====== Grand Seiko ======

{{wst>author|[[Foskett, Stephen|Stephen Foskett]] ([[https://grail-watch.com/|Grail Watch]])}}

{{wst>menue|Grand Seiko}}

**Grand Seiko** is a line of luxury watches manufactured by [[Seiko]] and a separate brand since [[2017]].

The Grand Seiko brand was launched in [[1960]] as Japan was rising to be a center of precision manufacturing and vying for a place in the pantheon of first-world countries. The company had produced high-quality watches previously, including [[Seiko Lord Marvel|Lord Marvel]], [[Seiko Crown|Crown]] and [[Seiko Chronos|Chronos]], but Grand Seiko would be a halo brand for the entire company. Seiko had two competitive divisions manufacturing watches at that time, [[Seiko Group|Daini and Suwa]], and selected the former for the initial Grand Seiko project. Eventually, both would contribute to the line.

The Grand Seiko line was retired in [[1976]] as quartz movements took hold. But the company revived the brand a decade later, introducing a quartz Grand Seiko for the first time in [[1986]]. As mechanical watches regained market share, Seiko responded, re-launching the Grand Seiko mechanical line in [[1998]]. It became a halo for the company, with the return of [[GMT]] in [[2002]], the introduction of a Grand Seiko [[Spring Drive]] model in [[2004]], and the return of a [[Hi-Beat]] model in [[2009]]. In [[2017]], Seiko officially split Grand Seiko from the mother company, launching it as a brand in its own right and removing "Seiko" from the dial once again.

===== Grand Seiko and the Grammar of Design =====

{{wst>image_cr|Grand Seiko|44GS (1967)}}

Seiko's first designer, Taro Tanaka, was tasked with elevating Seiko's high-end products and defining a style of their own. He noticed that Swiss watches "sparkled brilliantly" and realized that it was a combination of sharp edges, mirror finish, and brushed surfaces that could create a distinctive Japanese look to the company's watches. His ideas were first implemented with the [[1967]] [[Grand Seiko 44GS]], one of the most famous designs of the classic Seiko era. Although Seiko continued to produce a variety of cases for Grand Seiko and King Seiko watches, Tanaka's "Grand Seiko Style" models are best remembered today. This includes the 8000-series cases on the [[Grand Seiko 61GS|61GS]], [[Grand Seiko 45GS|45GS]], and [[Grand Seiko 56GS|56GS]], the 56GS 7010/7011/7030 cases, and the 61GS 7000/8010/8020/8040/8050.

It was also reused after the demise of the Grand Seiko on the [[Seiko Grand Quartz|Grand Quartz 4842-8041]] of the late 1970's. This style has continued with the reborn Grand Seiko since [[1998]]. Many modern Grand Seiko models feature cases that are obviously derived from this classic "Grammar", but a few go further The modern [[Grand Seiko SBGW|SBGW043/44/46/47]] are considered "reissues" of the 44GS, while the [[Grand Seiko SBGR|SBGR081/83]] is a homage.

===== Grand Seiko Models =====
==== Lord Marvel ====
Introduced in June, [[1956]], the Marvel was the first wholly in-house watch created by [[Daini Seikosha]]. From [[1958]], "[[Seiko Lord Marvel|Lord Marvel]]" blazed the path for the later creation of the Grand Seiko series, originally by [[Suwa Seikosha]], and it would become the highest-standard watch from Seiko throughout the 1960's. Lord Marvels pioneered "[[Hi-Beat]]" movements for Seiko, and were among the most accurate watches produced by the company. The final Lord Marvel used the [[Seiko 5700|5740C]] movement and was produced from [[1967]] through [[1978]], making it Seiko's final high-end mechanical watch before the renaissance of Grand Seiko in 1998. Seiko also used the "Lord" name on the midrange "[[Seiko Lord Matic|Lord Matic]]" line.

==== Classic Grand Seiko (1960-1976) ====
Seiko allowed [[Suwa Seikosha]] to develop the Grand Seiko in [[1960]], and their models focused on quality mechanics. [[Daini Seikosha]] got in on the action, migrating their [[King Seiko 44KS|King Seiko]] to the Grand Seiko line and setting the styling standards for all future Seiko products. Grand Seiko moved to "[[High-beat|Hi-Beat]]" 36,000 A/h movements in 1968 and many featured accuracy surpassing Swiss chronometers. But the line came to an end in [[1976]] as the quartz revolution temporarily eliminated the market for high-accuracy mechanical watches.

