I became fascinated with the world of watches after first encountering a vintage pocket watch at the age of 15.
Whenever I had a day off, I would visit watch shops, read specialized books, and deepen my knowledge day by day.
Before I knew it, my collection had grown to more than 50 watches, including a wide variety of pocket watches such as demi-hunter cases, blind watches, and minute repeaters.
At the time, market prices were not as high as they are today. It was also an era when a minute repeater with a complication that might cost tens of millions of yen as a wristwatch could be obtained as a pocket watch for several hundred thousand yen.
For me, watches were not merely a hobby; they were learning itself.
I wanted to know more about watches.
I wanted to experience more watches firsthand.
Driven by that desire, I began disassembling watches myself to study their mechanisms. After graduating, I became independent as a watch wholesaler and began doing business with dealers in Japan and abroad.
Why Cartier Shocked Me After I Had Spent Years Pursuing Mechanical Watches
For many years, I was drawn to the structure of movements and the skills of watchmakers.
However, when I began to seriously engage with Cartier, my values changed dramatically.
Cartier does not make watches that pursue performance alone.
There is a philosophy in the design itself, and beauty itself becomes a source of value.
In general, round cases are said to be easier to manufacture structurally and easier to make water-resistant.
Even so, Cartier deliberately created the square-cased Tank.
It was an approach that prioritized beauty over rationality alone.
“So this is what it means for a jeweler to make watches.”
I was deeply struck.
Why Ante Focuses on Vintage Cartier
The skills of watchmakers I learned from pocket watches.
The philosophy of design I learned from Cartier.
When these two elements came together, I began to feel that I wanted to share the value of vintage Cartier with more people.
This is why Ante currently focuses on introducing vintage Cartier.
What I want to convey is not simply a brand name.
It is the craftsmanship, history, sense of beauty, and culture embodied in each watch.
We believe that passing these things on to the next generation is our role.
