Watch Purchasing in Japan: The Final Information to Snagging Grails and Hidden Gems | FashionBeans

I Went To Japan!

I not too long ago got here again from a mission to Japan to discover a watch to purchase. Effectively, I truly ended up with multiple, so keep tuned to see what I purchased. Though this looks as if a simple activity, keep in mind that there are a ton of watches to select from in Japan: Seiko, Grand Seiko, Citizen, Casio, Orient, Kurono Tokyo, Kuoe, Minase, and an entire lot extra.

I’ve acquired a tip or two for watch purchasing in Japan. Let’s first check out some locations to purchase watches.

 

BIC Digital camera

The BIC Digital camera retailer sells extra than simply cameras and electronics. On the very prime stage, they’ve a ground devoted solely to watches. This was my first time going right here, and let me simply say, I used to be in JDM watch heaven.

That they had each JDM watch model you possibly can consider, together with, yep, Grand Seiko. Naturally, I let my feelings information me and headed straight to the Grand Seiko part.

I’ve by no means owned a Grand Seiko earlier than, however I actually wish to. May this journey mark the primary Grand Seiko to enter my assortment?

Previous to coming over to Japan, I had a couple of Grand Seikos in thoughts, considered one of which occurred to be, on this case, the Sky Blue GMT reference SBGM253.

Coming from the US, the alternate charges have been in our favor in opposition to the yen.

Coupled with tax-free purchasing and an extra 5% promo low cost from BIC Digital camera, you’re saving fairly a bit of cash versus shopping for one model new within the States.

I made a decision to maintain transferring alongside and have a look at different manufacturers within the retailer. In fact, I landed on three watches, all from Seiko. What can I say? Seiko is king.

Three Seikos caught my eye: the basic however polarizing Seiko Tuna, a chronograph underneath the Spirit line, and the Seiko 5 Subject GMT that everybody is raving about. I might see why. I’ve at all times wished to personal a Tuna, however even with the reductions, the value wasn’t nice for choosing one up.

That left the Subject GMT and the Spirit chronograph in an icy blue dial that appears very harking back to a platinum Rolex Daytona. Oh, and did I point out that this factor might be picked up for roughly 90 bucks? Yeah, I like Japan.

Seiko Dream Sq.

I promise this isn’t an article all about Seiko, however when in Japan, you must go to their flagship Seiko retailer and idea area they name Seiko Dream Sq.. The constructing consists of a number of ranges, every highlighting totally different collections, resembling their Prospex line, Presage, and King Seiko, to call a couple of.

To be sincere, it was cool, however I didn’t discover something worthy of selecting up. Nonetheless, it was cool to see a complete constructing stuffed with Seikos of their flagship retailer.

Until they have been promoting classic divers, I had no real interest in shopping for something right here, however it’s positively price a go to. I did, nevertheless, see that Seiko Tuna once more. Is that this an indication to select one up?

Professional Tip: If visiting within the winter, be ready to be blasted with heaters on full blast in each retailer. I used to be sweating bullets in each store.

If there’s one Grand Seiko boutique in the whole world to purchase a Grand Seiko, it’s at their flagship retailer in Ginza, positioned of their well-known Wako Constructing. What can I say?

It was like being a child in a sweet retailer—or for any of you who had the pleasure of going to Disneyland as a baby, it felt identical to that.

Nonetheless, as a substitute of shopping for an costly ticket and overpriced churros, you get the pleasure of buying a look ahead to 1000’s of {dollars} and sporting it in your wrist to stare at. Bizarre how our sense of pleasure modifications as we become old, proper?

This place had all the things from most of what you see in Grand Seiko’s catalog, restricted version fashions solely obtainable in that retailer, and even watches from their Creator line that I’ll by no means have the ability to afford. They mainly had all the things—and likewise all the things I didn’t need.

I noticed perhaps I’m not as a lot of a fan of Grand Seiko as I believed, or maybe there isn’t a Grand Seiko for me in the mean time. This thought made me unhappy. It was at this level that my hunt for Grand Seiko ended. So, till subsequent time, Grand Seiko, I bid you farewell.

That doesn’t imply my hunt for watches was over, although.

Again to the Seikos

Keep in mind these three Seikos I had my eyes on? I went again to contemplate them one final time. So it’s between the Tuna and the Spirit Chronograph.

I didn’t must assume a lot concerning the Spirit Chronograph, in order that’s going within the bag for certain.

The Tuna, however, I needed to assume lengthy and onerous about. However ultimately, I handed.

