The Japanese watchmaker, Grand Seiko, well-known for its creative and nature-inspired timepieces, brings new timepieces to two of its popular lines - the Evolution 9 and the Spring Drive, at Watches and Wonders 2023.
The first Grand Seiko mechanical chronograph- the Tentagraph : SLGC001
Grand Seiko expands its collection of sports watches in the Evolution 9 series with its first mechanical chronograph, named Tentagraph, at the ongoing fair in Geneva. The highlight of the watch lies in its movement, the high-beat Caliber 9SA5, which beats ten times per second to offer a precision of +5 to -3 seconds per day, and a power reserve of 3 days. TENTAGRAPH stands for - TEN beats per second, Three days, Automatic chronoGRAPH.
Crafted with high-intensity titanium, the 43.2mm watch is lightweight, robust and resistant to scratches. The dial is inspired by the contour patterns of Mt. Iwate, the mountain that can be seen from the window of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi. The sky above Mt. Iwate inspires the blue colour of the dial of the Tentagraph. At 6 o’clock lies the 12-hour counter of the chronograph, at 9 o’clock lies the 30-minute counter, and at 3 o’clock the small seconds. Hands and indices are coated with Lumibrite for nighttime legibility. The bezel is made with ceramic and the watch offers water resistance to about 100 metres.
Hand-engraved Manual-winding Spring Drive Limited Edition: SBGZ009
Grand Seiko’s new Spring Drive masterpiece takes inspiration from the forest of white birch trees found in the North Yatsugatake Mountains, during winters when the snow blankets the entire forest. The fully hand-engraved Platinum 950 case and the textured silver dial, reflect the beauty of the white birch forest. The intricate details are put into the case by engravers of the Shinshu Watch Studio, a facility inside the Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri where the Spring Drive masterpieces are created.
The dial inside the 38.5mm case has a metallic texture after being treated with Zaratsu polishing. The hour and minute hands and the hour markers are made with 14K white gold and the seconds hand is given a grey hue to match the theme. The letters and markings on the dial and minute track are all carved onto it. At 6 o’clock lies a ‘star’ mark, a Grand Seiko’s tradition to denote that the hour markers are in solid gold.
The timepiece is powered by Caliber 9R02 which offers about 84 hours of power reserve. The barrel, matching the theme of the Spring Drive, is designed with a bellflower which is symbolic of Shiojiri. The movement also features the power reserve indicator and the words “Micro Artist” engraved on the 18K gold plaque at the lower side of the bridge. The watch comes with a crocodile strap fitted with a three-fold clasp and is a limited edition of 50 pieces.
Spring Drive 8-Day Jewelry Watch: SBGD213
Earlier this month, Grand Seiko released a Spring Drive Chronograph GMT that was inspired by the lion. Now at Watches and Wonders, the Maison has unveiled yet another Spring Drive symbolising the king of the jungle, combining blue sapphires, the brand’s signature colour.
The 44.5mm Platinum 950 case, treated with Zaratsu Polishing, is studded with 266 diamonds (5.62 carats) and 27 blue sapphires (1.25 carats), together on the case, dial, bezel, and crown. Baguette-cut blue sapphires and tapered diamonds are hand-set surrounding the centre mother-of-pearl dial to create the hour and minute markers. All the gemstones are set between rails of 18k white gold. This craftsmanship is brought together by the artisans of the Shinshu Watch Studio.
Spring Drive Caliber 9R01 powers the watch and offers about 8 days of power reserve. The bridge features an image of Mt. Fuji, which can be seen through the sapphire caseback along with a power reserve indicator, and movement is created at the Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri. The watch comes with a blue crocodile strap and is a limited edition of 8 pieces.
Images : Courtesy Grand Seiko
Also Read :
Grand Seiko’s new Spring Drive Chronograph GMT, inspired by the Tokyo Lion
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Grand Seiko presents Watches and Wonders 2022 novelties
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