Oomiya Kyoto store relocates and reopens on Shijo Street in Kyoto

Oomiya Kyoto, a watch specialty store, relocated to Shijo Street in Kyoto in February and reopened after a renovation. In addition to being in a more convenient location closer to the station, the store has begun carrying four new brands, including Girard-Perregaux.

Oomiya Kyoto store relocated and renovated

　Oomiya operates six watch specialty stores, including the "Oomiya Wakayama Main Store" in Wakayama Prefecture. Of these, the "Oomiya Kyoto Store," which was located along Karasuma-dori in Kyoto, has relocated and reopened in an expanded location.

　The new location is conveniently located across from the Daimaru Kyoto store, just a one-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway and Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. While the nearest station remains the same, it is now even easier to access than before.

　This latest reopening is billed as an expansion, and the store has begun handling four new brands: Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Girard-Perregaux, and Grand Seiko. Each brand has its own dedicated corner, and offers a wide range of products, including not only standard models but also limited editions.

　Furthermore, following the renewal, Breitling, a brand that was previously available at the store, has been separated into the Breitling Boutique Kyoto, which is also operated by Omiya.

　The store's concept is to allow customers to "take their time and enjoy themselves," and a new bar counter has been installed inside the store, allowing customers to sit back and look at watches or engage in lively discussions about watches with other customers.

3 Recommended Girard-Perregaux Models at Oomiya Kyoto Store

　Here we will introduce three recommended Girard-Perregaux models that Oomiya Kyoto store has recently started carrying.

Laureato 42mm

The Laureato is the brand's signature luxury sports watch, which debuted in 1975. The current, fourth-generation model was released as a limited edition in 2016 before becoming a regular model the following year in 2017. It inherits features from the original model, such as the iconic octagonal bezel inspired by the canopy of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Italy, the dial with its Clou de Paris pattern, and the integrated bracelet. Its excellent fit and beautiful exterior, featuring a combination of polished and hairline finishes, have earned it acclaim, making it a sought-after collection that is now difficult to obtain.

Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date & Moon Phase

　The late Luigi Macaluso, the founder of Girard-Perregaux's revival, actively worked on the development of in-house movements and the launch of new collections with distinctive designs after becoming CEO. Under his direction, the "Vintage 1945," inspired by the 1945 model, was released in 1995. Macaluso had already passed away by the time the "Vintage 45 XXL Large Date & Moon Phase" introduced here was released in 2015, but the watch's Art Deco design and in-house movement strongly reflect his legacy.

Newsboy 2.0

　This limited edition model is a reproduction of the LED watch that debuted in 1976. The original used a polycarbonate material called Makrolon, stainless steel, or gold-plated stainless steel for the case and bracelet, but this model uses ceramic. Hypoallergenic, scratch-resistant, and lightweight, ceramic is an ideal material for watches, but due to the difficulty of processing it is rarely used outside of high-end models. As expected from the use of ceramic, the exterior of this LED watch has the unmistakable finish of a high-end watch. It is an ambitious work that faithfully reproduces the icon of the past while also incorporating a design that is appropriate for current branding.