The stability of time

TIME has become a stabilizing force for Grand Seiko during this uncertain period. The company marks its 60th anniversary this year, celebrating the launch of its first Grand Seiko, a novelty back in December 1960 for its comparable quality to Swiss chronometers.

This of course was followed by a flurry of activity, though Director and Senior Vice-President Yoshikatsu Kawada of Seiko Watch Corp. said in a webinar last week that many of their plans had to be shelved due to the pandemic. Furthermore, they also faced production delays earlier this year due to the lockdowns — but at least it celebrated the opening of a new studio, which opened in June of this year. The new studio is dedicated to the Grand Seiko, and is located by the slopes of Mt. Iwate.

The 60th anniversary also brings a line of limited edition timepieces, with a caseback displaying a limited edition label and a serial number, as well as redesigned elements inspired by the new Mt. Iwate studio.

The SLGH003 contains the 9SA5 H-beat Caliber, with a similarity to the 44GS, but a bigger hour hand and more prominent indices. One can see the movement through a clear sapphire glass caseback. The SLGA001 contains the Caliber 9RA5, and is classified as a slimmer professional diver’s watch, with helium and water resistance up to 600 meters. The SBGJ241, with Caliber 9586, also resembles the 44GS, with an automatic movement and a green dial. The SBGR321 has a power reserve of 72 hours, a blue dial, and incorporates MEMS technology, as well as having a crystal caseback. The SBGH281 has a seconds hand in vivid red, and a 55-hour power reserve. The SBGP007, containing the Caliber 9F85, has a time difference adjustment function that allows the hour hand to be adjusted without stopping the seconds hand and thus preserving its high precision when the wearer changes time zones. SBGP015 has a ceramic bezel almost impervious to scratches, and SBGW264 features an 18K rose gold case, a green dial, and a three-day power reserve.

To mark the company’s diamond anniversary, the STGK015 comes studded with diamonds, the jewels serving as hour markers on a mother-of-pearl dial.

The movements are symbolic: “Both calibers mark the passage of time, second by second,” said Mr. Kawada, noting that the 9R caliber series, with its smooth movement, marks the seamless flow of time.

The webinar also announced the launch of the Grand Seiko online stores gs.seikoboutique.com.ph/, as well as the opening of a new boutique in Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Karl Dy, President and COO of Timeplus Corp., which distributes the watches in the Philippines said, “Hopefully, through these retail and online initiatives, we would really want to widen our reach to our Grand Seiko clientele.”

He also noted how the company fared in the Philippines during the height of the lockdowns — surprisingly well.

“In terms of our retail sales, for our Seiko boutiques combined, we’re surprisingly a little bit better than last year; if we combine all our brands. Just for retail.”

Mr. Kawada reflected on the nature of time, as exemplified by the 60 years the brand has been standing. “Sixty is a significant number in horology. It takes 60 seconds to fill a minute, and 60 minutes to complete an hour. Moreso, 60 is important in Japanese culture as it signifies a moment of new energy and re-birth,” he said in a speech. — Joseph L. Garcia