Lounge
April 28, 2015
Life is Edit. #001 ~ The Threads of Encounters Woven by a Single Watch: Bell & Ross Edition ~
New "something" is spun and born through encounters with people. New "something" is drawn in by an object and born. An editor's job is precisely to create such "encounters." And life itself is precisely editing.
—Editor Akira Shimada introduces the moving encounters with people, objects, and events he has experienced.
By Akira Shimada
No. 001: Threads of Encounter Spun by a Single Watch – Bell & Ross Edition
While I have many clothes, I believe watches are the most common catalyst for conversations and encounters between men. For me, wearing this watch has sparked numerous encounters and attracted many fascinating people. It's like an insider's story of a circle of passionate men connected by a single timepiece.
An Encounter in Switzerland? A "Reverse Pick-Up"?
The substantial weight on the wrist feels truly Spartan, yet the pink gold gleam is elegant. This is the "BR01-94" from the Paris-based brand Bell & Ross, a wristwatch that embodies this mixed style at a high level.
In fact, I've known the designer of this watch, Bruno Belamich (hereafter BB), for a long time. About seven years ago, at the Basel watch fair, he approached me, saying, "I'm BB. What's your name?" Since that 'reverse pick-up,' he's been one of my closest friends, traveling between Japan and France. And this model, when I first came to Japan...
...three years ago, he inexplicably pulled this watch out of his sock and asked, "It's a prototype, Aki (my nickname). What do you think?" I was so excited on the spot that I forgot to give my opinion or even ask the price.
I pleaded like a child, "I, I want it! I want to be the first in Japan to have it!" And then, after waiting for a year.
He boasted that Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld had bought one at Colette in Paris. I grumbled, "What about mine, then?" and finally managed to get my hands on this treasured item.
Won Over by the Enthusiasm of United Arrows' Koki-kun
Naturally, from the day I put it on, its 45mm diameter and square shape made a striking statement on my wrist (sure to draw a playful jab from Nikita in LEON, haha). It was then that Motofumi Koki, the owner of "Liquor, Women & Tears" in Aoyama, strongly appealed to me.
With a disarmingly boyish smile, he said, "That's great! So hip. I want to carry it in my store!" His intense gaze and passionate plea led me to connect him with the importer, World Trading, and happily, it soon appeared on their shelves.
A New Development at a Paris Exhibition
Later, after creating anecdotes like Christina Aguilera visiting and her husband buying one, one person drawn to this watch through Koki-kun's store was Mr. Daisuke Obana, the designer of N.Hollywood.
Months after hearing from Koki-kun that Obana-san might buy it, I met him during Paris's collection season at the N.Hollywood exhibition in June. We talked about many things in the relaxed atmosphere of the courtyard, and naturally, the conversation turned to this watch. It struck me then that BB and Obana-san would absolutely hit it off! Acting on impulse, I extended a sudden invitation to Obana-san, more of an impromptu interview than anything else.
"Are you free tomorrow morning?"
"I am in the morning. Is something up?"
"Well, I thought it might be interesting if you met the designer of this watch."
"Wow! I'd love to meet him."
Grateful for Obana-san's swift decision to accept my sudden invitation, I immediately contacted BB on his mobile. The next morning, during a break from the N.Hollywood exhibition, we arranged to meet at his office.
Both BB and Obana-san are creators with a deep love for military aesthetics, so they hit it off from the start. Despite it being their first meeting, Obana-san presented his passionate ideas about watches to BB, saying, "How about this kind of concept?" BB was thoroughly impressed, or rather, overwhelmed by his enthusiasm (laughs). I, too, was grateful to Obana-san for providing BB with such great inspiration. And Obana-san's idea from that time... it's a shame I can't share it with you all, but it's truly wonderful! In fact, if it ever becomes a reality, I'll be the first in line to buy it!
Bell & Ross x N.Hollywood, oh, how wonderful, simply too wonderful. If such a dream collaboration were to ever happen—that would truly be the ultimate reward for an editor, wouldn't it!
Photo By Ichiro Kumada
Now that I think about it, a model was wearing this watch in Ralph Lauren's catalog. Throughout history and across the globe, men just seem to love watches with a military flair, don't they?