Ginza Wako, beneath the famous Ginza clock tower, is best known for Seiko watches. But Wako’s dazzling selection also offers a top-notch Tokyo jewelry shopping experience! Inside this historic luxury specialty shop you’ll find a wide array of sophisticated pieces and exclusive items, including original Wako designs made with Ashoka diamonds, colored diamonds, and Akoya pearls, along with the Wabi natural gemstone series – collections that have earned decades of trust and acclaim in Japan.

Tokyo’s Timepiece Shopping Destination, Also a Home to Art & Fashion

Taking pride of place on one corner of the iconic Ginza 4-chome intersection, the classical Seiko Clock Tower building that houses Ginza Wako is a landmark every visitor stops to admire. The tall glass display windows facing the intersection are so well-known in Japan that they’re called “the face of Ginza” (銀座”顔”).

While Ginza Wako is best known as a wonderland for watch shopping, particularly for Seiko Group brands, it’s also a full-fledged luxury specialty store offering fashion, accessories, art and artisan pieces, and of course, exquisite jewelry. In recent years, the creation of the “Arts & Culture” space on the basement level has brought an additional infusion of Japanese craftsmanship, artistry, and high fashion to Wako’s selection, to provide visitors with a new experience of art in Ginza.

This time, we’ll be stepping into the world of gemstones and jewelry at Ginza Wako to explore a brilliant collection of elegant pieces – items that, like watches, require precision, artistry, and the highest level of craftsmanship!

Wako Jewelry: 3 Signature Collections, Where Curated Gemstones Meet Japanese Craftsmanship

Ginza Wako’s 2nd-floor Jewelry Plaza showcases a sophisticated selection of high-end jewelry, beginning with Wako’s own in-house jewelry brands. Wako’s original jewelry is created using gemstones carefully selected from around the world, designed by Wako’s own Japanese jewelry designers, and crafted by skilled artisans. Each piece embodies a distinctive “Wako style,” defined by the brand’s historic legacy.

Wako began as the retail division of the Hattori Tokeiten (服部時計店), or “Hattori Watch Shop,” which eventually grew to become the Seiko Group. However, Wako went on to become independent in 1947, and soon expanded into the realm of original jewelry design. Building on the refined sense of style the brand had been cultivating since Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912), Ginza Wako established a team of dedicated jewelry designers and artisans who continue to produce new pieces for the constantly-evolving modern world. Whether you prefer to wear sparkling diamonds, elegant pearls, or colorful gemstones, you’ll now find pieces to suit every style at Wako.

In addition to Wako’s original designs, the Jewelry Plaza also features select pieces from other renowned Japanese and international jewelry brands. Below, we’ll explore three of Wako’s most popular collections.

① The Ashoka Kyo Diamond Collection: Polished “Omamori” Jewelry

When it comes to jewelry at Wako, the unrivaled shine of the Ashoka Diamond collection makes it difficult to overlook! Originally created in the United States, the Ashoka Diamond has become world-renowned for its eye-catching elegance, and a staple of celebrities walking Hollywood’s red carpets. Ashoka Diamonds are unique thanks to the patented cut, shaped into a classical elongated cushion cut with carefully selected proportions, and 62 precisely crafted facets designed to reflect light with extraordinary brilliance and clarity.

Although the diamonds themselves arrive from overseas, each finished piece gives the radiant gemstones a touch of the Japanese aesthetic through the designs of Wako’s in-house jewelry designers and artisans, culminating in the signature Ashoka Kyo series.

The concept that drives the Ashoka Kyo collection is unique, referred to as “omamori jewelry,” and inspired by Japan’s protective “omamori” talismans. Each piece is meant to accompany the wearer through life, adding to special occasions but also brightening everyday moments. Putting on one of these Ashoka Diamond pieces feels like carrying a lucky charm, lifting our spirits as our favorite items so often do!

From a design perspective, Wako’s jewelers drew from the Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi, finding inspiration in his concept of the serenity of “a polished mirror and still water” (明鏡止水). The Ashoka Diamond itself symbolizes the clarity of still water, set between highly polished metal mounts that gleam like mirrors. These “mirrors,” however, rise subtly like a mountain ridge (a sophisticated metalworking technique that requires exceptional craftsmanship), resulting in designs that reflect the diamond’s brilliance even more perfectly. Through this blend of thoughtful design and craftsmanship, the Ashoka Kyo series seeks to accompany modern wearers like a protective charm, encouraging us to face life’s many moments with grace, and a bright outlook.

