There will be just fifty pieces of this limited-edition platinum design available globally, created to mark what would have been the 160th birthday of Kintaro Hattori, founder of the Seiko Watch Corporation back in 1881.
Its design, recreating the very first Grand Seiko, is inspired by Mr Hattori’s vision for the brand to remain ‘always one step ahead of the rest.’ His dedication to innovation remains in the Grand Seiko watchmakers’ determination to create the most precise timepiece humanly possible.
The softly rounded case of this timepiece is made of Platinum 950 and is Zaratsu polished to a perfect distortion-free finish. The sapphire crystal glass is dual-curved and each surface is shaped to ensure perfect legibility.
The dial’s intricate pattern is made possible by processing techniques that create a delicate dial surface with varying depths. As has been the tradition since the 1960’s, a star mark located at six o’clock denotes that the indexes are of solid gold.
The interplay of light and shadow on the dial that is an essential part of the signature of every Grand Seiko watch is accentuated by the application of seconds markers that enhance the legibility of the time.
The indexes and the hour and minute hands are in 14K white gold and are specially cut to create a sharpness that amplifies the enduring beauty of the gold.
The SBGZ005 is powered by a manual-winding Spring Drive Calibre 9R02 that delivers an accuracy rate of ±1 seconds per day. This new movement developed by our Micro Artist Studio uses two mainsprings set in parallel within a single barrel and a unique Torque Return System to deliver a power reserve of 84 hours.
Spring Drive generates energy like every other luxury mechanical watch but combines this with an electronic regulator to deliver a level of precision that no mechanical watch can match.
The signature of Spring Drive is the glide motion of its second hand. The hand does not move with either the one-second tick of a quartz watch nor the rapid beat of a mechanical watch, but rather in a silent and beautiful glide motion.
Every aspect of the movement is designed without compromise. The case back design shows a bell flower shape – the traditional flower of the area where the micro artist studio is located. The bridge gap symbolises the stem of the flower and the jewels represent the leaves.
The rims of the bridges, the holes for the rubies and the screws are all expertly hand polished to a perfect mirror finish. The tempered blue screws stand out in contrast to the hairline finish of the bridges to heighten the perception of engineering perfection. The calibre incorporates a 18k yellow gold plaque on the lower bridge, which carries the engraved words “Micro Artist” but which can, if the owner wishes, be replaced with an engraving of his or her choice.
SPECIFICATIONS
Case: Platinum
Dimensions: 37.5mm in diameter x 9.6mm in thickness x 20mm lug width
Movement: 9R02 Spring Drive
Availability: Limited edition of 50 watches; available at Grand Seiko Boutiques and select Grand Seiko retailers worldwide.
