True Japanese chic

Since Grand Seiko became an autonomous brand name, which appears on dials without the Seiko inscription, various stylistic evolutions have appeared. In 2019, these are expressed through the Elegance collection and its three new models. Their Caliber 9S63 is a new manual-winding movement with small seconds and power-reserve indicator, which tops at 72 hours. Its dials and sapphire crystals are curved and provide the watches with an elegant and classic look. The design change continues with the lugs which are curvier and softer thanks to less angular polishing. This enables the 39mm diameter case to sit more smoothly on small wrists.

However, the most visible new feature of these models lies elsewhere. The two models with 18k pink gold cases, each issued in 150-piece limited editions, feature domed dials adorned with Urushi lacquer, the traditional Japanese lacquering technique. The color is rich, deep and bright, even on the all-black version, while the underlying texture on the amber red version makes this piece truly unique. This design is inspired by Mount Iwate, which overlooks the Shizukuishi Watch Studio, where the Grand Seiko mechanical watches are manufactured. This same motif adorns the dial of the stainless steel version. This slightly grayish blue timepiece issued in a 1500-piece limited edition is adorned with applique hour-markers, as elegant as the cursive-script Arabic numerals on the gold versions. One especially important detail about these numerals and the accompanying hour-markers is that they are all made of precious metal powder, 24K gold or 950 platinum depending on the color, and hand-applied on the Urushi lacquer dial. This Maki-e work reflects the meticulous care of Urushi Master Isshu Tamura in Kanazawa, Japan.