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News • 15 Sep 2021
The Hour Glass Japan Celebrates 25 Years With A Newly Refurbished Boutique in Ginza, Tokyo
The Hour Glass is proud to announce the reopening of our newly refurbished boutique in Ginza, Tokyo. This new boutique marks the 25th anniversary of The Hour Glass Japan Ltd and represents an important milestone in serving the Japanese community of watch collectors.
The Hour Glass Ginza Turns 25
In 2021, The Hour Glass Japan Ltd celebrates its 25th anniversary, since its establishment in 1996. After the first 8 years of operation at the boutique in Ginza Namiki dori 8 chome, The Hour Glass relocated to its current location in Ginza Namiki dori 5 chome in April 2010. In commemoration of these two anniversaries – the 25th anniversary since founding and the 10th anniversary since the relocation, The Hour Glass Ginza has undergone a complete renovation.
“Upon entering the boutique, visitors are presented with the re-designed Patek Philippe space – replete with Patek Philippe chandeliers, showcases, and an intimate presentation area with library. The immersive space creates the perfect environment to discover the Geneva-based watchmaker. Surrounding the central boutique bar, visitors can discover watches from Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne and Vacheron Constantin.
“Unlike boutiques on main streets in other countries, which usually receive hundreds of visitors a day, Japanese boutiques have a quieter environment, with only a few dozen visitors. Most of whom come by appointment. Therefore, one of the main objectives of our boutique is to allow visitors to relax and unwind.” – Atsushi Momoi, Representative Director of The Hour Glass Japan
An Intimate Boutique Environment
The re-design draws heavily on the Japanese concept of Ma (間), an artistic interpretation of negative space and openness. As seen in the floor-to-ceiling glass boutique façade and the minimalist limestone plinth watch showcases. The centrepiece of the boutique is an oval-shaped gold, silver and crystal chandelier; reminiscent of hundreds of luminescent silk threads; it represents the non-linear flow of time. These aesthetic considerations complement more extensive structural changes to the boutique, to create an open, convivial atmosphere for watch enthusiasts to share their passion for watches.
“Japan is a country where there are many opportunities to drink and eat together with customers. The staff and customers connect not only through these experiences but also through their shared passion for watches. The Hour Glass Ginza has naturally become a forum for these relationships to form.
When we built the previous boutique, although rare in The Hour Glass Group, we created a fully-fledged bar counter and sofa area in a secluded space so that customers could relax and feel at home. This area has always been a favourite for both collectors and brand executives visiting from overseas. The new boutique inherits this concept and further elevates the experience. The six central showcases allow us to host exhibitions or host thematic events. Which is something which we very much look forward to in the future.” – Atsushi Momoi, Representative Director of The Hour Glass Japan
Two Special Commemorative Limited Edition Watches
In tandem with the reopening of the boutique, The Hour Glass will be presenting two limited edition watches created in collaboration with longtime partners of The Hour Glass Japan.
The first special commemorative limited edition is the Ulysse Nardin Classico with a 40m stainless steel case, salmon colour dial with guilloché pattern, Breguet hands and numerals and an open case back revealing an 18K rose gold rotor. Each piece is engraved “Limited Edition” with the watch number engraved on the case side plate. The Ulysse Nardin Classico comes on a stainless steel case and has a folding buckle
- Ref 3203-136LE-7A-THG/1A
- 25pcs limited
- Limited number : “x/25” on case side plate
- Rotor : 18K Rose Gold
- Dial : Salmon colour with guilloché pattern
- Breguet Hands & numerals
- “Limited Edition” engraving on case back
- Diameter: 40mm
- Stainless Steel Case/ Folding buckle
- Black / Brown alligator strap
In addition, The Hour Glass and Vacheron Constantin are unveiling two special versions of the Traditional Tourbillon. Both versions are limited to 10 pieces each and feature two different asymmetrical guilloché patterned dials (5 pieces each).
- Ref 6000T/000P-B973 / 600T/000P-B974
- Limited 10 pcs – 2 different asymmetrical guilloché pattern / 5 pcs each
- Dial : 18K solid gold grayish blue dial with guilloché pattern
- “Limited Edition” engraving on case back
- Diameter : 41mm
- Case : Pt. 950 (case in Pt. 950 is the first example in Traditional Tourbillon)
The Hour Glass wishes Mr. Momoi and the entire The Hour Glass Japan family a happy 25th anniversary and a successful boutique reopening.
The Hour Glass | アワーグラス銀座店 | パテック フィリップ正規販売店
Royal Crystal Ginza, 5-4-6 Ginza Chuoku Tokyo, Japan 104-0061
Tel :03-5537-7888(12:00~19:00) Fax:03-5537-1181