Grand Seiko Showcases Its Heritage At Watches And Wonders With Three New Timepieces

In 1960, Seiko released Grand Seiko, which aimed to be the most accurate wristwatch in the world. Seven years after its launch, Grand Seiko released the Grand Seiko 44GS and this timepiece set the tone for future timepieces bearing the GS tag. 

At Watches and Wonders, being held in Geneva, the Japanese timepiece maker has revealed three new timepieces that are in keeping with the brand’s grand legacy. 

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Here are the latest models.

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SBGZ009J

After releasing SLGH005 early this year, Grand Seiko has launched the next chapter to its Nature-inspired timepiece. This ‘White Birch’ timepiece, inspired by the white birch tree forests of Japan, has all the right elements in one strong package. 

Part of Grand Seiko’s Masterpiece Collection (Ref. SBGZ009J) is a 38.5 mm platinum watch that celebrates Nature in every conceivable way. Limited to only 50 pieces, the silver-dialled watch has been first polished to create a distortion-free mirror surface, using the famed Zaratsu method. Each pattern, from the lugs to the dial to the bezel, is a tribute to white birch trees. What’s more, Grand Seiko has given a metallic texture to the dial.

 The timepiece also gets diamond-cut hour markers, hour, minute and hands made of 14 ct white gold. There is a grey second hand. The minute track, the lettering and the mark at 6 o’clock are all carved into the dial.  Powering the watch is the manual winding Spring Drive Caliber 9R02 with an 84-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the see-through screw caseback, with ‘Limited Edition’ and the individual watch number engraved on it. 

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Tentagraph 

After releasing its first mechanical complication, Evolution 9, at last year’s Watches and Wonders, Grand Seiko has now unveiled at this year’s event a new mechanical chronograph, called Tentagraph. The new Tentagraph Caliber 9SC5 beats at the rate of ten times per second, thus ensuring high precision. The 43.2 mm, platinum watch features a Mt. Iwate pattern in a blue colour.

 There are two chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock to start and restart the function, along with a black ceramic bezel. There are blue subdials for the chronograph, a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, a 60-seconds counter at 3 o’clock and a date window at 4:30. 

 The enlarged hour, minute hand comes with a two-tone central chronograph hand. The watch is powered by Caliber 9SC5 automatic movement with 72 hours of power reserve. The watch is finished on a titanium bracelet with a titanium three-fold clasp featuring a push button release. Turning the watch over showcases the skeleton caseback in ceramic and titanium, along with a titanium oscillating weight.

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Spring Drive 8-Day Jewelry Watch

Some may not connect Grand Seiko with jewellery watches. But its latest offering in this category may change the perspective. The newly launched Spring Drive 8-Day Jewelry Watch (Ref. SBGD213), limited to only eight pieces, has a 44.5 mm platinum case with 266 diamonds (94 on the dial, 60 on the bezel, 112 on the case), along with 27 blue sapphires (26 on the dial and one on the crown). The angular lugs depict the power of the GS lion. 

 The blue dial comes with enlarged hour, minute hands with a grey seconds hand. If observed carefully, the blue sapphire on the case does act as an hour marker. Powering the watch is the manual winding Caliber 9R01 with 192 hours of power reserve, due to its three barrels arranged in a sequence. Turning the watch over showcases the see-through caseback with ‘Limited Edition’ and the individual watch number out of 8 engraved on it.

 The watch is finished on a crocodile strap with a three-fold clasp featuring a push-button release.

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