Male customers, mainly in their 30s, who are looking to dress more maturely or have taken on more responsibility at work, often visit the watch department on the 5th floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku store looking for a watch that suits them at the moment.

The majority of these requests are for a mechanical watch. To answer their desire to "select a watch that will be special to them," Watch & Jewelry Concierge Mie Aoki shared some tips on choosing your first mechanical watch.

What is a mechanical movement?

Mr. Aoki: Wristwatch movements are broadly divided into two types: "mechanical" and "quartz (battery-powered)." Mechanical movements, which use a mainspring as a power source, are divided into two types: "automatic" and "manually wound." The more effort you put into setting the time and winding the mainspring, the more you'll grow to love your watch. With regular maintenance, mechanical watches can be enjoyed for many years.

How do I choose a face size?

Mr. Aoki: The most common diameter is 38-42mm. The smaller the size, the more classic the look. While your everyday fashion and personal preferences are important, the most important thing when choosing a face size is to choose one that fits your wrist. If you have a slender figure, choosing a larger face size can look unbalanced.

Which strap is best: a bracelet or a leather strap?

For those looking for their first watch, we recommend a bracelet type, which is durable and easy to care for. The elegant leather strap is appealing because it can be coordinated with other fashions, but in Japan's humid summers, wearing it every day can cause premature wear. For this reason, we recommend switching to a rubber strap during the summer.

Four Watches Selected by Watch & Jewelry Concierge Mr. Aoki

Frederique Constant "Classic Index Automatic Heart Beat" (¥187,000)
Stainless steel case: 40mm diameter / 5 ATM water resistance / Automatic movement
Available at: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 5th floor = Watches



Longines "Longines Master Collection" (¥293,700)
Stainless steel case: 40mm diameter / Annual calendar / Water resistance to 3 ATM / Automatic winding
Available at: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 5th floor, Watches
Mr. Aoki: Among models with an annual calendar (※1), this is a reasonably priced model that also exudes a subtle individuality. Its intellectual aura makes it suitable for business settings. *1 Annual calendar: A calendar function that automatically corrects and displays the date for one year. It automatically determines the number of days in each month except for February, so you only need to manually correct the date once a year.




Grand Seiko "Heritage Collection" Exclusive to Isetan Shinjuku (¥649,000) Stainless steel case: 40mm diameter / 10 bar water resistance / Automatic Spring Drive Available at: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 5th floor, Watches
Mr. Aoki: Grand Seiko watches are synonymous with "trustworthy watches" and recommended for business meetings and other occasions. This model is equipped with Spring Drive (※2). This Isetan Shinjuku limited edition model features a sophisticated blue dial accented with a yellow second hand.
※2 Spring Drive: A mechanism that uses a mainspring as its power source to achieve high accuracy of ±1 second per day, equivalent to quartz.



Breitling "Navitimer Chronograph 41" (¥792,000)
Stainless steel case: 41mm diameter / Chronograph / Water resistant to 3 ATM / Automatic winding
Available at: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 5th floor, Watches
Mr. Aoki: If you're looking for a brand-iconic design, Breitling's pilot's watch is another option, with its strong personality and presence. It may be expensive for a first watch, but it's a model that will give you great satisfaction when you wear it.


Being particular about your watch will increase your motivation at work and help you move forward to the next phase of your career. If it's your first mechanical watch, we recommend choosing one that's "easy to read, timeless, and suitable for everyday wear."


Watch & Jewelry Concierge Mie Aoki
A CWC watch coordinator certified by the Japan Watch Importers Association and a jewelry coordinator certified by the Japan Jewelry Association. She will help you choose the perfect watch based on your preferences, fashion, and lifestyle.