On 20 October, Grand Seiko officially inaugurated its flagship boutique in Place Vendôme, Paris, with a ceremony followed by a reception held in one of the private mansions overlooking the square itself. Shinji Hattori, President, Group CEO and CCO of Seiko Group Corporation, together with Akio Naito, President of Seiko Watch Corporation, and Frédéric Bondoux, President of Grand Seiko Europe, cut the ribbon in the presence of representatives of the press and retailers from all over Europe.
"This is Grand Seiko's first flagship boutique in Europe. It embodies Grand Seiko's philosophy, which we call 'The Nature of Time', a physical expression of traditional Japanese sensibility. The boutique was designed by the famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The use of natural materials from the Japanese architectural tradition, together with his careful attention to detail, expresses his love of nature... My great-grandfather founded this company in 1881. I am sure he would be very proud to see a boutique open here in Paris,' said Shinji Hattori during the ceremony.
"It is a great honour to welcome you to the Grand Seiko Boutique in Place Vendôme, a symbol of exceptional craftsmanship and timeless elegance. As a Japanese luxury brand with an excellent perceived value, Grand Seiko has been able, over the last two years, to set up a consistent European distribution in line with our future strategy, thanks to all of you," added Frédéric Bondoux, President of Grand Seiko Europe.
To celebrate the official opening, which marks the beginning of a new path for Grand Seiko on the old continent, after the customary ribbon-cutting ceremony, the traditional Kagami Biraki ceremony took place, i.e. the 'breaking' of the typical sake barrel with a wooden hammer - as a wish for good luck - and the subsequent tasting of the famous rice wine.
For the occasion, a Japanese Zen garden was also set up on one of the outside sides of the boutique, as a reminder of Grand Seiko's claim, 'The Nature of Time'.
