Japanese Horology

Japan builds some of the most exacting watches in the world, and much of its finest work has rarely left the country. This room gathers that tradition: the Grand Seiko references that met the Swiss observatory standard in the late 1960s, the King Seiko Hi-Beats built alongside them, the divers that went to the poles, and the small Tokyo ateliers whose yearly output can be counted in the hundreds.

What you will find here

  • Vintage Grand Seiko: the 57GS Self-Dater with its lion medallion, the 10-beat 45GS and the automatic 61GS, chosen for original dials and honest cases.
  • King Seiko: the 45KS Hi-Beat and the chronometer versions, Grand Seiko engineering at a gentler price.
  • Seiko divers: the 6105 and its successors, tool watches with an expedition history.
  • Tokyo independents: makers such as Ōtsuka Lōtec, whose watches are offered only inside Japan.

How each watch reaches you

Every watch is examined in Japan before it ships, with the reference, calibre and dial checked against the period record, and travels insured and tracked. Each one carries our authenticity guarantee: should an independent written opinion find a piece not genuine within 30 days, we refund the price and the cost of its return.

Looking for a particular reference, or a Tokyo independent that is sold only in Japan? Our Hunting Salon™ searches on your behalf, and the curator desk replies within one to three business days.

Further reading: Grand Seiko and Credor, a collector's guide and Japanese independent watchmaking.

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