About ANTE TOKYO

ANTE TOKYO is a vintage watch store located in Ginza, Tokyo, specializing in carefully selected vintage timepieces.

Our collection is centered on vintage Cartier watches for both women and men, including iconic models such as the Tank, Santos, Panthère, and Baignoire, as well as pieces from different periods and design eras.

Alongside enduring classics, we are always interested in rare references, limited-production models, and unusual examples that are seldom seen on the market.

While vintage Cartier is at the heart of our collection, we are not limited to a single brand. From time to time, we encounter watches that immediately capture our attention — a particularly rare model, an exceptional example, or a watch that represents the character of its maker. When a piece genuinely interests us, it may become part of the ANTE TOKYO selection.

Rarity alone, however, is never enough.

The quality and condition of each individual watch are among the most important factors in our selection.

We examine the dial, hands, case, bracelet, movement, and other details to understand how the watch has been preserved over time. We look for a balance between originality as a vintage watch and a condition that allows it to be worn and enjoyed with confidence for years to come.

From sourcing and pre-sale inspection to servicing and after-sales support, we remain involved throughout the life of each watch we offer.

Our aim is to introduce watches that our clients can continue to enjoy for many years.

My connection with watches goes back to my childhood.

My grandfather had a deep interest in mechanical objects, and his influence naturally made me curious about how things worked from an early age.

One day, he took me to an antique shop, where I was shown a pocket watch.

Inside its small case were countless tiny components, precisely assembled and working together to quietly keep time. I still remember how fascinated I was by what I saw.

That pocket watch was my first real encounter with the world of watches.

As I encountered more watches over the years, my interest gradually expanded beyond the mechanics themselves. I became increasingly drawn to the period in which a watch was created, its design, and the story of how it had survived through decades to reach the present day.

To me, part of the appeal of a vintage watch lies in this individuality. Even two examples of the same model can develop very different character and condition over time.

Today, when selecting watches for ANTE TOKYO, I still value the same feeling I had when I first saw that pocket watch — the moment when a watch makes me stop and think, “This is interesting.”

After years of looking at many different watches, what drew me most strongly to Cartier was its approach to design.

A Cartier watch remains beautifully balanced from every angle. The shape of the case, the dial, the hands, the crown, and the bracelet do not feel like separate elements. Each detail seems to have been considered as part of a complete design.

What also fascinates me is that behind each model, there is a reason for its form.

The Tank, Santos, Panthère, and Baignoire are all distinctly different watches. Yet their shapes never feel unusual simply for the sake of being different. Each reflects the period and purpose for which it was created, as well as the aesthetic principles that have long defined Cartier.

The more watches I have seen over the years, the more I have come to appreciate how rare it is for a watchmaker to explore such a wide range of forms while maintaining such a strong sense of balance and beauty in each one.

This is one of the main reasons why, among the many vintage watches we encounter, Cartier has become the heart of the ANTE TOKYO collection.

When selecting watches for ANTE TOKYO, our priority is not to build inventory simply for the sake of quantity.

During a sourcing process, it is not unusual for us to review more than 10,000 watches from Japan and overseas. Depending on the scale, that number can reach tens of thousands.

For example, when reviewing around 10,000 watches, we may acquire only around 20. After further inspection and assessment of their condition, approximately 10 may ultimately meet our standards and be offered through ANTE TOKYO.

Vintage watches can vary significantly in condition, even when they are the same model and from the same period.

We examine the dial, hands, case proportions, engravings, bracelet, movement, and other details to understand how much of the watch’s original design and character has been preserved. We also consider whether the watch can be prepared to a condition in which it can continue to be worn and enjoyed with confidence.

Rare watches still excite us when we encounter them, but rarity alone does not determine what we select.

We introduce only watches that we genuinely find compelling and that meet the quality standards of ANTE TOKYO.

When it comes to vintage watches, we do not believe that looking clean and being in good condition are necessarily the same thing.

Because these watches have lived through decades, we place great importance on how naturally their original character has been preserved — including the dial, hands, case shape, engravings, and other details.

For example, repeated polishing may make a case appear cleaner, but it can also soften or remove the original edges and proportions. Likewise, we do not alter a dial or hands simply to make them look newer.

At ANTE TOKYO, we therefore respect the original condition of dials and hands, while avoiding unnecessary refinishing of cases and bracelets.

At the same time, originality alone does not automatically make a watch a good example.

Early Cartier Santos bracelets, for instance, can show significant wear even when they appear attractive at first glance. If we determine that a bracelet cannot be worn with confidence, we will not offer the watch for sale, regardless of its rarity.

For certain Cartier watches dating from before 1970, where assessment can be particularly difficult, we have the watch examined by Cartier’s workshop in France before offering it for sale.

For us, quality means preserving as much as possible of the watch’s original character while also ensuring that it can continue to function as a watch and be enjoyed with confidence.

We believe both are essential to a truly good vintage watch.

Every vintage watch is different, even when two examples are the same model.

At ANTE TOKYO, we do not simply offer a watch as we find it. Each piece is individually inspected and, when necessary, serviced or overhauled before it is offered for sale.

Our approach is not to refinish every watch in the same way.

We consider the period in which the watch was made, its present condition, and the originality that has been preserved, then determine what work is genuinely necessary for that individual piece.

We also believe that our relationship with a watch does not end when it is sold.

After purchase, our clients can continue to consult us regarding repairs and periodic maintenance so that their watch can be enjoyed with confidence over the years.

From selecting a vintage watch to living with it for years to come, ANTE TOKYO values what happens after the sale just as much as what happens before it.

ANTE TOKYO has a physical store in Ginza, Tokyo.

Visiting the store allows you to experience details that can be difficult to appreciate online, including the size and thickness of a watch, the character of its dial, and how it looks and feels on the wrist.

At our Ginza store, we introduce a wide range of vintage Cartier watches for both women and men.

As our display space is limited, not every watch listed on our online store is kept on display in Ginza at all times. If there is a particular watch you would like to see, we recommend contacting us well in advance of your visit. We will check its availability and storage location and let you know whether it can be viewed at our Ginza store.

We welcome both customers from Japan and international visitors, and Tax-Free shopping is available for eligible customers.

We hope our Ginza store is a place where you can see each watch in person, try it on, and discover the individual character that can only be fully appreciated when holding a vintage watch in your hands.