Grade One Replica Watch

Grand Seiko: The Japanese Giant

29 March 2025

Mangas here, sushi there. Zen Buddhism meets street style, and the crowds of Tokyo’s Shibuya district meet the snowy dreamscapes of Hokkaid¨­. There’s no doubt about it: viewed from afar, Japan conjures up a wide variety of associations. Cliches mingle with nostalgia, but in the end, what unites them all is the conviction that faraway Japan is a very special country. However, very few people have Japan on their radar as a major watchmaking nation. Realistically speaking, most people even regard the Far East as an enemy of classic watchmaking. You don’t have to write for Swisswatches Magazine to ask: well, who was the first to commercialise quartz technology for wristwatches and launch the 35SQ in 1969? That’s right, the Japanese. More precisely: Seiko.Seiko 35SQ from 1969This brings us to Grand Seiko. The manufacture is far more than a prestige project of the watch group. Rather, it is a testament to the confidence and expertise of Japanese craftsmanship. The brand is 65 years old this year, meaning the first Grand Seiko was produced nine years before the launch of the first ever quartz watch. Grand Seiko recently launched the model SLGH027'. The official watch model names of the company are admittedly a little cumbersome, but the nicknames and the inspiration for the dials are all the more sensual. Model SLGH027, for example, is not just another reference. Rather, the steel watch brings together an award-winning automatic calibre with an ice-blue aesthetic inspired by the wintry ridges of Iwate Mountain. It’s a limited edition watch that, for many reasons, represents pretty much everything that characterises Grand Seiko. After all, Iwate lies within sight of one of the places where the ambition and creativity of the employees culminate in horological innovations: Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.Grand Seiko SLGH027We had the chance to visit the manufacture to see for ourselves what makes Grand Seiko a watch brand to be taken seriously by enthusiasts of high-quality timekeepers...................