Grand Seiko celebrates its diamond anniversary with four limited edition watches
2020 marks the 60th anniversary of the Grand Seiko brand. To celebrate this era of renewal and energy, the brand has launched a series of watches that showcase its technical and craftsmanship.
Sixty is the most important number in timekeeping – 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour. This number measures our lives. In Japan, sixty has a special meaning as it is called "kanreki" (sixty years old), which symbolizes rebirth and renewal.
Grand Seiko was launched in December 1960, which means that 2020 will be the year when the premium brand enters the watch industry. There will undoubtedly be various new products to mark the occasion, but this March, the brand will kick off this auspicious occasion with four new sporty steel watches, all with Grand Seiko's signature blue dial.
High Beat Generation Grand Seiko has always had its own unique energy. Seiko was born during Japan’s Meiji period (1868-1912), a time when the country was undergoing a massive cultural transformation. Feudal society was replaced by the prefectural system we know today. Railways united the country, and the traditional system of seasons and time was replaced by the Western Gregorian calendar.
Fast forward to 1960, and a mood of post-war optimism swept the world. At that time, Seiko created the “Lion of Watches” - Grand Seiko. The idea was that this series of watches would represent the pinnacle of precision, durability and beauty, and that this ideal watch would one day lead the world.
replica Grand Seiko watches
replica luxury watches
high quality replica watches
replica Panerai watches
The first of four new anniversary editions pays tribute to Grand Seiko’s history of disruptive technological innovation. The Heritage Collection Hi-Beat 36000 LE (Ref. SBGH281) follows an existing model (SBGH205) and introduces a new color scheme - an iridescent blue dial with a gold GS logo, and red accents on the second hand and text below the dial.
Grand Seiko has always been as committed to quartz innovation as it is to mechanical movements. Like the Heritage Collection Hi-Beat, the new Heritage Collection Quartz Limited Edition SBGP007 is a fresh take on an existing model, but with the ultra-precise 9F85 quartz movement instead of an automatic.
The 9F85 represents a new era in timekeeping precision, as it is accurate to +5 seconds per year, and the hour hand can be adjusted independently, with the seconds stopped (for extra precision).
This reliability also makes the Heritage Quartz an excellent everyday watch. Its sporty spirit makes it suitable for almost every occasion. This 40mm model features a textured blue dial with a gold five-pointed star on top.
Diamond Jubilee In the West, 60th anniversaries are celebrated with diamonds. Since Grand Seiko is a global brand, they also created a 60th anniversary edition in the Elegant collection.
The ladies' automatic limited edition STGK015 watch features a 27.8mm stainless steel case with 45 diamonds set on the bezel. The dial also features diamond hour markers.
Visually, the combination of precious gemstones and a creamy white dial is perhaps the best interpretation of these blue-themed anniversary watches. But the heart is just as stunning. This Grand Seiko watch is equipped with the in-house 9S27 automatic movement, which has a power reserve of 50 hours and a daily error of no more than +8/-3 seconds.
Movement time A big part of the Kanreki concept is that sixty is a magical number. When a person completes five cycles of "ten kan" for a total of sixty years, they are considered to be reborn. In 2017, Grand Seiko spun off from Seiko to become a completely independent brand, so Seiko is celebrating this second youth in more ways than one.
Of all these 60th anniversary watches, the quartz limited edition SBGP015 best reflects Grand Seiko's new design. Its 40mm case, bold blue ceramic bezel, iridescent dial and luminescent hands are quite striking.
It is also water-resistant (200 meters), more resistant to magnetic fields (16,000 A/m), has a lifespan of up to 60 years and is equipped with the new 9F85 quartz movement (also seen in the SBGP007).