Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko philosophy
THE NATURE OF TIME
The brand celebrates the Japanese spirituality of time that is deeply inspired by nature and her seasons and brought to life by Takumi, the dedicated seekers of mastery.
It was the determination to excel that brought about the birth of Grand Seiko in 1960. During its development and ever since, the idea that drove the designers and engineers was that Grand Seiko should be the ‘ideal’ watch with standards of precision, durability and beauty that would lead the world.
Today, Grand Seiko is true to these ideals and accepts its inherited responsibility to rise to new challenges in every aspect of watchmaking. For over six decades, Grand Seiko has used its craftsmanship, ingenuity and skills to make watches that express the uniquely Japanese aesthetic of the “Michi”. The journey towards perfection continues.
History
Since its inception, Grand Seiko’s mission has been to design the most advanced and practical watches in the world, and in 1960 the first Grand Seiko watch was introduced in Japan. The first Grand Seiko model was produced in Suwa Seikosha (now Seiko Epson) in Nagano prefecture in central Japan.
1967 Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments) produced its first Grand Seiko watch: mechanical 44GS. It was the first model to embody the exterior design concept of ‘Grand Seiko Style’ which endures to this day. Soon after the first Grand Seiko self-winding model follows. The crown was recessed and placed at the 4 o’clock position to dramatize the fact that hand winding was not required.
1968 the first Grand Seiko self-winding model with a 10 beat movement: mechanical 61GS.
1969 mechanical 61GS V.F.A and 45GS V.F.A. These super high precision models sought to explore the farthest limits of accuracy in a mechanical watch. They delivered a monthly rate of ± one minute.
1970’s after accuracy, size reduction was the next challenge for Grand Seiko. Thinner, easy to wear models were designed with the same high precision movements.
1998 9S5 series, the first new Grand Seiko mechanical calibre in twenty years. It set a new Grand Seiko standard, with cutting-edge production technology making possible a new interpretation of the traditional values of Grand Seiko.
2020 9SA5, a new high beat mechanical caliber, which in its design and functionality represented an advance just as important as the first 9S.
2021 The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours won the Men’s Watch Prize at the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
Manufacture
The Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi is located in the mountainous area of Iwate prefecture in Northern Japan while the Shinshu Watch Studio is surrounded by the beautiful mountains and lakes of Shinshu in the center of the country.
While having different locations and histories, the two studios are equally committed to the same, strict standards of Grand Seiko’s philosophy of manufacture and every detail from development, design and manufacturing to assembly and adjustment is meticulously planned and conducted in-house.
Three types of movements are used in the Grand Seiko collection. Mechanical, from the Hi-Beat 36,000 to 28,800 vph.
Spring Drive that brings together mechanical and electronic watchmaking for the best of both worlds.
Exclusive quartz movements with uniquely high functionality
Evolution 9 Collection
Just as Calibers 9SA5 and 9RA2 make significant and defining statements about the future of Grand Seiko’s technical development, this collection charts a new course for its design. It speaks to the next generation with its confident lines, powerful presence and quiet radiance but also draws on its deep roots in the traditions and culture of Japan.
Its heritage and pedigree are immediately clear. It is true in every way to the principles of the Grand Seiko Style that were defined in 1967 with the celebrated 44GS but translates them anew for the decades to come. Grand Seiko’s hallmark attributes of precision, legibility and beauty are plain to see in every detail but there is a new power and depth in both the shape of the case and the look of the dial. This collection’s design exudes strength and has a powerful presence yet remains understated and restrained.
Discover Evolution 9 Collection
Heritage Collection
The Heritage Collection is the very heart of Grand Seiko and comprises timepieces which emphasize well-balanced design and express the simple, pure essentials of watchmaking. It offers a selection of classic watches that bring alive again the designs and styles of the earliest Grand Seiko timepieces including the 44GS and 62GS from 1967, re-interpreted with the very latest movements, manufacturing techniques and craftsmanship. The collection embodies the uniquely Japanese Grand Seiko aesthetic and offers the simple perfection in both performance and finishing for which Grand Seiko has always been renowned.
Sport Collection
Designed for those who love sport and aim high
The core attributes of Grand Seiko are perfectly in tune with the world of sport. Legibility and durability are qualities that the discerning sports watch lover needs and desires, making Grand Seiko a natural choice for those who demand the very best. From diver’s watches to chronographs to watches with a GMT function and from automatic to Spring Drive, the Sport Collection offers a wide and enticing selection.
Elegance Collection
While every watch in the Elegance Collection has, of course, the strength and resilience to be worn every day, they all also offer a special level of refinement that makes them the perfect choice for those landmark occasions in life where everything has to be just right. Each Elegance Collection timepiece gives its owner the reassurance and confidence that comes from knowing that he or she is wearing the very best. Whether at a midday wedding, a late afternoon reception or an evening celebration, an Elegance Collection watch is the perfect companion, with its subtle beauty shining through in any light conditions. It is a collection in which Grand Seiko’s Japanese aesthetic and the purity of the designs combine to ensure that the elegance is everlasting.
Evolution 9 Collection
SLGA007
Heritage Collection
SBGR315
Sport Collection
SBGN023
Elegance Collection
SBGJ249
Elegance Collection
SBGW231
The three movements at the heart of Grand Seiko
9S Mechanical
Between 200 and 300 individual components, mechanical watches must exhibit a near-perfect consistency in the detail of these parts to ensure the precision of the movement. High technology plays an important part in ensuring the level of performance required by the Grand Seiko Standard. For example, Seiko employs Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in the manufacturing of its escapements.
The task of assembling each Grand Seiko watch is carried out by craftsmen and women who have honed their craft to such an extent that they can adjust parts by hand to tolerances of one hundredth of a millimeter. It is the combination of high technology and this skilled craftsmanship that ensures the very precise timekeeping of each 9S mechanical movement.
9R Spring Drive
Spring Drive is a unique watch technology. It generates energy like every other luxury mechanical watch but combines this with an electronic regulator to deliver a level of precision that no mechanical watch can match.
The development of Spring Drive was possible because Grand Seiko is one of the very few manufacturers with mastery of both electronic and mechanical watchmaking.
9F Quartz
Precision and longevity are the very essence of the ideal timepiece and had always been central to the ideals of Grand Seiko. Caliber 9F was designed to bring these attributes to the quartz watch and it set new standard for quartz in every aspect of its performance.
The Instant Date Change Mechanism changes the date display in the blink of an eye. The Backlash Auto-Adjust Mechanism ensures that the seconds hand lands exactly on the marker with no shudder, adding to the precision with which the time can be read.
Caliber 9F redefines the quartz watch, delivering higher performance and greater durability. It is a quartz caliber that truly merits the name Grand Seiko.