The Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair will be held at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store from Wednesday, July 30, 2025. This year's theme is "Traveling through time and reminiscing." With a wide selection of products and numerous events, visitors are sure to have a fulfilling time looking back on the past and thinking about the future.
(Left) Breguet "Classique Subscription 2025" Ref. 2025BH/28/9W6
Manual-winding (Cal. VS00). 21 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve approximately 96 hours. 18K Breguet gold case (40mm diameter, 10.8mm thick). Water resistant to 3 bar. 7,359,000 yen (tax included). Limited quantities available.
(Right) Breguet "Tradition 7035" Ref. 7035BH/H2/9V6
Automatic movement (Cal. 505SR). 38 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve approximately 50 hours. 18K Breguet gold case (38mm diameter, 12.6mm thick). Water resistant to 3 ATM. Limited to 250 pieces worldwide. 7,029,000 yen (tax included). Limited stock available.
Photographs by Masahiro Okamura (CROSSOVER)
Nojima Tsubasa: Interview and writing
Text by Tsubasa Nojima
[Article published on January 25, 2025]
You'll want to return again and again. The 28th Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair has plenty to see.
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Japan's first department store, is located in Nihonbashi, Chuo Ward, Tokyo. It is a place that can be called a mecca for watch enthusiasts. The sixth floor of the main building was renovated in 2019 as a watch gallery, and it has become one of the largest watch sales areas in Japan, bringing together many brands. In addition to major brands, the space called cal. BAR is lined with small independent brands, and it is popular with a wide range of people, from those looking for their first watch to serious enthusiasts. Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store holds a watch festival every summer called the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair.
The theme for this year's 28th edition is "Reminiscing Through Time." Coincidentally, 2025 coincides with the anniversary of the founding of several brands and the birth of iconic collections. This year's Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair is planned to feature events that approach both the past and the future, exploring the history of watches and their contributions to human progress, traditional manufacturing techniques passed down to the present day, and their ongoing innovation. The fair will run from Wednesday, July 30, 2025, to Tuesday, August 26, 2025. While the main venue will be the Watch Gallery and Jewelry Gallery on the 6th floor of the main building of the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, the fair will also include the stage on the 1st floor of the main building and the Bvlgari jewelry corner. Here are some highlights of the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair, a must-see for any watch enthusiast.
Highlights of the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair
This year's Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair is based on the theme of "Traveling through time and reminiscing," and features a variety of special product exhibits and sales, as well as a number of events. Its charms are so great that you won't be able to fully appreciate it in just one visit. Come back as many times as you like, depending on the watch or event you're looking for. You're sure to have a wonderful time.
Highlight 1: Get your hands on masterpieces from the past! Vintage watch exhibition and sales
Amazingly, this year's Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair will feature the exhibition and sale of vintage watches, a rather innovative initiative for a department store that usually displays current models. Through these masterpieces from the past, visitors will be able to get a glimpse of the brand's accumulated history.
When you hear the term "vintage watch," you might imagine it's difficult to determine authenticity, or delicate and requiring careful handling, but rest assured. The watches sold at the World Watch Fair are limited to those with a clear history and sufficient support, such as vintage stock (likely pre-owned) that the brand has stored for a long time, or certified pre-owned items. Unlike current products whose lineups are publicly available, you never know what vintage watch models will be available for sale. A casual visit can be exciting, and you might even have a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
As product examples, we will introduce two vintage stock items and one certified pre-owned item. The first vintage stock item is the Breguet Heritage Chronograph 5460, an automatic chronograph watch. It is an elegant full gold model that combines a classically designed 18K yellow gold tonneau-shaped case with a dial decorated with sharp guilloched details and a bracelet made up of fine links.
An elegant chronograph in full gold. It features traditional design elements such as blued steel Breguet hands and a guilloched dial. Automatic (Cal. 550). 38 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve of approximately 45 hours. 18K yellow gold case. Water resistant to 3 bar. 7,711,000 yen (tax included). Limited stock available.
The second vintage stock is the Franck Muller Tonneau Curvex Chronograph, launched in 1997. Equipped with a Lemania manual-winding chronograph movement, it is a rare model coveted by enthusiasts. The ice blue dial features a radial guilloched pattern and is lined with the iconic Arabic numeral indexes.
This refreshing two-counter chronograph features a tonneau-shaped case and an ice blue guilloched dial. It's equipped with a Lemania manual-winding movement. Price: 4,158,000 yen (tax included). Limited availability.
This certified pre-owned watch is the Satellite du Monde MKII by Christiaan van der Klaauw, a company that specializes in complex astronomical clocks. This was the company's first wristwatch, released in 1996, and features the names of 24 major cities around the world in Dutch on its inner ring.
The Pandure Variable table clock won the Medaille d'Or (Gold Award) at the Basel Fair (later Baselworld) held in Switzerland in 1992. The Satellite du Monde MKII is a wristwatch that incorporates the same mechanism and design. It costs 990 yen (tax included). Only a limited number are available.
