Horological Meandering - The Grand Seiko 50th Anniversary Collection

The Grand Seiko 50th Anniversary Collection

Oct 08, 2010,03:28 AM

For the 50th anniversary of Grand Seiko six models have been created, utilising each of the Grand Seiko movement types - automatic, quartz and Spring Drive. Most of these are made to an even higher standard than regular Grand Seiko, the quartz model is even more precise than the normal 9F for instance. Deliveries of these watches have already begun in Japan.

- SJX

Press release:

The Grand Seiko Anniversary Collection celebrates

50 years of dedication to perfection.

SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION is proud to announce the launch of a series of the limited editions, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Grand Seiko. The collection comprises six watches, each expressing, with newly enhanced movements, the essential character of Grand Seiko over the past half century. Grand Seiko is, and always has been, the most beautiful, functional and simple watch that SEIKO can build. From the very first Grand Seiko watch in 1960 until the all-new 36,000 vph* automatic caliber of today, every Grand Seiko watch has shared the functional beauty and design purity that are now its hallmark.

2010. Celebrating the legend.

The 50th Anniversary collection comprises Spring Drive, quartz and mechanical watches. In every watch, the movements offer new standards of precision and each has the famous Grand Seiko lion emblem on the dial and, in the Spring Drive and mechanical models, on the oscillating weight, in 18 carat gold. All carry the inscription “50th Anniversary 1960-2010” as well as the individual serial number on the case back.

Spring Drive

The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Spring Drive watch uses a new, enhanced precision version of caliber 9R65, the Spring Drive movement exclusive to Grand Seiko. This new caliber is accurate as ten seconds per month, an achievement made possible by the inclusion of specially selected crystals in the regulator, each one of which is meticulously tuned by SEIKO’s master craftsmen.

In addition to the steel model, platinum case with crocodile strap version is introduced.

Caliber 9R15

Hour, minute and second hands

Date calendar

Power reserve indicator

Automatic with manual winding capability

30 jewels

Power reserve of 72 hours

Accurate to 10 seconds per month

Movement diameter: 30.0 mm, thickness: 5.1 mm

Ref. SBGA055

Case: Stainless steel with see-through case back with sapphire crystal

Band: Stainless steel with three-fold clasp with push button release

Glass: High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Case diameter: 41.0 mm, thickness: 12.5 mm

Water resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4800 A/m (60 gauss)

Limited edition of 300 pieces

Recommended retail price in Japan: JPY577,500

Ref. SBGA065

Case: Platinum with see-through case back with sapphire crystal

Band: Crocodile with platinum buckle

Glass: Raised sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Case diameter: 40.2 mm, thickness: 12.8 mm

Water resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4800 A/m (60 gauss)

Limited edition of 30 pieces

Recommended retail price in Japan: JPY2,100,000

Quartz

This 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition watch is based on caliber 9F62, the Quartz movement exclusive to Grand Seiko. However, as with the Spring Drive version, the accuracy has been further enhanced to five seconds a year, by the use of individually selected quartz crystals. A pentagram symbol mark is applied on the dial to symbolize this five-second-a-year precision.

Caliber: 9F62

Hour, minute and second hands

Date calendar

Battery life indicator

Instant calendar change mechanism

Backlash auto adjustment system

9 jewels

3-year battery life

Accurate to 5 seconds per year

Movement dimensions: 26.0 x 26.8 mm, thickness: 3.1 mm (without battery)

Case: Stainless steel

Band: Stainless steel with three-fold clasp with push button release

Glass: High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Case diameter: 37.0 mm, thickness: 10.0 mm

Water resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4800 A/m (60 gauss)

Limited edition of 500 pieces

Recommended retail price in Japan: JPY315,000

Automatic

Thanks to the Grand Seiko standard, every mechanical Grand Seiko watch ever built has exceeded the internationally accepted chronometer standard. However, for the 50th anniversary Editions, this is not enough. With the brand-new 72-hour power reserve movements, selected 800 pieces offer higher accuracy of between -1 and +5 seconds per day.

Ref. SBGR065 (white dial)

Ref. SBGR075 (dark blue dial)

Caliber 9S65

Hour, minute and second hands

Date calendar

Automatic with manual winding capability

28,800 vibrations per hour

35 jewels

Power reserve of approximately 72 hours

Daily rate between -1 and +5 seconds (under static condition)

Movement diameter: 28.4 mm, thickness: 6.0 mm

Case: Stainless steel with see-through case back with sapphire crystal

Band: Stainless steel with three-fold clasp with push button release

Glass: High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Case diameter: 37.0 mm, thickness: 13.3 mm

Water resistance: 10 bar

Magnetic resistance: 10,000 A/m (125 gauss)

Limited edition of 500 pieces for SBGR065, 300 pieces for SBGR075

Recommended retail price in Japan: JPY472,500

High-beat automatic

In addition, specially tuned “HI-BEAT 36000” caliber is used, delivering even higher accuracy: a mean daily rate between -2 and +4 seconds. Along with the 36000 inscription that marks the vibration rate of the balance, the “SPECIAL” logo is printed in gold on the dial, echoing the design of the original “Special” version first launched in 1970.