Grand Seiko chose a super sport and two artistic pieces for W&W 2023. The Tentagraph is the first brand’s mechanical chronograph, while the hand-engraved Manual-winding Spring Drive and the Spring Drive 8-Day Jewelry Watch tickle with artistic crafts.
High-beat precision and three days of power reserve. Introducing the first Grand Seiko mechanical chronograph, the Tentagraph.
Last year, at Watches and Wonders Geneva, Grand Seiko introduced its first mechanical complication and a series of sports watches from the Evolution 9 Collection. Today marks a new milestone as Grand Seiko expands its Evolution 9 sports watch offering with its first mechanical chronograph, the Tentagraph.
Just like every Grand Seiko creation, the pursuit of precision is at the heart of the new Tentagraph, whose chronograph movement features the revolutionary high-beat Caliber 9SA5 as its base. Like Caliber 9SA5, the new Tentagraph Caliber 9SC5 beats ten times per second, ensuring high accuracy when measuring elapsed time as well as the time of day. And, thanks to its energy-efficient escapement and two barrels, the watch runs for three days even when the chronograph is in operation, making the Tentagraph the 10-beat chronograph with the longest power reserve in the industry today.* Furthermore, the Tentagraph is subjected to a new and longer testing procedure. As with all Grand Seiko mechanical movements, the Tentagraph’s time-of-day accuracy is assessed in six positions and at three temperatures over 17 days but, in addition, there are three more days of testing during which the accuracy is assessed in three positions while the chronograph is in operation. Thus, in total, each Tentagraph movement is tested for 20 days to ensure that it meets the Grand Seiko Standard of +5 to -3 seconds per day.
With the new Tentagraph, Grand Seiko adds a new dimension to its range of sports watches and opens a new chapter in its history.
*As of March 2023. Based on Grand Seiko’s research.
Incorporating Grand Seiko’s finest mechanical watchmaking technology
The new movement features the revolutionary Dual Impulse Escapement, which efficiently transfers energy to the free-sprung balance wheel indirectly through the pallet fork and also directly from the escape wheel. MEMS technology ensures extremely precise, lightweight, and highly durable escapement parts and also endows the escapement with increased energy efficiency to achieve a long power reserve.
Hallmarks of a high-quality modern chronograph, a vertical clutch and a column wheel ensure high accuracy and operability. The vertical clutch eliminates any shuddering or jumping of the hands when the chronograph is engaged and enhances measurement accuracy, while the column wheel delivers precise control of the chronograph operation. The movement incorporates a three-pointed hammer, which ensures that, when the reset pusher is pressed, the hands return to zero instantly and in perfect synchronization.
An Evolution 9 sports watch true to the ideals of Grand Seiko
The ideals of a Grand Seiko sports watch are readily apparent in this new chronograph. The powerful hands and prominent, grooved indexes of the Evolution 9 Style ensure supreme legibility. The chronograph seconds hand is gently curved down towards the dial so that the tip of the hand is as close as possible to the dial’s markers and extends to the markings at the very edge of the dial. The minute hand is also gently curved to ensure the legibility of the time of day.
The case and bracelet are made of high-intensity titanium, which is about 30% lighter and more scratch resistant than stainless steel to maximize durability, and the two convex pushers ensure the operability required for measuring elapsed time at the highest level.
The chronograph features a running seconds sub-dial at the three o’clock position, a 30-minute chronograph counter at nine, and a 12-hour chronograph counter at six. 
The bezel is made of ceramic to protect the watch from scratches and enhance durability. 
The hands and indexes are coated with Lumibrite, further enhancing nighttime legibility.
A dial inspired by Mt. Iwate
The dial features Grand Seiko’s signature “Mt. Iwate pattern,” which takes inspiration from the ridged contours of the nearby mountain visible through the windows of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where the Tentagraph and all other Grand Seiko mechanical watches are hand-assembled and adjusted. The Mt. Iwate dial first appeared in 2006, and the pattern has since become deeply associated with Grand Seiko mechanical watchmaking. The majestic peak serves as an enduring inspiration for Grand Seiko, and its choice for the brand’s first mechanical chronograph is both symbolic and fitting. Combined with the gentle blue hue, the dial takes the imagination upwards towards the night sky above Mt. Iwate.
