Aiming to the moon – the Kaguya Kaki from Wancher

Over this year I’ve managed to review some watches which are truly showstoppers. Watches that not only make you rethink what a timekeeper should look but also what should make you feel.

I established a good relationship with the brand manager from Wancher Watches and we kind of developed an mutual understanding based on the admiration for well craft pieces from all price points. The real challenge of making a good watch is always guided by the end price because at the end, it doesn’t matter how much passion a brand might have, it is a business model that needs to bring a return. I wanted to highlight this argument because here is where creativity can blossom, admiration is born and new watches (or any object) can surpass how is perceived.

The  Kaguya line is not new for Wancher Watches, but to me is one of the most impressive they have and it is mainly because of what it has to offer. Like I mentioned, I like those watches that can challenge the status quo with the Kaguya being one of them, it has a large with an offset moonphase on top of an exotic dial and a price that is your equivalent Seiko 5 (no disrespect), so it does bring a lot to the table.

Wancher managed to launch 2 new variations of the Kaguya, a beautiful red Bordeaux called Akane and a light pink/orange version which we have here today called Kaki. I can easily say that this is one of the most comfortable watches I’ve tried this year so please, join me to discover the small details of what to me is a game changer. Let’s begin.

The specifications

We are not talking about a conventional piece so the Kaki doesn’t follow the rules of a dress watch. The Kaki has a 42mm stainless steel case with a very short lug to lug of 45mm, despite it’s large diameter it will fit almost any wrist including my 6.25 inch one. This is one of the instances that we are glad to see a large case with a large dial, the opening is substantial and lets the mother of pearl canvas to breathe nicely. Inspecting the dial closer, it has been dyed in a subtle red that makes it look pink or peach depending how the light hits it, it is a beautiful thing and I am hoping that the pictures are making justice.

At 10 o clock we can find the offset moonphase aperture, it is large but it is well proportioned with rest of the design in the Kaguya, it is also a true representation of the actual moon and includes a 31 day cycle. The applied markers look sharp just like the lancet hand set, they are long and well machined, it gives a glare of elegance to a very elegant watch.

There is minimal writing on the watch with the signature ‘’Kaguya’’ over the six o clock marker and that is it, a true statement to a minimalist design.  Coming back to the case, the curves are everywhere, the svelte lugs and side profile have a play with different finishes all culminating in a beautiful threaded style crown with the engrave logo, it is quite a composition.

The Kaguya design doesn’t stop here, turn the watch over and you have a similar aperture for the see-through caseback which holds the H7M01 Hangzhou In-House Movement 7th Series, it is large engine as and it covers the entirety of the back, just like it should be. The full bridge architecture is also appreciated for shock resistance feature, also is worth noting that  not only the rotor but the whole baseplate and movement are finished with a perlage pattern, it is quite nice to behold. The watch has 48 hours of power reserve which is quite adequate for this type of watch.

On the wrist

Here is where everything starts to make sense. The curves of the lugs aided with the 12mm in height make the Kaguya a great watch to wear every day. That said, as an option, it also comes with an orange FMK rubber strap and I will highly recommend it, it is impossible to replace, not because of the aperture which is 21mm, but because it is one of the best straps as standard in a watch of this price, more on that later. Staying with the strap, the orange vibe changes the whole nature of the watch, making it more playful and not so serious, it has a deployment buckle that tucks the remaining part of the strap and also includes a pattern that oozes quality, I wouldn’t be surprised if other brands start using the same accessory or sell in the range of 100 USD, it is that good.

I wore the Kaguya everywhere, from the gym to the office, it is a watch that highlights your personality, is not a quiet one but it is a conversation starter. You should expect people that do not know anything about watches to approach just you for the looks.

I did not bother to change the original strap, but there is also a beautiful made black leather one and of course it pairs well. It would make the Kaguya more dressy and surely could be an option for plenty people, I just enjoy more the playfulness mentioned earlier.

Legibility is outstanding, there is no lume but the large indices with large hands, they are easy to distinguish over the mother of pearl dial. This point was a concern to me before seeing the watch in person, but I can report that because of how well the handset is polished, it is easy to spot the time at a glance.

I think a major factor of the versatility is the optional FMK strap, like we mentioned before a dress watch shouldn’t be so large and shouldn’t include a rubber part but here, in the Kaguya feels right at home, quite a great experience.

Concluding thoughts

There is no denying that I quite enjoy wearing the new Kaguya in its Kaki variant. It is a watch that has stuck with me not only because of how it looks but because of the quality delivered. The case is outstanding and the dial hypnotizing, there is something special to wear a watch that not many people know what it is, from the brand to the complication, everything feels a tad mysterious.

We shouldn’t forget that the watch also has a mother of pearl dial, so it is incredible to think about versatility when just a few years ago, this material was reserved for a more feminine audience. And then, to dyed this dial and pair it with a bright orange strap, everything sounds like a recipe for disaster but it works, somehow they guys at Wancher managed to pull it off.

Now we come to the ‘’dirty part’’ or in this case the good part of the article which is the price. You might think, even without having hands on and reading the specs that the Kaguya would be a watch that would cost at least 1.5K USD. The main reason is the attention to detail and the execution of the dial but, to the surprise of many, the watch is offered at 420 USD which is very low for what it offers. I am stunned on how Wancher managed to offer this watch at this price range, the amount of satisfaction it provides it is something else, and I am all for it.

There are as mentioned 3 other versions and they all have the same attention to detail as our beloved Kaki. That said, they are all sold out with a pre-order window that just opened.

If you want something out of the ordinary, this is the watch for you. Make sure to check it out.

for more information please visit Wancher Dream Moonphase Kaguya KAKI | Orange Raden Dial Watch - Wancher Watch

Technical Specifications

Case Size (Case x Thickness x Diameter)  42mm x 12mm x 45mm

 Case Material   316L Polished Stainless Steel Case

 Lug Width         21mm   Lug to Lug:         48mm

 Dial Material     Mother of Pearl Red Dyed Dial

 Movement        H7M01 Hangzhou Factory In-House Movement 7th Series

 Power Reserve  48 hours

 High Beat          28,800 bph

 Accuracy            +/- 15 seconds Per Day (+/-2 seconds if Active Wear)

 Strap Material + Clasp   FKM Rubber Strap + Butterfly Buckle