Making Time in Between Manila and Tokyo
Manila-born watchmaker and designer Francisco "Nico" Moreno continues his pursuit of time through craft and design in Tokyo. His journey bridges two sensibilities — the warmth of Filipino heritage and the quiet discipline of the Japanese spirit of the shokunin — expressed through his timepieces and design collaborations.
FM01-PROJECT
KAMINARI
Inspired by the 12th of Japan’s seventy-two poetic micro-seasons — kaminari sunawachi koe o hassu (雷乃発声), “the rumbling of distant thunder” — this project timepiece reflects the quiet power of nature at the end of the Spring Equinox.
Its dial features hand-finished frosting on a gold-plated dial base, radiating a frosted yellow-gold hue reminiscent of lightning across clouds. Underneath the dial, a manually-wound movement reveals artisanal hand-finishing — bridge skeletonization, anglage, and frosting — the quiet marks of the maker’s hand.
New and Updates
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Westward Bound: A New Sanctuary for the Studio
In the life of an artist, environment is everything. The light that hits the bench, the sound of the room, the stillness of the air—these are tools as vital as...
Westward Bound: A New Sanctuary for the Studio
In the life of an artist, environment is everything. The light that hits the bench, the sound of the room, the stillness of the air—these are tools as vital as...
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Purity in Practice: Hatsushizuku and its Discip...
Every new project must challenge the creator. Following the Kaminari, I felt like trying out the ultimate opposite: purity, silence, and minimalism. I am glad to share the status and...
Purity in Practice: Hatsushizuku and its Discip...
Every new project must challenge the creator. Following the Kaminari, I felt like trying out the ultimate opposite: purity, silence, and minimalism. I am glad to share the status and...
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Narratives of Time: Weaving Stories Into Watchm...
For a watchmaker, the workbench is usually the extent of our world. We speak to the screws, bridges, and gears, and eventually, we speak to the collector. But rarely do...
Narratives of Time: Weaving Stories Into Watchm...
For a watchmaker, the workbench is usually the extent of our world. We speak to the screws, bridges, and gears, and eventually, we speak to the collector. But rarely do...
