Nobody questions that Japanese engineering is among the best in the world. Driven by precision, attention to details and cutting-edge technology, it could easily be seen as something cold and void of passion. Still, some Nippon products generate genuine desire and adoration. Such is the case of Japan’s most famous sports car and Japan’s most […]
In 1999, after over two decades of development and multiple prototypes created, Spring Drive was launched at Baselworld and has come to be recognized as an important development in the recent history of luxury watchmaking, with its technology mixing a mechanical chain of energy and an ultra-precise quartz oscillator. To mark the 20th anniversary, Grand Seiko unveils at Baselworld 2019 two new hand-wound Spring Drive movements and altogether 4 different watches in the recently introduced Elegance Collection. Meet the Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGZ001, SBGZ003, SBGY002 and SBGY003.
Twenty years ago, the luxury branch of Seiko, named Grand Seiko and now a company in its own right, unveiled a technology that would make history. With precision, reliability, and practicality in mind, the brand developed a hybrid movement, based on the beauty and perpetuity of an automatic calibre, and benefitting from the precision of […]
Quartz… A word that you don’t often read on MONOCHROME. I’m not afraid to say that and freely admit that we are watch snobs. We love fine mechanics and Haute Horlogerie. However, the watch that we’re about to review has a quartz regulator, but isn’t battery powered – and that already makes things slightly different. Secondly, this watch is made by Grand Seiko – and we’ve already seen that it is committed to doing things in a different (better?) way. And last but not least, this quartz crystal is part of a hybrid movement, mixing old-school mechanics and modernity. This watch is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Snowflake SBGA211 and no, we’re not afraid to review it in this “online magazine dedicated to fine watches”.
Grand Seiko watches are undeniably great pieces. With a design all their own and an overall quality of execution that is unquestionable (for both the mechanics and the habillage), few of Seiko’s watches can be classified as elegant dress pieces with thin profiles. For Baselworld 2019, Grand Seiko embraces the path of thinness and refinement, […]
“Everyone has a Rolex. If you don’t have a Rolex by the time you reach 50, then you have clearly failed in life.” Some of you – at least our French-speaking readers – might remember this outrageous statement pronounced by Jacques Séguéla as the advertising tycoon tried to defend Nicolas Sarkozy’s bling-bling style on French TV. If owning a Rolex is the sine qua non of success for some, it’s a good time as any to review the entry-level prices of watch candidates from the leading brands.
Grand Seiko’s history dates back to 1960 when Japanese brand Seiko decided to up the game and introduced a gold chronometer watch – a watch that has been reissued in 2017. Another important date in the brand’s history is 1998. That year, Grand Seiko introduced Calibre 9S, an entirely new movement designed to become the base for most mechanical watches we know today. 20 years later, it is time to celebrate, which has been done with a trilogy of commemorative watches, including the desirable and perfectly executed Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 Calibre 9S 20th-Anniversary SBGH267 we’re about to look at.
Finally, the wait is over, stylish ninja’s with a good taste for watches now have their own Grand Seiko with a practical built-in Shuriken. From now on, no mission with the Grand Seiko SBGA211G Spring Drive Ninja ‘Shuriken’ Edition or the fully mechanical Kunoichi model for the ladies. Ordinary mechanical watches, and quartz watches alike, …
While the inaugural timepiece made by Grand Seiko dates back to 1960 – a watch that was recreated last year, with a faithful re-edition – another extremely important date in the history of the brand is 1998. Indeed, twenty years ago, Grand Seiko introduced caliber 9S, an entirely new movement designed from scratch to deliver high precision and excellent durability. Today, the entire Grand Seiko mechanical collection is built around this movement. For its 20th anniversary, the brand launches three special movements, a new case and a unique dial. Meet the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 Calibre 9S 20th Anniversary ref. SBGH265 – SBGH266 – SBGH267.
With the holiday season approaching, it’s time for us to make our wish lists… We already started with a selection of the dress watches introduced in 2017 – part 1, with a focus on watches under CHF / EUR 20,000. Now we move up, with a selection of 6 of the best dress watches, for those with larger pockets.