Founded in 1960 in Japan, Grand Seiko is part of the Seiko Watch Corporation, and was launched with the goal of creating the most precise, durable, and beautifully crafted watches in the world. Its first model, the Grand Seiko Chronometer (3180), was Japan’s first watch officially certified as a chronometer. In the 1960s and 70s Grand Seiko gained recognition for its high precision mechanical movements and innovations like the Hi-Beat 36,000 in their 61GS automatic movement and the 45GS manual movement. In 1999, the brand launched its Spring Drive technology, a revolutionary movement that combines mechanical and quartz elements for smooth sweeping seconds and extreme accuracy. In the 2010s, Grand Seiko began expanding globally, separating from Seiko as an independent luxury brand in 2017. Today, the brand is known for meticulous finishing (like Zaratsu polishing), hand-assembled movements, and nature-inspired dial designs. Its pursuit of technological excellence continues, with the movements like the High-Beat Caliber 9SA4 with a power reserve of 80 hours, and the Spring drive 9RB2, which has been deemed an Ultra Fine Accuracy (U.F.A.) movement with an annual deviation rate of ±20 seconds.