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Seiko Grand Quartz

Grand Quartz was a high-end quartz watch brand from Seiko in the 1970s and 1970s. It is analogous to Grand Seiko but was not positioned as high. Grand Quartz fell below Seiko Superior and above Seiko King Quartz in the brand's hierarchy at the time.

History

The Grand Quartz brand debuted in 1975 as the new Cal. 48 quartz movements were introduced. Produced by Suwa Seikosha, they gradually replaced the 38SQ V.F.A. line also produced by this factory. The last 38SQ V.F.A. disappears from the catalog after 1976, with more emphasis given to the less-expensive Grand Quartz 48GQ. The 48GQ line was available with day and date (48GQW Cal. 4843), date-only (48GQC Cal. 4842), or time-only (48GQ Cal. 4840). These ranged in price from 58,000 to 100,000 Yen, though the line debuted with million-Yen solid gold bracelet models in 1975. They were removed from the catalog after 1978.

Suwa's “Twin Quartz” 99GQ appears in the second catalog in 1978 alongside the 48GQ models. These super-accurate Grand Quartz watches sold for substantially more than their predecessors at 80,000 to 150,000 Yen, though the cases and designs were similar. Once again, the line was available in day-date (99GQW Cal. 9943), date-only (99GQC Cal. 9942), and time-only (99GQ Cal. 9940). The date-only model disappears from the catalog after 1981, and the rest are retired in 1985 along with the Grand Quartz name.

Daini Seikosha also produced a Grand Quartz watch for a short time. Introduced in 1978, the 92GQ used Daini's HAQ Twin Quartz movement. Cal. 9256 was a day and date movement (92GQW) and was priced alongside the Suwa models. The 92GQ line lasts in the catalog only through 1980.

Some sources suggest that there was a 94GQ produced using Cal. 9461 as well, but this is not found in contemporary catalogs.

The Grand Quartz line was discontinued in 1985, but just a few years lapsed before the new Grand Seiko line was introduced. This started in 1988 with a line of quartz watches that can be seen as a continuation of the Grand Quartz.

Models

seiko_grand_quartz.txt · Last modified: 03.07.2022 15:38 by 127.0.0.1

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