Yosuke Sekiguchi

“The one who seeks, progresses”

The story behind the Primevère Watch

Ever since the discovery of mechanical watches at the age of 16, Yosuke Sekiguchi has dreamed of creating his own brand, and in 2022 he started the Primevère watch project.

Based on the sketches used by Jurgensen and the works of other watchmakers of the 19th century, the prototype was created by directly carving steel without any drawings, while making continuous mechanical improvements to the structure. Once completed, Yosuke Sekiguchi dismantles the part, measures it, and manufactures the series movements from drawings into precise shapes. Therefore, everything is initially handcrafted without the interference of computers. What we have instead is a watch crafted with soul and artistry.

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Yosuke Sekiguchi,
a quintessential Watchmaker

His journey

One day in Tokyo, a young Yoskuke Sekiguchi found a watch movement that needed repairing. Ever since, his fascination for watchmaking has never gone away. Years later, while most of his friends were starting their careers in corporate life, Sekiguchi had only one thing in mind, a pipe dream of sorts : going to Switzerland to optimize the self-taught watchmaking skills he had patiently developed over the years.
 
The learning journey was as much about horology as it was about real life. Opening case backs proved to be a much easier process than dealing with the numerous administrative obstacles an aspiring watchmaker from the other side of the globe must jump over. However, the latter didn’t deter a young man driven by a strong sense of destiny determined to pursue this path. Although his visa status did not enable him to join a watchmaking school, Sekiguchi’s talent didn’t go unnoticed. He was hired by the La Joux-Perret company where he worked on split-seconds, “foudroyante” and “tourbillon” chronograph movements. Later, he joined Claret. There, he made “Maestoso” wristwatches with a traditional detent escapement, a mechanism usually designed for a perfectly stabilized position. A feature the watchmaker would further develop when crafting his first ever watch, Primevère.

The Primevère

Primevère, “primrose” in French, evokes the blossom which comes at the beginning of a new season. Even though this was his first watch as an independent watchmaker, the seeds for its creation had been planted a long time ago. They were now finally ready to sample the light of day. Thus, echoing the movement of nature. When one speaks about a watch, it’s typical to focus on its various parts. As far as the Primevère is concerned, it would be more pertinent to talk about the unique sense of unity the watch offers – a voyage into the creator’s singular and organic vision. Primevère sees hundreds of years and thousands of miles blend, as if irascibly drawn to each other by the gentle and yet unstoppable force of Yosuke Sekiguchi’s watchmaking soul.

Primevère Collection

PRIMEVÈRE
Ref. 39WG-WHDBL White Gold
Yspke Sekiguchi Aventurine
PRIMEVÈRE
Ref. 39WG-DBAVWH White Gold
PRIMEVÈRE
Ref. 39RG-BKWH Rose Gold
PRIMEVÈRE
Ref. 39RG-WHBL Rose Gold

Description

The smoothly curved 39.5 mm case englobes the grand feu enamel dial, while its delicate but firm spade-shaped hands and the perfectly proportioned small seconds sub-dial. The case back, unsurprisingly, is the most captivating window into Sekiguchi’s world. It seamlessly complements the movement’s effortless architecture.

The finishing is almost as remarkable by its artful mastery as it is by its restraint. From the plate, wheels and bridges made by Sekiguchi himself, all forms of excessive decoration are removed, making way for the most minute and essential strokes.

The boxes, buckles, dials, enamel, straps, and preliminary sketches are all made in Le Locle or la Chaux-de-Fonds.

Yosuke Sekiguchi, in his own words...

Even if Yosuke Sekiguchi prefers his watches to do the talking, here are a few thoughts of his.

The tools I operate with to craft my dials don’t have the same mechanical precision of the ones manufactured with numerical machines. In fact, the results of my endeavours which are created by directly interacting with the components of my watches are never perfect for me, nor do they need to be. What fascinates me, however, are the symphonies played by human beings and the drawings and paintings created by artists. I can’t say the same about computers. The presence of my friends’ and my team’s hearts and souls that you feel in my creations is the most crucial element I want to convey. My objective is to create living objects. Not dormant ones which just exist physically. I would like you to feel the watchmaker’s life through the watch years beyond his time on earth.

“The primrose flowers which start impatiently blossoming despite being under the snow are the symbols of my watches that have started to beat. It’s what I have always wanted to do. The three petals represent my wife and my two children. My initials are also embedded in my creations.”

Primevère, « primrose » in french, evokes the blossom which comes at the beginning of a new season. Even though this was his first watch as an independent watchmaker, the seeds for its creation had been planted a long time ago. They were now finally ready to sample the light of day. Thus, echoing the movement of nature. When one speaks about a watch, it’s typical to focus on its various parts. As far as the primevere is concerned, it would be more pertinent to talk about the unique sense of unity the watch offers a voyage into the creator’s singular and organic vision. Primevère sees hundreds of years and thousands of miles blend, as if irascibly drawn to each other by the gentle and yet unstoppable force of Yosuke Sekiguchi’s watchmaking soul.

The Primevère

Primevère, "primrose" in french, evokes the blossom which comes at the beginning of a new season. Even though this was his first watch as an independent watchmaker, the seeds for its creation had been planted a long time ago. They were now finally ready to sample the light of day. Thus, echoing the movement of nature. When one speaks about a watch, it's typical to focus on its various parts. As far as the primevere is concerned, it would be more pertinent to talk about the unique sense of unity the watch offers a voyage into the creator's singular and organic vision. Primevère sees hundreds of years and thousands of miles blend, as if irascibly drawn to each other by the gentle and yet unstoppable force of Yosuke Sekiguchi's watchmaking soul.

Yosuke Sekiguchi

Primevère
Ref. 39WG-WHDBL (White Gold)

DIAMETER 39.5mm

HEIGHT 12mm

CASE MATERIAL White Gold 18K

DIAL Grand Feu Enamel

HANDS Sapphire Crystal

WATER RESISTANCE 30m

MOVEMENT YS-Y01 (Steel Screw)

FUNCTIONS Hours, Minutes, And Small Seconds

WINDING Hand Winding

FREQUENCY 18,000 Beats Per Hour

POWER RESERVE 40/H

STRAP Dark Blue Alligator Leather Strap (Hand Stitch) With 18KWG Pin Buckle

PRICE 80,000CHF

Primevère
Ref. 39RG-BKWH(Rose Gold)

DIAMETER 39.5mm

HEIGHT 12mm

CASE MATERIAL Rose Gold 18K(5N)

DIAL Grand Feu Enamel

HANDS Sapphire Crystal

WATER RESISTANCE 30m

MOVEMENT YS-Y01 (Steel Screw)

FUNCTIONS Hours, Minutes, And Small Seconds

WINDING Hand Winding

FREQUENCY 18,000 Beats Per Hour

POWER RESERVE 40/H

STRAP Dark Brown Alligator Leather Strap (Hand Stitch) With Rose Gold Pin Buckle 18K(5N)

PRICE 80,000CHF

Primevère
Ref. 39RG-WHBL(Rose Gold)

DIAMETER 39.5mm

HEIGHT 12mm

CASE MATERIAL Rose Gold 18K(5N)

DIAL Grand Feu Enamel

HANDS Sapphire Crystal

WATER RESISTANCE 30m

MOVEMENT YS-Y01 (Steel Screw)

FUNCTIONS Hours, Minutes, And Small Seconds

WINDING Hand Winding

FREQUENCY 18,000 Beats Per Hour

POWER RESERVE 40/H

STRAP Dark Brown Alligator Leather Strap (Hand Stitch) With Rose Gold Pin Buckle 18K(5N)

PRICE 80,000CHF