Independent Iteration: Grand Seiko’s New Look

Seiko took a bit of a gamble earlier this year when it announced the promotion of its popular Grand Seiko label as its own independent Seiko brand rather than merely a sub-brand of the Japanese manufacture. To the average watch aficionado, this shouldn’t mean much more than a difference in the brand’s marketing approach and a different dial design, in which the Seiko labeling will be removed and only the elegant “GS” of Grand Seiko will remain. To commemorate this rebranding, Seiko released three new models in steel, gold, and platinum at Baselworld. All three are powered by the noteworthy 9S64 Caliber and exist in 38 mm form. They each recall a different era of Seiko design, with the gold model sporting a raised Grand Seiko logo, the steel model a blued seconds hand, and the platinum model an engraved logo. The gold model is limited to 353 pieces and is priced at $17,200; the steel model will be released in a run of 1960 watches, to honor Grand Seiko’s founding year, and is priced at $5,700; and the platinum model will have a run of 136 editions to commemorate Seiko’s 136th anniversary in 2017 and is priced at $30,600.

Grand Seiko in gold.
Grand Seiko with a platinum case and engraved logo.
The steel model with a blued seconds hand.