Particularly with the present manufacturing mannequin that features the Prospex brand, I couldn’t pull the set off on this one until a classic mannequin comes up later on this journey. That is known as foreshadowing.

Kurono Tokyo Salon

Ever since Kurono Tokyo opened its Aoyama Salon in Tokyo, I knew I needed to go to it someday. I imply, how typically do you get to take a look at each single watch from an unbiased watch firm in a single place?

Now, you possibly can’t actually purchase something right here, as Kurono Tokyo has its personal distinctive method of releasing watches on-line. At one level, you would purchase unique Urushi lacquer dial items, however after all, I got here a couple of weeks too late—proper after the final one was offered.

Regardless, I encourage all of you to go to the salon. It’s a fantastic place to lounge round and check out their whole catalog.

Shortly earlier than my go to, Kurono Tokyo had simply launched their new set of 34mm watches known as the Calligra. I used to be tremendous excited that they’d them on show to deal with.

The Mom of Pearl dial variant was the model I used to be most desirous to see.

Sadly, they have been solely accepting pre-orders for these watches, or I might’ve purchased one proper on the spot.

The dial is much extra dynamic in individual, and you’ll actually see the detailing that went into the customized typeface seen by way of the Breguet numerals, designed from the bottom up by Hajime Asaoka—the person behind this elusive model.

For these fortunate sufficient to safe this piece, you’re in for a deal with. I’m actually excited so that you can expertise it for the primary time, simply as I did.

I’ve at all times been interested in their chronograph one which, for my part, is a high-quality instance of symmetry in an Artwork Deco design that may be very distinctive to their design philosophy.

Now, this watch, sadly, is offered out and without end will probably be, which is gloomy, however I’m glad I acquired in some wrist time with the chronograph. It mainly by no means left my wrist the previous few minutes I used to be there, and what, if that’s essentially the most time I’m ever going to get with that chronograph, then that’s okay.

The Native Watch Scene

When doing all of your analysis on the place to search for watches in Tokyo, this place at all times pops up someplace within the listicle, and to be sincere, from what I’ve learn, I used to be terrified to go to.

I imply, I used to be already overwhelmed with the variety of selections that I got here throughout, and to be there at Nakano Broadway, the place 5 ranges within the constructing exist and, seemingly, each different retailer is a watch store promoting a whole lot if not 1000’s of watches from Timex’s all the way in which to Unbiased watchmaker items.

Sure, I are inclined to get determination fatigue fairly simply and it didn’t assist that a number of the outlets have been near closing time, and I nonetheless wasn’t 100% happy with my watch purchasing in Japan.

Except for the stress of being in Nakano Broadway, it was fairly loopy to see how many individuals store for watches and aren’t simply vacationers right here. As a matter of truth, the bulk appear to be locals truly shopping for issues. So, after getting misplaced on this maze, I believe I may need discovered one thing.

I discovered myself misplaced on this fairly huge store known as Jack Highway and Betty they usually had all the things from ultra-luxury unbiased manufacturers all the way in which to outdated classic Japanese watches, and one explicit part actually acquired me excited.

Out of all the things in that part, the Citizen Bullhead caught my eye. It’s mainly the identical watch seen in As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood however in a metal case reasonably than the gold one.

It was a cool watch, however after getting it in hand, it wanted fairly a bit of labor – the case wasn’t in the most effective form, the crystal was a bit too worn, and the operation of the pushers wanted slightly work.

Fortunately, my spouse talked me out of it as I used to be getting slightly antsy about selecting one thing up, however ultimately, we determined to maneuver alongside, and that’s after I got here throughout this small store known as Samurai Pleasure.

The Seiko Tuna Temptation

This one excited me much more than the final, because it had principally classic items. As soon as once more, a Wild Tuna seems to hang-out me – this one, nevertheless, is a Neo classic JDM model underneath the Marine Grasp line, predating the Prospects model sequence we see at this time.

Now was this my last calling to select up a Seiko Tuna? I imply, I’ve already come throughout one at BIC Digital camera and even that one time visiting the Seiko Dream Sq.. The third time’s a allure, proper?

I started to mirror on my watch hunt and actually considered whether or not I ought to proceed with the journey or simply finish it proper there. However simply after I was about to throw within the towel, I took one final likelihood to try one final retailer, and for some motive, I knew there was one thing particular about this one.

