This Very Cheap Watch Is PERFECT 

I'm on vacation in Kyoto with my family from the UK. Today I stopped by the Kuoe studio (I emailed ahead), picked out a watch, the sales rep added a sapphire crystal, asked what kind of AR coating I preferred, I chose the hands, bought two straps and met the founder. Great value, wonderful service, and I walked out with a stunning watch at an incredible price and a great experience.

I was in Kyoto and managed to visit their office/store to buy a watch. It was a brief visit as it was 1 hour before they close, but was very pleasant. The store is small but their customer service is excellent (they have both Japanese & English speaking staff). All the models and straps are on display so you can actually try them on before you buy. Once you've chosen a model to your liking, they then assemble the watch for you right there and then. If you happen to be visiting Kyoto, I would recommend dropping by their store.

Love my Kuoe, even on my large wrists. I regularly comment about how it simply quiets the noise. When I wear it, I am actually demonstrably less stressed. There is something about watch that just does what it is supposed to do, beautifully, simply, and without pretense. A wonderful video. Beautiful, simple, nostalgic. Absolutely pitch perfect for the brand.

Possibly the most thoughtful and articulate piece you've ever done, Andrew. Well done!

Thanks for featuring the brand! I had an amazing experience visiting their office last month and ended up with 90-001, and 003 for the wife. Outstanding service from start to finish considering we arrived when they were about to close at 13:00.

I bought the 001 as featured in this video on the Italian leather strap and everything about it reminds me of many of my vintage watches. I'm glad you finally did a video on the brand.

I love the dials made with washi paper. Something about it just feels calming and right in its simplicity. Maybe that's why I like analog watches, both mechanical and quartz. It brings me back to a time when I wasn't flooded with notifications. All I needed to know was the time so that I could go shopping or eat somewhere.

Its a case of the old saying less is more, worth a place in anyone's collection

Great video! My wife and I visited the workshop in Kyoto during our honeymoon. I picked up the 90-007 model (leather band and also a stainless band) and my wife got the matching quartz movement in the smaller size with the mesh band (plus extra leather band). Beautiful timeless pieces that will forever remind us of our adventures in Japan!

I have an old Smith 90-007 and it’s one of my favourites. It is the epitomy of what a classic watch is.

Glad to see the old style video. Please do these again.

Thank you for making a traditional watchfinder video. These reviews are my favourite. Beautifully shot, lovingly narrated. I would advise what you said about these watches should apply to your videos again. No need for the flashiest clickbaity content. I promise there’s an appetite for wonderful reviews of all watches high and low, loud and modest

I've had my eye on a Kuoe for quite a while now! It's great to see some mainstream recognition to give me some buyer's confidence

I bought the old Smith 90-002 after watching many RU-vid videos and I must say yours is the one that expresses how I feel about vintage inspired watches thanks

Thanks for a great review! I live in Kyoto half the year and just today discovered Kuoe is a 10 block walk from where I live, so I took a walk over there, met Kenji and his staff and.......came home with a super cool Old Smith navy dial and beads of rice bracelet. What a great experience.

I'm so happy that Kuoe is getting the attention they deserve but at the same time I'm slightly anxious that their growing popularity may influence prices to go up. But, oh well, if it helps business grow and keep the team running, it's worth it.

I absolutely love what this brand is doing. I only own one microbrand watch and I bought it used but I love just the sheer simplicity of the Kuoe line.

The background music is honestly so nostalgic for me. I don’t know if anything brings me more comfort, lol.

The Kuoe is a beautiful time piece. Understated elegance.

A traditional watchfinder video. I do appreciate those!!

Thanks for featuring Kuoe. I have been considering them ever since I came across the brand a few months ago.

The presentation alone is worth much more than the watch. Thank you.

Just stopped by the Kuoe boutique yesterday while on vacation in Kyoto, and have to say I was pleasantly surprised. For context, I have a pretty extensive collection of high end and vintage watches, so a sub-$500 piece isn’t something I’d normally be on the hunt for… however, I keep hearing about this brand, and felt like I had to at least check out their shop while I was in town. Really glad I did! Although small, the shop has the look and feel of a high end boutique, and the service reps were all very accommodating. I tried on several models, including a number of different strap combinations on each. For me, the 90-002 field watch is the model they really nailed. I initially gravitated towards the larger, 38mm case, but ended up walking out with two (2) of the more period correct 35mm pieces (both no-date variations). I got a black dial, as it most closely resembles the original RAF watches the model is patterned after, but I also got a blue dial, because it just looks fantastic, and is an awesome modern spin on the historic design. Again, I wouldn’t normally buy a watch like this, but it just felt like such a good value for money that I couldn’t pass it up. When you factor in tax free, plus the two (2) straps and watch roll that are included in the base purchase price, it just felt like a no brainer. I know I would’ve regretted walking out without making a purchase, so I’m really glad I did. Definitely check out this store if you’re in the area-you won’t regret it.

