Big In Japan

Campanola CTR57-1001

Probably the name is not quite fitting. However, I like the 80's Aphaville hit, so here we go.

(Big in Japan refers to failed Western celebrities who found success in Japan.)

The watches, mechanical high end watches, I'm going to talk about were actually never offered in the Western world. They were produced by Japanese companies for the Japan market only.

Even though we know the Japanese watchmakers like Seiko or Citizen as producers of affordable and reliable timepieces, they actually produce some very high end mechanical watches as well. The bad news is that these watches are offered to the Japanese market only (sometimes available in Hong Kong and Singapore as well).

Seiko by far is the company that has the largest and most prestigious portfolio of high end time pieces. Credor line watches (produced by Seiko Corporation) can retail for as high as $150,000 (no it's not a typo). Case in point: this Spring Drive Sonnerie.

Detail of The Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie

I'm far from an expert in Japan-only models but I'll list some names though. It is up to you to study and find more about them:

• Grand Seiko; high end watches that can retail for as much as a Rolex, if not higher. The watch connoisseurs are willing to swear this watches are as good as the high-end Swiss timepieces, if not better. One model I really like is the Grand Seiko, High-Beat 36000. Only one other manufacturer is making a 36000 beat movement (Zenith). Rolex used to buy these calibers for their Daytona chronographs .
• As mentioned earlier: Credor. Their timepieces tend to be elegant, dressy models.
• Izul, also owned by Seiko. High-end mechanical complications.
• Galante, you guessed it, Seiko again. A rather fashionable line of superb watches.
• Campanola, (not a Japan only brand) by Citizen. Mostly high end mechanical complications. As far as I know, they are actually available worldwide.
• Royal Orient, superb (and somewhat more affordable mechanical watches) produced by Orient (company in which Seiko has a 52% controlling stake).

Taiwanese magazine ad for Orient Japan

So, the natural question would be: How can you buy such a watch? Well... they are not cheap but at least they are hard to get.

Higuchi and Seiya are two known japanese based retailers (as far as I know with regular brick-and-mortar stores) who will sell to Westerners. I have dealt only with Higuchi and the customer service was very good. Many watch enthusiasts will say the same about Seiya. Even if they don't have a particular model listed on their web-site, they are willing to accommodate and source you a particular watch, if available.

One word of caution. Market forces are very much at work here, and I'm referring to high demand and low offer, so don't expect huge discounts when purchasing. Prices will tend to be rather close to MSRP.

Katsu-san, the owner and manager of Higuchi, has a very interesting blog as well. BTW, from blog pictures you can easily deduct that he likes good food as much as he likes watches.

Another good option would be the sales forums on different watch aficionado forums (i.e. Timezone or Watchuseek, etc..). However, don't hold your breath, you might have to wait a long time until a Japan-only model is posted for sale (as I said, these models are rare).

Sartoria Caraceni

Men tend to have fewer choices when it comes to their wardrobe, so quality becomes essential. It's not unlike Japanese real estate. Scarcity taught them to value the small spaces and forced them to invest more into fewer but better pieces of home decor or furniture.

Modern men fashion has barely changed for the past 150 years or so. It's a continue variation on the same theme: trousers, jacket and tie. Sometimes tighter on the body, sometimes looser; also, the length of the trousers might vary across the decades and from time to time the double-breasted suits come back into fashion. But in the end the men's uniform remains the same. This, I guess, speaks about men's lack of imagination or about women's lack of observation acumen, or both.

This might be the reason why Sartoria Caraceni can continue doing the same thing, superbly handcrafted men's suits, and still be enormously popular and fashionable with the European elites. Their clients, past and present, include: Silvio Berlusconi , Giovanni Agnelli and Yves Saint Laurent.

This famous Italian tailoring house makes only about 400 suits a year while employing 8 full time tailors. This translates, if my math is correct, in about 1 suit, per tailor, per week. Enough to say that they take their time, and that in a country famous for its people's impatience. Obviously all this comes at a cost, about $4000 per suit (might be more now due to the collapse of the US$ vs the Euro).

