Grand Seiko is a world-renowned Japanese luxury watch brand. The brand’s highly sophisticated designs and mechanisms have earned it a reputation for being comparable to Swiss watch brands, and there are many watch enthusiasts overseas as well. In this issue, we introduce the charm of Grand Seiko, which still carries on the spirit of Japanese “monozukuri” (craftsmanship)!
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What is Grand Seiko?
Grand Seiko is a luxury wristwatch brand developed by SEIKO, a long-established Japanese wristwatch manufacturer. Grand Seiko was born in 1960, when there was a strong tendency to think of luxury watches as ” Swiss ” more than ever before, as a challenge to Swiss watch brands.
Grand Seiko’s concept is “the best of the ordinary” and “the pinnacle of practical watches. As if to symbolize this concept, the design of Grand Seiko watches is universal. The appearance of the watches, free of unnecessary ornamentation, is a refined beauty that cannot be faked.
And the watches made by a group of specialized watchmakers combine the best technical skills of the time. From parts production to assembly, everything is done in Japan. The new collection presented every year at “BASELWORLD,” a jewelry and watch festival held in Basel, Switzerland, is highly regarded as a practical wristwatch brand of the highest level. In line with its goal of defeating Switzerland, the company has now established itself as a luxury watch brand not only in Japan but also worldwide.
<Grand Seiko’s manufacturing process ” This is Grand Seiko ” [ VIDEO
Grand Seiko’s Attraction ” Achievements in the Swiss Observatory Chronometer Competition
The chronometer tests and competitions held at the New Châtel Observatory in Switzerland were a challenge for Grand Seiko when it was launched. Grand Seiko first exhibited at this competition in 1964, which was meant to showcase Swiss watchmaking technology to the world. Since then, the company has improved its ranking year by year, and in 1967, its fourth attempt, it was awarded the second place.
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From the following year, 1968, the ranking contests were no longer held, but only an examination was held. Grand Seiko entered 100 movements for the test, 73 of which passed. With these achievements, Grand Seiko was recognized as the world’s top mechanical watch manufacturer.
Grand Seiko’s charms ” Three Movements
One of the reasons why Grand Seiko is one of the world’s leading manufactures is its movements. Grand Seiko is the only watchmaker in the world to offer three different types of movements, which are the heart of a wristwatch.
Grand Seiko 9F quartz movement (quartz type)
A quartz watch powered by a battery. Grand Seiko’s quartz movement is so distinct from conventional ones that the company claims, “This quartz movement was created to surpass quartz.
The “twin pulse control motor” developed to move the thick, imposing, heavy hands of Grand Seiko watches, the “backlash auto-adjusting mechanism” to improve the accuracy of the second hand’s indication of the scale, the “instantaneous day advance calendar” that switches in 1/2000th of a second, etc. The “Instantaneous Date-Shift Calendar,” which switches in 1/2000th of a second, and other such features. The battery life is approximately 3 years while the driving power is about twice that of a conventional watch, and the accuracy is only about 10 seconds even after a year of use.
Grand Seiko 9S Mechanical Movement (mechanical)
Since its launch, Grand Seiko’s mechanical movements have conformed to the ” Grand Seiko Standards ” ( GS Standards ), which are inspection standards equivalent to the Swiss Official Chronometer Standards.
What is a Grand Seiko High Beat?
Mechanical watches require high precision. The frequency of oscillation of the “balance” determines the accuracy of the watch. Grand Seiko’s movement has succeeded in making the “balance” vibrate 10 times per second (compared to 6 or 8 vibrations per second in a typical mechanical watch movement). The fact that the higher number of vibrations increases the accuracy of the movement and places a greater burden on the components, which requires more rigorous design and manufacturing, shows the superiority of Grand Seiko’s technology.
In addition to the 10-vibration power mainspring, there is also a balance spring that is adjusted by hand by craftsmen, and an escapement with improved durability. The Grand Seiko mechanical movement is composed of nearly 200 to 300 parts that are adjusted to the nearest 1/1000 mm, including these major components.
Grand Seiko 9R Spring Drive
The Spring Drive is a movement that only Grand Seiko can produce, combining the power of a mechanical watch with a quartz mechanism.
Powered by the same spring as a mechanical watch, the spring drive uses the same principle as a bicycle light to generate electricity by means of a tri-synchronous regulator. The power generated is transmitted to a quartz oscillator, which provides precision equivalent to that of a quartz watch. This is a truly hybrid mechanism that requires neither batteries nor a motor to achieve such high precision.
Furthermore, the watch is thoroughly energy-saving and has a 72-hour power reserve. This approach is typical of Grand Seiko, which aims to be the “pinnacle of practical timepieces” and is also a way of creating something that is close to the lifestyle of the businessman who takes two days off a week.
