It was in December of 1960 that Japanese watchmaking giant Seiko released its “King of Watches,” the first Grand Seiko timepiece, which became legendary for reaching new heights of precision, durability, legibility, and ease of use. This year, the Grand Seiko brand ? once Japan’s best-kept horological secret, now a worldwide phenomenon ? celebrates 60 years with a quartet of new limited-edition watches, two automatic and two quartz, all featuring Grand Seiko’s signature blue dials.
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Hi-Beat 36000 Limited Edition (Ref. SBGH281)
The number 60, as Grand Seiko points out, is not only a fundamental number in timekeeping but also in Japanese culture signifies “a moment of new energy and rebirth.” Hence the company’s plan for a year-long celebration that will not only pay tribute to its past achievement but also to point the way forward to the next 60-year cycle of Grand Seiko watchmaking, kicking off with these four models. The first of the two automatics is a men’s watch, a modern re-creation of the historic 44GS model from 1967 that established the distinctive Grand Seiko signatures. Powering the watch is the high-beat Caliber 9S85, possessing a 55-hour power reserve and a 36,000 vph frequency, and boasting an accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day. The 40-mm stainless steel case, water-resistant to 100 meters and magnetic-resistant to 4,800 A/m, is attached to a steel bracelet with a three-fold push-b...