Seiko Watch Corporation (President & CEO: Akio Naito, Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that
The theme of the 110th anniversary of Seiko watches is “Staying close to people and marking time together.”
In 1881, the company began its business by repairing and selling clocks, and in 1892 began manufacturing wall clocks. In preparation for the era of pocket watches in the early Taisho period, when pocket watches were the mainstream, and in preparation for the era of wristwatches that would come, Seiko continued to prototype and research wristwatches, and in 1913 completed the first wristwatch made in Japan, the Laurel.
“Laurel Japan” was certified as a “Mechanical Engineering Heritage” by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2014 in order to pass it on to the next generation as a cultural heritage that contributed to the development of Japan’s mechanical technology and industry and contributed to people’s lives and culture. Since the development of the Laurel, Seiko has continued to produce a number of innovative watches over the past 110 years.
To ensure that everyone has an accurate time and to add color to each person’s precious “time”. It has always been and always will be.
First Grand Seiko
In 1960, at a time when Swiss-made watches were synonymous with luxury watches, Grand Seiko was born with the aspiration of “creating the finest domestic watches that challenge the world” by bringing together the best of the watch technology cultivated up to that time. The first-generation Grand Seiko was the first model made in Japan to comply with the Swiss Chronometer Inspection Standards Excellence Standard, and the selling price was 25,000 yen. Since the starting salary of a senior national civil servant at that time was 12,000 yen, it can be seen that it was an exceptional luxury product, and it is a model that is the origin of Grand Seiko.
【Product Features】
The reprint design of the first-generation Grand Seiko is expressed in beautiful black lacquer and high maki-e
This is a special commemorative limited edition model that combines the reprint design of the original Grand Seiko with the traditional craft of Japan, “lacquer art”. Lacquer, which has practical aspects such as high durability and corrosion resistance, has been with people’s lives since ancient Japan times, such as vessels such as bowls and plates, and weapons such as bows. For this deep, deep glossy black lacquer dial, we used pure domestic lacquer, which is rare among lacquer products with limited production. Compared to overseas lacquer, domestic lacquer dries quickly and is difficult to handle, but not only is it excellent in durability and light resistance, but black lacquer formulated exclusively for Grand Seiko maintains its lustrous color over a long period of time.
Since lacquer is finished by repeating painting and polishing, the process of uniformly applying lacquer to a cylinder-shaped dial and polishing it to a uniform state requires a high level of skill among lacquer art. In addition to applying lacquer, Kanazawa lacquer artist Isshu Tamura applied Takamaki-e with the delicacy and power that can be said to be the essence of Kaga lacquer art. The 12 bar indexes and the “Grand Seiko” logo are painted with lacquer to make it lively, and gold dust is sown and carefully polished to create a three-dimensional finish. Since it is drawn by slowly moving only the tip of the brush, it is a difficult technique that requires skilled skills and a very high level of concentration.
By combining multiple techniques, we have realized a solemn and exquisite expression that resonates with the reprint design of the original Grand Seiko. The minute and second hands, whose tips gently curve towards the dial, are manually bent to minimize distance to the dial and increase time legibility.
Lightness and beauty, a case made of brilliant hard titanium
Grand Seiko’s original “Brilliant Hard Titanium” is used for the case and the inner distillation, in pursuit of both lightness and beauty. “Brilliant Hard Titanium” is an advanced material that is as light as ordinary titanium, but is about twice as hard as standard stainless steel, making it scratch-resistant. In addition, the brilliance of the case, which has been polished by skilled polishers using “zaratsu polishing(*1)” on the surface of a material that is whiter than conventional titanium, further emphasizes the beauty of black lacquer.
For the strap, Grand Seiko adopted armor strap for the first time. It is made using the traditional method of Japan, which was once woven from samurai armor helmets. Skilled craftsmen improve durability by making finely cut cowhide into yarn and plain weave.
Grand Seiko has been making watches that can be used for a long time. This design philosophy lives on in all Grand Seiko. Combining the beautiful yet durable lacquer with Grand Seiko’s exclusive advanced material Brilliant Hard Titanium, this special limited edition model symbolizes this belief.
The sapphire glass see-through back back of the back allows you to see the movement with its delicate heartbeat. As proof of the special model, the serial number “LIMITED EDITION” is written on the back lid.
The replacement strap is made of high-quality, soft and easy-to-wear leather.
Equipped with a classic hand-wound calibre that makes full use of the latest technology
The movement is powered by the mechanical hand-wound calibre 9S64. The power mainspring and hair mainspring are made of Seiko’s original highly durable material “SPRON”, and high-definition and surface smoothness parts manufactured by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Microelectromechanical System) are used in the escapement.
Since its birth in 1960,
【Product Specifications】
< Grand Seiko >
Elegance Collection Seiko Watch 110th Anniversary Limited Edition
Product number
SBGW295
Suggested retail price (tax included)
1,815,000 JPY
case
Brilliant Hard Titanium
Straps and Inner Distillation
Armor Woven Strap, Brilliant Hard Titanium (One-push three-fold method)
* With replacement strap
glass
Dual curved sapphire glass (inner non-reflective coating)
Waterproof performance
Waterproof for daily life (3 bar water resistance)
Case Size[Outer diameter]38mm (excluding crown)[Thickness]10.9mm
Limited Quantity
Limited edition: 500 bottles (including 100 bottles in Japan)
Expected release date
Friday, February 24
Other specifications
https://www.grand-seiko.com/jp-ja/collections/sbgw295
[Movement specifications]
Mechanical movement caliber 9S64
Hoisting method Manual winding
Time accuracy Average daily difference +5 ~ -3 seconds (when worn on the arm at a temperature of 5°C~35°C)
Power reserve: approx. 72 hours (approx. 3 days)
Number of stones: 24
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (8 vibrations/second)
Lacquer artist Isshu Tamura
Born in 1957 (Showa 32). Lives in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. After studying under Master Kiyose Ikko and mastering the traditional craft “Kaga Maki-e” handed down in Kanazawa, he created a unique meticulous technique that is unparalleled in the world. In addition to lacquerware, he also presented high-class fountain pens and watches decorated with Kaga Maki-e. The exquisite beauty of its extremely precise technology has been highly acclaimed worldwide.
*1 Rough polishing
This is a base treatment technology that rotates a circular surface plate and presses the case against it to level the surface to create a flat surface without distortion.
Inquiries from general customers
Seiko Watch Corporation Customer Service Office
0120-061-012 (toll free)
< Grand Seiko > official website address
https://www.grand-seiko.com
* The information in this release is current as of the date of publication.
Please note that it is subject to change without notice.