Highlight 2: Masterpieces revived with modern technology. Exhibition and sale of reproduction watches
Reproduction watches are a major genre of modern timepieces, and they continue to tell the story of timepiece history. Reproduction watches bring back to life designs from the past and milestones in watch history, boasting high specs that incorporate a wealth of the latest technology. With high-precision exterior construction and superior practicality made possible by new materials, these classic designs can be worn daily without hesitation.
While many brands now produce reproduction watches, the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair will also feature rare models that are rarely seen. Vacheron Constantin's Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 is a modern reinterpretation of a waterproof chronograph watch released in 1955, featuring lugs resembling ox horns. The intricate dial with a tachymeter scale and elegant case lines are a must-see. To celebrate the 270th anniversary of the company's founding, the company will be holding an event called "The Quest: 270 Years of Pursuit of Excellence" on the first floor stage of the main building from Wednesday, July 30th to Tuesday, August 12th. Don't miss the precious anniversary models on display.
This model is a reproduction of Vacheron Constantin's first waterproof manual-winding chronograph, the Ref. 6087, which was introduced in 1955. Its striking lugs evoke the horns of a cow. Manual-winding (Cal. 1142). 21 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve of approximately 48 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 38.5mm, thickness 10.9mm). Water resistant to 3 bar. Price: 7,392,000 yen (tax included). Limited availability.
Among the reissue watches, the new 2025 Zenith "GFJ Limited Edition" will also be on display and for sale. Not only is its blue dial, which combines lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl, but the movement inside is the legendary Cal. 135, which has become a hot topic among watch enthusiasts. It's rare to have the chance to see this limited edition of 160 pieces in person.
This model features a reproduction of the legendary hand-wound movement, Cal. 135. The exterior is also impeccable, with a vibrant blue dial and platinum case. Hand-wound (Cal. 135). 18,000 vph. Power reserve of approximately 72 hours. Pt case (diameter 39.15mm, thickness 10.5mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Limited to 160 pieces worldwide. Price: 6,952,000 yen (tax included). Quantities are limited. Please inquire.
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store also carries a large selection of watches from small, independent brands. One that has particularly attracted attention is the classic "Resilience" from Speake-Marine, the successor to the brand founded by British independent watchmaker Peter Speake. While not a reproduction of a specific model, the Resilience incorporates details reminiscent of British pocket watches. It also features an enamel dial and a grade 5 titanium case, and the see-through caseback allows you to view the micro-rotor automatic movement.
Despite its classic design, it features iconic details such as a small seconds hand at 1:30, a heart-shaped hour hand, and straight lugs. It features a dial made of enamel fired at high temperatures. Automatic winding (Cal. SMA-03). 31 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 52 hours. Ti case (diameter 38mm, thickness 10.5mm). Water resistant to 3 bar. Price: 2,974,400 yen (tax included). Limited availability.
Highlight 3: A wide selection of products that go beyond the scope of "products available at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store"
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store boasts one of the largest selections in Japan. During the World Watch Fair, pop-up stores will be set up featuring brands not normally available. These include major Swiss brands such as Hublot, Breitling, and Bell & Ross, as well as Jacob & Co., which produces high-end models with ultra-complex mechanisms in small quantities, and Parmigiani Fleurier, Gerard Charles, and Antoine Preziuso Genève, which create distinctive models based on traditional watchmaking techniques. Wolf, known for its watch boxes and winders, will also be making an appearance. Enjoy a unique selection of products that are a little different from the usual Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store.
Even the permanent brands will be significantly strengthening their lineups during the fair. There will be high-priced models and limited edition items that are rarely available in stores. Be sure to visit the World Watch Fair and see for yourself what models will be available.
This limited edition model, part of a collection celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hublot's iconic Big Bang, combines different materials: gold and ceramic. 18K King Gold is a gold-based alloy with platinum added. It boasts higher corrosion resistance than regular 18K gold. Automatic movement (Cal. HUB1280). 43 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 72 hours. 18K King Gold case (43mm diameter, 13.2mm thick). Water resistant to 100m. Limited to 250 pieces worldwide. Price: 5,269,000 yen (tax included). Availability is limited.
Announced to commemorate the company's 140th anniversary, this is Breitling's first in-house perpetual calendar chronograph watch. It features a refreshing ice blue dial and a platinum bezel. Automatic (Cal. B19). 39 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 96 hours. Stainless steel and platinum case (43mm diameter, 14.94mm thick). Water resistant to 3 bar. Price: 4,829,000 yen. Limited availability.
This 40mm diameter model of the Tonda PF Chronograph was unveiled at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2025. Its distinctive feature is its mineral blue dial with a barleycorn pattern guilloched finish. Automatic movement (Cal. PF070). 42 jewels. 36,000 vph. Power reserve of approximately 65 hours. Stainless steel and platinum case (40mm diameter, 12.72mm thick). Water resistant to 100m. Price: 5,181,000 yen (tax included). Quantities are limited.
