Grand Seiko can’t stop releasing stunning watches this year, but you won’t hear us complaining. The iconic watchmaker has been on a tear lately, releasing gorgeous timepieces that celebrate its history, along with its usual muses of Japanese nature and seasons. Today, however, the brand is celebrating something a little more integral to its identity: the Grand Seiko Style. For the past 55 years, the Grand Seiko Style has been the guiding light of Grand Seiko’s design language, so it only makes sense that the company would celebrate the occasion with the release of two new watches.
The SLGA013 and SLGH009 are the two watches in question, with each of them housing one of Grand Seiko’s latest and greatest movements. The former boasts the slim new Caliber 9RA2 Spring Drive movement, which debuted just last year, while the latter is powered by the automatic Hi-Beat 36000 Caliber 9SA5 that premiered in 2020. In addition to the movements, the two watches also introduce some new tech to Grand Seiko by way of parent company Seiko’s Ever-Brilliant Steel. The innovative material, used to construct the cases and bracelets of the watches, is more corrosion resistant and more durable than traditional stainless steel. Aside from its enhanced strength, Ever-Brilliant Steel also has an intense white sheen, which wearers can admire for years to come.
The Hi-Beat Caliber 9SA5 features an 80-hour power reserve, while the Spring Drive Caliber 9RA2 boasts an impressive 120-hour power reserve and a precision rate of +/- 10 seconds per month. Both of these handsome timepieces share a dial design that draws inspiration from the elliptical orbit of stars, with a deep blue dial on the automatic and a dark, charcoal gray for the Spring Drive. The darkness of the dials provides a wonderful backdrop for the silver minute and hour hands and gold second hand to contrast.
Each of these pieces from Grand Seiko is limited to 550 pieces. The Hi-Beat version retails for $10,500, while the Spring Drive model is priced at $9,500. These limited edition watches will go on sale worldwide in February.
