Grand Seiko Elegance Collection, 38.5 mm, Stainless steel

Grand Seiko began in 1960 as Seiko’s pursuit of a highly accurate Japanese wristwatch. The sharply faceted 44GS of 1967 established a design language that still shapes the collection. The name returned with the quartz 95GS in 1988. The 9F quartz family arrived in 1993 with measures to stabilise the seconds hand and change the date quickly. The mechanical 9S55 followed in 1998 under a renewed Grand Seiko testing standard. Grand Seiko adopted Spring Drive in 2004, combining mainspring power with quartz-controlled regulation. In 2017, Seiko presented Grand Seiko as a distinct brand within the company. Production remains in Japan, with the Shizukuishi and Shinshu studios developing its different movement families.