Where Engineering Meets Art – The World of Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko is arguably one of the last hidden treasures of the watch world. Unfairly overlooked for many years, they have been quietly producing timepieces of staggering quality since 1960. Today, they have become known for their innovative approach to movement development (most notably their exclusive Spring Drive technology), their beautifully textured dials and an artisan’s touch on their case polishing techniques. Over the course of their history, the brand has produced many exceptional models, all of which deserve a closer look. Here, we explore a few popular examples within the pre-owned collection at Prestons.

Spring Drive ‘Snowflake’

     

This is one of the most popular models in the Grand Seiko range, and it’s easy to see why. Housed in a lightweight 41mm titanium case, practicality lies at the heart of this piece. Only if you take a closer look does the depth and beauty of the watch present itself. The case is finished with a technique known as Zaratsu polishing, a highly skilled approach that offers a blemish-free mirror finish on the lugs. The star of the show is the dial. Inspired by the snowfalls surrounding Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio every winter, the gently textured surface is achieved by a silver-plating process. The watch is powered by a Spring Drive movement with a 72-hour power reserve, a movement only possible due to Grand Seiko’s rare expertise with both electronic and mechanical watchmaking.

Spring Drive ‘Lake Suwa Before Dawn’ 

     

‘The Nature of Time’ is a recurring theme throughout Grand Seiko’s design philosophy, taking inspiration from the beauty of the natural world around their workshops. Lake Suwa is close to the Shinshu Watch Studio where all Spring Drive and Quartz Grand Seikos are produced. The gentle ripples within this dark blue dial capture the emotion and essence of Lake Suwa. Its simplicity represents the brand’s ideals of beauty, legibility and wearability. The watch is housed in a 40mm stainless steel case with a matching stainless steel bracelet and powered by a Spring Drive movement with a 5-day power reserve.

Yukage

     

One half of a two-part series exploring light (‘asakage’) and shadow (‘yukage’), this watch is inspired by the shadows cast through the paper screens that are so integral to traditional Japanese architecture. The dial is further enhanced by a washi pattern, adding additional texture and depth.  Manufactured as a European exclusive model, the Yukage is part of the Elegance collection. The watch is housed in a 37.3mm stainless steel case and powered by a slim, manual-winding mechanical movement.

Pre-Owned Grand Seiko at Prestons

Here at Prestons, we have recently acquired an extensive collection of aged stock Grand Seiko models. You can browse our pre-owned Grand Seiko collection online, or if you would like to explore further, contact Prestons Wilmslow or Prestons Guildford by telephone, via our online contact form, or by visiting us in-store. One of our specialists will be happy to guide you through any enquiry you may have.