The first Grand Seiko arrived in 1960 and was all but unknown at the time to watch enthusiasts in the United States. How times have changed: this year, the Japanese high-end watchmaker, now independent of the Seiko parent company, has launched its first limited-edition timepiece to be sold exclusively in the U.S. market. And what better a venue to unveil this very special watch to American audiences than America’s biggest luxury watch show" Yes, all three versions of the new Grand Seiko U.S. Exclusive Limited Edition will be among the highlight pieces at WatchTime New York later this month.
Grand Seiko U.S. Exclusive Limited Edition in Platinum (Ref. SBGA385)
The lustrous, shimmering dials of the Limited Editions (cased in 950 platinum, 18k rose gold, or stainless steel) are enlivened by a traditional Japanese painting technique called Kira-zuri (which translates to “sparkling painting”), used to create the textured backgrounds behind actors in Kabuki theater performances. Each of the three dials is subtly different: an additional plating process has been used on the dial of the platinum model (above) for increased clarity and depth, for example, while the dial of the stainless steel version (below) dazzles with a blue tone that is inspired, Grand Seiko says, by “the clear blue skies over the Sea of Japan.” Grand Seiko U.S. Exclusive Limited Edition in Stainless Steel (Ref. SBGA387)
Inside the watches’ 40-mm-diameter cases, with thei...