The Ashoka Kyo diamond collection includes pieces crafted with both the cool brilliance of platinum and the warm glow of gold, and in yellow gold, the diamond’s radiance resembles the soft warmth of sunlight reflecting off water. You’ll find necklaces, rings, and earrings made from both materials, each piece versatile, elegant, and comfortable to wear. What’s more – in Japan, Ashoka Diamonds can currently be purchased exclusively at Ginza Wako.

Plus: Wako Colored Diamond Jewelry

If the sparkle of clear, colorless diamonds doesn’t quite satisfy your desire for something unique, Wako’s colored diamond jewelry may be just what you’re looking for. Colored diamonds have seen an increase in popularity in recent years, and Wako’s exclusive original designs include a number of pieces using these unique gemstones. The selection includes a variety of yellow diamonds, trendy yellow-green diamonds, exceedingly rare blue diamonds, and the darling of the colored diamond world – pink diamonds, too.

Pink diamonds are treasured not only for their soft, feminine appeal, but also because their primary source, the Argyle Mine in Australia, closed in 2020. This event created a stir in the international gemstone industry, affecting the balance of supply and demand, and making pink diamonds all the more coveted. Wako’s jewelry collection offers a curated selection of both the highly prized diamonds from the Argyle Mine and other pink-hued examples. Each one is mesmerizing in its own way, capturing the hearts of many who see them. The gemstone in the photo above, referred to as an “African Pink” diamond, carries a subtle violet-tinted hue, giving it a soft, mysterious air.

② The Akoya Pearl Jewelry Collection: Subtle Japanese Elegance

In contrast to the dazzling brilliance of diamonds, pearl jewelry embodies a refined elegance that resonates with the understated beauty often associated with Japanese aesthetics, and the shimmering ornaments have been cherished and admired since ancient times. Formed naturally within mollusks, pearls are gems of the sea, and thanks to Japan’s abundant coastline, the country has been a renowned pearl-producing region for centuries. Even today, pearls cultivated from the Japanese Akoya oyster remain highly sought after worldwide, as the celebrated Akoya Pearls.

At Wako, the store’s jewelry design team crafts a wide variety of Akoya pearl jewelry, from timeless pearl strands and single-pearl earrings, to modern designs that incorporate platinum or gold settings. These subtle pieces harmonize with any style, and the Akoya pearls bring out the elegance of formal attire, business wear, or even casual everyday outfits.

③ The Wabi Natural Gemstone Collection: One-of-a-Kind Japanese Designs

In addition to the diamonds and pearls, Ginza Wako’s Jewelry Plaza also showcases many jewelry pieces made from other natural gemstones from a variety of brands (including Gimel, which we’ll get to below). Among them, one of the most distinctive original Wako collections is the Wabi Collection of natural gemstones. The name Wabi is derived from the Japanese words “wa” (which means both harmony and Japan) and “bi” (beauty). True to its name, this collection reflects Japanese culture and the essence of “Japanese beauty.” Wako’s designers draw inspiration from some of Japan’s poetic concepts and seasonal imagery, utilizing the meticulous skills of Japanese artisans to create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Each piece is very literally unique, with only a single item made for each design.

Every accessory in this collection is infused with classical Japanese motifs, making them fascinating in addition to being beautiful. One example is the striking yet understated yellow sapphire necklace called the “Jusan-ya” (十三夜, Thirteenth Night). The name Jusan-ya refers to the night on the 13th day of the 9th month in Asia’s traditional lunar calendars, and while the “15th night” might be better known as the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival across many countries in Asia, Japan also has its own moon-viewing traditions. In Japan, heading out to admire the moon on Jusan-ya is tradition, as the date often lines up better with the Japanese climate and harvest season. Even when using historic agricultural methods, most regions of Japan have traditionally completed their harvests by this point, making it an ideal occasion to give thanks under the moonlight. Going by the lunar calendar, the moon is never full on Jusan-ya, but it is admired as the “next most beautiful moon” after Jugoya moon.

