Seiko Watch Corporation will release a limited edition Mechanical Hi-Beat GMT model from Grand Seiko on December 10th as the first in the series to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the "44GS," which established Grand Seiko's design grammar, the "Seiko Style." The suggested retail price is 946,000 yen (tax included), and the model is limited to 1,200 pieces worldwide.
The “Seiko Style”: Pursuing the Essence of a Watch
The “Seiko Style” was devised to give Grand Seiko, born with the aim of achieving the pinnacle of precision, an appearance that could be proudly presented as a luxury watch around the world. It is a design grammar for creating brilliantly shining watches, and was established with the release of the "44GS" in 1967. At its root is Japanese aesthetic sense. Japanese people are constantly attentive to "light" and perceive countless gradations of light between light and shadow. For this reason, traditional Japanese styles such as folding screens and shoji screens are extremely simply constructed, primarily with straight lines and flat surfaces, yet they create countless expressions, weaving together light and shadow depending on the time and occasion. The “Seiko Style” is based on this uniquely Japanese aesthetic sense and has created a unique design grammar based on refined, distortion-free flat surfaces. The main components of a wristwatch are defined as follows:
・A 12 o'clock index that is twice the width of the other indexes
・Multifaceted index
・Mirror-polished upper surface of the crystal rim
・Mirror-polished case surface
・A crown that is partially recessed into the body
・Flat dial
・Thick multifaceted hour and minute hands
・Tangential side lines
・Reverse-slope shapes of the bezel and case sides
This design is made possible by the advanced craftsmanship of artisans, including Zaratsu polishing, which produces a smooth, beautiful surface that is indispensable to modern Grand Seiko. The "Seiko Style" is a unique design grammar supported by unparalleled craftsmanship. The "Seiko Style" is the unwavering core of Grand Seiko design and the foundation of its timeless beauty. A limited edition model featuring a mechanical Hi-Beat GMT caliber, based on the "44GS" design released in 2014, won the "Prix de la Petite Aiguille" (Small Hand Award) at the Geneva Grand Prix, garnering widespread global recognition.
Product Features
Special Edition Combining Design, Function, and Heritage at a High Level
This model, the first to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the "44GS," features special specifications based on the award-winning 2014 model. The case, a modern interpretation of the "brilliantly shining watch" defined by the "Seiko Style," is crafted from bright titanium while retaining the watch's distinctive design, featuring a series of distortion-free mirrored surfaces.
In addition, as a mark of the 55th anniversary model, the case back features a special anodized gold-colored titanium oscillating weight (※1). The dial reinterprets and embodies specifications considered during the development of the Grand Seiko GMT model released in 2002. The classic white dial, characteristic of Grand Seiko, features a blued steel GMT hand coated with Lumibrite for improved nighttime visibility and three-dimensional indices. This watch embodies the spirit of its development, which sought to combine traditional style with active functionality.
This special limited edition model, which combines heritage-based design and functionality at a high level, celebrates the 55-year evolution of the 44GS and declares its continued legacy for the future.
SBGJ005Since its founding in 1960, Grand Seiko has striven to create the finest wristwatches, continuously pursuing and realizing the essential qualities of a watch—accuracy, beauty, and legibility—at a high level, and has made tireless progress. Since its launch globally in 2010, Grand Seiko has earned worldwide acclaim for its unparalleled performance and sophisticated design, achieved only by a truly rare true manufacturer.
【Product Specifications】
Heritage Collection Mechanical Hi-Beat GMT 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition
Product Number: SBGJ255
Suggested Retail Price (tax included): 946,000 yen
Case & Bracelet: Bright titanium
Crystal: Dual-curve sapphire crystal (inner anti-reflective coating)
Water Resistance: Enhanced water resistance for everyday use (10 bar)
Case Size: [Outer Diameter] 40.0 mm (excluding crown)
[Thickness] 14.0 mm
Sales Quantity Limited to 1,200 pieces worldwide (500 in Japan)
Release date: Friday, December 10th (Grand Seiko Boutique Online Pre-release)
Friday, January 14th, 2022 (Grand Seiko Boutiques, Grand Seiko Salons and Master Shops)
Other specifications
grand-seiko.com/jp-ja/collections/sbgj255
[Movement specifications]
Mechanical movement Caliber 9S86
Winding method: Automatic (manual winding included)
Accuracy: Average daily rate of +5 to -3 seconds (static accuracy) *Accuracy when worn is estimated to be +8 to -1 second per day
Power reserve: Approximately 55 hours
Number of jewels: 37
Vibration frequency: 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 vibrations per second)
(※1) Anodizing
This is a surface treatment that artificially generates an oxide film by electrolyzing metal. Color is created by the refraction of light, and a variety of colors can be created depending on the thickness of the film. The gold finish was first introduced in the 2014 GPHG award-winning model, and has now been revived for the first time in eight years.
Seiko Watch Corporation Customer Service Center 0120-061-012 (toll-free)
https://www.grand-seiko.com
Click here for company press release details
The press releases featured in this article have been provided by PR TIMES Inc. and are reproduced verbatim. FASHION HEADLINE does not endorse the products or services featured, nor does it guarantee the content of the press releases. For inquiries regarding the content of this article, please contact PR TIMES Inc. directly (https://prtimes.jp/).
