Wancher Watch is a Japanese microbrand known for pairing automatic movements with genuine urushi lacquer dials, hand-applied by traditional Japanese lacquer artisans. Based in Japan, Wancher works directly with regional craftsmen in areas like Wajima and Aizu. Its flagship line is the Dream Watch Urushi collection.

Yes. Wancher is an established independent Japanese watch brand that ships directly from Japan, offers a one-year warranty, and has a multi-year track record with dozens of catalogued models. It is known within watch-collecting circles for its urushi lacquer dials rather than in-house movement engineering, an artisanal, design-focused brand rather than a haute-horlogerie manufacturer. Wancher started in 2011 in Bungotakada, Oita, Japan, founded by Taizo Okagaki.

The Dream Watch line features hand-lacquered urushi dials. Wancher Originals are in-house designs inspired by Japanese culture, including the Kaguya moonphase, the Astronaut 24-hour, our chronographs, and the Gurkha tilted-dial field watch.

As of 2026 we do not have retail store locations. If you would like to shop in person, you are welcome at our head office in Bungotakada, Oita, Japan. Our watches can also be found at selected retailers, such as Japanese Microbrand in Germany and ZenTime Indonesia.

Urushi is a natural lacquer made from the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree, used in Japan for over a thousand years on lacquerware, furniture, and art. On a watch dial it creates a depth of colour and texture that printing cannot replicate, and it hardens into a finish that develops character with age. The Wancher Dream Watch line uses urushi across a wide range of colourways and techniques, including gold maki-e decoration.

Yes, the urushi dials are hand-lacquered by master artisans, not machine-printed. Some colourways, such as the Dream Watch Kuro Muji, are made in Wajima, Japan by dedicated lacquer workshops; others involve artisans in Aizu. Each dial typically goes through several hand-applied lacquer layers before final polishing.

Wancher is a small, independent brand built entirely around urushi lacquer and maki-e artistry. Compared with large mainstream makers that offer only a limited urushi selection within a much broader catalogue, Wancher focuses on depth of lacquer craft, with many more colourways, techniques, complications, and small-batch releases. Buyers usually weigh the scale and service network of a big brand against Wancher's specialisation in lacquer art and customisation.

The Dream Watch Urushi is Wancher's flagship automatic line, pairing a Japanese or Chinese in-house movement with hand-lacquered urushi dials, in colourways from simple black (Kuro Muji) to gold maki-e and mother-of-pearl raden inlay. For its 5th anniversary, Wancher redesigned the case from 42mm to 40mm.

Urushi is durable once cured, but keep it away from direct sunlight, extreme temperature changes, and harsh chemicals or solvents, which can dull or crack the finish over time. Wipe the case and dial with a soft, dry cloth, avoid submerging the watch unless it is rated for water resistance, and store it in a case or pouch to protect the lacquer from scratches.

It varies by line:

It varies by model. Many Dream Watch urushi pieces are rated 5 ATM, which is splash resistant but not suitable for swimming or diving. Please check each product page for its rating.

A moonphase complication shows the current phase of the moon as it waxes and wanes. The Dream Moonphase Kaguya pairs this with a raden mother-of-pearl dial and an automatic movement.

On a true 24-hour watch the hour hand travels around the dial once per day instead of twice, so morning and evening sit at different positions. The Wancher Astronaut is our automatic 24-hour model.

Among the most popular are the Dream Watch Sumi Raden, Byakudan-nuri, and 24K Kinpaku. They pair an automatic movement with a hand-lacquered dial and make a good introduction to the collection.

Colourways such as the Dream Watch Byakudan-nuri or Kuro Muji typically fall in the $400 to $550 range and pair an automatic movement with a hand-lacquered dial, a distinctive, story-driven gift without luxury-watch pricing. Shoppers looking for genuine craftsmanship under $500 usually start in the Dream Watch Urushi collection.

Wancher's catalogue spans roughly $120 to $3,000 and above depending on the model, complication, and dial technique, with most core Dream Watch Urushi pieces in the $400 to $850 range.

Yes, bespoke Dream Watch options are available. Contact us at info@wancherwatch.com to start a bespoke request.

Dream Watch Urushi watches ship in a laser-engraved kiri (paulownia) wood box; Wancher Originals come in a dedicated presentation box. Both arrive ready to give as a gift.

Yes. Subscribe to our list to receive a 10% welcome discount code. We also release exclusive codes occasionally during special events.

Yes. Companies interested in wholesale or bulk orders can contact info@wancherwatch.com or business@wancher.com. As of 2026, our bulk policy offers up to 40% off retail with a small minimum order quantity.

Yes, we ship worldwide from Japan, except to a small number of countries affected by sanctions or conflict. This list is kept up to date on our shipping page; if in doubt, contact info@wancherwatch.com.

Yes. Our shipping options range from free worldwide shipping to premium insured shipping. Free worldwide shipping uses Japan Post EMS.

Yes. Express shipping uses international partners including DHL, UPS, FedEx, and Japan Post EMS.

Every watch goes through a 7-day pre-shipment test before it leaves our office. Orders then ship from Japan via EMS, UPS, or DHL, with delivery typically 5 to 12 business days depending on the courier and destination.

Import duties, taxes, and any brokerage fees are the buyer's responsibility and vary by destination country, since we declare the actual order value on international shipments. Paying duties online through the courier is usually cheaper than paying on delivery.

You can return a watch within 30 days if it is not for you, in unused condition with the original box. For preference returns, the original shipping fee and a 5% restocking fee are deducted. If a watch arrives with a manufacturing or packaging defect, we cover a replacement or full refund, including return shipping.

Every watch includes a one-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with free repair, replacement, or refund. Damage caused by the owner is not covered and is assessed case by case. Register your watch on our site to activate after-sales support.

Register your watch and request repairs through the warranty and repair page on our website. Repairs and quality checks are handled in-house in Japan.

You can use the chat on our website, email info@wancherwatch.com, or message us on Instagram.