Beauty transcends eras.｜The philosophy of the creator resides in beauty.
I believe there's a reason behind true beauty.
It's not merely because something has an attractive form or is rare.
It's because, deep within, one can sense the creator's passion, aesthetic sensibility, and a philosophy built up over a long period.
This is something I strongly feel when looking at the pocket watches that have captivated me for so many years.
The movement of a mechanical watch made over 100 years ago.
The delicate finishing applied to each and every part.
The work of artisans who pursued beauty without cutting corners, even in places that would become invisible once the piece was completed.
If one only considered efficiency, there would be no need to go to such lengths.
If the sole function were to tell time, perhaps there would be no point in polishing hidden parts or adding ornamentation.
Yet, the artisans of that era made no compromises.
I believe they spared no time or effort, not to show off to others, but to create what they themselves believed to be beautiful.
I am captivated by that attitude.
It feels less like I'm looking at a machine and more like I'm touching the breath, thoughts, and way of life of the artisan behind it.
That's why it's not just the watch itself that attracts me.
I believe it's the mindset of the person who created that watch, their aesthetic sense, and the philosophy embedded within it.
And this isn't limited to watches.
It's the same for architecture, cars, furniture, fashion, and even how people live their lives.
Truly beautiful things embody the creator's philosophy.
That's why I want to prioritize beauty over efficiency.
I want to value the time spent engaging with a single item more than saving time.
There are undoubtedly countless ways to approach this work more efficiently.
However, gazing at a single watch, understanding its history, checking its condition, and contemplating it until satisfied.
I have never wished to cut short that time.
In fact, that time is what I love most about this job.
The world becomes more convenient every year.
Fast, beautiful, and mass-produced.
Precisely because we live in such an era, isn't there value in deliberately taking our time?
Stopping, thinking, deliberating, and then acting.
What emerges from such a process has a warmth that cannot be measured by numbers.
That's why I believe I am moved by pocket watches from over 100 years ago.
They contain the time spent by an artisan, their unique aesthetic, and a philosophy that cannot be expressed in words.
I believe that true beauty is something imbued with human time.
Therefore, I want to continue accumulating work that I find beautiful, rather than prioritizing efficiency.
I believe that the single piece born from that process will surely possess the power to move people's hearts across generations.
