If you’re looking for an alternative to Swiss-made watches, Grand Seiko watches are the next best thing. This Japanese watchmaker is preferred by people with the most discerning tastes in their watches who would choose craftsmanship over brand name.
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Qualities of a Grand Seiko Watch
What makes Grand Seiko watches stand out in a supersaturated luxury market are their accurate movement, elegant design, and fine craftsmanship.
Grand Seiko manufactures watches with three movements: quartz, mechanical, and Spring Drive. The last one is a unique hybrid of the first two, and marries the precision of a quartz watch with the high torque of a mechanical one.
The design of these watches appears relatively simple at first glance, but after greater inspection, you’ll be impressed with their impeccable finish and proportions.
Every watch is crafted using the zaratsu technique, in which every surface of the case is polished to perfection, resulting in a distortion-free, brilliantly mirrored finish.
If you’re planning to own a Grand Seiko, here are the most noteworthy watches the brand has released in recent years that have the potential to become future horological classics.
The Grand Seiko Snowflake
The SBGA211 is the watch that serves as a watch collector’s entry into Grand Seiko’s catalog. It is a huge fan favorite and critics’ darling for a reason.
Grand Seiko is known for bringing the colors of nature in its design approach, with Snowflake getting its name from the textured pattern on its dial that resembles freshly fallen snow.
With the implementation of the zaratsu technique, this watch has an extremely flat mirrored surface which reflects light in marvelous ways.
This watch is powered by the Spring Drive movement, which combines the age-old tradition of a mechanical watch and the accuracy of a quartz. Expect an accuracy of +/- 1 second per day with a 72-hour power reserve. The unique dial and titanium case also adds to its winning design and aesthetics.
The Grand Seiko Elegance
The SBGM221 is a standout in Grand Seiko’s Elegance collection of dress watches with its classic, old-school appeal. The simple and minimalist design comes with a blue GMT hand, so that the owner gets to keep time between two time zones.
This watch sports a retro dial and a pinkish cream surface. On the inside, it utilizes an in-house 9S66 movement, which boasts of a precision of -3/+5 seconds per day.
The Grand Seiko Sport
Grand Seiko also creates great sports watches. The SBGM245 is a dressy Grand Seiko GMT sports watch with a modern appearance. It comes in a beautiful oceanic blue dial and sunburst finish that beautifully catches the light.
It also has a red GMT hand and a date aperture at 4 o’clock. If you prefer something in a landscape green color, check out its twin sister in SBGM247.
This watch has the same caliber movement as the SBGM221, so expect the same -3/+5 seconds second accuracy, and three days of power reserve. It comes in a stainless steel case with big lugs and is water-resistant down to 200 meters, which is more than enough for recreational diving.
The Grand Seiko Chronograph
The SBGC201 is Grand Seiko’s first-ever chronograph. This one offers the convenience of a chronograph with its power reserve, date, GMT, running seconds, and elapsed timing functions — all packaged in a very wearable and comfortable watch.
It has Spring Drive movement, and also comes in a light champagne dial and stainless steel case. The Grand Seiko chronograph makes a compelling case for those who want something a little extra in their watch aside from telling the time.
The Grand Seiko Diver Watch
The SBGH255 is a great dive watch equipped with the fully mechanical caliber 9S85. The watch’s titanium case is designed to withstand water pressure of down to 600 meters.
The dial is made from pure iron, which acts as an anti-magnetic shield and displays a texture reminiscent of the tapisserie dial of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches. It also provides luminous markers at every ten-second point to provide visibility at challenging conditions, as well as grooves on the unidirectional rotating bezel, providing the diver with a firm grip even under water.
Once you’ve decided on which watch to get, make sure to visit Zadok Jewelers, an official Grand Seiko retailer in Houston to ensure that you’re getting an authentic watch, and also to receive top-notch support from knowledgeable watch experts.