Fendrihan - Wet-Shaving Supplies

Plisson-Joris Fine Shaving Brushes, Razors and Toiletries

We are pleased to introduce the fine French brands of Plisson and Joris to our Fendrihan Shaving Store. Plisson's exquisite badger hair made an appearance in my past (and rather explanatory) post about shaving brushes, as an example of the best and most select hair available in today's market.

Receiving this shipment was like Christmas come early for me; go to the store and see for yourself what I mean. These are expertly crafted, elegant products, in my opinion. You will also find their shaving creams, soaps and natural hair brushes (for combing your hair, I mean).

For the past 200 years, Plisson France has been at the forefront of the manufacturing of grooming tools for men. Each product that leaves the hands of their expert craftsmen attests to their drive to produce quality, traditional products with no compromise on style.

Florid Description for Plain Old Talcum for Men

I ran across this Boing Boing article while doing some product research for the store. It's a tad old (in web terms, alright, from last year) but short, sweet and guaranteed to make you laugh, or at least smile (some people are harder to crack than others). It refers to Bálla Powder's unusual branding of their talcum product into a wondrous testicle talc concoction. Make sure you read some of the comments too.

I still couldn't figure out what getting a "bat wing" means, but if a little well applied talc will fend it off, count me in. It's a time-honored concept, and it's by no means the practice of it that is funny, but just somehow the product description here, which was apparently dreamed up by Bálla Powder's marketing team to make and old product new again. Amazon didn't shy away from using this description, but other vendors use cleaned-up versions or more vague descriptions. Afraid of scaring off the faint of heart? Maybe.

P.S. Found the explanation for the bat wing syndrome: scrotum-leg adherence syndrome.

Bronnley: Traditionally-Made Grooming with a History

A new brand to the Fendrihan Shaving Store, but an old one to the world of wet-shaving . A paragon of the English grooming tradition. Their line of fine colognes, aftershaves and shaving creams can be found here.

James Bronnley was 19 when he founded H Bronnley & Co in 1884 after studying perfumery and the traditional art of soap making in Paris. Using only the finest natural ingredients sourced from around the world soon earned him an enviable reputation. His traditional methods and recipes continue to be upheld in the heart of the English countryside with this fine line of handmade superior quality soaps and toiletries.

Back by Popular Demand: the Blade Giveaway

There's another edition of the Blade Giveaway at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop. Starting midnight EST (that's roughly two hours after this post goes live) we're giving away a free blade sampler with each double-edge razor purchase. Eleven days only, it ends October 30, 2009.

Are fairer prices on multi-bladers on the horizon?

Katharine McPhee Unveils the Gillette Fusion Power Phantom Razor

British retailer Asda is slashing up to 40% off the prices of Gillette replacement cartridges lines Fusion, Mach 3 and Mach 3 Turbo. From roughly $16 a pack, Asda sells these now for the equivalent of $10.

The Mail Online article raises interesting questions about how a product that costs about 10 cents to produce ends up with a 4,000% markup, making this category one of the most shoplifted ones at the stores (you have heard the stories about secret cameras hidden behind the Gillette display, haven't you?). There seem to be a long line of suspects, from endorsing sport celebs such as Tiger Woods, a possible worldwide retailer cartel, and the manufacturers themselves. To what Gillette seems to reply "Us? It's the retailer who sets the prices!"

Other British retailers are expected to follow in the footsteps of Asda, and let's keep an eye open to see if the movement makes ripples this side of the pond.

Via Wet Shavers Blog

Safety Razors at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Leather Straps for Watches

From time to time I indulge myself in a very slight obsessive compulsive behavior. No need to worry, the object of my short lived obsessions are superficial, mostly vanity items. One by one, my interests in mechanical watches, sunglasses, modern violins, double edge razor blades or fountain pens, all come and go. My latest meaningless area of interest is watch straps. For the past several days, I've researched the subject a little, and I would like to share my discoveries with you. Firstly, I discovered that the field of custom, hand made watch strap is as populated as the wet-shaving one. Secondly, as with wet-shaving, people are willing to spend significant amounts of money on a small non-essential item. So, without any further delay here are some excellent sources for some great watch straps:

• Europelli

They have some wonderfully looking cordovan leather straps. Never tried them or seen them in person (remember, my obsessions are short-lived) but their straps look killer in pictures and the person who runs the business seems to have a great reputation on Timezone and Paneristi, two very influential watch forums (they are like the Oprah of high end watches, the latter one dedicated to Panerai watches).

