KUWAI HANA

WATCH CASE SURGE 10-001

Engraving time itself onto a vessel designed to keep time.
Watch Case for 10 Watches

A watch case by Michelle & Caligo designed to hold 10 watches. The exterior of the case, which features a deep black base, is adorned with a surface finish called UNDULATION “SURGE.” The patterns running vertically and horizontally across the jet-black surface evoke surging waves, geological strata etched into the earth, and the ever-changing contours of life. This unique appearance is created by approximately 40 layers of paint.Colors are layered, surfaces are built up, then sanded down and polished. Through these processes, the colors that lay dormant within are revealed in cross-sections. Pale purple and silver outlines, with subtle hints of yellow and red peeking through from beneath. Each time light hits the case, a different layer emerges, shifting the impression depending on the viewer’s perspective and the time of day.

The pattern is not simply painted onto the surface. It is created by carving and excavating through approximately 40 layers of material. As a result, it is impossible to recreate the exact same finish a second time. Each subtle variation and overlapping line creates a unique pattern specific to this particular case.

When you open the lid, the fluid appearance of the exterior gives way to 10 neatly partitioned storage compartments. The understated, black-toned interior is accented by subtle orange lines. The design, which houses each watch separately, highlights the individuality of each timepiece. It combines functionality—protecting the watches and keeping them neatly organized—with a design that exudes a strong presence in any space, even when closed.

"SURGE" is not merely a case for storage. It is a work of art that embodies the very relationship between a watch—crafted over a long period of time—and the case that was also born from the passage of time.

Capture time. Preserve time. And gaze upon the time that has accumulated.

A watch case that straddles the line between a practical item and a work of art.