Grand Seiko’s appeal: “The highest level of craftsmanship
While state-of-the-art technology is used in Grand Seiko wristwatches, a practical wristwatch of the highest quality cannot be completed by the power of manufacturing machinery alone. 200 to 300 parts are assembled by hand by skilled craftspeople. The adjustment of the “balance spring,” which is the key to precision, requires a delicate degree of force that cannot be achieved by a machine. The whirlwind is only a few tenths of a millimeter thick. The whirlwind is adjusted with sharp-pointed tweezers, handmade by craftsmen, and the whirlwind is adjusted in microns.
It is a daunting task that can never be measured by numbers. It is a sensation cultivated by the eyes, hands, and many years of experience. The artistic movement is completed by the skill of a master craftsman who says, “It wouldn’t be a Grand Seiko if we cut corners here.
Grand Seiko’s Attraction ” Attention to Design
The reason why Grand Seiko watches are rarely decorated with superfluous ornaments is because of its philosophy of being “the best of the ordinary. The hands are not only thick and thick, but also polished to precisely calculated widths and angles for easy reading of the time. The carefully cut multi-faceted hands and indexes are easy to read from any angle and emit beautiful light.
The sapphire crystal on the surface is coated with an anti-reflective coating, which prevents reflections from fluorescent lights and other light sources, allowing the dial to be seen clearly in any environment.
The metal band is made of high-quality solid material that is gentle to the skin. The movement of the crown and the structure of the inner clasp are also carefully designed to fit any wrist. The combination of parts that thoroughly considers the feelings of the user has realized a design that Grand Seiko will never get tired of throughout its life.
Grand Seiko ” Highly acclaimed overseas!
What is still of concern is the reputation of the watch overseas. This is Grand Seiko” introduces the manufacturing process of Grand Seiko. Here are some excerpts of reactions from people overseas who have seen this video. The high evaluation from overseas may be more than that from Japan.
” This video shows why I respect and love Grand Seiko so much. by Adam(USA TX)
“I wish Seiko would make more videos with English dubbing and subtitles to introduce the wonderful watches they manufacture. I mean, Seiko 5, Presage, Divers, Grand Seiko has a great lineup. I want the world to know about Seiko’s wide range of products that are supported behind the scenes by their technical skills and craftsmanship. Spring drive, high beat, high performance quartz movements and more.” by Hock Sing Ng
“I am a collector who owns three Rolexes and three Grand Seiko watches, and the Grand Seiko surpasses the Rolex in accuracy and finish. ( Grand Seiko has more stringent standards than Rolex chronometers. ) If you own both, you will know! by goaway
“This video is not overly commercial or image pushing. It’s just a way to show how refreshing Seiko is as a brand, and it shows it well when you just spend a day showing what Seiko is doing. If you ask a marketing company in Geneva, Switzerland to make a video, they will produce a meticulously composed video, but the content of such a video has almost nothing to do with the watches sold by the manufacturer. Conversely, this video seems to tell the story of Seiko’s complete lack of focus on so-called marketing and branding. In Tokyo, Grand Seiko is sold in stores that sell shaving razors and vacuum cleaners, and when they take pictures for their website and catalogs, they just put them in a light box so that they are evenly lit. It means they don’t make Rafael Nadal or Lewis Hamilton wear them and photograph them in a tight sunset. And Seiko doesn’t name their watches “Sea-Dweller” or “Yacht-Master,” they have three or four alphanumeric digits. And this video… it shows how good the company is at watchmaking anyway, with the bearded spring and the rubies. I really, really like Seiko!” by hantms (Thailand)
Introduction of representative Grand Seiko models
Grand Seiko Mechanical “SBGA099
Authentic design that seems to symbolize Grand Seiko. Equipped with the ” 9S61 ” movement. The highly sophisticated design, which eliminates even the date display, matches any style.
For details and purchase, click here
Grand Seiko Quartz “SBGX071
This piece has a highly legible orthodox design, but with some blue coloring on the outer circumference of the dial, giving it a sense of style. It is equipped with the quartz movement ” 9F72 “.
For details and purchase, click here
Grand Seiko Quartz “SBGX121
In addition to water resistance to 10 atmospheres, the watch is also equipped with anti-magnetic effect up to 5 cm. While carrying a state-of-the-art quartz movement, the rounded shape of the watch is characterized by an antique design that evokes the 1970s.
Click here for details and to purchase
Grand Seiko Spring Drive “SBGA-027
This model is equipped with a spring drive system that does not require batteries but boasts the precision of a quartz watch. The smooth movement of the second hand is another attraction, not to mention the reputation of the power reserve function.
Click here for details and to purchase
Grand Seiko Spring Drive “SBGE025
This luxurious model features a GMT ( world time ) hand and a meter indicating the power reserve. The watch is highly legible despite the inclusion of these functions, and has a luxurious finish.
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