Daini Seikosha and Suwa Seikosha founded this line of luxury timepieces in 1960. You may be asking why Grand Seiko is different from the other premium brand watches on the market. Grand Seiko may be new to you, but watch collectors and enthusiasts are well-versed in this Japanese brand. Grand Seiko takes pride in their quartz movements for two reasons. Their quartz movements are easily among the greatest ever manufactured, and they are the father of quartz movements in general due to their Seiko history.
Why should you buy a Grand Seiko watch? Grand Seiko manufactures premium timepieces, which maintain the majority of their value. The Grand Seiko wristwatch is worth the money, and watch collectors and lovers definitely agree to this. Grand Seiko wristwatches have a fascinating history and excellent watch. Continue reading to find out which Grand Seiko watches are worth buying that will encourage you to purchase one.
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History of Grand Seiko
Daini Seikosha and Suwa Seikosha established Grand Seiko in 1960. They sought to develop collections of watches that could compete with Swiss watchmakers because people only considered Swiss watches as luxury timepieces at that time. The notion that motivated the designers and engineers during its creation was that the Grand Seiko should be the “perfect” watch with precision, durability, and aesthetic qualities that would lead the world. The 1960 Grand Seiko was an immense success, but the design team got motivated to reach new heights in their quest for the “perfect” watch.
Grand Seiko should have a distinct look that appeals to the high-end clientele. Seiko, in particular, desired that the Grand Seiko’s design be appropriate for both casual and formal clothing. Taro Tanaka’s “Grand Seiko Style” of 1967 would go on to define the style of the series as well as all future Seiko goods. They manually polished every Grand Seiko watch using the “Zaratsu” method. Zaratsu is a traditional way of polishing used by Japanese watchmakers to manufacture timepieces with a mirror sheen and minimal distortion.
Grand Seiko first watch
On December 18, 1960, Grand Seiko introduced their first watch. This was the first watch in Japan to be certified by the Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche Des Montres. The Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche Des Montres, is in charge of validating the precision and accuracy of Swiss clocks. This watch has a new caliber 3180 featured a power reserve of 45 hours and was constant to +12 to -3 seconds each day.
Difference between Grand Seiko and Seiko
Seiko is a trustworthy brand. However, they don’t put much thought into each particular model. They nearly composed Seiko timepieces of tough yet inexpensive stainless steel. Kintar Hattori started this Japanese watch company Seiko in 1881. The brand’s original name was K. Hattori. Grand Seiko, on the other hand, takes care in producing the quality timepieces available. They handcraft various pieces and polish the case and bracelet until they are gleaming. The watches compose of superior grade stainless steel, which will endure longer and increase the watch’s lifespan. It is available in a variety of materials, including platinum and titanium.
Grand Seiko Models
1. Grand Seiko GMT SBGN005
It’s easy to fall in love with this timepiece. This Grand Seiko SBGN005 GMT is an ideal travel companion. Grand Seiko uses the quartz movement caliber 9F to power the GMT SBGN005. The watch is rare since most dual time watches are more “desk” GMT watches, with only the 24-hour hand independently changeable and any adjustment of the hour hand done by traditional ways of topping the watch and adjusting appropriately. This watch is more beneficial for keeping track of a second-time zone while remaining in one location. Grand Seiko GMT SBGN005 is a win-win situation for watch enthusiasts, travelers, and foreign partners alike.
2. Grand Seiko “Snowflake” SBGA211
This watch is Grand Seiko’s best-selling and most lauded model from its collection, and it is Grand Seiko’s darling among watch collectors all over the globe. The watch dial resembles Snowflake beautifully adorned, thus the name. They stamped each dial with a rough design and then coated it with numerous layers of lacquer to look like freshly fallen snow. It has the Spring Drive caliber and a tiny power reserve indication on the dial in the case. Grand Seiko employs high-intensity titanium, which is more resistant to scratches and corrosion than standard titanium. It is more robust, and we can see the beauty of the watch over its dial and sparkling finishes.
3. Grand Seiko “Skyflake” SBGA407
Grand Seiko “Skyflake” SBGA407 is a watch that has had a lot of success and seems to be collectors’ favorite for quite some time now. In terms of watch taste, the “Skyflake” model is more of a classic design because the blue dial is stunning. They drew inspiration for this watch from the original Grand Seiko watch, which has a circular with long and beautiful lugs. The Grand Seiko “Skyflake” crown has a GS logo, which also features the adjusted time and date.
4. Grand Seiko Heritage SBGJ213
This watch’s design is beautiful and restrained with no functional bezels or thick bands, and it has an outstanding accuracy in everyday usage thanks to its strong resistance to external stress. Grand Seiko Heritage watch’s case and the band are high-intensity titanium, which is scratch and corrosion resistant, lighter than stainless steel, and a delight to wear with a hi-beat caliber 5Hz beat rate for improved chronometry GMT function on the inside flange makes this more useful for travel.
Conclusion
The brand Grand Seiko undoubtedly generates an identity that will satisfy its clients. This company may not be in the watchmaking industry for over a century like any other high-end brand. However, the quality of their timepieces distinguishes them from other high-end brands due to the quality of their finishing, craftsmanship, and heritage. That we can say, it will be worth investing and owning, whether or not you are a collector. You should check it for yourself at WatchShopping.com, which sells luxury brand watches such as Grand Seiko.