Welcome to Kintao

A Quiet Approach

Kintao is guided by a simple belief: some mechanical ideas from the past still have merit. Not all forgotten innovations deserve to stay forgotten. We revisit these ideas carefully, understand why they mattered, and rebuild them with modern engineering and considered design.

Our name reflects this approach.

Kin represents the roots of these ideas, the people, the thinking, and the moments in watchmaking that shaped them.

Tao reflects the path forward, a deliberate way of bringing those ideas into the present with clarity and purpose.

Together, they define our philosophy: mechanical ideas worth keeping, rebuilt for today.

Respectful Rediscovery

Our first watch isn’t an attempt to recreate the past, nor is it an homage for its own sake. Instead, it acknowledges the quiet intelligence of earlier mechanisms, such as the internal rotating bezels found in classic Seiko and compressor-style watches of the 1960s, and refines them for modern use.

We’re not copying. We’re not reinventing for spectacle. We’re taking an idea with lasting merit and rebuilding it with contemporary capability.

Thoughtful Craftsmanship, Quiet Innovation

Every component of our watches is shaped with intention. From the refined chamfers and balanced geometry to the way surfaces catch light softly, each detail has a clear purpose.

Our development process blends traditional craft with modern prototyping: digital modelling, augmented-reality evaluation, and high-precision metal printing. This allows us to progress methodically, reducing guesswork and improving the clarity of each mechanical decision.

The Unicrown system reflects this approach fully.

One crown manages winding, bezel rotation, time setting, and date adjustment through a layered clutch mechanism. It keeps the interface clean, reduces external components, and offers a more intuitive relationship with the movement.

A quiet innovation, built for daily life.

A Journey Together

We are still early in our development. Each prototype teaches us something new; each refinement brings us closer to the watch we believe in.

To us, a watch is more than a tool for telling time. It’s a thoughtful piece of mechanical design that becomes part of your everyday rhythm, a companion shaped with clarity, purpose, and care.

Thank you for being here at the beginning.
Your interest, curiosity, and support mean a great deal.

— The Kintao Team