A head-turning wristwatch which fuses contemporary Japanese design culture with traditional artisanal craftsmanship and a hand embellished Swiss-made movement, the Divido VM04 by independent brand Minase is a superb piece which is strikingly distinctive and highly individual. Sporty, stylish and incredibly cool, this is a watch with a head-turning presence on the wrist, and one which is beautifully engineered.

As with the rest of the Minase portfolio, throughout the Divido, the attention to detail in every little nuance is impressive. Pronounced angular lugs with a coarse directional grain clasp the rounded stainless steel case which measures a comfortable 40.5mm, and which is elaborately constructed from multiple individual components. The watch features a unique ‘case-in-case’ concept, where the movement is encapsulated within a separate container which does not come into contact with the inner sides of the case, creating a space around the dial.

Beneath a domed box sapphire crystal the dial mysteriously appears to float within that visible space, seemingly connecting only via the polished steel indices which bridge the gap and accentuate a wonderful three dimensional perspective of the subtle curvature of the dial and of the hands, which follow its contours as it tapers off downwards and into the void around its edge.

Like the case, the dial is modular and consists of a one-piece ring with indices attached, on top of a plate which is available in dégradé finish options, or hand applied Urushi in green, red or blue. Legibility is excellent in all light conditions, with the steel indices and straight-edged hour and minute hands clearly defined, with luminous accents providing a vivid green-blue glow in the dark. A wedge-like triangular aperture at the three o’clock position opens on the date ring, which rotates past a central arrow, indicating the date, while the preceding and subsequent numbers are also visible above and below.

Powering the Divido is the KT7001/1; a premium grade movement based on a Swiss ETA self-winding calibre, which has been aesthetically enhanced and modified with perlage finishing and the addition of Minase’s own oscillating weight in the brand’s ateliers. Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback the mechanism beats at 28’800vib/h and boasts a power reserve of thirty eight hours.

An exceptional watch with a uniquely novel twist on design and finished to uncompromising standards, the Divido by Minase is a piece of modern styling which represents exclusivity and hand finished artisanal watchmaking, from a manufacturer with traditional values. It is presented on a stainless steel link bracelet or synthetic rubber strap with folding deployant clasp.