Kurono Tokyo has a way of making modestly sized watches feel unusually considered, and its latest Calendrier leans straight into that strength.
The new Calendrier Small Batch Release in Saxe Blue revisits the brand’s triple calendar layout with a cooler dial treatment, a few subtle case and marker changes, and the familiar tension that surrounds most Kurono launches.
For collectors who follow Hajime Asaoka’s more accessible line, this is the kind of watch that looks simple at first and becomes more specific the longer you sit with it.
At a glance
- Kurono Tokyo has introduced the Calendrier Small Batch Release in Saxe Blue, a limited-production triple calendar watch.
- The watch uses a 38mm polished steel case, stamped vertical dial texture, applied chrome Arabic numerals and a Miyota 9122 automatic movement.
- Sales open online on 24 September 2026 at 11:00 p.m. JST, priced at USD 2,389 excluding VAT, with one watch available per customer.
A cooler take on Kurono’s triple calendar
The Calendrier Small Batch Release follows the anniversary triple calendar format that Kurono Tokyo introduced for Hajime Asaoka’s 60th birthday.
That earlier salmon-pink edition moved quickly, as many Kurono watches do, and the Saxe Blue version keeps the same core idea while shifting the personality of the watch.
The dial is the centre of the update.
Kurono has gone for a light Saxe blue tone with a higher-gloss finish, chosen to work against the shine of the applied indices rather than fade into the background.
Across the central section, vertical lines are stamped into the surface to echo the hand-guilloché language associated with Asaoka’s higher-end watchmaking.
The two recessed sub-dials for the day and month are left smooth, as is the broad outer chapter ring, giving the dial a layered quality without making the calendar display feel crowded.
Applied numerals and a restrained 38mm case
The stainless steel case measures 38mm across and 11.5mm thick including the box-shaped sapphire crystal, which puts it in the sweet spot for a dress-leaning daily watch.
Without the crystal, the case is listed at 10mm, reinforcing the impression that Kurono wanted the watch to wear slim despite the calendar complication.
One small change from the anniversary edition sits at the crown, which is now flat and does without the cabochon.
The outer chapter ring also gains applied Arabic numerals in chrome, made using electroforming rather than simple stamping.
That detail matters because the numerals are intricate, bright and sharply formed, giving the otherwise calm dial a little more architecture.
A black railway minute track frames the display, while a stepped date window sits at 6 o’clock beneath the twin calendar sub-dials.
The polished hour and minute hands are domed and gently bent at the tips, a detail that suits the vintage-inflected case proportions without pushing the design into costume territory.
The Miyota-powered appeal of modern Kurono
Kurono Tokyo has always occupied an interesting place in independent watchmaking because it carries Asaoka’s design eye without the pricing or scarcity of his handmade atelier pieces.
The movement here is the Miyota 9122, an automatic calibre running at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 40-hour power reserve.
It powers hours, minutes, seconds and the triple calendar display for the date, day and month.
This isn’t a watch trying to win attention through mechanical theatre.
Its appeal is more measured, sitting in the balance of proportion, colour, typography and access to an Asaoka-designed object at a comparatively approachable price.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Kurono Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Model | Calendrier Small Batch Release Saxe Blue |
| Case size | 38mm diameter, 11.5mm thick including crystal, 10mm without crystal |
| Case material | Polished 316L stainless steel |
| Crystal | Box-shaped sapphire crystal |
| Caseback | Solid screwed steel caseback |
| Water resistance | 50 metres |
| Dial | Saxe blue with stamped vertical centre lines, recessed day and month sub-dials, applied chrome Arabic numerals and black railway minute track |
| Movement | Miyota 9122 automatic |
| Frequency | 28,800vph, 4Hz |
| Power reserve | 40 hours |
| Jewels | 26 |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, day and month |
| Strap | 20/16mm black calfskin leather strap with steel pin buckle |
| Price | USD 2,389 excluding VAT |
| Availability | Online sales open 24 September 2026 at 11:00 p.m. JST, one watch per customer, Kurono Tokyo account required, deliveries from October |
Release timing and collector access
The Calendrier Small Batch Release will be previewed from 16 to 24 September at Kurono Tokyo’s salons in Aoyama and Shanghai.
Online purchasing opens through kuronotokyo.com on 24 September 2026 at 11:00 p.m. JST, with registration required before checkout.
The production quantity hasn’t been stated, though the Small Batch Release designation signals fewer watches than a standard Kurono run.
That makes the one-per-customer rule particularly relevant for collectors who’ve learned how quickly the brand’s most desirable pieces can disappear.
In Saxe blue, the Calendrier feels less commemorative than the salmon anniversary model and perhaps more wearable because of it.
It’s a compact, thoughtfully detailed calendar watch for buyers who want the Asaoka design language in a practical format, provided they’re ready when the order window opens.