This story of Jusan-ya traditions reflects Japan’s classical culture, especially its appreciation for rough, incomplete elegance – Japanese customs often notice the genuine, approachable beauty that can be found in imperfection. Wako’s designers worked to capture and distill the elegance of this aesthetic in the necklace, using delicate goldwork set with diamonds to outline the shadowed shape of the moon, all around a radiant yellow sapphire.

Other inspirations for the Wabi series come from Japanese seasonal traditions and crafts, including flower-filled fountains at shrines and temples, the fresh “green rain” said to fall in early summer, nadeshiko or “dianthus” flowers (one of Japan’s seven flowers of autumn, and a symbol of Japanese femininity), as well as kasuri, an Edo-period textile technique used on kimono fabrics. Each theme is transformed by Wako’s designers and artisans into exquisite jewelry, making each Wabi piece an irreplacable treasure for those who love Japanese culture, value “Made in Japan” craftsmanship, or appreciate jewelry as art.

If you’re interested in the Wabi collection, you can inquire at the Jewelry Plaza on Wako’s 2nd floor. Because each Wabi piece is unique, they are not usually left on display – these are rare items, designed for those in the know.

Jewelry From Other Brands: Lively Accessories From Gimel

Jewelry enthusiasts with an appreciation for art pieces may already know of Gimel, a Japanese jewelry brand founded in Ashiya, a part of Hyogo Prefecture. Guided by the philosophy of “capturing the beauty of nature through jewelry art” for over 50 years, Gimel transforms plants, animals, and seasonal motifs into vibrant jewelry designs. Coveted worldwide, Gimel’s artistic creations are regularly seen at prestigious auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

Each Gimel accessory is crafted with extraordinary precision and delicacy, designed to resemble miniature watercolor paintings, but still gleam with the brilliance only gemstones can provide. From the gentle gradient of greens on a leaf to the subtle hues of a flower petal, the colors are shockingly vivid and lifelike, reflecting both the designer’s perceptive nature observation skills and the exceptional skill of Japanese artisans. One of Gimel’s key principles is “Maximum Gem, Minimum Metal,” and the brand clearly endeavors to use gemstones to their fullest, keeping the stones in the spotlight and letting metal act in a supporting role.

Gimel’s meticulousness extends even to the unseen parts of their jewelry, letting wearers enjoy hidden surprises like tiny insects found on the reverse side of many plant-themed pieces. As Gimel’s art director Kaoru Akihara explains, “in Japan, even hidden areas like the lining of a haori jacket or innerwear like under-kimonos are treated with care.” Gimel’s philosophy adds a new level to the international discussion of “Made in Japan” products, and their passion as a Japanese brand is clear.

Visitors to Ginza Wako’s Jewelry Plaza will find a wide range of Gimel pieces – especially worth a visit for anyone with a love for whimsical, nature-inspired jewelry.

Find Japanese Craftsmanship and Tokyo Sophistication at Ginza Wako

From Wako’s original designs to the unique selections from other Japanese brands, a visit to Ginza Wako’s jewelry boutique is like a little journey through Japan’s artistry and elegant aesthetic. Each piece reflects the vision and dedication of its designers and artisans: the brilliance and international appeal of the Ashoka Kyo diamond series, the refined subtlety of the Akoya pearl pieces, the cultural appeal and singular beauty of the Wabi natural gemstone collection, and the painterly imagery of Gimel.

If you love jewelry, or simply enjoy admiring beautiful things, a visit to Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood is not complete without stepping inside this local landmark. Head to the 2nd-floor Jewelry Plaza and you’ll find countless exquisite pieces, alongside the Grand Seiko flagship boutique and the Credor Salon, where you can also explore Seiko’s watchmaking heritage.

Beyond jewelry, Ginza Wako’s Arts & Culture space in the basement also introduces visitors to a variety of traditional Japanese artisan crafts, from glittering Edo kiriko cut glass to woven bamboo pieces elevated to fine art. With rotating exhibitions, there’s always something new to experience – check the official Ginza Wako Arts & Culture website for the latest details before your visit.

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