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Highlights: Grand Seiko Online Summit 2021

Seiko Watch Corporation marks the celebration of its 140th anniversary with a special online summit focusing on product stories and unveiling new releases for 2021. We bring you all the major highlights below:

The year 2021 marks the 140thanniversary of the founding of Seiko by Kintaro Hattori – the great-grandfather of Shinji Hattori, Chairman and CEO of Seiko Watch Corporation. This momentous occasion was celebrated with an exclusive Grand Seiko/Seiko Online Summit 2021. It included a space for all of us to reflect on the long history of one of the foremost watch brands from Japan. It also created a space for the company to give us (the audience) a sneak peek into what the future held for Grand Seiko and Seiko.

Here are the major releases from Grand Seiko for 2021:

1. Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition (SLGH007)

This is a timepiece for the man himself – Kintaro Hattori- the founding father of Seiko who led it successfully until his death at the age of 73. Following up on his philosophy to “always one step ahead of the rest”, Seiko and the later formed Grand Seiko have promoted this life lesson throughout its existence. From inculcating it in bringing out uniquely designed timepieces to inventing cutting-edge watchmaking technology, Kintaro Hattori's spirit of innovation and ambition has always been the heart of each timepiece released in the last 140 years.

To honour this incredible feat and celebrate the 140th anniversary, Grand Seiko launched the Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition (SLGH007). This is timepiece that incorporates a unique dial design of natural beauty of tree rings that hark back to the roots of Kintaro's story while also reflecting the incredible growth of the founder alongside his brand.

Here are the details of the watch:

Case: Platinum 950 case and clasp, Box shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, See-through screw case back

Water Resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m

Diameter: 40.0mm,

Thickness: 11.7mm

Dial: Black, multi-dimensional textured lie tree rings, prominent silver coloured hands and hour markers, date-window at 3 o' clock, Star mark at 6 o' clock and GS letter in solid gold.

Movement: Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours Caliber 9SA5

Driving system: Automatic

Vibrations: 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second)

Accuracy (mean daily rate): +5 to –3 seconds per day

Power reserve: 80 hours

Number of jewels: 47

Strap: Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release

Limited Edition: 140

Price: INR 52.99 lakh (approx.) 

Availability: July 2021

2. Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection Spring Drive 8 Day Jewellery Watch Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition (SBGD207)

The first Grand Seiko jewellery masterpiece was released last year. The 2020 edition featured a platinum cased Spring drive watch that was inspired by the winter mornings in the Shinshu region (home to the Micro Artist Studio). This time around, Grand Seiko unveiled another jewellery masterpiece that is inspired by the stunning and varied natural surrounding, specifically the Mishaka Pond, of the Micro Artist Studio in Shinshu. Mishaka Pond is a place where one can find infinite shades of green that are reflected in clear,still water. The area around the Mishaka Pond with its lush green trees that grow right near the water offers a stunning sight that have inspired many artists through time.

The new timepiece features a green mother-of-pearl dial set with green garnet indexes. This singular feature represents the passage of time with a calm grace that captures the exact atmosphere of Mishaka Pond.

Here are the watch details:

Case: Platinum 950 case and clasp with 97 diamonds (2.23 carat) and 24 green garnets (0.63 carat) Box shaped sapphire crystal with anti-re ective coating See-through case back

Water Resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m

Diameter: 43.0mm,

Thickness: 13.5mm

Dial: Green mother-of-pearl inner dial set with green garnet indexes and tapered baguette diamonds. Outer circle of the dial features 48 additional diamonds and 12 garnets.

Movement: Calibre 9R01

Driving system: manual-winding

Accuracy: ± 0.5 second per day (± 10 seconds per month)

Power reserve: 8 Days (192 hours) Power reserve indicator Independent hour hand adjustment

Number of jewels: 56

Strap: Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release

Limited Edition: 15

Price: INR 1.72 crore (approx.)

Availability: May 2021

3. Grand Seiko Sports Collection Spring Drive Chronograph GMT: SBGC240 Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition (SBGC240)

Like mentioned above, Kintaro Hattori – the founder of the Seiko company believed in the philosophy of always staying ahead of the curve. In commemoration of his unfaltering faith in creating unique timepieces, Grand Seiko releases the Sports Collection Spring Drive Chronograph GMT: SBGC240 Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition. This is a timepiece that perfectly embodies Kintaro Hattori's vision. It features the high functionality of the Spring Drive Chronograph while also accommodating a new design aesthetic with the help of a combination of new and innovative materials.

Here are the watch details:

Case: Stainless steel case with Zirconia ceramic and 18k yellow gold bezel, yellow gold push buttons Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating Screw see-through case back, Screw-down crown.

Water Resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m

Diameter: 43.8mm

Thickness: 16.1mm

Dial: Pure black dial with gold hands and hour markers and counters.

Movement: Caliber 9R86

Driving system: Automatic with manual winding mechanism

Power reserve: 72 hours

Accuracy: ±1 second per day (±15 seconds per month) Chronograph up to 12 hours

Number of jewels: 50

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with push button release. An additional crocodile strap is included.

Limited edition: 500

Price: INR 16.96 lakh 9approx.)

Availability: July 2021

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