  * [[Grand Seiko (1960)|Grand Seiko]] (1960-1964) - Calibre 3180, produced by Suwa, 18,000 A/h, self-certified chronometer
  * [[Grand Seiko 57GS|57GS]] (1963-1968) - "Self Dater" - Model [[Seiko 5700|430/5722A/5722B]], produced by Suwa, 18,000/19,800 A/h, self-certified chronometer
  * [[Grand Seiko 44GS|44GS]] (1967-1968) - "Grand Seiko Style" - [[Seiko 4400|Calibre 4420A/4420B]], produced by Daini, 18,000 A/h
  * [[Grand Seiko 62GS|62GS]] (1967-1969) - "Self Winding" - [[Seiko 6200|Calibre 6245A/6246A]], produced by Suwa, 19,800 A/h
  * [[Grand Seiko 61GS|61GS]] (1968-1975) - "Automatic Hi-Beat" - [[Seiko 6100|Calibre 61xx]], produced by Suwa, automatic, 36,000 A/h
  * [[Grand Seiko 45GS|45GS]] (1968-1973) - "Manual Hi-Beat" - [[Seiko 4500|Calibre 45xx]], produced by Daini, manual, 36,000 A/h (also VFA and Astronomical Observatory models)
  * [[Grand Seiko 19GS|19GS]] (1968-1974) - "Grand Seiko for Women - [[Seiko 1900|Calibre 19xx]], 36,000 A/h
  * [[Grand Seiko 56GS|56GS]] (1970-1975) - "Ultra Thin" - [[Seiko 5600|Calibre 56xx]], produced by Suwa, automatic, 28,800 A/h

==== King Seiko ====
With Suwa Seikosha getting the Grand Seiko line, Daini Seikosha produced their own high-end lineup. King Seiko featured trend-setting style and case design, existing as competition for Grand Seiko throughout the classic period. Automatic movements were introduced in 1968 with the [[King Seiko 56KS|56KS]].

  * [[King Seiko (1961)|King Seiko]] (1961-1964) - Produced by Daini
  * [[King Seiko 44KS|44KS]] (1964-1968) - "Grand Seiko Style" - [[Seiko 4400|Calibre 4420A/4420B]], produced by Daini, 18,000 A/h
  * [[King Seiko 45KS|45KS]] (1968-1973) - "Hi-Beat" - [[Seiko 4500|Calibre 45xx]], produced by Daini, 36,000 A/h
  * [[King Seiko 56KS|56KS]] (1968-1975) - "King Seiko Automatic" - [[Seiko 5600|Calibre 56xx]], produced by Suwa, automatic, 28,800 A/h
  * [[King Seiko 52KS|52KS]] (1971-1975) - "Final King Seiko" - [[Seiko 5200|Calibre 52xx]], produced by Daini, automatic, 28,800 A/h

==== Quartz Grand Seiko ====
Seiko introduced high-accuracy quartz movements in Grand Seiko models in [[1988]], reviving the brand after a decade-long absence.

  * [[Grand Seiko 95GS|Grand Seiko 95GS Quartz]] (1988)
  * [[Grand Seiko 3FGS|Grand Seiko 3FGS Quartz for Women]] (1992)
  * [[Grand Seiko 9F8|Grand Seiko 9F8 Quartz]] (1993) - "Quartz that surpasses quartz"
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGX|Grand Seiko SBGX Quartz]] (2003) - [[Seiko 9F|9F61]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGX|Grand Seiko SBGX Quartz]] (2003?) - [[Seiko 9F|9F61/62]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGT|Grand Seiko SBGT Quartz Day/Date]] (2010?) - [[Seiko 9F|9F83]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGX|Grand Seiko SBGX Antimagnetic]] (2012) - [[Seiko 9F|9F61]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGV|Grand Seiko SBGV Quartz Tribute Self Dater]] (2014) - [[Seiko 9F|9F82]]

==== Modern Grand Seiko Mechanical ====

{{wst>image_cl|Grand Seiko|Hi-Beat 36000 80 hours SLGH005}}

Mechanical Grand Seiko models were reintroduced in late [[1998]] using updated versions of the [[Seiko 5206|5200]] calibre, now called the [[Seiko 9S55|9S family]]. The first models used the 9S51 and 9S55, but the line has expanded greatly since then. Today, all high-end Seiko timepieces are manufactured at [[Shizukuishi Watch Studio]].