Discovering the Holy Grail

Not like the final retailer we have been in, this had nothing however classic watches and actually nice items ranging all the way in which from outdated Seikos that appear like museum items, sporty, dressy watches, and all the things in between all the way in which to Swiss items that have been very properly curated.

And as if the watch gods have been wanting down on my poor soul, I discovered it – I discovered considered one of my classic grails.

This watch is named the final of the good Japanese mechanical chronographs to be created proper firstly of the quartz disaster, which finally compelled many manufacturers to focus their efforts on quartz know-how.

It got here out of the ’70s, with its design that includes an octagonal case and pushers at 11:00 and 1:00 positions. Citizen calls this the Problem Timer, however we watch fans merely name it a Bullhead.

The Hollywood Connection

I’ve at all times wished a Bullhead, particularly this one from Seiko, however ever since As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood featured a Citizen Bullhead on the wrist of Brad Pitt’s character, it acquired me researching a bit extra into Citizen’s choices.

That’s after I found this octagonal case model, and since then, I’ve been preserving an eye fixed out for the suitable one.

And all the things about this one, from the unique bracelet, authentic elements, and situation, ticked all the suitable bins for me.

At this level in my journey, I can most likely say that I used to be already content material with my two pickups. I’ll be sincere: whereas in Kyoto, I didn’t have any extra intention of searching for watches, however as one does on public transportation, you find yourself searching for watch outlets round me, and I occur to be close to this Japanese microbrand retailer, Knot.

I first found Knot doing a little bit of analysis whereas searching for Japanese watch manufacturers previous to this journey, and I got here throughout their Urushi lacquer fashions, however sadly they didn’t have any of those on show.

The Native Watch Scene in Kyoto

Nonetheless, the shop is fantastically designed, and I seen that the watches they’ve in inventory have been actually much like the brand new watch Fanatic and even simply the informal watch wearer as the costs have been truthful and the design was appropriate for a lot of tastes.

They’ve a number of shops all through Japan, so should you’re close to one, give it a shot. I fully forgot a few younger model that was born proper in Kyoto, so I simply needed to give their showroom, which doubles as their headquarters, a fast go to.

Like a variety of different watch fans who found Kuoe, it was most definitely by way of Instagram, because it has caught a variety of our consideration with its army subject watch designs.

And this being their modest headquarters, they’d their whole assortment laid out together with all of the straps you possibly can couple your watch with while you decide it up in-store.

I figured what higher approach to mark my first time right here than with a domestically made watch not solely in Japan however in Kyoto itself, they usually actually do assemble their watches proper there of their headquarters.

I requested to make use of the restroom earlier than I left they usually kindly let me go behind the curtains, the place they actually had a number of watch techs assembling the watches by hand, which was a reasonably cool sight to see.

I used to be questioning why I needed to wait round quarter-hour for my watch that I made a decision to select up which ended up being the Previous Smith 90-002.

The Good Memento

This was their mannequin that actually put Kuoe on my radar. Though it could appear like some other easy three-hand watch, taking a better look in hand it’s rugged but elegant with its excessive polish case and creamy dial in a compact 35mm case.

Now, there’s a 38mm case model, which can be slightly bit extra appropriate for fans preferring a bigger case, however to me, the 35mm model offers extra true classic British army watch Vibes that I imagine the founder Kenji Uchimura was going for.

In any case, he drew inspiration for Kuoe as a pupil throughout his time in London, looking for vintage watches.

As of penning this, they solely have one location the place they function, assemble, and promote their watches however they advised me that they’ll quickly be opening a devoted retailer, so I extremely encourage all of you to present them a go to everytime you’re in Kyoto.

Watch This Evaluate

Last Ideas and Ideas

Right here’s a fast rundown on extra suggestions for watch purchasing in Japan: Make a want checklist of watches you prefer to see or purchase, simply bear in mind there are extra than simply JDM watches to take a look at in Japan.

Map out the place you’d prefer to hit up – Ginza for luxurious and Grand Seiko, Nakano Broadway for secondhand, and BIC Digital camera for all the things else.

Make the most of tax-free purchasing and reductions, search for division retailer and BIC Digital camera coupons, and know your worth. Get an concept of watch costs earlier than heading to Japan.

Lastly, simply bear in mind to benefit from the hunt. You’re within the mecca of Japanese watchmaking, so simply soak all of it in and simply come to peace that you just gained’t have the ability to see all the things you would possibly wish to see in your checklist and that’s fully okay. There’s at all times subsequent time.

And till subsequent time, I’m Chris from Clicky Bezel, and I hope you snag your very personal grail in Japan.