Artisan
工房所在地
山梨県／東京都
The foundations of the jewelry industry in Japan were laid in the mid-Meiji period.
Crystal polishing and precious metal processing came together, and over time, Yamanashi Prefecture and Okachimachi have become a unique production center in the world where everything related to jewelry is handled, from planning and design to sourcing the materials, manufacturing, and distribution.
The strength of a concentrated production area is that traders in different processes can work closely together, can communicate information accurately and quickly, and can improve their knowledge and skills by competing with each other. In this environment, the craftsmen respond appropriately and have grown into a jewelry production area that can consistently provide high-quality products, earning trust not only in Japan but also around the world. Gemstone polishing involves cutting rough stones and polishing them to a beautiful finish. Even now, when mechanical polishing using a tool called a jig has become mainstream, the traditional hand-polishing processing technique is still carried on. Polishing craftsmen make precise cuts at the micro level, changing from rough polishing to medium polishing and finishing, while changing the abrasive to finer ones. All they can rely on is the sense of touch in their fingertips and the sound of the stone being cut. It is a skilled technique that has been cultivated over many years.
The final process is polishing. Using an abrasive so fine that it can be absorbed into fingerprints, the stone is pressed against the zelkova board and polished until a beautifully shining cut surface appears. Hand-rubbing allows for more freedom in the cut that cannot be achieved by machine, and also produces a warm impression that is unique to hand-rubbing. The craftsman's skill and refined sensibility breathe new life into the rough stone, transforming it into jewelry.
ONO alchemy wishes to continue passing on craftsmanship with the utmost respect for tradition and culture.