Watch Out Tissot, Here Comes Grand Seiko

It looks like Swiss watches like Tissot and Rado better keep a watch out for the luxury watch market's latest entry, Seiko. Where Japanese watch lovers have been enjoying premium Grand Seiko watches for the last 50 years, Seiko made a number of astonishing announcements at its press conference at BaselWorld this year, with the availability of Grand Seiko timepieces around the world highly anticipated and finally confirmed on the 50^th anniversary of the collection.

Launched in 1960, Grand Seiko has always been Seiko’s pride and joy, along with the Ananta collection that was introduced last year. The Ananta Spring Drive Moon Phase, with a 5R67 calibre and a gloriously decorated movement based on the curve of the katana, is a delight to behold, but the Grand Seiko’s 50^th anniversary collection, with its fast-beating 9S85 mechanical movement in an uncluttered design had journalists around the world nodding with approval. A modernised version of the original Grand Seiko 1960 timepiece, with wider flanges and integrated lugs in polished steel is something that Naoto Fukasawa would have approved of.

Every Grand Seiko component must meet the highest standards, from polished cases featuring mirror-finished surfaces using the Zaratsu method to razor edged hands and hour markers for perfect time reading legibility, the Grand Seiko is every bit as precise and crafted as its Swiss Tissot and Rado counterparts; even the mainsprings are made from Seiko's proprietary alloy.