For further information:
www.grand-seiko.com/global-en/collections/slgc001g
A majestic white birch forest in the height of winter inspires a fully engraved Spring Drive masterpiece.
Grand Seiko introduces a new manual-winding Spring Drive masterpiece from the Micro Artist Studio featuring a fully engraved case. Made one by one and engraved by hand, the latest limited edition lives up to its sylvan inspiration and to the highest standards that Grand Seiko has set in its masterpiece creations.
At the foot of the North Yatsugatake Mountains in the eastern part of Shinshu lies an expansive forest of white birch trees. Nearby, in the town of Shiojiri, elite craftsmen and women ply their trades in the production of handmade Grand Seiko watches, a number of which find inspiration in the local sites and seasons. Their latest masterpiece is a meticulously hand-engraved Platinum 950 watch inspired by this white birch forest as it appears during the height of winter, blanketed by freshly fallen snow.
The majestic white birch forest evoked in every detail
Both the silver-colored dial and Platinum 950 case express the natural beauty of this forest. Created by expert watchmakers, engravers, and artisans, the watch is the result of a meticulous set of processes performed entirely in-house. First polished to create a distortion-free mirror surface through the Zaratsu method, each case is then painstakingly hand engraved with long individual grooves by the skilled engravers of the Shinshu Watch Studio, which is in the same facility as the Micro Artist Studio. Each groove brings to life the sea of white birch trees in a pattern that seamlessly echoes a similar pattern found on the dial.
The dial features the celebrated Shinshu white birch pattern familiar to Grand Seiko fans, yet this masterpiece’s dial has a slightly different tone and a more metallic texture, causing it to shine subtly under light.
The hour and minute hands, as well as each of the hand-applied diamond-cut markers, are made of 14k white gold to ensure a sharp and brilliant finish, while the minute track, the lettering and the mark at six o’clock are all carved into the dial. The seconds hand is tempered – but rather than to the customary blue, to a harmonious shade of grey. It glides across the textured dial to reflect the natural flow of time.
The smooth glide motion of this hand is, of course, all thanks to the meticulously crafted manual winding Spring Drive Caliber 9R02, first presented in 2019. Its outstanding 84-hour power reserve is the result of the Dual Spring Barrel, in which two mainsprings are set in parallel within the single barrel, as well as the remarkable Torque Return System*. Accurate to one second per day, the hand-assembled Spring Drive movement exemplifies the understated refinement and quality of Grand Seiko watchmaking.
*Torque Return System: When the mainspring has been fully wound and the torque output is at its highest, approximately 30% of the available power is not needed to maintain the precision of the watch and is in effect wasted in a normal movement. The Torque Return System uses this energy to rewind the mainspring, increasing the power reserve.
Like the case and dial, Caliber 9R02 reveals its heritage in its detail. The movement’s barrel, for example, is decorated to echo the bellflower, the symbol of Shiojiri. And the two hand-finished bridges have high-polished edges that serve as a dramatic counterpoint to the fine hairline finishing of their other visible surfaces, demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship that is the hallmark of the Micro Artist Studio. An 18k gold plaque set on the lower bridge is engraved with the words “Micro Artist,” but if the owner wishes, this plaque can be customized.
This watch is only the third fully engraved masterpiece powered by a manual-winding Spring Drive movement and will be available as a limited edition of 50 at the Grand Seiko Boutiques in June 2023.
About the Micro Artist Studio
The Micro Artist Studio is a luxury watch atelier in Shiojiri, located in the Shinshu region, which makes a series of exclusive Spring Drive watches that combine the best in horological technology with hand craftsmanship of the highest order. The studio was established in 2000 with the purpose of “uncovering, examining, and mastering the technologies and skills passed on by our predecessors for the production of luxury watches.” The team consists of craftsmen and women, each an expert in their respective fields, such as movement design, assembly, and movement finishing.
For further information:
www.grand-seiko.com/global-en/collections/SBGZ009J
Diamonds, blue sapphires, and Platinum 950.
A new Grand Seiko jewelry masterpiece inspired by the white lion.
