Hajime Asaoka’s Kurono Diver’s Watch Debuts a Radical Crownless Design
Featuring a two-part architecture that encases a refined inner watch within a rugged diving shell.
Summary
- Kurono Tokyo’s Diver’s watch featuring a crownless design, composed of a 35mm watch within a 46mm outer case
- Limited via ballot until March 11, the set costs $2,700 USD
Acclaimed independent Japanese watchmaker, Hajime Asaoka, has unveiled its latest time-telling creation for Kurono Tokyo. Aptly named Kurono Diver’s, the timepiece reimagined the conventional dive watch with a radical approach.
At its core is a 35mm cushion‑shaped automatic watch head, encapsulated within a 46mm purpose‑built diving case. This dual‑structure allows the timepiece to transition seamlessly from elegant daily wear to a robust instrument engineered for recreational diving.
The defining innovation is the absence of a crown, long considered the Achilles’ heel of dive watches. Asaoka’s solution eliminates crown manipulation, relying on modern automatic movements to maintain precision once set. This innovative modular approach allows the timepiece to transition easily from an elegant daily wearer to a professional aquatic instrument capable of withstanding extreme pressure.
The timepiece also ensures maximum underwater legibility thanks to its blue-steel, meticulously skeletonized cathedral hands treated with a highly efficient luminous finish. When secured inside the 46mm stainless steel outer case, the watch transforms into a rugged diving tool. The outer case utilizes a unidirectional threaded bezel made from Extra Super Duralumin, finished in a high-contrast hard-anodized red. When tightened by hand, the case offers 10 ATM of water resistance; when fully secured with a dedicated tool, it is depth-engineered to withstand up to 300 meters, with each unit individually tested to 100 meters.
Presented as a limited study, the Kurono Diver’s is priced at $2,700 USD, with US orders subject to a 15% baseline tariff. Allocation is managed via a global ballot system, with priority given to applicants holding recreational or professional diving certifications, though a portion is reserved for the general public. Those who are interested can submit their expressions of interest through the brand’s website before March 11, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by March 16, and global deliveries are expected to commence from May 2026 onwards.
