Noritaka Sakurai
CEO
Horological journey
With a family background in watch retailing and a particularly well-preserved Patek Philippe from the 1950s in family possession, I was impressed and overwhelmed by its precise craftsmanship during my younger years.
The first chronograph I purchased fulfilled my desires with its exceptional quality—a beautifully crafted stainless steel case, an intricate dial, three-dimensional hands, and a finely engraved logo on the case back. I was fascinated by every detail.
Along this journey to pursue a perfect watch for me, I discovered the realm of independent watchmakers and developed a passion for acquiring timepieces crafted by a specific German independent watchmaker. This passion ignited in 2004 and continues to burn brightly today.
Throughout this journey, I have been on a quest for the perfect watch. I found exquisite qualities of 19th-century high-end pocket watches.
I had the fortune of acquiring a Breguet from the early 19th century while Abraham-Louis Breguet was still alive. The simple yet profound expression of the movement, composed of large parts like the barrel, balance wheel, and gears, and the impactful presence of the guilloché dial left me astonished.
Similarly, witnessing an Albert Potter watch overwhelmed me with its aesthetically pleasing movements, the intricate pinion of the barrel, and the impeccable finishing on its enormous gears. Realizing that high-end watches from the 19th-century possessed such finishing qualities nearly overwhelmed me.
Nonetheless, my affection for wristwatches persists. There’s nothing quite like wearing a watch on my wrist, accompanying me everywhere, whether at work or boarding a plane, ticking away with just springs and gears. And if it represents the pinnacle of human craftsmanship, it cannot deliver rejoice more. If the craftsmanship of high-end pocket watches from the 19th-century represents humanity’s best, then creating something of equal quality but integrated into a wristwatch would be the ultimate dream of watch enthusiasts and the starting point for a watch manufacturer. I aspire to create a watch that fulfills that vision.
Carrer
Before I established a watch manufacturer brand Nouvelle Chronométrie, I worked for Consulting firms and managed a watch parts trading company. As I was impressed by the watches created by Hajime Asaoka, I joined Precision Watch Tokyo. I was charged with communicating with clients and other functions such as acquiring watchmaking machines and tools, financial things, and others.
I earned degrees from Seikei University Faculty of Economics in Japan and Purdue University School of Management in The United States.