【F】 Minase Introduces Handcrafted Yusai Dials

Tokyo-based artist Towa Takaya creates pigments from soil, plants, and minerals gathered during her travels, which she then uses to craft watch dials. Now, Minase is introducing handcrafted Yusai dials made by her for its 5 Windows Mid, 7 Windows, and Divido watches. Takaya’s goal is to create a dial showing the essence of nature itself. You can be the judge and decide if you think the collaboration watches in their signature Sallaz-polished cases give you that unfiltered, deep sensation of nature.

For those unfamiliar with Yusai dials, we’ll begin with some background information. The name “Yusai” unites two characters — 悠 (yū), representing the gentle, eternal flow of time, and 彩 (sai), expressing the vibrant, ever-shifting essence of color. Together, they embody the spirit of these dials — surfaces that appear to breathe with light, their tones and depths subtly transforming with the slightest change of the light. Each dial is a tribute to the beauty and dynamism of nature. When Minase President Tsuyoshi Suzuki encountered the work of Towa Takaya (Tokyo, 1992), he was struck by its poetic depth. He immediately recognized the potential for partnership:

“Towa Takaya’s dials are not only visually stunning; they also embody nature’s ever-changing palette, created with materials drawn from nature itself. It is true craftsmanship, and I am proud to collaborate with her on this new creation.”

Artist Towa Takaya

Minase introduces handcrafted Yusai dials on three watches

With the three new watches, the Japanese brand wants to start a dialogue between art, time, and nature. The latest collection of handcrafted timepieces celebrates the ever-changing beauty of color, with each dial transforming with the movement of light.

5 Windows Mid “Pluralist Garden”

This dial, composed of delicate layers of blue-green pigments, draws inspiration from the serene harmony of Japanese gardens. Subtle blends of yellow, blue, and green evoke the gentle ripples of a tranquil pond.

In Japan, windows serve not merely as openings for light but also as frames for beauty. Windows reveal glimpses of a garden, a distant mountain, or a single tree in bloom. This collection, true to that spirit, opens a poetic passage between the inner and outer worlds, where craftsmanship and nature flow seamlessly together.

The case features five surrounding antireflective sapphire “windows” (crystals) that give the impression that the dial is floating inside the rectangular case. Minase’s designer, Hirokuni Yamamoto, said about the design: “The 5 Windows breaks most of the watch design concepts I have learned and worked with all of my life; it is a genuine piece of art.” Skilled craftspeople spend more than 30 hours polishing each of a watch’s surfaces using the Sallaz technique, resulting in a bright sheen. The movement inside this mid-size 32mm × 40.3mm × 11.6mm 5 Windows case — and inside the regular-size 7 Windows and the Divido, for that matter — is an ETA 2892-A2. It offers approximately 50 hours of power reserve and ticks at 28,800 vibrations per hour.

7 Windows “Otherwise than Being”

The dial in the 7 Windows “Otherwise than Being” (a name too deep for me, but that’s OK) is painted with multiple layers of deep blue pigment. The idea is to evoke a sense of suspension and weightlessness. Here, too, within Minase’s case-in-case architecture, the dial appears to hover.

The Sallaz-polished stainless steel 7 Windows case has a 38mm diameter, a 47mm length, and a 13mm thickness. It’s a complex construction featuring a curved sapphire crystal on top and five additional sapphire panels on the sides. These are an integral part of the case, creating transparent “windows” that reveal the automatic movement within. Avant-garde yet harmonious, the watch boasts 50m water resistance despite its abundance of sapphire surfaces.

Divido “Falling Stars and Mirage”

The 40.5mm × 48mm × 11mm Divido is also an excellent canvas for special dials. The 2022 Divido iterations featuring different types of urushi dials were great examples. The new dial crafted by Towa Takaya features a mother-of-pearl base enhanced with hand-applied layers of pigment. It glows like a nebula in the night sky or snow touched by sunlight. This deep blue-purple dial is a chromatic composition that captures the poetry of light. It also invites you to pause, sit back, relax, and contemplate the question you might ask yourself after seeing the three new Minase creations: “Which one should I buy…?”

Practical information on artful watches

In case you’re wondering that, it might be helpful for you to know that each Yusai-dial watch is made to order. It’s also good to know that the three new models are available exclusively through Minase’s international online webshop. The estimated production time is three months from the date of order. Due to the bespoke nature of these watches, Minase will not accept returns or exchanges.

5 Windows Mid on a leather strap

5 Windows Mid on a steel bracelet

7 Windows on a leather strap

7 Windows on a steel bracelet

Divido on a leather strap

Divido on a steel bracelet

Prices excluding taxes are as follows. The Divido “Falling Stars and Mirage” and 7 Windows “Otherwise than Being” cost US$9,100 on a steel bracelet and US$7,800 on a leather strap. The 5 Windows Mid “Pluralist Garden” costs US$8,200 on a steel bracelet and US$6,900 on a leather strap. For customers outside the United States, the prices displayed will be higher but will include shipping, taxes, and customs fees. US-based buyers will need to pay taxes and customs fees upon import.

So, what do you think of these new Yusai dials for Minase’s 5 Windows Mid, 7 Windows, and Divido? As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.