The powerful profile of the lion has been an enduring symbol of Grand Seiko ever since the first Grand Seiko introduced in 1960, when a gold medallion depicting a lion graced the case back.
At Watches and Wonders Geneva 2022, Grand Seiko introduced a Spring Drive jewelry watch inspired by the white lion. Today sees the introduction of another Spring Drive masterpiece in which the strength and power of this majestic creature are brought to life through the jeweler’s art, only now it is graced by blue sapphires in honor of Grand Seiko’s signature color.
Combining the precision of Spring Drive, high legibility through carefully placed gems, and exquisite artistry and craftsmanship, this remarkable creation is in every way a showcase of the ideals of Grand Seiko.
The strong and angular lugs speak to the power of the lion. No fewer than 112 diamonds are embedded in the upper surfaces of the case and a further 60 baguette-cut diamonds adorn the bezel. All of the diamonds are set so precisely that they seem to create a single, flat surface. The seconds hand is tempered to a perfect grey color to match the overall tone, and a single brilliant-cut blue sapphire is set into the crown.
Hand craftsmanship of the highest order
On the dial, the blue sapphires and baguette diamonds are tapered and serve as hour and minute markers that surround the mother-of-pearl whose depth and texture create a tranquil space at the center. All these gems are set by hand between pairs of very thin 18k white gold rails by the most skilled of the jewelry craftsmen and women of the Shinshu Watch Studio, located in the Shiojiri facility in Nagano prefecture, where Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches are made. Forty-eight additional diamonds and 12 blue sapphires are individually set around the markers to further enhance the piercing depth and beauty of the dial.
A Spring Drive movement with eight days of power and a view of Mt. Fuji
The watch is powered by the Spring Drive Caliber 9R01, which was created by the elite team of watchmakers within the storied Micro Artist Studio, situated in the same Shiojiri facility as the Shinshu Watch Studio. Caliber 9R01 is accurate to ±10 seconds per month and offers a power reserve of eight days, or 192 hours, thanks to its three barrels arranged in sequence.
This jewelry masterpiece is offered in a limited edition of just eight and will be presented at select Grand Seiko Boutiques in June 2023.
For further information:
www.grand-seiko.com/global-en/collections/sbgd213j
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Tentagraph: SLGC001
Calibre 9SC5
Driving system: Automatic
Frequency: 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second)
Accuracy (mean daily rate): +5 to -3 seconds per day
Power reserve: 72 hours
Chronograph with 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock and 12-hour counter
at 6 o’clock
Number of jewels: 60
Diameter: 33.0mm, Thickness: 8.0mm
Specifications
High-intensity titanium case and bracelet
Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
See-through screw case back. Screw-down crown.
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 43.2mm, Thickness: 15.3mm
Three-fold clasp with push button release
Recommended retail price in Europe: €14,300
Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection Hand-engraved Manual-winding Spring Drive Limited Edition: SBGZ009
Caliber 9R02
Driving system: Manual-winding
Power reserve: 84 hours
Accuracy: ± 1 second per day (± 15 seconds per month)
Dual Spring Barrel and Torque Return System
Power reserve indicator
Number of jewels: 39
Specifications
Platinum 950 case
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
See-through screw case back
Water resistance: 3 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 38.5mm, Thickness: 9.8mm
Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release
Platinum 950 clasp (partly 18k white gold)
Recommended retail price in Europe: €80,000
Limited edition of 50
Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection Spring Drive 8-Day Jewelry Watch: SBGD213
Caliber 9R01
Driving system: Manual-winding
Power reserve: 8 days (192 hours)
Accuracy: ± 0.5 seconds per day (± 10 seconds per month)
Power-reserve indicator
Independent hour hand adjustment
Number of jewels: 56
Specifications
266 diamonds (94 on the dial, 60 on the bezel, 112 on the case. 5.62 carats in all)
27 blue sapphires (26 on the dial and 1 in the crown. 1.25 carats in all)
Platinum 950 case and clasp
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
See-through screw case back
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 44.5mm, Thickness: 14.4mm
Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push-button release
Recommended retail price in Europe: €283,500
Limited edition of 8