• Panatime

Great straps at great prices; and the guy who runs it is very good at marketing as well.

• Don's Straps

He's based in Canada, for the patriotic Canucks who want to put their money where they mouth is. Don seems to have a great reputation on both Timezone and Paneristi, and he's an active member on both forums. His prices are great as well; so, who knows, maybe when I buy my new watch, probably a MarineMaster, I'll contact him for some advice.

• Freda Watch Straps

Don't know much about them, except for the fact that people on Watchuseek seem to like them.

You can also find some high end factory straps (Di-Modell and Hirsch) on their web-site.

• Strapculture

Great straps, especially for Panerai. They are based in Hong Kong, and like the above members, they have a great reputation.

I'm sure, there are more great strap makers that I missed. However, if you have an interest in a new watch strap, here you have a good starting point (actually several of them). Also, for a far more complete list check this thread on Watchuseek.

Straight Razor Section Repopulated

There's plenty of new straight razors by Dovo over at the Shaving Store. Just a heads-up.

Semogue Hand-Made Shaving Brushes

Semogue is a family operated business with a tradition of brush-making passed on from father to son for generations. The brush master is at the head of the business and ensures that the highest standards are upheld in the brush-making process.

You can now find an assortment of these fine Portuguese shaving brushes at the Fendrihan Shaving Store. Classic-styled handles in oak wood, painted wood and Plexiglas, natural bristles from boar and high quality badger hair.

Mont St-Michel Traditional Colognes

A range of colognes that's one of France's hidden gems. Made in the traditional way with natural scents, Eau de Cologne Mont St-Michel has gained an enviable reputation over time, since its inception in 1920.

Now stocking these fine French colognes at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop.

Ingram Cooling Shaving Cream

Added to the Fendrihan Shaving Store: Ingram's quality preparation, introduced in 1932, and endorsed by no other than Babe Ruth.

Ingram Quality Lather Shave is a mentholated, ultra-lubricating, classic shaving cream produced in the UK.

All Natural Alt-Innsbruck Aftershaves with Fine Virginia Tobacco

Alt-Innsbruck Eau de Cologne/Aftershave with real Virginia Tobacco

Alt-Innsbruck cologne and aftershave is one of those rare finds. We're proudly stocking some of their marvelous products, made with natural ingredients such as mint oil, menthol and camphor, and scented with the finest Virginia Tobacco. Their masculine scent is priced by cigar lovers and is the result of a turn-of-the-century Austrian recipe, originating in Innsbruck and kept unchanged since.

Shaving Stands on the Cheap

If you are the crafty kind (kudos to you BTW, that's a set of abilities I was not gifted with) head over to Instructables for two recipes for shaving stands on the cheap.

This stand is made out of a wire coat hanger and will hold a razor and a brush.

This other stand is for the more ambitious DIYer. It will hold the same two basic implements but it also works well at delimiting a space for other shave-related paraphernalia.

Probably a good work-around for the single guy, but I really don't see my wife letting me display either of these on our bathroom counter. But that's another topic altogether.

Razor & Brush Stands at Fendrihan Shaving

Quality Shave-Wares and Shaving Creams by Cyril R Salter

Cyril R Salter 3-Piece Shaving Set

New at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop, the Cyril R Salter grooming line. This established London family company specializing in the manufacture of wet-shaving products, is renowned for its uncompromising quality since its foundation in the 1940s.

You'll find their shaving creams in various fragrances, shaving soaps and other grooming products such as shaving sets and real horn hair combs. Enjoy!