With the debut of Grand Seiko’s first mono-brand salon in Jakarta, Senior VP Munehisa Shibasaki speaks to Joezer Mandagi about timeless design, Japanese heritage and the evolution of precision
Acquiring a fine timepiece has always been more than a transaction—it’s an experience. This rings especially true for Grand Seiko, a brand celebrated not only for its mechanical precision but also for its artistry. For collectors and connoisseurs alike, the journey of browsing, trying on and ultimately selecting a Grand Seiko is a ritual, one best savored in a setting that mirrors the brand’s quiet elegance and craftsmanship.
Now that immersive experience is available in Jakarta with the opening of Indonesia’s first Grand Seiko boutique at Plaza Senayan. Designed to reflect the brand’s Japanese heritage and aesthetic sensibility, the new mono-brand space invites guests to explore an extensive collection of timepieces in a setting worthy of the watches themselves. “This is a very significant milestone for us,” said Kevin Lie, Director of PT Asia Jaya Ikon, the brand’s longtime local partner. “We’ve had a partnership with Seiko for over 50 years … and we’re proud to say that we’re still able to keep that legacy alive while opening something brand new and unprecedented in our business pipeline.” He added, “Ten years after introducing Grand Seiko to Indonesia, our customers no longer have to go to Japan or Singapore to experience a Grand Seiko salon in its full expression.”
Among those present during the grand opening of the boutique was Munehisa Sibasaki, Director and Senior Vice President of the Grand Seiko Global Division. We sat down with him to talk about the new boutique, the latest innovations from Grand Seiko, and what enthusiasts can look forward to in the future.
DAMAN How do you see the growing interest in Grand Seiko evolving in Indonesia?
Munehisa Sibasaki: I’m not an expert on the Indonesian market specifically, but from my observation, there’s definitely growing interest in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. Having a dedicated boutique in the heart of Jakarta allows us to properly showcase what Grand Seiko represents. Without a flagship location, it would be difficult to convey the full story and essence of the brand.
DA: What kind of experience can potential customers expect from visiting this new boutique?
MS: We wanted to differentiate ourselves from the Swiss brands. What does Japanese style look like? What does it feel like? That’s what we aimed to convey in the design. When you step inside, it’s designed to feel like a refined Japanese living room—simple, elegant and calming. Our previous stores had heavier, darker tones, but we decided to shift to brighter colors to create a more casual, comfortable atmosphere that would appeal to younger, fashion-conscious customers.
DA: The boutique’s opening follows Grand Seiko’s strong showing at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025. What message did the brand hope to convey this year?
MS: The theme for our Grand Seiko booth at Watches and Wonders this year was “The Evolution of Precision.” We focused on the Spring Drive movement, which was first introduced in 2004. It’s been over 20 years since then, and this year, we highlighted the Ultra Fine Accuracy (UFA) model. It’s the most precise Spring Drive watch we’ve ever produced, with an accuracy of ±20 seconds per year, making it likely the most accurate mechanical watch in the world. The idea was to showcase our relentless pursuit of precision and the ongoing development of our watchmaking capabilities.
DA: Speaking about the Ultra Fine Accuracy model, could you elaborate on its significance?
MS: The UFA is significant for several reasons. First, it’s all about precision: ±20 seconds per year. But what’s equally important is that we managed to reduce the size of the movement. The new UFA movement measures 37mm, making it the smallest Spring Drive movement to date. Downsizing a movement while maintaining precision is extremely challenging, but we did it. This also opens up more possibilities for designing slimmer, more refined cases. Additionally, the new model is hand-wound, which allows for an even sleeker case profile, while the micro-adjustment clasp makes it even more comfortable to wear. It’s a lot of innovation packed into a very refined package.
DA: And speaking of the micro-adjustable clasp, as ergonomics becomes more of a focus among watch enthusiasts, how do you balance comfort and aesthetics?
MS: We’ve had many fans asking why we didn’t have a micro-adjust clasp. It sounds simple, but every company has patents on their designs, so the challenge was to create our own system. This year, we finally introduced our version. It may look simple, but it’s actually a new mechanism. This feature is important for comfort. You know how traveling by air or changes in temperature can make your wrist swell? With the micro-adjust clasp, you can make slight adjustments to ensure the perfect fit. Plus, our designers emphasized maintaining uniformity in the design, with the clasp designed to appear slim and cohesive with the rest of the watch
DA: We’ve also noticed an increasing appreciation for sustainability among watch enthusiasts. How does Grand Seiko approach this idea?
MS: Grand Seiko is deeply committed to environmental responsibility. For example, I organized a series of activities in the white birch forest, where we conduct planting and cleaning initiatives. We do this three times a year, and it’s been ongoing for more than three or four years now. This year, we’ve expanded our activities to the Shinshu and Nagano Prefectures, which are significant areas for Grand Seiko because they’re home to some of our key facilities. We’re not just cleaning up but also planting different species of trees to offset our carbon footprint, including emissions from our boutiques. These are small actions, but they align perfectly with our brand philosophy—“The Nature of Time.”