GatheringsUBS House of Craft Celebrates Grand Seiko in Miami

Few brands are as synonymous with elite craftsmanship as Grand Seiko. From the meticulous zaratsu polishing of its cases to its dials inspired by birch forests and cherry blossoms, Grand Seiko has earned a loyal following for its uniquely Japanese approach to aesthetics and its innovative movements. That distinction made the revered Japanese watchmaker a natural fit for our latest installment of UBS House of Craft, a global series celebrating excellence in craft across diverse disciplines. Designed as a platform for dialogue and discovery, UBS House of Craft invites guests to engage with true masters of craft through intimate events with the goal of fostering meaningful exchanges. To this end, a small group of UBS guests and Grand Seiko owners joined Grand Seiko Designer Mr. Akira Yoshida, Grand Seiko Brand Curator Joe Kirk, and Hodinkee's TanTan Wang for an afternoon of cocktails, conversation, and watches in Miami.

As an exclusive membership community reserved for owners of Grand Seiko timepieces, the GS9 Club is a celebration of the brand's most passionate collectors and connoisseurs. Among the perks of membership are access to limited-edition watches, special experiences, and curated events that reflect the brand's craftsmanship and Japanese heritage. As such, the latest UBS House of Craft event, dubbed The Art of Precision, offered an inside look at the skill and dedication of Grand Seiko's artisan watchmakers, along with the spectacular creations that result from their efforts.

The venue was The Club at the Moore Miami, a century-old landmark-turned boutique hotel in the Design District, and one of the most stylish destinations in the city. Featuring a soaring sculptural installation by Zaha Hadid, and a palette of sumptuous natural materials, the members-only space was the perfect locale for the city's first-ever gathering of GS9.

​Following welcome remarks from Brice Le Troadec, President of Grand Seiko Corporation of America, guests were treated to an in-depth discussion between TanTan Wang and Joe Kirk, who is considered to be among the world's foremost experts in all things Grand Seiko. Later in the day, Wang sat down with Akira Yoshida to discuss the inspiration, creative process, and craft that go into his work designing Grand Seiko watches. Following this conversation, guests were invited to observe as Yoshida created a live-sketched drawing of a Grand Seiko watch, which was raffled off at the end of the day.

While only one attendee took home Yoshida's signed sketch, everyone who was fortunate enough came away with something almost as valuable: a deeper understanding of what makes Grand Seiko's watches so special.

This event was produced  in partnership with UBS and Grand Seiko