Dream Watch - Kawari Nuri Urushi Lacquer

Dream Watch Kawari Nuri — Hand-Lacquered Urushi Dial Watch from Wajima, Japan The Dream Watch Kawari Nuri is a hand-lacquered urushi watch featuring a dial crafted entirely by master Urushi artists at Taya Shikkiten Lacquerhouse in Wajima, Japan. Available in Green and Red, each dial takes 2.5 years to complete and is released in limited quantity, making this one of the most labor-intensive urushi maki-e watches available today. What Makes Wajima Urushi Dial Different Most urushi watches use the traditional Tsugaru Nuri method, where a marble-like texture is built through repeated lacquer layering and carving. The Dream Watch Kawari Nuri takes a different path: Wajima artisans hand-draw the marble pattern directly over a green urushi base layer, using their exclusive Maki-e technique rather than carving. This is a distinct regional craft signature — Wajima urushi versus Tsugaru urushi — and it's the reason this dial cannot be mass-produced or replicated by machine. Gold Maki-e Detailing: Gold Maki-e 3,6,9 Batton Hour markers The logo is hand-painted in real gold Maki-e lacquer, paired with hand-finished 3, 6, and 9-hour markers. Both sit atop a black urushi base layer, creating depth and contrast that changes character under different lighting — a hallmark of genuine hand-crafted urushi work. Wajima, Japan — 400+ Years of Urushi Heritage Wajima is recognized as one of Japan's premier urushi lacquerware regions, with a craft lineage spanning centuries. Taya Shikkiten Lacquerhouse continues this tradition, applying techniques historically used on fine lacquerware to a wristwatch dial — a rare crossover between traditional Japanese craft and modern horology. Why Only a Limited Quantity Each Kawari Nuri dial takes 2.5 years from start to finish, as the multi-layer lacquering and hand-drawing process cannot be rushed without compromising the finish. Because of this, the Dream Watch Kawari Nuri is released in strictly limited numbers — once a batch sells out, the timeline to produce more is measured in years, not weeks. Kawari Nuri Green vs. Red Green — the base tone the marble pattern is drawn over, giving a more traditional, deep jade-like urushi finish. Red — a bolder colorway that intensifies the contrast between the black base layer and the hand-drawn marble texture.