March 10 2026

Two Watches In One: The Kurono Tokyo The Diver’s

MRSTATELESS KURONO, NEW RELEASES 2026, Diver, Dress Watch, Limited Edition 0

Independent Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka has built a strong reputation for refined mechanical watchmaking, and through his more accessible brand Kurono Tokyo he has brought his distinctive design language to a wider audience since 2019. Known mainly for elegant time-only, calendar, GMT and chronograph watches, the brand now enters new territory with its first dive-oriented model, the Kurono Tokyo The Diver’s.

Instead of following the conventional path of most dive watches, Kurono Tokyo introduces an unconventional concept built around a modular construction that essentially turns the watch into two timepieces in one.

A Watch Within a Watch

The central idea behind the Kurono Tokyo The Diver’s is its dual-case architecture. At the core sits a compact 35 mm stainless steel cushion-shaped watch, measuring 37.40 mm lug-to-lug and just 9 mm thick. When worn on its own, this inner watch resembles a classic early-20th-century officer or dress watch and offers 50 meters of water resistance, making it suitable for everyday use.

The concept becomes more interesting when the inner watch is inserted into a larger 316L stainless steel dive housing. Once placed inside this outer case, the watch takes on a completely different personality, transforming into a purpose-built diver. The outer case measures 46 mm in diameter, 13.50 mm in thickness, and 56.70 mm lug-to-lug, giving it the bold wrist presence expected from a professional dive watch.

Adjustable Water Resistance System

Kurono Tokyo designed the outer case with a unique sealing system that allows the wearer to increase water resistance depending on how the case is secured. The inner watch alone provides 50 meters of water resistance, which is sufficient for daily wear.

When the watch is inserted into the dive housing and the bezel and locking points positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock are tightened by hand, the water resistance increases to 100 meters. For more demanding underwater use, the watch can be secured further using the supplied Duoseal tool, which compresses the sealing system more firmly and raises the water resistance to 300 meters.

This approach allows the watch to operate without relying on a traditional crown interface once it is set, reducing potential entry points for water while emphasizing case sealing as the primary protective element.

Dial and Design

Despite its tool-watch functionality, the Kurono Tokyo The Diver’s retains many of the aesthetic traits associated with the brand. The dial is finished in white and paired with luminous material that has a slightly vintage tone.

One of the most distinctive features is the use of cathedral-style blued hands, a design typically associated with classic dress watches rather than diving instruments. Around the dial sits a bold red unidirectional dive bezel, which features diamond-shaped markers at the 10-minute intervals. The bezel also incorporates luminous pips at every five-minute mark, with a larger luminous marker at the 12 o’clock position to enhance underwater legibility.

The combination of classic Kurono design cues with more functional diving elements gives the watch a distinctive appearance that blends elegance with sportiness.

Movement

Inside the watch beats the Miyota 90S5 automatic movement, a reliable Japanese caliber known for its relatively slim architecture and stable performance. The movement operates at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and delivers a power reserve of approximately 40 hours. Once the watch is properly set and running, it continues operating automatically through wrist movement, aligning with the brand’s concept of minimizing interaction with the crown.

Availability and Price

The Kurono Tokyo The Diver’s will be produced in limited quantities, although the brand has not disclosed the exact number of pieces that will be made. Interestingly, the ordering process includes a unique twist: certified divers with recreational or higher diving certification will receive purchase priority, highlighting the watch’s connection to its intended underwater use.

The watch is priced at USD 2,700.