced by a dramatic painting of two dragons on the ceiling by artist Koizumi Junsaku. The painting covers approximately 1,883 square feet. Speake-Marin says the style differs from the traditional circular layout as the commissioning Abbot requested that the dragons be “rampaging across the ceiling.”

To convey the power of this monumental painting down to the scale of a wristwatch, the Kennin-ji Temple Masters Project timepieces features ornately engraved twin dragons spilling out from the dial to the 42 mm white gold case and onto the surrounding presentation box.

The original stepped bezel was redeveloped to have a rounder profile so that the dragons flow seamlessly from the dial, over the bezel and down the sides of the case. And the engraving isn't restricted to the top and sides. The movement is also engraved and the leather lining of the presentation case is embossed with a similar dragon motif.

Speake-Marin, a British native who now lives and works in Switzerland, served as the project manager and was responsible for the in-house SM2 movement beating beneath the dragons on the dial. The engravers are specialists in their field, responsible for a specific portion on the watch and the packaging. They are:

* Kees Engelbarts, a Dutch native, was the engraver for the dial and case;

* Eddy Jaquet of Switzerland was the engraver for the SM2 movement;

* Christophe Seewer of Switsaerland was the engraver for embossing the leather of the presentation case.

“This is the most extraordinary engraving project I've ever been involved with," said Peter Speake-Marin. “Due to the complexity of the subject (two dragons instead of one), the incredible detail of the engravings and the fact that it isn't just one component that's engraved, but the designs cover practically the whole watch.”

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Japan Jewellery Fair Opens With An Increase in Exhibitors

Nearly 400 exhibitors have set up shop at the Japan Jewellery Fair, which opened Tuesday at the Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center.

The three-day event has attracted a total of 394 exhibiting companies, a significant increase from 369 last year, with a corresponding increase in exhibition space, according to UBM Japan Co Ltd. and the Japan Jewellery Association, which host the trade fair. “This expansion in the size of the fair comes in sharp contrast to the lackluster state of the economy and the contraction in the size of other jewelry exhibitions held in Japan this year.”

Of the 394 exhibitors, 51 are international jewelry companies from 19 countries and regions. There are 21 national and themed pavilions, including the Quality Design Zone for high-end jewelry collections, the Japan Pearl Pavilion that includes displays of high quality Japanese akoya pearls, and the Bridal Jewellery Zone displaying the latest trends in engagement and wedding jewelry.

This year marks the 20th edition of the fair, and a number of special events and seminars are held during to commemorate the anniversary. Japanese actress and fashion designer, Uno Kanda, who also serves as the Japan Jewellery Association’s Jewellery Ambassador, participated in the opening ceremonies. She assisted with the unveiling of the Association's "Bonds of Love" jewelry promotion campaign, where she designed a special jewelry collection to remember the close personal relationships and the bonds of love that were strengthened following the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan last year. The campaign was launched to remind people of the important role that jewelry can play as a symbol of those bonds.

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Damiani Opens Flagship in Osaka

Italian luxury jewelry brand, Damiani, opened a flagship boutique in Osaka, its second in the Japanese city. 

The 1,076-square-foot store in the city’s Umeda section is the first Damiani flagship boutique in the Kansai district and the second Damiani flagship store in Japan, after the Tokyo boutique in Ginza. It’s the tenth Damiani boutique in the country.

Warm and intense shades of natural tones—bronze, gold and copper—that reflect the sunset from Italian islands in the Mediterranean represented the inspiration for the boutique on the first floor of the Hilton Plaza West. 

The project was devised and developed in-house by an all-Italian creative team, included furnishings that were designed and made in Italy. It’s based on the new boutique concept first unveiled by the brand at its recently reopened Montenapoleone boutique in Milan.

Guido Damiani, group president and CEO, was present at the opening on March 5. Japanese actress Yoshino Kimura was the guest of honor.