“New(ish Mall), New Seiko Boutique.”
Hold onto your wristwatches. Seiko, the brand that’s been keeping us on time for the last century – or even more so when you consider the whole quartz shenanigans – just dropped a bombshell in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. They’ve opened a brand-new boutique at The Exchange TRX and this isn’t just any boutique. Like many flagship stores that have opened at The Exchange TRX, this one houses all the brand’s collections such as Astron, Presage, Prospex, 5 Sports and, of course, King Seiko.
This grand opening isn’t just about a new place to drool over watches, though. It’s also a full-on celebration of Seiko’s 100-year journey since they introduced their very first wristwatch. A whole century of Seiko doing what Seiko does best: making us question why we ever thought our phone clocks were cool.
To say that the whole shebang was a, err, bang is an understatement. Mr. Joseph Wong, Chairman of Thong Sia Group, jetted in from Hong Kong, and Seiko Watch Corporation President, Mr. Akio Naito, made his debut visit to Malaysia to cut the ribbon (or at least, we assume there was a ribbon). They were joined by other big shots from Seiko, proving that when Seiko does something, they do it big.
Oh, and did we mention Malaysia’s own swimming superstar, two-time Olympian Welson Sim, was there too? Because why not add a bit of sports royalty to the mix?
“But wait, there’s more!”
Actually don’t wait. In fact, as soon as you complete this sentence, drop whatever you’re doing and head to the Power Design Project Exhibition 2024.
What’s that, you ask? Just a little something that showcases seven mind-blowingly cool conceptual designs under the theme “Incredibly Specialized Watches.” Basically, it’s Seiko saying, “Hey, we’re not just about telling time – we’re about blowing your mind while we do it.” The exhibition is like a backstage pass into the brain of Seiko’s in-house designers, showing off what happens when you let creativity run wild.
Mr. Yu Ishihara, Seiko’s Design Director (a.k.a. the guy who probably has the coolest job ever), was there to explain the magic behind these designs. He gave the audience a peek into the creative vision that makes Seiko’s watches more than just timepieces – they’re little wrist-bound works of art.
And Centre Seconds was privileged enough to sit down with Ishihara-san to interview him on the finer points of watch design, his philosophy behind his stylistic direction, the power reserve of a watch that requires the Sun to tell the time and Japan’s falling birth rates and what that means for the local watch industry. Stay tuned for the entire interview in a separate story soon!
(Only one of those themes mentioned above is false.)
So, if you’re in town and fancy a look at Seiko’s latest and greatest, the Power Design Project Exhibition 2024 is open until August 11th at The Exchange TRX’s Concourse. It’s your chance to see the artistry that’s made Seiko a watchmaking legend. And who knows? You might just walk away with a new appreciation for the art of telling time – or at least, a strong urge to add another watch to your collection.
For more details, check out www.seiko-design.com/powerdesignproject2024/en/ or stalk Seiko Malaysia on Facebook and Instagram. Trust us, your wrist will thank you but your wallet might hate you. Heh.
