Grand Seiko opened a new studio dedicated to the production of its mechanical timepieces on July 20th, 2020 in a ceremony that took place simultaneously at the Wako building in Tokyo and at the studio in Shizukuishi.
All of the mechanical watch assembly and adjustments for Grand Seiko mechanical timepieces will take place in Shizukuishi going forward.
In Tokyo, Shinji Hattori, the Chairman and CEO of Seiko Watch Corporation, was joined by the studio’s distinguished architect, Kengo Kuma, while, in Shizukuishi, the Governor of Iwate Prefecture, Takuya Tasso, was in attendance along with the studio’s directors.
Spread out over 22,550 square feet, the facility features a clean room made from wood, floor-to-ceiling windows offering natural light and views of the surrounding landscape, and enough room for potential future expansion.
There’s also an exhibition space where visitors can learn about Grand Seiko’s history as well as the manufacturing techniques used to create the company’s timepieces. Further, events will be held at which visitors can try their hand at assembling a mechanical watch themselves in a dedicated space known as the Studio Seminar Room.
A lounge on the second floor looks out at Mt. Iwate, the mountain that inspires many aspects of Grand Seiko’s designs. The lounge contains an exhibition that explains the world of Grand Seiko and will also showcase the brand’s first “concept creation,” a watch movement. According to Grand Seiko, the movement will reveal the full extent of the ingenuity and skill of every one of Grand Seiko’s specialists, from designers to technicians. Details of this “concept creation” will be released at a later date.
In addition, a limited-edition Grand Seiko Hi-Beat watch made exclusively for, and at the studio, will be presented in the lounge and will be available for purchase.
The Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi belongs to Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation. Morioka Seiko Instrument is committed to sustainable manufacturing and co-existence with nature.
Learn more at Grand Seiko.
