Visit Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi and see the craftsmanship up close

Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, located in Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture, opened in 2020 as a mecca for mechanical Grand Seiko watches. The Shizukuishi workshop is one of the world's leading workshops, where many masterpieces that have gone down in watchmaking history have been produced and where renowned watchmakers have competed with each other. Visit the studio, also known as the mecca for mechanical watches in Japan, and see the outstanding skills of the artisans.

Grand Seiko has two domestic workshops

Grand Seiko watches, which have earned high praise from around the world, are manufactured in two workshops in Japan. Let us take a look at the watchmaking process, which brings together cutting-edge technology and craftsmanship.

Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi (Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture)

Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi is the studio responsible for manufacturing Grand Seiko mechanical watches, and is part of Morioka Seiko Kogyo, the company that manufactures Seiko watches. Shizukuishi has produced countless masterpieces that have left their mark on history, and is also known as the "holy land of mechanical watches."

The company employs many engineers who have achieved excellent results in various competitions, including those who have been selected annually by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as "Outstanding Craftsmen (Contemporary Master Craftsmen)" and recipients of the Cabinet Office's "Yellow Ribbon Medal."

The new studio, which opened in July 2020, was designed by architect Kengo Kuma and is an open wooden building based on the concept of coexistence with nature.

The space is scheduled to open to the public from January 2022 by reservation only, allowing visitors to learn about the brand's history and background and experience the manufacturing process.

Shinshu Toki no Takumi Kobo (Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture)

Shinshu Toki no Takumi Kobo is a workshop that mainly produces Grand Seiko quartz watches and their unique movement, Spring Drive.

Located at the Seiko Epson Shiojiri Plant in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, it consists of four workshops: the Micro Artist Workshop, the Takumi Workshop, the Dial Workshop, and the Case Workshop.

Among them, Micro Artist Studio, which brings together outstanding engineers, is a workshop that has gained worldwide acclaim for producing complicated watches equipped with Spring Drive.

In 2016, Micro Artist Studio released its first Grand Seiko, the "Spring Drive 8 Days," which achieved a power reserve of over a week, far exceeding previous models, and attracted a lot of attention.

Features of Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi

At Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, you can observe the watchmakers' workshops. Before you can enjoy the craftsmanship, let's learn some basic information about the workshop.

The craftsmanship of a fully manufactured manufacturer

Grand Seiko is one of the few fully-fledged manufacturers in the world. It handles all processes in-house, from parts development to manufacturing, processing, assembly, adjustment, and inspection. The Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi handles all processes from assembly onward.

Some mechanical watches have more than 200 parts. The highly skilled watchmakers adjust each part to within 1/100mm, and each part is assembled into a highly precise watch.

The "takumi" (master craftsmen) employed at the company are some of the most skilled technicians in Japan, and include recipients of the Outstanding Skills Medal and the Yellow Ribbon Medal, as well as winners of watchmaking competitions across generations.

You can observe craftsmen at work

At Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, you can observe the watchmaking process. Through glass, you can watch the craftsmen handcrafting the timepieces. You may even be able to see the work of artisans selected as contemporary master craftsmen.

The interior of the studio is divided into sections for each process, such as assembly, adjustment, inspection, and shipping.

The craftsmen's desks and cabinets are custom-made Iwate traditional furniture "Iwayado Tansu," and the chairs are Herman Miller's "Aeron Chair," which is ergonomically designed.

• Name: Shizukuishi Luxury Watch Workshop
• Address: 61-1 Itabashi, Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
• Telephone number: 019-692-5863
• Tour reservation website:https://gs-studio-shizukuishi.resv.jp/

A ladies' mechanical model is also being developed.

The model equipped with the ladies' automatic movement 9S25, released in 2018, was also produced in Shizukuishi, even before the studio was completed.

Caliber 9S25 is a small, high-precision movement exclusively for ladies, newly developed for the first time in approximately 50 years to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Caliber 9S.

With the development of the caliber 9S25, a new "Grand Seiko Standard (for women)" was added to the Grand Seiko inspection items.

This movement, which has succeeded in achieving further miniaturization while maintaining precision, is a generous reflection of the craftsmanship of the workshop's assemblers, some of whom are women.

Introducing the special model from Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi

Be sure to check out the limited edition Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi timepieces, available only to visitors. These masterpieces are the culmination of the unparalleled craftsmanship of the specialized studio.

An original model that can only be purchased by visitors

Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi's shop corner on the second floor sells studio-exclusive Grand Seiko models. While enjoying the view of Mount Iwate, you can take your time to look at the limited edition models with the studio motif in your hands.

Let's go on a tour of the workshop

Grand Seiko watches are manufactured in two workshops in Japan. At the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, you can observe the craftsmen at work.

The studio also sells models that are exclusive to visitors. Come visit the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi and see how masterful craftsmen infuse their timepieces with soul.

・Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi Tour Reservation Site
　https://gs-studio-shizukuishi.resv.jp/

*If a state of emergency or priority measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are issued in Japan due to the future spread of COVID-19, we may cancel or stop accepting reservations.