Grand Seiko will release its first men's jewelry watch on June 19, 2020. The watch features a beautiful dial made of diamonds and blue sapphires, representing the natural phenomenon of "fine ice" that can be seen on winter mornings in the Suwa region, and is equipped with a Spring Drive movement that boasts a power reserve of approximately eight days.
The brand's first men's jewelry watch combines beauty and practicality
The beautiful dial is inspired by the natural phenomenon of "fine ice," also known as diamond dust. It beautifully captures the crisp air of a winter morning. It will be released on June 19, 2020. Spring Drive manual winding (Cal. 9R01). 56 jewels. Power reserve of approximately 192 hours. Pt (diameter 43mm, thickness 13.5mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Limited to 10 pieces worldwide. Grand Seiko Boutique exclusive model (Japan). 20 million yen (excluding tax).
Grand Seiko, a leading Japanese watch maker, is releasing a long-awaited men's jewelry watch. Since becoming independent from Seiko in 2017, the brand has released collections such as elegance and sports, creating models with diverse designs and functions while inheriting the philosophy of Grand Seiko. This year, Grand Seiko will finally add a men's jewelry watch to its lineup.
As a jewelry watch, the first thing to notice is its exterior. The dial design is inspired by "fine ice," a mysterious natural phenomenon seen on winter mornings in the Suwa region. The silver-gray dial is finished with sparkling particles randomly scattered throughout the center, highlighting the world of "fine ice."
The next step outside of that is where 48 tapered baguette diamonds and 12 baguette blue sapphires are set without any gaps. This "gapless setting" requires a high level of skill and cost, as it requires stones of the same color and quality to be cut precisely and set in the same direction and height.
When the stones double as indexes, as in this model, the expectations are naturally higher. Furthermore, elegantly sparkling diamonds and blue sapphires are set one level further out. A single brilliant-cut blue sapphire is set in the crown, allowing its beauty to be enjoyed from the wrist when wearing the watch. The case is made of platinum 950 with a unique composition.
Of course, it is finished with Grand Seiko's signature Zaratsu polishing, and its distortion-free surfaces and sharp edges enhance the brilliance of the platinum 950.
The Cal. 9R01 used in this model is Seiko's proprietary Spring Drive movement. In addition to the smooth movement of the hands, which seems to express the clear air of a winter morning, the three barrels provide an ultra-long power reserve of approximately eight days. The bridge of the Cal. 9R01 is extremely rare, being made from a single piece.
This component, which supports multiple axes, is usually divided into several pieces. This is because variations in processing precision inevitably occur, making it difficult to perfectly align all the axes when made from a single piece. Instead, by making the bridge into a single piece, rigidity and aesthetics can be improved. The 9R01's case back features a view of Suwa, the birthplace of Spring Drive.
The shape of the receiving plate is inspired by Mount Fuji, the rotor by the sun, the ruby by the lights of Suwa city, and the power reserve display by Lake Suwa, giving you the thrill of looking into a kaleidoscope.
Grand Seiko has finally released a men's jewelry watch, a watch that combines beauty and practicality, marking a new chapter for the brand.
