Carrying forward the culture and history of gold leaf since the Edo period.
Expanding Kanazawa Haku beyond fine crafts into daily life.
Preserving tradition while pursuing innovation every day.
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Hakuichi
Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Founded in 1975, Hakuichi champions the fusion of tradition and innovation, preserving artisanal techniques while continually finding new ways to apply them.
The history of Kanazawa Haku gold leaf stretches back more than 400 years, beginning in 1593. The technique of beating an alloy of pure gold with silver or copper into sheets as thin as one ten-thousandth of a millimeter is an unparalleled craft, acclaimed worldwide. Since its founding in Kanazawa in 1975, Hakuichi has gone beyond the realm of fine crafts, applying gold leaf to cosmetics, tableware, and even building materials, exploring new possibilities for Kanazawa Haku. Hakuichi has also showcased Kanazawa leaf culture both in Japan and abroad – from EXPO 2005 Aichi to exhibitions in Germany, France, and Dubai. The company continues to expand the presence of traditional crafts through collaborations with corporations such as JR Kyushu Shinkansen (bullet train) and electrical giant Hitachi, while pursuing new challenges that carry this heritage into the future.
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Kanazawa Haku – Platinum and Gold Leaf
Using the kirimawashi technique, platinum leaf is cut into flakes and carefully laid across a dial dyed in deep indigo.
Gold and platinum leaf are then applied individually with tweezers and scattered using a bamboo tube in the chirashi style, creating expressions that are never the same twice.
Light and shadow weave depth into the surface, while precious metals radiate a transparent brilliance.
This singular model is the fusion of Kanazawa’s traditional craft and Knot’s watchmaking craftsmanship.