Ebony Five watch ko5k-079

Ebony is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia, but it grows very slowly, taking approximately 200 years to reach a diameter of 18 cm. Its popularity has led to overharvesting, and high-quality ebony is now rarely available on the market. This makes it an extremely rare wood. Its hardness and durability are exceptional, with a deep, jet-black color and a smooth, oily surface that develops a subtle sheen when polished. The jet-black ebony, characterized by its distinctive core grain, is called "genuine ebony" or "shinkuro," and is the rarest type. The type with a striped grain of black and pale red is called "striped ebony." This watch case is made of genuine ebony, a rare, deep, jet-black color. Ebony, along with rosewood and ironwood, is considered one of the three great Chinese woods. Due to its rarity and beauty, it has long been prized as a material for high-quality crafts such as tea utensils, furniture, musical instruments, and Buddhist altar implements. Its value has endured, as seen in the treasures of the Shosoin Repository and the burial goods found in the pyramids.

SIZE W355 D124 H110

MATERIAL Ebony

Designed by Toshihiro Kamei

Cushions are available in three sizes: S / M / L.
Please choose the size that best fits your wrist. We Will contact you for the cushion size after you have completed the purchase.

 S:14~16cm  M:17~19cm  L:20~22cm

【Characteristics of KOMA watch case】

Grain Matching

By carefully arranging and cutting each component in sequence, the wood grain flows seamlessly from one piece to the next. With meticulous attention to detail, our skilled craftsmen match the grain one by one—honoring the natural beauty of the wood and bringing out its finest expression through both refined aesthetics and expert technique.

Mitered Joinery 

By joining the top, side, and front panel with precise 45° miters, the grain continues uninterrupted, creating a beautifully seamless finish. This technique also provides excellent structural strength and helps prevent misalignment at the joints over time.
It is a highly advanced method that requires exceptional skill and a great deal of time and effort.

Assembling

Assembling mitered joints is an intricate process that can only be achieved through skilled handwork.

For both the upper and lower sections, dozens of specialized clamping tools—such as shakoman and hatagane—are used to secure the wood in place. It is an extremely delicate step, where even the slightest difference in pressure on each clamp can affect the final alignment.

Spline Reinforcement

To reinforce the corners formed with mitered joinery, a 0.5 mm wooden spline is carefully inserted into the joint.
This not only increases overall strength, but also creates a distinctive and beautiful detail—an expression unique to fine craftsmanship.

Finishing / Oil Treatment

Each piece is carefully refined with hand planes and sandpaper to enhance the grain and bring out the full natural beauty of the wood.
Before applying the oil finish, we seal the surface pores as a base preparation. This helps prevent water rings and staining, while achieving an exceptionally smooth, silky feel to the touch.

Please note: To preserve the wood’s natural beauty and texture, we do not use polyurethane coatings or colored stains.

Concealed Hinges

When the box is closed, the hinges are completely hidden from view at the back.

As the interior is fully finished, no hardware is visible from any angle—preserving the box’s clean, seamless design and the beauty of the wood grain.