Since 2014, the Astronomia collection has been expressing the universe through wristwatches. This Astronomia Solar Zodiac features a citrine sun at its center, with a tourbillon and globe rotating once every 10 minutes. The planetary motifs on the aventurine dial also rotate counterclockwise, depicting the movement of the solar system at your wrist. Manual winding (Cal. JCAM19). 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 48 hours. 18KRG case (43.4mm diameter). Water resistant to 30m. Limited to 101 pieces worldwide. Price: 61,248,000 yen (tax included). Availability is limited.
The Bell & Ross BR-05 36mm has been downsized to a diameter of 36mm. It features a highly legible dial inspired by aircraft cockpit clocks. Automatic (BR-CAL.329). 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 54 hours. Stainless steel case (36mm diameter, 8.5mm thick). Water resistant to 100m. 649,000 yen (tax included). Limited stock available.
A limited edition model commemorating the 25th anniversary of the company's founding. It features a jumping hour mechanism with a small fan-shaped window at 12 o'clock. Automatic winding (Cal. 4.0). 38 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 50 hours. Ti case (diameter 42mm, thickness 11mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Limited to 100 pieces worldwide. Price: 7,757,750 yen (tax included). Made to order.
Highlight 4: Various events will be held, including talk shows by independent watchmakers and Masamasa Hirota, editor-in-chief of Chronos Japan.
And let's not forget the talk shows and other events. Every year, the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair welcomes prominent guests such as watch journalists and brand technicians to hold talk shows on a variety of topics, including trends in the watch industry, watchmaking techniques, and suggestions for new ways to enjoy watches. These are usually held at the cal.BAR, and anyone who has visited the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair before will have seen the scene where the sales floor disappears as soon as the talk show begins, and the area around the cal.BAR becomes filled with standing spectators.
Many events are scheduled for this year as well, but one to look out for is the talk show by Masahiro Kikuno, scheduled for 1:8 pm on Sunday, August 3rd. In 2013, at the young age of 30, Kikuno became the first Japanese person to become a full member of the AHCI (Academy of Independent Watchmakers). He is an independent watchmaker who handcrafts unique watches with a Japanese atmosphere, such as the "Wadokei Kai" and "Sakubou." This will be your chance to hear valuable stories about his career and watchmaking.
Additionally, a talk show featuring the hugely popular watch YouTuber RY will be held at 11:8 AM on Saturday, August 16th. Many of you may have seen RY's YouTube channel, "A Life with Watches Channel." RY's channel, which discusses watches from a variety of perspectives in an easy-to-understand and engaging manner, boasts over 11 subscribers, thanks in part to his natural, calm manner of speaking. Also, on the same day as the talk show, RY will be serving as "One-Day Manager" at the A. Lange & Söhne Boutique Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. Why not join RY, who once purchased a "Lange 1" to commemorate reaching 10 subscribers, on a journey to find a milestone watch?
The Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair will be attracting VIPs from not only Japan but also Switzerland. On Saturday, August 23rd, at 3pm, Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel will appear and give a special presentation. Celebrating the brand's 10th anniversary, he will passionately discuss the popular "Revelation" model.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Chronos Japan's publication. To commemorate this, a special talk show will be held on Sunday, August 3rd at 3pm with Editor-in-Chief Masamasa Hirota. Don't miss this talk, which will be delivered from the unique perspective of Chronos Japan, a watch-focused media outlet that has been conveying the appeal of watches for many years.
Other events planned for the Grand Seiko Fair on the first floor stage of the main building include a demonstration of assembling the high-precision Spring Drive movement, Cal. 9RB2, on Saturday, August 23rd, and a talk show on the theme of astronomical clocks by Katsuhiro Sasaki, honorary researcher at the National Museum of Nature and Science, on Sunday, August 17th. Check the special website and find the event you're interested in. Please note that there may be restrictions on the number of participants during busy times.
This summer, reflect on the past and future of watches at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
Clocks are devices that visualize the concept of time. It is no exaggeration to say that their birth significantly changed the history of mankind. The appearance of accurate clocks contributed to the safe operation of means of travel and transportation such as ships, trains, and airplanes, and their portable size and robustness made it possible to explore previously uncharted territories, such as the deep sea, polar regions, the highest mountains, and even outer space.
The widespread availability of inexpensive, accurate quartz watches has created a world in which anyone can easily tell the exact time. Furthermore, in modern times, watches have also become a fashion item that expresses individuality, and the existence of watches has created a culture of its own.
The history of mankind will continue to go on. Watches will surely be by its side, enriching people's lives. Why not take a look back at the time we have traveled so far at the Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair and think about the future that we have yet to see?
Overview of the 28th Mitsukoshi World Watch Fair
[Date]
January 2025-7, 30
【business hours】
10:00-19:00 *Main building 1st floor is open until 19:30
[Venue]
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Main Building 1F Stage / Main Building 1F Jewelry, Main Building 6F Watch Gallery / Jewelry Gallery
【Inquiry】
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Phone: 03-3241-3311 (main number)
[Special site]
https://www.mistore.jp/shopping/event/nihombashi_e/world_watch_50
https://www.mistore.jp/shopping/event/nihombashi_e/world_watch_50
