After a quarter of a century it continues to strike seconds with precision. Also thanks to many rebirths: Grand Seiko celebrates 25 years of the first 9S caliber with two creations with the same design and case diameter as the first timepiece which, in 1998, was equipped with the 9S movement. The new watch is, however, completely redesigned.
Edizione Limitata 25° Anniversario. Calibro 9S85
The 9S caliber first made its debut in 1998 and in the same year, the Standard Grand Seiko was redefined, with a new level of performance, exceeding the standards of the time. Over the next 25 years the original Caliber 9S was developed into a complete series of movements with different functions, enriched by new alloys for the main springs and balance wheel, as well as MEMS technology, which allows the essential components to be manufactured to a tolerance of one thousandth of a millimetre.
Caliber 9S thus became the foundation upon which Grand Seiko mechanical movements are built, leading to the creation of the revolutionary 9SA5 caliber in 2020. Created by Grand Seiko designer Nobuhiro Kosugi and his team, the 1998 model has an aesthetic inspired by uniqueness as well as precision. And after 25 years Grand Seiko continues to draw inspiration from the past with new models.
The first of the two watches is embellished with a silver dial whose texture and color evoke the blanket of clouds surrounding Mount Iwate, located in the Japanese province of the same name, where all Grand Seiko mechanical watches are produced. A panorama that is only visible at dawn, when the clouds overlap creating a beautiful silvery-white curtain. Through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback, the Grand Seiko emblem is visible on the watch, set in the titanium oscillating weight, the color of which was created for this watch, to recall the deep blue sky above the often surrounding cloud cover. the peak of Mount Iwate. This color is made possible by a process of anodic oxidation (a surface treatment in which metals are subjected to electrolysis in order to artificially generate a titanium oxide film, which produces color based on the refractive index of light. By varying thickness of the film, different colors are obtained).
The new creation is equipped with the hand-assembled 9S85 Hi-Beat 36000 automatic mechanical caliber, has an accuracy margin of approximately +5 to -3 seconds per day and offers a power reserve of 55 hours. It is produced in a limited edition of 1,200 pieces, first exclusively for the Grand Seiko Online Boutique, and from February it will also become available in the Grand Seiko Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide.
The second timepiece displays a light blue dial, representing the clear sky above Mount Iwate. The sunburst finish reflects light from all angles, creating a blue background against which the diamond-cut hands and hour and minute markers stand out. As with the other watch, the seconds hand is tempered blue and the Grand Seiko logo is gold in color to resemble the 9S movement. The typical Grand Seiko blue color decorates the oscillating weight again thanks to the anodic oxidation process and can be observed through the sapphire crystal case back. The watch is powered by Caliber 9S65, which boasts an accuracy margin of approximately +5 to -3 seconds per day and a three-day power reserve.
