Sold to: Oliver P 🇦🇹  7/22/25

Ref no. SKVS1 8211X

Kinpaku Sub. Kinpaku (金箔) is very thin gold leaf, about 1/10,000 mm thick, traditionally made in Kanazawa, Japan. It decorates lacquerware, temples (like Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion), and Buddhist art.

Edible kinpaku is often added to sweets and sake to make them look special and festive. Because it’s so thin, it can easily break or float away if you touch it. if you've seen those gold flakes on steak that is also a form of edible Kinpaku. 

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why I nicknamed this vintage sapphire SUB-style dive watch “Kinpaku.” Its distinctive gold numeral bezel insert, paired with the patina on the dial, creates golden-yellow markers that blend seamlessly into a cohesive black-and-gold theme. The result is a unique eye catching color combination that still feels classic and familiar. 

For its handcrafted aged parts, I deliberately aged not only the markers but also the piano black finish of the dial, creating intriguing patterns visible in close-up shots. The hands received the same meticulous treatment, developing a subtle rust-like aesthetic and deep oxidation that give the watch an authentic vintage character.

The bezel insert features spidercracks a rare sought after pattern by vintage watch enthusiasts typically found on dials but here applied intentionally to the insert itself, making it especially appealing and intriguing. 

All of these unique techniques are paired with a pristine case, bracelet, and sapphire crystal, creating a striking juxtaposition between aged and untouched elements. This leaves room for the new owner to develop their own patina over time on those certain parts and complete the watch’s story with their own personal marks. 

The 40mm case has sharp lines and brushed lugs that give it a utilitarian yet refined appearance. It includes a screw-down crown, water resistance, and classic proportions that hark back to a time when dive watches were built primarily as functional tools rather than style statements.

I can create a similar effect aged effect, but since vintage Shiro Kara watches are all handcrafted, no two pieces will ever develop the exact same patina. Each watch ages uniquely, making every piece one of a kind.

This is the actual photo of the watch you will receive. And ready to ship upon purchase. no need to wait 3-5 wks like the usual with other models. Once sold, a re-imagined version of this design may or may not be available again.

* Take note VINTAGE Shiro Kara Watches are made for vintage watch enthusiast and for people who would like to experience a real vintage watch feel. For those reasons our vintage watches are equipped with hollow endlinks, acrylics crystal and stamp clasp as those are the specifications used in the era vintage shiro kara watches are based on. If you are not a fan of vintage specifications we highly encourage you to check out our modern Shiro Kara Models instead

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