Japanese watchmaker, Grand Seiko, recently celebrated their Watches & Wonders releases at an evening fête on Rodeo Drive. The event was primarily for recurring patrons but a few invites were extended to lucky add-ons.

If you’re unfamiliar with Watches & Wonders, its an annual trade show held in Geneva where notable watch brands unveil their latest pieces. For those of us who didn’t jet off to Switzerland, Grand Seiko is taking their watches on an exclusive world tour.

Tucked behind an unassuming storefront on Rodeo Drive, this boutique’s petite size means it actually shares its address with the adjacent space (hence, 439 1/2). As soon as you’ve stepped inside though, the scale doesn’t really matter. Soaring ceilings give way to glistening, mirrored showcases filled with special timepieces.

Bonus, the back of the boutique opens onto a sun soaked terrace and courtyard!

Once inside, our wonderful client advisor wasted no time walking us through the pieces. Not yet available for purchase (expect arrivals starting late summer) it was thrilling to see a first look at what Grand Seiko has dreamed up.

First up, dress watches from the Evolution 9 Collection. On the left, their newest arrival is inspired by the white birch trees prevalent in northern Japan. Textured dials – often inspired by nature – are a trademark of the brand’s design language.

Also hailing from the Evolution 9 Collection, this piece is inspired by Genbi Valley and has a limited run of just 1,000. The hypnotic dial is a minty ode to its namesake.

Then the real excitement began with some vault pieces! After donning gloves, attendees were invited to see and handle the Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon. Belonging to their Masterpiece Collection, this design is limited to only 20 pieces.

Expected to land around the holidays, the price tag is north of a quarter-million and pieces are sure to be allocated to their most loyal clients.

The tourbillon class of watches is a highly complex achievement which counteracts the negative affects of gravity on timekeeping. A jewel in the crown of any brand who manufactures them, these timepieces are always rare and always sought after.

Next, we were introduced to Joe Kirk the Brand Curator of Grand Seiko America. I felt like a sponge listening to him speak and delving into the stories of the brand.

He obligingly showed us what was on his own wrist – a very special watch not on display in boutiques. Crafted by the Micro Artist Studio (think atelier within an atelier), this variation of the Spring Drive 8 Day evokes a canopy of stars.

Combining both painting and enamel techniques it creates a night sky trompe l’œil.

And while the front is a masterpiece, the back is a love letter to detail.

Oriented from the viewpoint of the watchmaking studio, Joe explained that the back unfolds as a sort of map. The watch’s bridge, seen top left, is a nod to Mount Fuji paired with a rising sun; the power reserve on right is emblematic of nearby Lake Suwa; while the rubies throughout represent the nighttime lights of the city of Suwa.

Of course, in addition to weaving a story the bridge, power reserve, and rubies each serve their functional, intended purpose. Detail at its finest!

Apparently soaking in all this knowledge gave us an appetite so we headed out to the terrace for nibbles.

The setting sun washed us in a golden glow and we were invited to indulge in sushi prepared onsite.

The chef refreshed the buffet with platter after platter of deliciously fresh fish throughout the evening.

We wound down our time making fast friends with other attendees, bonding over our love of watches. Even for an introvert like me, a shared enthusiasm in collecting facilitates strangers-to-friends in record time.

When the last rays of sun faded away, we left Los Angeles behind and returned to Orange County, slipped into the dimly lit booths of our local Korean spot, and relived the evening’s memories over steaming plates of rosé ddeok-bokki and fried chicken.