Showing posts with label Takeo Kikuchi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Takeo Kikuchi. Show all posts

Monday, 1 July 2013

Takeo Kikuchi TK 3043 Produced by Fortune

When I last posted about this brand, I'd never heard of it before, and in one of my piles of watch purchases, I then find I have more of them!

The watch is designed by the Japanese fashion designer Takėo Kikuchi. He was born in the late 30s and ran the self named label until 2004.

This watch has a similar refined style to the other one I've blogged with a rectangular metal framed face with small inset round dial. It is a 3-hand dial model and has a date marker at the 6 o'clock position. The face also includes the signature shield logo in the bottom right, and features the labels name on the buckle clasp. The brown resin strap matches the colour of the face, and has a humped design (which makes the buckle hold in place well without leaving the normal wear marks).

The back has the information that this was produced by Fortune, but I've still not found out more than my last blog post (with the closest match being a company in Hong Kong, but the watch says it's Japan made). It also mentions that it is 5atm water resistant.

The model number is TK-3043, and this one also has a 4 digit serial number meaning there may only be up to 9999 made. There also looks to be a makers sticker on the back with 7 and 9 marked. The 9 is for September (as it's in a circle of 12 digits), but the 7 could be for 1997 or 2007.

The full model number is TK 3043-U74, and it's original sale price was 25,000 yen.

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Takeo Kikuchi TK-3040 Watch produced by Fortune

I'm wearing another watch today from a brand that I'd never heard of until I bought it.
The brand is Takeo Kikuchi. It turns out that he is a famous Japanese industrial and fashion designer who was born in 1939. He ran a self-named brand until 2004 when he passed it over Taishi Nobukuni. Their flagship store is based in Shibuya in Tokyo.
The watch is a reasonably industrial looking 3-hand dial with a small face on a rectangular head. There is also a small date marker at the 6 o'clock position. At the 12 position there is shield logo, and 'Japan made' written either side of the date marker.
The back of the watch has Kikuchi's name and says that the watch was produced by Fortune. There are several links to a Fortune watch company, but none of based in Japan (-the closest is one based in Hong Kong).
There is also  a model number TK-3040 on the back, and a four-digit serial number (which may imply that there are less than 9999 copies produced). Kikuchi's name is also on the strap clasp. The watch is all stainless steel, and water resistant to 5 bar.
The box is monogrammed with the initials TK, and in the box there is a cleaning cloth, also with the TK initials.