This year Grand Seiko calls for a double celebration -- the 20th anniversary of its GMT watch and the 15th anniversary of its Spring Drive Chronograph.
Rather than ticking or beating time typical of a quartz or mechanical watch, Grand Seiko models boast a seconds hand that silently sweeps around the dial -- the flowing motion made possible by the Spring Drive movement.
Two studios are dedicated to crafting its timepieces -- one in Shizukuishi located in Iwate and the other in Shiojiri in Nagano.
The Spring Drive movement was born in the latter, the Shinshu Watch Studio, with a breathtaking view of the Jonen and Hotaka mountain ranges.
Surrounding the studio, the wintery snowscape inspires the dials of the Sport Collection Grand Seiko GMT 20th Anniversary and Grand Seiko Chronograph 15th Anniversary Limited Editions.
The dials capture the rough texture of the snow that can be seen high in the mountains in late winter and early spring, when strong winds carve unique patterns as they whip across the snow surface. The blue accents on both dials echo the bright blue colour of the winter sky in Shinshu.
The casing represents the ruggedness of the Hotaka mountains. The case and bracelet of the GMT version are in stainless steel while the GMT Chronograph is made from high-intensity titanium.
Both commemorative models are powered by the Spring Drive technology, which ensures an enhanced accuracy rate of ±10 seconds per month.
Offering the best of both worlds, the ingenious movements combine the high precision integrated circuit control system of an electronic watch with the high torque of a mechanical watch. Grand Seiko is one of the very few watchmakers with expertise in engineering such a hybrid movement. The sapphire crystal of the case back reveals each Spring Drive caliber, whose oscillating weight is adorned with an 18K gold Grand Seiko lion emblem.
Sized at 44mm, the Grand Seiko GMT 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is equipped with the automatic Spring Drive GMT Caliber 9R16 providing a 72-hour power reserve, whose indicator is discreetly located next to the 8 o'clock marker.
The hour can be adjusted without compromising the accuracy while the seconds hand glides silently and smoothly, with no tick, across the dial, perfectly reflecting the natural and continuous flow of time.
The GMT hand of the traveller's watch shows the second time zone and a third can also be displayed via the 24-hour bezel. Even in complete darkness, the time is clearly visible, thanks to Lumibrite on the bezel, indexes and hour, minute and GMT hands.
The slightly smaller Grand Seiko Chronograph 15th Anniversary Limited Edition also offers a power reserve of 72 hours, through the automatic Spring Drive Chronograph GMT Caliber 9R96.
This Spring Drive Chronograph measures elapsed time up to 12 hours with an accuracy of ±0.5 seconds per day. Thanks to a unique regulation system, its precision remains at this high level even when the power reserve is low.
Equally importantly, it exactly measures the elapsed time, not merely to the nearest fraction of a second, as the glide motion hands stop at the very instant that the button is pressed and not just at the nearest tick.
Grand Seiko has released 700 pieces of the Sport Collection Grand Seiko Chronograph 15th Anniversary Limited Edition, available at its boutiques and selected retailers, while the GMT 20th Anniversary Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces will be available next month.
