Monochrome Watches
An online magazine dedicated to fine watches

Grand Seiko

Japanese Independent Luxury Watch Company

Until recently, Grand Seiko was the luxury arm of Seiko, producing its first watch in 1960 (manufactured by Suwa Seikosha, a Seiko subsidiary). It produced a new movement, the calibre 3180, that was accurate to within +12 to -3 seconds per day with a 45-hour power reserve. This was a major advance for Japan and the country's first chronometer-grade watch - compliant with the standard of excellence of the Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche des Montres. Seiko followed up in 1964 with the Grand Seiko Self-Dater, which had a date complication and increased water-resistance to 50 metres. In 1967, the 44GS set a design standard and style for Grand Seiko, including the use of reflections or "sparkle of quality" (faceted hands and markers designed to reflect even the smallest ray of light). Nine specific design elements were established with the 44GS that are still seen in today's models. In 2017, Seiko CEO Shinji Hattori announced that Grand Seiko would be a separate, independent brand and removed the customary Seiko logo from the 12 o'clock position of the dial (with Grand Seiko moving from 6 o'clock to that position). This step helped further separate Japan's most prominent luxury watches from Seiko's otherwise very diverse portfolio. Hattori continues to be President and CEO of Grand Seiko and the company has been in the Hattori family since its founding in 1881 (by Kintarō Hattori).

The fit and finish of Grand Seiko watches are among the best in the industry and every piece is finished by hand. Every detail is considered, some of which may even go unnoticed. Multiple facets and angles are cut into the hands alone with some layers only visible through high magnification. Hands and cases are also finished via the Zaratsu technique, an ancient method used to polished Samurai swords, providing an evenness and undistorted mirror finish. Viewed from different angles, reflections of the hands range from silver to a deep black. Even the interior of the case, likely never seen by the wearer, is painstakingly polished by hand. Arguably the most popular Grand Seiko dial is the “Snowflake,” produced in-house in the Shiojiri dial workshop. The textured effect is achieved by using multiple translucent layers and gives the finished dial an appearance of fresh snow on the ground. Whether using steel, titanium or precious metals, the cases, dials and hands are on par (and often superior) with Swiss and European counterparts.

Seiko watch workshop

Grand Seiko has always been focused on mechanical perfection, with the 61GS and 45GS models having hi-beat movements back in 1968 and revised models achieving an accuracy of +/- one minute per month in 1969. All movements are produced in-house an all are rated above chronometer performance, whether mechanical, quartz or Spring Drive. The latter two are somewhat unique in the luxury industry as quartz is often viewed as less desirable than mechanical calibres. Grand Seiko hasn’t shied away from technology, launching the 95GS in 1988 with the brand’s first quartz movement, accurate to within ten seconds per year. In 2003, it launched a quartz piece with 40,000A/m magnetic resistance. The proprietary Spring Drive, however, is the most impressive technological achievement. It combines a mechanical movement with quartz technology, replacing the traditional escapement with a quartz oscillator, but everything is still powered by a mainspring (no battery). This provides the essence of a mechanical watch with the accuracy of quartz, accurate to levels not achievable by mechanical counterparts. The seconds hand doesn’t “tick” like a traditional quartz, but sweeps in a perfectly smooth motion without the subtle jumps of an all-mechanical movement. The first Spring Drive Grand Seiko using the Calibre 9R65 launched in 2004, but a Seiko piece introduced the first Spring Drive movement in 1999. In 2007, the 9R8 series was the first Grand Seiko Spring Drive chronograph and included a vertical clutch, column wheel and GMT indication.

Recreating The First Grand Seiko (SBGW251 - SBGW252 - SBGW253) Plus A Modern Reissue (SBGR305)
The first Grand Seiko Watch, 1960

Grand Seiko is a bit of an anomaly in the industry as it produces luxury watches comparable to European brands but from a country more associated with quartz technology and mass production. Handwork and old-school techniques are the norm among its watchmakers and artisans, and everything down to the quartz crystals are in-house creations. Many Swiss pieces at higher price points can’t compete with Grand Seiko’s level of fit and finish, whether looking at the hands, dials or cases. Purists may turn away from Spring Drive technology as a quartz oscillator doesn’t have the romance and mystique of a mechanical escapement, but there’s no denying the quality and accuracy of the brand’s hybrid calibres. Three-hand versions still have over 200 components and chronographs over 300. And watches like the Grand Seiko Elegance Collection still offer hand-wound calibres and unique urushi (Japanese lacquer) dials. Grand Seiko offers the latest quartz technology for the pinnacle of accuracy and highly refined, in-house mechanical calibres for those seeking the romance of traditional horology.

History of Grand Seiko

1960
Grand Seiko is created as the luxury arm of Seiko and competes with Swiss counterparts
1964
The Self-Dater model adds a date complication and 50-metre water-resistance
1967
The 44GS sets a design standard (nine design elements) that's still in use today/62GS is Grand Seiko's first automatic
1968
The 61GS and 45GS are the first Grand Seiko automatic and hand-wound watches with hi-beat movements
1969
The 61GS V.F.A. and 45GS V.F.A. are Grand Seiko's most accurate to date at +/- one minute per month
1972
The 19GS V.F.A. is the brand's most accurate women's watch at +/- two minutes per month
1988
The first Grand Seiko quartz watch launches, the 95GS, with an accuracy of ten seconds per year
1992
The brand's first quartz watch for women launches with the same accuracy of ten seconds per year
1993
The 9F8 series introduces the most precise quartz movement to date with four innovations
1997
The 9F6 series case is crafted with a mirror finish to the sides, free of distortion
1998
The 9S5 series launches with the first new Grand Seiko mechanical calibre in twenty years
2002
The 9S56 series is the first with a GMT hand
2003
A quartz Grand Seiko launches with 40,000A/m magnetic resistance
2004
The 9R6 series launches with a Spring Drive calibre, accurate to within one second per day
2006
The 9S67 series has a 72-hour power reserve
2007
A Spring Drive chronograph launches with a vertical clutch, column wheel and GMT hand
2009
Grand Seiko launches its first new hi-beat calibre in 41 years
2014
The 9S86 wins the "Petit Aiguille" award of the 2014 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve
2016
The first Grand Seiko with a full ceramic case launches
2017
Grand Seiko becomes an independent brand