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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Hajime Asaoka’s Precision Watch Tokyo is leading a modern revival of TAKANO, a Japanese watch name whose original wristwatch business lasted from 1957 to 1962. The new brand’s first model, the Chateau Nouvel Chronometer, takes its name from a 1961 Takano watch—but it is not a direct reissue. TAKANO says the new watch is the first Japan-made model to pass Besançon Observatory chronometer certification.
What was Takano?
TAKANO’s official history traces the business that preceded the watch brand to 1899. It was renamed Takano Seimitsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. in 1938, then began producing wristwatches under the TAKANO name in 1957. The company had assembled watches for Laco since 1954, before launching its own line.
The first TAKANO wristwatch
The first branded watch was the 200 series, which TAKANO’s history calls the “Laco-type.” It used a refined Durowe caliber modified under the technical guidance of Richard W. Slaw, Hamilton’s chief watchmaker. The history describes the work as part of Takano’s effort to develop its own wristwatches while drawing on its earlier assembly experience.
A brief run, ending in 1962
The historic line’s final named model was the Chateau Calendar, introduced in February 1962. According to TAKANO’s history, Riken Optical took over Takano Seimitsu Kogyo that year, and the Chateau Calendar disappeared from the market less than two months after its introduction. The original TAKANO wristwatch brand ended with that transition.
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- COSC Certified Chronometer
- Case Size: 39.00 mm, Band Width: 20 mm, Case Thickness: 10.98 mm
- Automatic movement, 316L solid stainless steel bracelet, Roman dial type, Date
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
One expression of the original company’s ambition survives in an early TAKANO REPORT, reproduced in the official history: “We are firmly convinced that TAKANO’s watches have brought to life what traditional watchmakers have long dreamed of.” The report continues: “We are striving to create an era that challenges the belief that luxury watches can only come from Switzerland.”
Who revived Takano?
The modern TAKANO is led and manufactured by Hajime Asaoka’s Precision Watch Tokyo. The revival and its first model were announced in 2024, with coverage from Time+Tide and webChronos / Chronos Japan.
Rank #2
- Movement: COSC-Certified Automatic Mido Caliber 80 Chronometer SI with silicon balance spring. In addition to its non-magnetic properties, it offers greater precision and improved shock resistance. This caliber ensures exceptional autonomy of up to 80 hours.
- This Swiss-made MIDO timepiece, designed to withstand the extreme pressures of the deep sea, is exceptionally water-resistant to 60 bar (600 m/1968 ft). Equipped with a helium valve, it guarantees safe decompression during extended dives.
- Case Type: Stainless steel with ceramic bezel and Sapphire crystal with double sided anti-reflection treatment - Screw-down crown.
- Case Size: 43.5mm - Band Width: 22mm (Tapered) - Case Thickness: 14.55mm
- Strap: Tapered Stainless steel bracelet - Folding clasp with diving extension
TAKANO presents the Chateau Nouvel Chronometer as the first model of “New TAKANO.” The brand says it is the first Japan-made watch to pass Besançon Observatory chronometer certification. That “first” is the brand’s claim; it should not be read as an independently established finding by the observatory.
Is the new Takano a reissue?
No. The shared name establishes a connection, not a one-for-one reproduction. The modern watch is named in reference to the historical Chateau Nouvel, released in 1961, but the available specifications show distinct movements and a different design context.
Rank #3
- COSC Certified Chronometer
- Case Size: 39.00 mm, Band Width: 20 mm, Case Thickness: 10.98 mm
- Automatic movement, 316L solid stainless steel bracelet, Roman dial type, Date
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
| Comparison | Historical Chateau Nouvel | Modern Chateau Nouvel Chronometer |
|---|---|---|
| Era and role | Introduced in 1961 as part of the original TAKANO wristwatch line. | The first model of New TAKANO, announced in 2024. |
| Movement | Caliber 541N, with a Kif-Flector shock-absorbing mechanism, according to TAKANO’s official history. | Caliber 90T in the official product listing; Time+Tide describes it as based on a modified Miyota movement. |
| Case and design | Not stated in the cited history. | Officially listed as a 37 mm polished stainless-steel case with box sapphire crystal. |
| Certification basis | No chronometer certification is stated in the cited history. | TAKANO says it passed Besançon Observatory chronometer certification. |
The modern model therefore should be understood as a new watch that revives the name and refers to the 1961 model—not as the original caliber or case brought back unchanged.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the Chateau Nouvel Chronometer?
It is a 37 mm automatic stainless-steel watch and the first release from New TAKANO. The official listing gives these specifications:
Rank #4
- COSC Certified Chronometer
- Case Size: 39.00 mm, Band Width: 20 mm, Case Thickness: 10.98 mm
- Automatic movement, 316L solid stainless steel bracelet, Roman dial type, Date
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
- Movement: automatic caliber 90T, 24 jewels, operating at 4 Hz, with approximately 40 hours of power reserve.
- Case: 37 mm polished stainless steel, with box sapphire crystal.
- Water resistance: 3 ATM.
- Strap: crocodile leather; 19 mm lug width.
- Certification: Besançon Observatory chronometer certification, as described by TAKANO.
Reported production and certification testing
A 2024 webChronos / Chronos Japan feature reported a production plan of 100 watches per year. It also reported, approximately, that about 10 preliminary watches were submitted and four certified, with around 60% reportedly passing on a second attempt. These are figures from that 2024 feature, not a verified statement of current annual output or a guarantee of an individual watch’s results.
Price and ordering
TAKANO’s official product page listed the watch at JPY 880,000 including shipping and handling when accessed in 2026. The page says customs duties and import taxes are payable on receipt. Price and availability can change, so check the official TAKANO site for the current model page and ordering details before purchasing.
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- Movement: Automatic Mido Caliber - Power reserve 80 hours - COSC Certified
- Case Type: Stainless steel and ceramic bezel - Screw-down crown
- Case Size: 43.5mm - Band Width: 22mm - Case Thickness: 14.55mm
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with double sided anti-reflection treatment
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet - Folding clasp with diving extension
The stated 19 mm lug width may help when looking for an optional strap, but it is only a size reference: it does not establish the fit, quality, or suitability of any particular third-party listing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
