You'll find bejeweled watches and precious metals as well as exquisitely hand-finished movements. On par with Credor in terms of finishing and prices but with Grand Seiko design codes, the Masterpiece line is for some of the most special, high-end watches the brand makes. Grand Seiko’s catalog is divided into Elegance, Masterpiece, Heritage and Sport lines. Grand Seiko’s movements range from the sophisticated 9F family of quartz calibers, to robust automatic mechanical engines, fast-paced Hi-Beat versions, and the acclaimed Spring Drive technology, which uses quartz precision to regulate a fully mechanical drive train. These techniques include the Zaratsu steel finishing that produces sword-sharp hands and mirror-like surfaces, multiple dial finishing and engraving methods, and impeccable in-house movement building. Nominally splintering off from Seiko in 2016, Grand Seiko is still tightly related to the larger brand, so much so that occasionally Grand Seiko’s most storied craftspeople lend their time-honored techniques to the likes of limited-edition Seiko Presage models.
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Flash a budget Seiko at Mom, and she’s likely to approve of your frugality and good taste.īelow is a map of the enormous territory that is the Seiko oeuvre. Pop into your local SCUBA shop with a Seiko diver and they’ll give you more than the time of day. You might sound a little silly pointing out that your $45 watch has an in-house caliber, but you wouldn’t exactly be bullshitting either.Ĭred: If you showed up at a horological snob-fest with a Grand Seiko, even the snobbiest would acknowledge the value and craft. In-House Movement: From bottom to top, Seiko manufactures all of its movements themselves. Seiko produces its watches, including its signature Seiko automatic movement pieces, entirely in-house, down to the screws and oils. Quality: Even the lowest-tier Seikos are well made and will typically outperform their price-point counterparts from other brands. Value: Whether you’re buying a last-minute gift at the drugstore or dropping ten figures on a solid gold handmade Grand Seiko, you’ll be getting an impressive value. The Seiko identity, catalog and even the names and ranges of sub-brands are constantly evolving.ĭespite Seiko’s diversity, there are a few qualities that tie all Seiko watches together.
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Seiko aficionados tend to huddle in one corner, sometimes around just one model, like the revered sub-$200 Seiko SKX007 diver or the handsome JDM-only Seiko Alpinist. Seiko is constantly releasing limited editions and/or market-specific models, and watch nerds in the USA are particularly charmed by the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) designation. Seiko, quite literally, offers something for everyone. Seiko’s technology is equally diverse, with movements ranging from old-school mechanical calibers to GPS-enabled solar-powered quartz units that set themselves when crossing time zones. Watches You Should Know: the Grand Seiko Snowflake