I really dig this. The blue hands on the first are awesome. The second has a vintage look that everyone can appreciate.

My wife got me the white dial 002 as a gift last year. I absolutely love it! Came with a hacking and handwinding 8-series Miyota movement which is perfectly fine in terms of accuracy.

Kudos, Andrew. "Wearability with convenience on the wrist." After a few years of shopping and buying new watches, I went back to an early 70's hand wound. It is 34 mm, 11mm tall, and weighs less than 55 grams. After a run of divers and chronographs, wearability had become the most important factor for me in choosing a watch. I came very close to buying one of these for the same reason. I like these watches a lot. If it was solar, it would be perfect.

Had seen adverts for these for years and was never sure if they would be worth it, glad they got featured.

Best watch video in years. Fantastic message and beautiful watches.

Been really close to buying one for months, this might finally push me over the edge. Thanks gents. Lovely content as always!

I love vintage classic watch design, proportions and the feel I get when wearing a meaningful time piece. I'm in love with Royal Smith, design from the 1940s. It's pricey, but a tremendous value still. Comes with the great Citizen Miyota Cal.039 high beat movement (oscillates 28K times an hour or 8 times per second), sapphire crystal, individually assembled by Kuoe's own watch maker. And important, the case size is 34mm and only 3.9mm thin. Mike drop. OK I'm sold.

Finally!! I was looking for this essay for so long ❤❤❤❤

I bought one about 10 months ago. I don't know why it just appealed to me. The simplicity of it called me, I then promptly broke the glass doing something stupid. Returned it to Japan and had the shappire glass installed. I love it even more now, understated, modest. It's calming, and the smaller size is in human proportion to your wrist. Seriously, I'm considering buying another one as I'm enjoying that modest idea of luxury

I visited thwir store in Kyoto (staff were amazing) and got myself cream dial, old smith 90-002 with the sapphire glass upgrade. I have barely worn anything else since. I love it. Contemplating getting their new bronze range.

My god I just checked their website and they have several affordable models and aesthetically pleasing designs despite being simple I am personally in love with the old smith 90-002 line with the green dial and date window it’s prominent numbering on the dial gives it a military watch vibe but the images on the website also shows one pairing with different straps and the leather pairing somehow manages to make it look formal too.

What a great, soothing episode.

My son bought me the Old Smith for a gift. It arrived, and he thought it was way too small for me and attempted to contact KOUE to see about a return. They did not respond after a few attempts. The watch arrived with with no battery, and when I had a professional install one, the movement didn't run. He told me for $15 he could put a better movement in than the one it came with. This watch looks nice, but lots leaves a ton to be desired. I am selling it.

The mechanical one with silver coloured nylon straps, that's very beautiful.

Back to the simple video style, well done Andy

Beautiful, luxurious tranquillity. Thank you for this tasteful presentation and sumptuous language.

Good review and great commentary on life!

YES! Bought this last year. Glad it got some love from you.

I get this watch advertised to me on Instagram more than any other watch

So glad you are finally featuring Kuoe, Ive loved these watches for a few years now.

God I love the structure on the dial of the 002 ❤

Andrew … another great video covering another important topic… simplifying our lives and what makes us happy. Great brand acknowledgment on your part. FYI … the term you referred to is from my native Portuguese language … saudade is pronounced sow-dah-jee 😊

Perfect size, very nice. The only thing that I don’t like is the font. Too classic, it looks out of place.

Just saw their bronze 90-002. First bronze watch I have ever wanted!

I have the 001 with jubilee bracelet. gives me so much joy, and i bought it from their showroom in Kyoto, which made it all the more special. =]

Your reference to "saudade" was perfect! nice timepiece.

Very charming. Their field watch is delightful.

I ordered an Old Smith mechanical. I wanted to like it, but wound up returning it. It felt a little cheap to me, and the accuracy was disapointing. I wound up getting a slightly-used 36mm Nomos Club, an updated version of this type of watch, but beautifully made and accurate to within 10 seconds a day. But I will say that Kuoe were very pleasant to deal with.

