Manabu Kosaka, an artist from Saitama, Japan, has a very special skill – he can recreate virtually any wristwatch model exclusively out of high-quality Kent paper. The results of his painstaking labor are so utterly incredible that the saying “seeing is believing” doesn’t really apply.
So how does one go about recreating a seemingly perfect replica of a Rolex or Casio wristwatch out of nothing but paper? You could probably use a special 3D printer or some other advanced device, but Manabu Kosaka does it all by hand, first drawing the design on a sheet of Kent paper, and then using rudimentary tools like glue, dremels, an Xacto knife to cut tiny characters as small as 1 mm in size, and tweezers to place them at just the right place. I still can’t understand how he can mould the paper dials and the wristbands of the watches in such great detail, but they are certainly impressive to look at.
Photo: Manabu Kosaka
Mr. Kosaka told Spotlight Media that he has been making these incredible Ken paper replicas for the last 15 years, but while the extensive experience definitely helps, he can still fail countless times while trying to get certain tiny details just right. What really makes him special is his will to keep trying until he succeeds.
Photo: Manabu Kosaka
Some of Manabu Kosaka’s most amazing creations include almost perfect replicas of iconic watches like the Casio G-Shock, the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a Frank Muller, and of course, a Rolex. They all look simply stunning, but his most incredible achievement has to be the paper replica of the legendary Speedsmaster, complete with a clear view of the internal mechanism of the watch. How he managed to make all those tiny gears and then put them together to mimic the original is beyond my understanding.
Photo: Manabu Kosaka
Kosaka, who goes by @coca1127 on Twitter, has created all sorts of incredible Kent paper replicas. The watches may be the most impressive at first glance, due to their intricate details, but his other works are no less amazing. For example, he recently created a paper replica of a Louis Vuitton wallet, for which he actually carved a piece of paper to emulate the leather texture as best as possible. His portfolio also includes a Zippo lighter, a vintage camera and even a piece of sushi.
Photo: Manabu Kosaka
You can keep an eye on Manabu Kosaka’s incredible art by visiting his Twitter and Instagram pages. Prepare to have your mind blown!
Photo: Manabu Kosaka
Photo: Manabu Kosaka
