The year 2020, which thankfully is about to make its exit, is also the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the Grand Seiko. So we at least have a little something to celebrate.
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Grand Seiko came about when Seiko’s finest watchmakers aspired to produce the “king” of watches. Sixty is not only a number in horology. According to Japanese custom it also means re-birth, the start of one’s second childhood.
SLGH003 Hi-Beat 60th Anniversary LE
Grand Seiko: Homage to its Japanese roots
Grand Seiko has an exciting offering of new timepieces in a brilliant Grand Seiko blue (Grand Seiko SLGH003 Hi-Beat 60th Anniversary LE 2), paying homage to the brand’s roots. They incorporate elements of the landscape from its origins, particularly the blue sky over Mount Iwate, which greets technicians of the Grand Seiko Studio in Shizukuishi, Japan.
The Grand Seikos shimmer and are sure to catch the attention of prospecting watch collectors looking to add shades of blue to their collection. Seiko uses a special oxidation process for their dials. Metals undergo electrolysis (a process of removing individual hairs from the surface) to generate an oxide film that results in the unique hue of the Grand Seiko blue.
An added shimmer to the steel comes about via a method of polishing called Zaratsu. It’s been around since the 1960s, in an attempt to make the Seiko product stand out from its competitors.
The first watch in this limited edition offering is the Hi-Beat 36000. It uses a Calibre 9SA5 mechanical movement that was newly developed over a span of nine years exclusively for Grand Seiko.
Gold “GS” insignia
“Without a doubt the finest mechanical movement caliber Grand Seiko has ever created,” Seiko says in its communications. Grand Seiko has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40 mm, and is 11.7 mm in thickness. The bracelet has a three-fold clasp with push-button release decorated with a gold “GS” insignia.
Grand Seiko has a red second-hand with wide lugs. Its hour hand has greater volume than its predecessor from the 1960s. The watch has a screw-down crown, stop-second-hand function. Its open case-back is marked with the limited edition number. This is the alpha of the collection. The timepiece retails for about $13,978.38 CAD and is limited to 1,000 pieces.
The second piece in this Heritage Collection is another automatic limited edition watch. It features the Calibre 9S65 movement (+5 to -3 seconds a day) with a 72-hour power reserve. Assembled, adjusted and inspected by hand, the watch is sure to be an everlasting addition to your collection.
The open caseback features the lion emblem. It has a dual-curved sapphire crystal and is 40 mm in diameter, 13 mm thick and water resistant to 100 m. This watch would make a great gift idea for a recent graduate. It retails for approximately $7,398.51 CAD and is limited to 2,500 pieces.
A Grand Seiko for the woman in your life
The third piece is another variation of a hi-beat, using a 9585 calibre movement with a 55-hour power reserve and 37 jewels. At the 12 o’clock position is the classic “GS” insignia in a smart gold. The second hand is fitted in a vivid red.
Anti-reflective coating has been situated on the inner surface. In width, it measures slightly more at 13.3 mm. The third version is limited to 1,500 pieces and sells for $8,697.81 CAD.
Grand Seiko also ushered in a watch just for that special woman in your life as well, part of its Elegance Collection. The Women’s Automatic Limited Edition Grand Seiko has a bezel framed with 45 diamonds. It’s a stunning piece of jewellery your significant other is sure to cherish for many years.
The hour indices are also diamond-studded, so if you are looking to make a good impression, look no further. There is a limit of 300 with this unique piece, selling for $13,771.54 CAD.
Quartz options
There are also two quartz options in the 60th anniversary limited editions. Quartz 9F85 is more conservative than the more rugged Sport option. The first allows for the hour hand to be adjusted without stopping the seconds. That allows for precision when traveling through time zones.
The movement in this watch makes its debut in both quartz varieties in the 60th anniversary designs. At the 6 o’clock position there is a five-point star. A thin bezel allows for a wider dial for easier reading. The Quartz sells for about $5,508.61 CAD and is limited to 2,500 pieces.
Lastly, the Sport Collection quartz option is made for the adventurer. The hour and minute hands are coated with LumiBrite to increase legibility of the time even in low light conditions. It has a water resistance of up to 200 m and is 40 mm in diameter and 12.4 mm in thickness.
The ceramic bezel is nearly impervious to scratches and is sure to catch the eyes of watch aficionados. This one is limited to 2,000 pieces, and sells for about $5,406.60 CAD.
Daron Halajian received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ryerson University. He has worked for American Express as a Travel and Lifestyle Consultant servicing elite clientele. He writes in both English and Armenian and his works have appeared in publications in Beirut, Los Angeles, Montreal and Toronto.