I'm wearing a 1960s Vostok right now, that tells a similar story.

Been seeing this brand a lot on Instagram and because im a weeby jdm boi it took my interest but now youve pointed out the greatness of these watches i think i might pull the trigger

I have a KUOE Royal Smith and it's probably my most worn watch.

Beautiful design

This brand is simply class.

I would get the mechanical version of this. The kuoe watches are beautiful to behold.

On another topic altogether, can I get Andrew to read me a bedtime story? His voice is so soothing!

I am actually planning to get Kuoe Royal Smith 90-008 . Love the design.

I have two Kuoe. Wonderful quality and design for the price

Interesting piece

Yup I’ll get one!

Great video 😊!

Just listening to Andrew drives me to buy a watch...

Bought on when in Kyoto about a month ago ... Well worth the investment...it's beautiful

Never thought I would love watching Doctor Strange talk about Watches but I'm HERE FOR IT !!!!

Love these watches ❤

Although too small for my wrist, it's nice to see another Japanese microbrand enter the market. Japan has a standard most don't attain; therefore, for this microbrand to survive, it'll have to produce watches as affordable close to the Grand Seiko standard for Timex pricing. Anyone in the know would understand that reaching levels of high standard for us everyday folk is only going to be good for horological posterity.

I don't buy microbrands anymore, but I follow a few, and I do love what Kuoe and a few others do.

The description of saudade sounds similar to hiraeth in Welsh. Both lovely words in sound and meaning!

Great Video, the second counter doesn't even line up with the dial markers, very clearly at 2:24.

Have seen their ads on FB for a while. I thought Kuoe (pronounce Ku-O-E ???) might wanna be a budget version of Kurono Tokyo. Or maybe just that both names start with "K" 😅. Anyway, I enjoy small watches. So glad there are more smaller watches in the market now. I own 35-42 mm watches. Oh also 44mm Luminor Marina PAM111 once. But, I caught myself wearing smaller watches more.

I like the 02, it says watch in a very comfortable way.

I've been looking at these recently, they look excellent, and a shame we no longer make watches like this back in the UK, where they seem to be inspired and influenced from. My only issue is the size at 35mm, I have quite small wrists, but even 35mm is a tad too small for me! If they could bump the size to around 37-38mm, I'd be very much interested!!

Nice to have mentioned the word "saudade". It's a unique portuguese word for a universal feeling.

I'm looking into getting my first watch. Would you recommend this, baltic or furlan marri?

I want a watch that’s automatic, tells time and has a second hand, and waterproof for normal activities. I’m not a diver or a race car driver….. That looks nice.

Wow, these look nice!

I own one and it’s amazing!

The first watch looks a lot like my Stowa Marine Classic. But at a fraction of the price, not bad :)

What's the bracelet upgrade look like ?

I'm actually on the hunt for a Smiths at a reasonable price, so imagine my surprise seeing this. Well done Kuoe. Well done.

i have been eyeing these for a while now, i wonder what the accuracy on these are like. Saphire crystal at this price point would have been nice

Utterly simple. The crown is insane. The Kuoe is the way Japanese watches unhitch themselves from the European standard. This is the beginning of something entirely Japanese and... singular.

I like them a lot. However I have a 36mm Longines that doesn’t get wrist time due to its pimple on a pumpkin feel.

Well, I don’t really like the fake blue hands. It just comes off as cheap. Even any kind of paint, which just look better. You could anodize them.

You can't beat a traditional watchfinder review, it's as close to a Clarkson monologue of the esgle roadster

I wish the gold in Royal Smith model is actually “gold capped” or even “rolled gold”, not pvd. Rhat would make it really “old school” and more appealing for me. 😊

from my limited japanese i think it is pronounced both koo-oh-eh or koh-eh as the "u" which makes the "oo" sound can be casually omitted when it follows a "k" or an "s" would like to have that confirmed as i couldnt find a video of the company saying their name.

finally KUOE!

very nice

I don't know about "very cheap", but dang those are some nice watches. I love the raised numbers on the first one.

Yep

Just discovered this brand and wow it has my attention. Definitely must buy in case they increase in popularity and demand.

No doubt a great watch and love many of the Japanese independent and microbrands. Only wish these watches came in sizes larger than 36mm.

From where do you buy these watches ?

I love this brand, I just wish they’d increase the size to 39-40mm.

On another microbrand, can you please review SWC Hyper G T5? Thank you

Case thickness of the Royal?

-20+40s, that really is something. the dial looks interesting tho.