On August 27, all eyes — not to mention watches — were set on Thai time as we celebrated the opening of Grand Seiko’s new boutique in Bangkok’s Gaysorn Village. With branches worldwide — Tokyo, California, and Seoul — this marks the brand’s first ever venture into Southeast Asia, and is run under the management of SEIKO (Thailand) Co., Ltd. From what to expect of this all-new flagship, to what went down at the opening event, we take a look inside Southeast Asia’s first Grand Seiko Boutique.
The Boutique: What’s the Craze?
Grand Seiko has long been known for ace Asian craftsmanship and Japanese innovation, and these hallmark qualities were in evidence at the Thailand boutique, as well. Designed to express a fusion of innovation and luxury that reflects the concept behind all Grand Seiko watches, the boutique is decorated with the brand’s key hues.
Featuring tones of dark blue and silver, the new retail space is beautifully in sync with Japanese elements of luxury and style, while Grand Seiko’s collections are proudly displayed for guests to fully experience the brand’s rich history.
The Watches: What to Expect?
To mark this momentous occasion, three new stunning models were unveiled at the boutique.
Grand Seiko SBGJ235G
The theme of this timepiece is the majestic Mount Iwate, which is visible from the Shizukuishi Watch Studio where all Grand Seiko mechanical watches are made. The ridge, which features as a pattern in this blue dial, symbolises the ethereal beauty of a winter mountainscape reflected through moonlight on snow.
Grand Seiko SBGA401G
The idea behind this gorgeous black dial timepiece, with its flowing motion of the second hand, is to portray a sense of calm. The effect is further enhanced due to the piece’s pink gold hands and indexes, set off against a subtle sunburst finish.
Grand Seiko SBGA407G
Imagine the beauty of snow blowing in the wind. That is what inspired this delicate dial pattern in a soft blue colour. The winding duration lasts for 72 hours. The spring drive mechanism gives it the precision of a quartz, while the power source is that of a mainspring as used in mechanical watches.
The Event: What went Down?
Music and celebrations marked the opening of the Bangkok flagship store, located in the luxury shopping complex Gaysorn Village. Katsumi Kubota, the prestigious company’s MD, and Kenichi Kito, general manager of SEIKO (Thailand) Co. Ltd, welcomed a stream of exclusive guests.
These included the who’s who of Thai society, such as Aditip Panupong, Poowadee Kunpalin, Suree Ratanahirunya, Nanjaporn Chongkavinit, and Panitta Sornthaiteva among others.
The renowned Thai Youth Orchestra, led by Dr. Akkrawat ‘Paye’ Srinarong, set the tune for the event. And entertaining guests with an interactive talk on his inspirations and design challenges was reputed designer Shinichiro Kubo. Scroll to see who else was at the event below.
