Communicate to any watch model CEO value his nook workplace and they’re going to let you know that opening a boutique in London is important if you’d like worldwide recognition. Alongside Paris and New York, the town has a status for having the proper of consumers – ones which are discerning, who know their watches.
Contemplating its international following, one main omission from the UK capital’s horological panorama has been Seiko, a scenario that has lastly been rectified due to the opening of a critically fashionable flagship boutique within the coronary heart of Knightsbridge.
Located over two flooring, the minimalist house performs host to one of the vital complete alternatives of Seiko watches round. Together with the Astron GPS Photo voltaic – the world’s first GPS photo voltaic watch, which is so intelligent it is aware of the place you might be anyplace on the earth nearly earlier than you do – there’s additionally the acclaimed Presage, Prospex and Premier collections.
However the actual deal with for connoisseurs is that the boutique boasts the complete worldwide assortment of Grand Seiko, the model’s luxurious watch arm.
First launched in 1960, Grand Seiko was only one watch, somewhat than a full vary, that was meant to be the perfect wristwatch the model may produce on the time. The success of that single mannequin spawned successors and shortly Grand Seiko was being talked about within the type of hushed tones reserved for classic Patek Philippes. Its status as being a model for these within the know was enhanced by the issue in buying considered one of its watches outdoors of its homeland, a scenario that’s true even now.
Which is why it’s so unimaginable that, for the primary time, the biggest assortment of Grand Seikos outdoors of Japan, together with such jaw-dropping masterpieces because the hand-made Eichi, Minute Repeater and Fugaku Tourbillon, will probably be out there simply mere steps from Knightsbridge tube station.
“To have a Seiko London Boutique has been a key focus for us for some time, and we are delighted to have found the ideal location situated in the heart of Knightsbridge,” explains Mr Kinya Iwami, managing director of Seiko UK. “We are proud to open our doors to the UK public and our many loyal Seiko fans.”
Guests to the boutique won’t solely be handled to an unprecedented choice of extraordinarily cool watches, however they are going to have the ability to uncover extra concerning the model’s 136-year historical past and be taught concerning the phenomenal quantity of watchmaking expertise housed at Seiko HQ.
This is without doubt one of the few producers that may lay declare to having made each part of each watch in its boutique in-house; it even grows its personal quartz crystals for its non-mechanical actions. And all that technical prowess is on show to play with on the new Brompton Street flagship.
It might have been 50 years within the ready however Seiko has lastly discovered a London residence – and the capital’s watch scene is all the higher for it.
The Seiko Boutique is now open at 57 Brompton Street, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1DP.
