Review (with Video): the Minase Divido Urushi

We tend to think of the movement as the most complicated part of a watch, but what happens when the rest of the watch matches, or meets that complexity? We expect watches to have an immediate impact when we look at them. We hope to understand them at a glance, as their pieces fit into patterns we recognize. When something requires more time to study, to seep in, it can almost be an uncomfortable experience. It’s with this in mind, that I will begin to approach the subject of this review, the Minase Divido Urushi.

Minase’s approach to watch design is rooted in Japanese tradition, their own history with manufacturing, yet thoroughly modern, and seems to buck every trend currently guiding the market. These aren’t watches that one can fully capture in an instant – something our lifestyle of flicking through images on social media can make challenging. Inspired by Yosegi-Zaiku, traditional Japanese wood marquetry, and puzzle boxes, all components from the case to the bracelet links are deceptive, composed of several pieces where you typically find one or just a couple. But, this isn’t without purpose. Minase’s concept is fueled by the longevity of their watches, as parts down to a single lug can be replaced if necessary.

Minase is part of a larger company, called Kyowa Co., Ltd. Founded in 1963. Kyowa is a manufacturer of cutting tools, with expertise in drill bits. The Minase logo reflects this, featuring an outline of a stepped bit creating a staggered V shape. They produced tools for many industries, including watches, and evolved into creating more components including cases as a supplier for other brands. Minase was established as their own brand in 2005, utilizing the skills they acquired over decades of manufacturing. This includes Sallaz polishing, which you might know by its more common colloquial name, Zaratsu polishing.

With the conceptual stage set, the Divido is a great starting point for those unfamiliar with the brand, which included me until very recently. Meaning division in Esperanto, in some ways, it’s their most straightforward design as it’s the only one with a circular shape, letting you ease into Minase’s unique language. In others, it’s every bit as strange and wonderful as their 7 and 5 Window pieces, which look like someone took a watch and locked it in a glass box. It mixes hyper-modern aesthetics with traditional craft, and, in just about every way, is unlike any other watch I’ve reviewed.