Minase, the independent Japanese watch brand, and our friends at watch media outlet Fratello have collaborated on a third edition of the brand’s cult favorite M-3. After versions in purple and green each of the last two years, this latest release strikes a more classic and refined tone. The new M-3 “Shiro” features a white lacquered dial and some subtle but well chosen accent colors, all with an eye toward traditional Japanese craft.
“Shiro” is Japanese for white, and in Japan is historically a sacred color symbolizing spiritual and physical purity. It’s a color that is frequently worn by Japanese Emperors, and comes up frequently in Shinto rituals and traditions. For this M-3, Minase has given the dial a weave-like texture that recalls the garments that might be worn in such rituals. The dial has been coated with Japanese lacquer, and the brand promises the result is a dynamic silvery color with plenty of depth.
Other callouts to Japanese culture include the red tipped second hand, a color that symbolizes good luck. The precise shade of red chosen for this edition, “Hinomaru,” translates roughly to “circle of the sun.” And the blue strap, according to Minase and Fratello, is a tribute to Japanese denim. Fratello and Minase see parallels in high craft denim to traditional watchmaking, noting that good denim, when taken care of, is meant to last a lifetime, just like a mechanical watch.
The original impetus for the Fratello x Minase collaborations when they began in 2022 was to highlight a Minase case shape that, at the time, was not available outside Japan. Minase is known, in part, for their incredibly intricate case designs (Zach Weiss went hands-on with the Divido back in 2022, and highlights the precision manufacturing at play in this watch). The brand’s signature watches, many would argue, are those in the Windows Collection, which incorporate multiple crystals placed in non-traditional ways through the case. In short, they do a lot of highly complex stuff.
The M-3 case used in these collaborations, however, is quite simple in comparison. It’s a relatively simple cushion design, measuring 39mm across and 46mm from lug to lug (it’s 10.5mm tall, including the crystal). It shows off Minase’s manufacturing capabilities in a much simpler register, which I think is welcome for many who might admire watches in the Windows collections, but balk at wearing something on the more avant-garde side day to day. The M-3 is a classic and versatile shape that’s easy to wear in a variety of scenarios, and in these Fratello editions it gives both collaborators an opportunity to be creative with dial designs.
The Minase x Fratello M-3 Shiro’s pre-order window is currently open, and will close on September 24. The retail price is €2,470 excluding VAT. More information can be found via the Fratello website.