  * [[Grand Seiko SBGR|Grand Seiko SBGR Automatic]] (1998) - [[Seiko 9S51|9S51/54/55/56/65/67]], 28,800 A/h, date
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGW|Grand Seiko SBGW Manual Winding]] (2001) - [[Seiko 9S51|9S54/64]], 28,800 a/H, manual
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGM|Grand Seiko SBGM Automatic GMT]] (2002) - [[Seiko 9S51|9S56/66]], 28,800 A/h, date, GMT
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGL|Grand Seiko SBGL 3 Days Power Reserve]] (2006) - [[Seiko 9S67|9S67]], 28,800 A/h, date, power reserve indicator
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGH|Grand Seiko SBGH Hi-Beat]] (2009) - [[Seiko 9S85|9S85]], 36,000 A/h, date
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGR|Grand Seiko SBGR Automatic 3 Days]] (2010) - [[Seiko 9S67|9S65]], 28,800 A/h, date
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGR|Grand Seiko SBGR Antimagnetic]] (2012) - [[Seiko 9S67|9S65]], 28,800 A/h, date
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGJ|Grand Seiko SBGJ Hi-Beat GMT]] (2014) - [[Seiko 9S85|9S86]], 36,000 A/h, date, GMT
  * [[Grand Seiko STGK|Grand Seiko STGK Ladies]] (2018) - [[Seiko 9S25|9S25/27]], 28,800 A/h, date

==== Modern Grand Seiko Spring Drive ====
Seiko's [[Spring Drive]] movement is a high-accuracy mechanical movement with a quartz-timed electromagnetic regulator and was released to market in [[1999]].

  * [[Grand Seiko SBGA|Grand Seiko SBGA Spring Drive Power Reserve]] (2004) - [[Seiko 9R|9R15/65]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGE|Grand Seiko SBGE Spring Drive GMT]] () - [[Seiko 9R|9R66]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGC|Grand Seiko SBGC Spring Drive Chronograph]] (2007) - [[Seiko 9R|9R86]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGC|Grand Seiko SBGC Spring Drive Chronograph (new case)]] (2019) - [[Seiko 9R|9R96]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGZ|Grand Seiko SBGZ Spring Drive Hand-Winding]] (2019) - [[Seiko 9R02|9R02]]
  * [[Grand Seiko SBGY|Grand Seiko SBGY Spring Drive Hand-Winding]] (2019) - [[Seiko 9R|9R31]]

===== External Links =====
  * [[http://www.grand-seiko.com/features/history.html|History of Grand Seiko]]
  * [[http://www.seiyajapan.com/pages/the-history-of-grand-seiko|The History of Grand Seiko]]
  * [[http://azfinetime.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/grand-seiko-130th-anniversary-sbgw040/|Grand Seiko 130th Anniversary SBGW040]]
  * [[http://monochrome-watches.com/seikos-affinity-to-hi-beat-movement-part-one/|The History of Grand Seiko Hi-Beat Movements: Seiko's Affinity to Hi-Beat Movement -- Part One]]
  * [[http://www.monochrome-watches.com/seikos-affinity-to-hi-beat-movement-part-two/|The History of King Seiko: Seiko's Affinity to Hi-Beat Movement -- Part Two]]
  * [[http://www.watchtime.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/WT_Spotlight_Seiko_fin.pdf|The Story of Grand Seiko: From the Pages of Watchtime Magazine]]
  * [[http://www.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-657/pi-5568098/ti-824423/t--interview-akira-ohira-watchmaking-father-of-modern-mechanical-grand-seiko/|Interview: Akira Ohira - watchmaking "Father" of modern mechanical Grand Seiko]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Seiko_models Seiko Seiko_Group Seiko_brands}}