Hanamokko Shinsha is a deep, warm red, darker and calmer than you might expect, and the only red in the collection. The dial is crushed cinnabar, the mineral behind vermilion, though this is a darker red than that word suggests: it leans slightly toward orange and has an even, finely grained surface. C-Brain makes each clock by hand in Kanazawa.
HOW HANAMOKKO IS MADE
The body is zelkova, turned on a lathe by hand in the technique called rokuro-hiki. The woodworker is Tatsuya Kutsumi of Yamanaka Onsen in Ishikawa Prefecture, a region with more than four hundred years of lacquerware production. Each one is cut so the core of the tree sits at the top of the case and again at the base, and the growth rings spread around the body between them, clearest on the Natural finish: one measure of time wrapped around another. The Black finish is a stain, so the grain shows through it, and in bright light some of the wood’s brown does too. The dial is iwa-enogu, the crushed-mineral pigment of traditional Japanese painting, laid down in about ten coats by a painter with more than twenty-five years of experience, so the grain of the stone stays visible. Beneath the pigment is kozo washi, a strong handmade paper prepared by Mayumi Ishikawa in Futamata, Kanazawa. The hour markers are small discs of gold leaf, and there are two hands, hour and minute, with no second hand. It uses a silent Seiko quartz movement, and the back is closed by a removable cover cut from leftover watch-strap leather, which we can engrave. Ko Ushijima designed the clock.
CHOOSING YOUR SHINSHA
Shinsha is dark enough that the gold markers stand out more than on almost any other dial, and it reads well both close up and across a room. Brown keeps the whole clock in one warm family. Natural sets off the gold. Black shows the red at its most graphic, and is a pairing we like. The Tou is the larger Hanamokko, five inches across, numbered, and made only for Clock Forward. Its larger markers carry farther. It is a restrained red, suited to rooms with wood in them. We sell Shinsha most often in Brown.
DEALER’S NOTES
In daylight, we see a deeper, quieter red than the warmer photos suggest. Most of our clients put the smaller Hanamokko on a desk and the larger Tou on a shelf. On the pale dials, the hands are usually easier to see than the gold markers. On the darker dials, the markers stand out more. We do not think there is a wrong pairing of wood and dial. We stock the combinations our clients choose most and will order any other. Each clock ships from Charlotte in a gift box made for us, with a lithium battery already installed behind a paper pull tab, our brochure on the crafts behind it, and a five-year warranty on the movement. When the movement eventually needs replacing, you can do it yourself with our kit. A small clock does not need ten coats of mineral pigment or hand-cut gold leaf. C-Brain does it anyway.
Quick Help & Manual
Setting the time
Remove the leather cover by pulling the leather tab, and turn the time adjustment wheel so the hands rotate in a clockwise direction. It is OK if the hands move slightly counterclockwise if you are adjusting for a few minutes. Never set the time by manipulating the hands directly. Replace the leather cover when finished.
Battery
The clock is powered by one AA 1.5 V battery. We ship with an Energizer lithium long-lasting leak-proof battery that should last for several years. We also recommend Duracell alkaline batteries. It is important to remove or replace the battery once it stops working to prevent battery leakage and damage. Using a good battery helps extend the life of the movement.
When replacing the battery, lift the old battery out from the right (negative side). You may need to use a flathead screwdriver to gently assist in prying the battery out. Insert the new battery from the right (negative side) first by pushing into the spring, and then push down the positive (left) side.
Custom engraving
For a small fee, we can custom engrave a short message (and some logos) on the back leather piece. For larger corporate orders, it is possible to engrave the entire back.
Care and maintenance
Clean the clock occasionally with a soft microfiber cloth. The Zelkova wood is sealed with a clear polyurethane coat to resist wear. The mineral pigment dial is scratchable and should be carefully dusted with a soft brush or handheld blower (for cameras and small electronics). Change the battery as soon as the clock slows or stops. If you need to store your clock for a lengthy period, please remove the battery.
Where not to display
Avoid exposing the clock to direct sunlight to prevent the natural pigments from fading. Do not place in a very humid environment as warping and/or mold growth may occur.
Warranty & repairs
C-Brain clocks are guaranteed against defects under normal use, for 2 years on parts & labor from the date of purchase. Normal wear and tear damage or defects are excluded from warranty after 2 years. If purchased through Clock Forward, the movement is covered by a warranty for an additional 3 years (5 years total). We make the warranty process as simple as possible.
All mechanical parts are repairable and/or replaceable. Please contact us if you have any problems throughout the life of your clock—whether in or out of warranty.
