Seiko

Seiko’s founder Kintaro Hattori was born in central Tokyo in 1860 at a time in Japanese history characterized by rapid modernization and westernization.  The young entrepreneur saw the sudden and momentous changes in Japanese life as a moment of opportunity. In 1881, at the age of just 21, he set up his own company, “K. Hattori”, to wholesale and retail imported timepieces and, just twelve years later, he established a factory which he called Seikosha, “ the house of precision”, to produce his own clocks and, later, watches. His aim was for Seikosha to be able to manufacture and assemble all the components for its timepieces in-house by mastering every aspect of the horological art. Step by careful step under Kintaro’s leadership, the company achieved his aim. Its long list of watchmaking innovations down the decades bears testament to his remarkable vision and continues to inspire it to this day.

Now, as the year of the 160th anniversary of his birth draws to a close, Grand Seiko proudly celebrates the life and achievements of Kintaro Hattori with a Spring Drive masterpiece. 2021 will be the 140th anniversary of the founding of his company and this landmark is also commemorated with another exceptional timepiece. Both watches exemplify Kintaro’s dedication to complete mastery of every aspect of the watchmaker’s art.

The 160th anniversary of Kintaro Hattori’s birth is marked with a remarkable timepiece made by the elite team of watchmakers at the Micro Artist Studio. The softly rounded case 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 watch is powered by Caliber 9R02 which is assembled, adjusted and finished by hand by the cra smen and women of the Micro Artist Studio. It delivers a power reserve of 84 hours thanks to the Dual Spring Barrel in which two independent thin, long mainsprings are set in parallel in a single barrel, and the Torque Return System*.  The caliber also incorporates an 18k yellow gold plaque which carries the engraved words “Micro Artist” but which can, if the owner so wishes, be replaced with a word of their choice.  This slim and exquisite timepiece has a depth of just 9.6mm and will be available in January 2021 as a limited edition of 50 in the Grand Seiko Boutiques worldwide.

*Torque Return System: When the mainspring has been fully wound and the torque output is at its highest, approximately 30% of the available power is not needed to maintain the precision of the watch, and is in effect wasted in a normal movement. The Torque Return System uses this energy to rewind the mainspring, resulting in an increase in the power reserve. In Caliber 9R02, this system is activated for 48 hours after the mainspring has been fully wound.

Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection: Kintaro Hattori 160th Anniversary Limited Edition

Spring Drive Caliber 9R02

Driving system: manual winding

Power reserve: 84 hours

Accuracy: ± 1 second per day (± 15 seconds per month)

Dual-Spring Barrel and Torque Return System

Power reserve indicator

Number of jewels: 39

Specifications 

Platinum 950 case and clasp

Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

See-through screw case back

Water resistance: 3 bar

Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m

Diameter: 37.5mm, Thickness: 9.6mm

Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release

Approximate retail price: $100,000

Limited edition of 50 available exclusively at the Grand Seiko Boutiques

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