#13. The Wall of M2 – The Solitary Chronograph

The craftsmanship of the Master Craft line is driven by a spirit of bold pursuit—like reaching for a delicate flower blooming on a sheer cliff. A desire to create a watch case the world has never seen. A wish to surprise people with the advanced cutting and polishing techniques that Kyowa Seiko, a tool manufacturer, proudly offers. This earnest passion is embedded in every model of the Master Craft series.
Yet within its 20-year history, there has been little mention of what might be called the “phantom” of the Master Craft line: the M2. Only five units were ever produced, combining mechanical and quartz movements. The square-cased chronograph made its debut over a decade ago at the International Jewellery Tokyo (IJT) show.

Like the M1, both the case and the dial of the M2 were built using MINASE’s proprietary MORE structure. The case alone was said to consist of 1.5 times as many components as the M1.
The fact that it was unveiled not at a watch fair, but at a jewelry exhibition, speaks to its artistic brilliance. With design features such as MINASE’s unique glass-insetting structure to accentuate its shine, the M2 was a solitary model, embodying an extraordinary level of polishing technique. It was perhaps the success of the M1 that inspired engineers to scale an even higher wall—a pure, uncompromising drive to push the limits of technical craftsmanship.

But the challenge proved too great.
Polishing just a single part could take an entire day, and the structure was so complex that precision assembly became unmanageable. Even the master craftsmen of cutting and polishing eventually had to admit defeat. This was a time when even MINASE itself had not yet found clear direction as a watch brand.
Still, the spirit of pushing one’s technical abilities to the limit became the foundation of what MINASE’s manufacturing is today. “Back then, it was close to impossible,” President Suzuki said with a smile, “but with MINASE’s current cutting and polishing techniques, maybe we could make it now.”
If possible, I hope that one day, the phantom Master Craft M2 will be revived.

This is an in-depth travelogue of Mr. K. Kawakami who specializes in writing reports on various factories. He takes a look at the fundamental value of MINASE, with incisive insight and observation refined over the years, as a seasoned expert on the watch industry.

K. Kawakami is a professional writer specializing in exploring diverse factories, reporting on their unique manufacturing practices in Japan and around the world. He travels to the factories of many manufacturers that operate on the principle of perfection, including watches, electrical appliances, shoes, fashion items, buildings, foods, confections, and traditional crafts.