Passing on the legacy of Girard-Perregaux to the present day: What is COMMON TIME Yokohama Motomachi Main Store?

COMMON TIME, an authorized watch retailer, has been holding regular memorial services for François Perregaux together with Sowind Japan, which imports and sells Girard-Perregaux. We interviewed Orie Imanishi, manager of COMMON TIME's Yokohama Motomachi flagship store, about this initiative and the demographic of Girard-Perregaux buyers. What became clear was the familiarity that both store staff and customers have with the Girard-Perregaux brand.

Yokohama, the place where François Perregaux arrived and spent the rest of his life

　COMMON TIME Yokohama Motomachi Main Store is an authorized watch retailer operated by jewelry specialty store CHARMY. While they carry a wide range of luxury watch brands, one that is particularly noteworthy is Girard-Perregaux. This is because Yokohama is the place where François Perregaux, a Swiss watchmaker and member of the Girard-Perregaux founding family, arrived in 1860. When François Perregaux arrived in Japan, Yokohama had only just opened its port the previous year. Japan's sense of time was very different from that of the West. In this environment, François Perregaux, who was both a watchmaker and a merchant, imported Western-style watches to the Japanese market and worked hard to popularize them.

　François Perregaux continued his business in Japan, and passed away there in 1877. For a long time, the location of his grave was unknown, but in the 2000s, author Takeshi Matsuyama discovered that he was buried in the Yokohama Foreign Cemetery.

　COMMON TIME and Sowind Japan have been continuously maintaining and visiting François Perregaux's grave. Commemorating François Perregaux, one of the pioneers of the Japanese watch market and a key contributor to its subsequent development, and raising awareness of his existence among users, not only strengthens the bond between Girard-Perregaux and the Japanese watch market, but also provides users with an opportunity to reflect on the historical context in which timepieces gradually took root as the fixed time system replaced the seasonal time system. Furthermore, these activities will help watch enthusiasts and Girard-Perregaux fans learn that Yokohama is a place deeply connected to the brand, and as a result, the store and brand will be able to build a two-way relationship with users through Yokohama, which will go beyond purchases.

　When we spoke to Orie Imanishi, manager of COMMON TIME's Yokohama Motomachi main store, we could sense her sense of mission as a store that caters to the needs of customers who view Yokohama as special.

Some call it the "holy land of Girard-Perregaux." COMMON TIME Yokohama Motomachi Main Store

　What kind of customers buy Girard-Perregaux at COMMON TIME Yokohama Motomachi Main Store? We asked Imanishi.

"Recently, I feel that the age range of customers who purchase Girard-Perregaux has become wider, from those in their early 20s to those in their 60s and above. Most of our customers come from neighboring prefectures, but we once had a customer who came to our store from Kyushu, saying, 'If I'm going to buy Girard-Perregaux, I want to come to Yokohama, the holy land!'"

　Imanishi analyzed the appeal of Girard-Perregaux, which is loved by a wide range of people, as follows.

"Not only are the designs cool and beautiful, but Girard-Perregaux has a rich history to tell. We've also heard from people who say they became fans of watches after starting to use Girard-Perregaux. The fact that it's a brand that can create such opportunities is one of its charms."

　As the store is located in a place known as a holy ground, the store staff will be expected to have a deep knowledge and insight into Girard-Perregaux. As the store manager, what kind of education and training does Mr. Imanishi usually provide?

"I think the most important thing is for our staff to take an interest (in the brand and products) of their own accord. Perhaps because many of our staff live in Yokohama, we feel a strong interest (in Girard-Perregaux)."

　Of course, we also put a lot of effort into training.

"Recently, one of our staff members was invited to Switzerland as part of Girard-Perregaux ambassador training. We shared what we learned there with the other staff members. We also plan to have the brand hold a seminar where we can learn about Girard-Perregaux's new models. In this way, with the brand's cooperation, I have been able to deepen my own learning about Girard-Perregaux."

　The relationship between COMMON TIME and Girard-Perregaux creates a positive impression of the store and the brand. This is because visiting François Perregaux's grave is a unique initiative, and also serves as a way to promote the local area. What does Imanishi think about his company and Sowind Japan's efforts related to François Perregaux?

"In recent years, due to the impact of COVID-12, it has been difficult to hold events that involve customers. For this reason, visits to François-Perregaux's grave have only been conducted by staff, but last year we invited customers to participate for the first time in a long while, and we received immediate responses from many customers, many more than we expected, who said they wanted to participate. We were also pleased to hear from some customers that they had been looking forward to the memorial service since the day they purchased their Girard-Perregaux. In 2023, we will be holding an event on December 18th in honour of the achievements of Sowind Japan and François-Perregaux. We hope that this will be an opportunity for customers to learn more about Girard-Perregaux."

　Finally, we asked how Girard-Perregaux, which holds a special place in the hearts of not only its customers but also Imanishi, plans to increase its recognition in the market.

"I think it's important to spread the word on YouTube and social media, but I feel that what's most important is for our customers to fall in love with and learn about Girard-Perregaux themselves. To that end, we will deepen our knowledge so that we can convey the appeal of Girard-Perregaux to customers who visit our stores. I believe this will lead to increased awareness.

COMMON TIME Yokohama Motomachi Main Store Store Information

Zip code:231-0861
3-120 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
TEL：045-662-0041
Hours: 11: 00 ~ 20: 00

An event is being held to celebrate the achievements of François Perregaux!

　A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023, to coincide with the anniversary of François Perregaux's death, and after the visit to his grave, an invitation-only event for those involved is also planned to be held at the Hotel New Grand.

　The purpose of this event is to celebrate the achievements of François Perregaux, who contributed to Girard-Perregaux serving as a bridge between Japan and Switzerland today, as well as to hope for further development of the watch industry.