The Renaissance of Luxury

Today, 61 years after its official birth, Grand Seiko is enjoying a true renaissance after it went from being available for sale only in Japan to being sold globally for the past 10 years. Granted, it took a bit of time to get the word out about this innovative and dynamic line, but once Seiko witnessed the attention it was garnering, it quickly spun Grand Seiko off into its own brand. That was just about three years ago, and the response has been remarkable.

Grand Seiko is all about creating luxury watches and in-house calibers that deliver form and function, as well as great aesthetics. In fact, for its 60^th anniversary in 2020, Grand Seiko unveiled several high-tech calibers, new limited-edition anniversary watches, and it even opened a state-of-the-art workshop dedicated to creating high-precision movements.

The Harmony of Form and Function

The Grand Seiko repertoire runs the gamut with tourbillon timepieces, ultra-thin watches, and high-frequency movements that are extremely precise. As a matter of fact, one of the brand’s more coveted collections is the Hi-Beat 36000 series that is so precise it is accurate to +5 to -3 seconds per day. The brand even focuses on offering longer power reserves for its mechanical watches than would ordinarily be expected.

Additionally, the master artisans at Grand Seiko craft the brand’s watches using the finest materials, from noble metals such as gold and platinum to exquisite lacquer and painted dials. Every detail of a Grand Seiko watch – both inside and out – is thoughtfully considered and executed.

Moreover, Grand Seiko has opened its own stand-alone boutiques in strategic cities around the world, further underscoring the brand’s autonomy.

New Releases

This year, in honor of the 140^th anniversary of its parent brand, Grand Seiko is releasing a host of new watches. Among them: the 9F86 Quartz GMT with a sportier appeal thanks to a bold case architecture and alluring angles.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the Heritage collection and the Series 9 Design, with a particular favorite, the new SLGH005, paying tribute to the white birch trees found in northern areas of Japan.

The dial of the SLGH005 is finely detailed and textured to capture the essence of the bark found on the shirakaba (white birch) trees near the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi. More importantly, this watch is powered by the brand’s Caliber 9SA5 with Dual Impulse escapement, which sets a new standard for high-beat watchmaking.

Grand Seiko has an affinity for nature, art, and culture, so in addition to creating watch dials and colors inspired by Japan’s landscape, the brand is also turning its attention to the arts. This year, Grand Seiko will be the Official Timekeeper for Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Photography by Watchonista Creative Studios.