2+1 Recommended by LOFT
Daniel PintoIn this version of 2+1 LOFT, we highlight our favorite Asian accounts featuring some of the coolest and most intriguing figures in the Eastern watchmaking ecosystem. To discover, be amazed, and continue exploring corners of the world with aesthetics so distinct and generally much more refined than our Western counterparts.
1. Naoya Hida
The most prominent Japanese indie watchmaker of recent years has developed a look that is both classic and modern. Without having any particularly strident elements, it can easily be distinguished as a Naoya Hida. Japanese haute horlogerie, in limited editions, all handmade, and a price to match this level of exclusivity. It has been so popular and difficult to obtain that in recent years he founded a second, more accessible brand (in the style of Tudor vs. Rolex) without neglecting masterful design and details, called Kurono Tokyo . It has proven to be as popular, if not more so, than its namesake brand, with editions that sell out in seconds and resale values several times the retail price.
Instagram: @naoya_hida_co.official
2. Will Pan
Although he was born in the United States, Wilber Pan has lived much of his life in Taiwan, where he has also forged a dazzlingly successful career as a man of many talents: singer, television presenter, and actor. Between California and Taiwan, two places with a rich watchmaking culture, he forged his passion for this hobby, and as his popularity has grown, so has the variety, quality, and depth of his collection. It's no exaggeration to say that his IG account showcases perhaps the most spectacular collection of impossible pieces, rotating between one-of-a-kind editions from Richard Mille, green-dial Nautilus, or Tiffany, all of Patek's diamond-encrusted grand complications, etc., etc., and on and on. We're sure that now that you follow him, you're wondering like you've never noticed before.
Instagram: @willpan23
3. Kazuki Ohashi
This one's for tuning freaks, but LOFT-style. Kazuki is a legend in Japan, where in his dream automotive atelier, located in a rural area far from big cities, he has forged a unique style known as "baggin," which is simply applying extreme stance to some of the most celebrated supercars of the 90s and 2000s, with extra-wide, pronounced-lip rims. Ferraris, Lambos, and Porsches barely fit the custom-made rims, which, combined with meticulous suspension work, achieve the extreme, ground-to-the-ground look that is the house's specialty. It's worth seeing the photos of his workshop, which is a marvel in itself, and appreciating how he's taken the essence of modification to the most elevated atmosphere without losing the image that only a true supercar can achieve. His feed is truly like an image factory for your wallpaper. Another hidden gem to discover.
Instagram: @kazuki_madlane
