Japan Vintage Watch Day on September 26, 2026 · 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. · Mühltal

Saturday, September 26, 2026 · 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
JAPANESE MICROBRANDS
Ober-Ramstädter Str. 96 E, Building 1.E, 2nd Floor
64367 Mühltal
- Admission free · No registration required -

📄 Download preliminary program as PDF

Dear friends of Japanese watches,

A full day for all lovers of vintage Japanese watches: On Saturday, September 26, 2026, we invite you to the first Japan Vintage Watch Day in Mühltal. A curated day in our store where you can handle, compare, and purchase rare pieces from Japan – with our watchmaker on-site and offering services for your own watches that are rarely found at such events.

Feel free to bring your own vintage watch – for a timegrapher check, strap advice, a search request, or to drop it off for repair.

Special Guest: Wancher – for the first time in Germany

A special guest has announced their arrival at short notice: the Japanese watch brand Wancher is traveling all the way from Japan to showcase their timepieces in Germany for the first time. You can view and try on the models at your leisure, including watches with hand-lacquered Urushi dials that are currently sold out in many places, and the Kaguya with its mother-of-pearl moon phase dial.

In addition, individual Urushi dials will be on display. If you find your dream dial, you can order the watch directly from us, and it will then be assembled in Japan. You can purchase some of the watches directly on the day of the event. Furthermore, Wancher will be showing a large selection of fountain pens, some featuring traditional Urushi lacquer; matching Japanese inks will be available from us.

Read about how Urushi dials are created in our Japan Vintage Journal: Urushi: How Wancher’s hand-lacquered dials are made

The Program

• Fresh delivery from Japan – Several hundred vintage watches from Seiko, Citizen, and brands rarely found in Germany, freshly arrived and presented on tables by theme. We introduce the highlights of each theme with a dedicated set card: the history of the watch at a glance, plus a QR code to the product page with all details.
• Exclusive early access: the Event Drop – 36 vintage watches will be shown for the first time on this day and can only be purchased on-site before they go online. This includes a rare Grand Seiko Hi-Beat as the top piece, six King Seikos, and two 6139 Speedtimers – the reference that was already in production before Zenith even made their announcement. We will reveal what else is in the boxes on September 26. None of these will go online beforehand.
• Our watchmaker live in the store – Visible in the room, all day long – expert questions are explicitly encouraged.
• Free services for your own watches – Timegrapher check and demagnetization for every visitor – free, no registration required, in just a few minutes.
• Strap Corner – Individual strap consultations for your vintage piece with a large selection to try out – right on your own wrist. Highlight: for straps purchased from us on the day, we will install quick-release spring bars upon request and mount them directly to your watch at no extra cost.
• Japan Search Service: We’ll take your request to Japan – Tell us your dream watch – a specific model or, for example, your birth year. During our trip to Japan in October, we will specifically look for it. If we find it, you will be notified and have a three-day exclusive right of first refusal.
• Drop-off station: Japan Repair & Restoration Service – Hand over your watch in person for our new repair and restoration service. On October 1, our first consolidated shipment goes to specialized watchmakers in Japan. Anyone who wants to send their watch to Japan with this first shipment can drop it off directly with us on the day of the event. Transparent cost estimate, personal support from us.
• Launch of the Japanese Microbrands Club – Our Japanese Microbrands Club launches on the day of the event: 24-hour early access to everything new arriving in the shop – new watches, vintage pieces, limited editions. Newsletter subscribers are automatically included; those who are not yet signed up can do so directly on-site. Free and with no obligation.

Win: King Seiko Vanac 1972 · Value approx. €900

We are raffling off a rare King Seiko Vanac 5626-7160 to all visitors, original from October 1972 – from the Daini era, featuring a blue gradient dial, the distinctive nine-faceted crystal, and the original automatic caliber 5626A, which was serviced in Japan a few years ago. Fifty years on the wrist have left their marks: this watch is unpolished, lived-in, and carries its own history – exactly what makes it so appealing to collectors.

Fill out a raffle ticket at the entrance, drop it in the box – done. No purchase, no registration necessary. The draw will take place on September 27, 2026, and the winner will be notified personally.

Terms and conditions: Participation in the raffle for the King Seiko Vanac 5626-7160 is only possible in person on-site on September 26, 2026, during the Japan Vintage Watch Day at JAPANESE MICROBRANDS. No prior registration or purchase is required. Participants must be at least 18 years old. The drawing takes place on September 27, 2026; the winner will be notified personally afterwards. The prize cannot be paid out in cash or transferred to other persons. Legal recourse is excluded. Employees of JAPANESE MICROBRANDS and their relatives are excluded from participation.

Good to know

We do not offer appraisals or purchases on the day of the event – if you would like to sell a watch, please feel free to arrange a separate appointment with us. We do not open third-party watches at the event; anything beyond timegrapher checks, demagnetization, and strap changes will go through our regular intake process. Drinks and light snacks will be provided.

Directions: The Wackerfabrik is located on Ober-Ramstädter Straße in Mühltal, between Darmstadt and the Odenwald. Parking is available directly on the premises; the store is located in Building 1.E on the 2nd floor.

📄 Download preliminary program as PDF

This program is preliminary – individual points may still change or be added before the event. You can find the current version here on this page.

We look forward to your visit.

Best regards
Your JAPANESE MICROBRANDS team