The white stitching creates a sense of lightness.
—The Hamilton “Khaki Field Murph” that you both are wearing comes in both a leather strap and a metal bracelet version. Could you tell us about how they feel on the wrist and what makes their designs so appealing?
Continent: Do you usually wear a leather belt, Mr. Aoki?
Aoki: I really love leather belts. They’re a little stiff at first, but I can’t get enough of how they soften up every time I wear them—and I grow attached to the feeling that they’re gradually becoming a part of me. That’s why the white stitching on this “Murph Watch” really makes my heart skip a beat. If it were just solid black, it might feel a bit heavy, but the stitching adds a touch of lightness—it doesn’t feel too mature and has a hint of playfulness. This design really resonates with my own sensibility: “I want to keep things understated, but I also want a bit of an edge.” It’s 38mm in size, and since smaller pieces suit my build better, this one feels just right.
Continent: Mine is 42mm. Listening to Mr. Aoki, I realized—just like with the denim I mentioned earlier—that I really like things that gradually mold to my own shape and grow on me over time. The stitching, too—using white instead of black really adds a nice accent. Since it uses thread that’s about as thick as the stitching on denim, it catches the light well, and I think it goes really well with casual styles.
Aoki: That’s right. Rather than “fashion” or “street,” I’m more into the American casual style—I like that subtle balance that’s neither one nor the other. I feel like I’ve collected quite a few watches and accessories that go well with that kind of style.
—You’re known for your attention to detail, to the point where you even commission artisans in Okayama to do the stitching on your denim, aren’t you? What were your impressions of the stitching on the “Murph Watch”?
Continent: Just changing the color of the stitching can completely transform a piece. When white stitching is added to black denim, the shape becomes more defined and it looks like an entirely different item; and I think brown-gold stitching on indigo is a brilliant invention. In some places, they use navy thread in the same color family, while in others, they deliberately switch to yellow. Changing the thread on a sewing machine is a time-consuming task, yet they go to that trouble. By choosing white instead of red or blue, it lends a classic elegance. The same goes for the stitch width—if it were half as wide, the impression would be completely different. You can really tell from this belt that they place great importance on the significance of these details.
—The dials come in black and white. Which one do you two prefer?
Continent: I usually wear black all the time. Part of the reason is that I have a lot of black clothes, so it just blends in, and it also makes me feel calm. It’s not that I dislike white, but before I know it, I’m choosing black.
Aoki: This is my first time owning a black one. I started out with a white one, and everything I got after that was white too, but the black one is really easy to read. White was easy to read too, but I realized this time that black looks really cool. Readability is pretty important when choosing a watch, and while I do own some watches with designs that don’t have numbers on the dial—which I think look cool—for me, “Murph Watch” —a watch that doesn’t overdo the design but still offers good readability—is a really important criterion for me. I just turned 25, and I’d actually been thinking it was about time I tried a black dial.
—If the director handed you this “Murph Watch” without any explanation, what kind of character would you imagine?
Aoki: Hmm… I think they’re the kind of person who travels light. Their clothes are durable—the kind you don’t mind getting dirty—but they always wear a watch. It’s not too flashy, though; if you look closely, it’s something like a “Murph Watch.” It brings to mind someone who lives a minimalist lifestyle and can head out the door with just the essentials.
