Kintaro Hattori founded his company in 1881 and led it until his death at the age of 73 in 1934. His philosophy was that his company should be “Always one step ahead of the rest” and, while it was not created until 1960, nothing better expresses the power of his vision than Grand Seiko with its unique design, leading edge manufacturing and exquisite finishing.
Today, Grand Seiko commemorates the 140th anniversary of the foundation of Kintaro’s company with a Spring Drive watch whose dial is inspired by the calm waters of Lake Suwa that lies close to the Shinshu Watch Studio where the watch is made.
The softly textured dial and the sharply edged hands and indexes. A perfect contrast.
The textured pattern of the dial evokes the gentle sway of the surface, or minamo, of Lake Suwa with ripples and shallow waves that create a pleasing sparkle at whichever angle the dial catches the light. In contrast, the seconds hand and Grand Seiko letters are sharply cut and their gold color echoes the morning sunrise shimmering on the lake’s surface.
This commemorative limited edition watch perfectly expresses the quiet but strong character of Grand Seiko. Its powerful hands and grooved, prominent markers ensure perfect legibility, its Zaratsu polished, distortion-free mirror finish and delicate hairline finish alternate, giving the case a quiet and harmonious glow. The case has wide lugs and a low center of gravity that ensures that the watch sits easily and securely on the wrist.