Grand Seiko – KODO Constant-force Tourbillon Unique Piece

  

SEIKO – Grand Seiko KODO Constant-force Tourbillon Brilliant Hard Titanium - Unique Piece 2022

 

 A Unique Heartbeat: The Piece-Unique Grand Seiko 
Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT001

Grand Seiko reached a new milestone in its sixty-two-year history with the introduction of the brand’s first mechanical complication watch, the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon. At its heart is a uniquely innovative movement that delivers a level of stable accuracy unprecedented for Grand Seiko by combining a tourbillon and a constant-force mechanism as one unit on a single axis for the very first time in horological history. 

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The watch is named Kodo, the Japanese word for heartbeat. With its unique appearance when in motion and with its carefully designed sound, this revolutionary watch reveals its vitality both audibly and visually, thanks to the open-work design and the sapphire case back. Most remarkable of all is the way that the constant-force mechanism and the tourbillon have been integrated together to allow the creation of an overall design that is perfectly in harmony with the values of Grand Seiko and whose technical ingenuity is encased in a watch of great elegance and wearability.

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In 2020, Grand Seiko introduced the “T0 Constant-force Tourbillon”, a concept movement incorporating a constant-force mechanism and a tourbillon as one unit on a single axis. To bring the concept to life in a finished watch required the complete dedication of a team comprising designers, engineers, and craftsmen and women entrusted with the assembly and finishing of the movement and the case. Each of the 340 components of the caliber was re-examined and, where necessary, re-designed and re-engineered for production. The result is Caliber 9ST1. 

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Not only is Caliber 9ST1 smaller than its concept movement predecessor, but its high accuracy remains stable for longer thanks to the constant-force mechanism. Furthermore, Caliber 9ST1 sets a new standard of accuracy, verified in a testing procedure during which each movement is tested for a full 48 hours in each of six positions and at three temperatures. This is twice as long as the Grand Seiko Standard.

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Each movement is assessed over 34 days to verify its accuracy. When the tests are completed and this new standard has been met or exceeded, the performance characteristics of each movement are defined in the individual certificate provided with every watch.

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For the Kodo model unique piece to be sold exclusively by Phillips Auction, SLGT001, the concept was based on musō 無双. Musō roughly translates to “one and only” or “second to none,” a fitting term for the unique piece exclusive to the auction. This unparalleled model is unique in several ways compared to the global model limited to 20 pieces, reference 👉 SLGT003.

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First, the multi-component case structure is made entirely of Grand Seiko’s proprietary alloy, Brilliant Hard Titanium. This material, which is used on only the outer case and outer construction of the bezel of SLGT003, is used for both the inner and exterior case components to thoroughly reduce weight and achieve a comfortable feel unique to this model. Brilliant Hard Titanium is as light as pure titanium but twice as hard as stainless steel and, therefore, highly resistant to scratches. Its color is brighter than the other forms of titanium used for Grand Seiko, allowing the Zaratsu polished surfaces to stand out more prominently.

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The bridges, mainplate, and many of the components of the movement are plated in a silver color to create an entirely new aesthetic for the Kodo. A yellow-gold accent for the power reserve and seconds track of the carriage inherits the aesthetic of the T0 concept movement.

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The design of the screws for the Kodo model has the appearance of the six arms of the carriages, a trait that cleverly enhances the design but also is pleasant for assembly. The special screwdriver and screws used have an even application of torque, which the designer of T0 and Kodo, Mr. Takuma Kawauchiya, enjoys greatly. For the unique piece SLGT001, the screws are tempered blue by hand instead of being mirror polished as they are on reference SLGT003. 

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The carriages for the constant-force tourbillon mechanism are titanium to help reduce weight and improve efficiency. They are blue as well, which is executed through anodic oxidation. Anodic Oxidation is a surface treatment in which the titanium carriages are subjected to electrolysis to generate an oxide film artificially. Titanium oxide film produces color according to the light refraction index, enabling the production of different colors by varying the thickness of the oxide film. This once again emulates the styling of the original concept T0.

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The GS letters are specially engraved by hand on the Brilliant Hard Titanium clasp by Grand Seiko’s very best engravers. The watch is offered with a calf strap specially treated in the same traditional way as was used to create the high-durability material once used in the armor of the Samurai. The strap’s surface is painted by hand with Urushi lacquer in a multi-coating process that gives the strap a delicate sheen. It is in a brown color specially for this unique piece.  

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Accompanying the unique piece Kodo SLGT001, will be an exclusive trip to Japan to meet its creators, the Grand Seiko team, a visit to Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi in the lovely Iwate prefecture.

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A portion of the sale will be donated to the Children’s Heart Foundation. The Children’s Heart Foundation is the leading organization dedicated to funding congenital heart defect research. 

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Model:   Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon Unique Piece

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 Ref. SLGT001

Movement
Caliber 9ST1
Driving system: manual-winding
Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Accuracy: +5 to -3 seconds per day (when static for 48 hours)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Number of jewels: 44
Constant-force Tourbillon
(Constant-force: 50 Hours)
Diameter: 35.0mm, Thickness: 7.98mm

Functions
    Water resistance :    10 bar
    Magnetic resistance :    4,800 A/m
    Other details / Features :    
        ・Case back with 6 screws
        ・Unique Piece on the case back
        ・Power reserve indicator
        ・See-through case back
        ・Serial number engraved on the case back

 Exterior
    Case Material :  Brilliant Hard Titanium
    Glass Material : Box shaped sapphire crystal
    Glass Coating :  Anti-reflective coating on inner surface
    Case size : Diameter 43.8mm  Lug-to-lug 50.6mm  Thickness 12.9mm
    Clasp type : Platinum 950 three-fold clasp with push button release

Option strap
XGL00122
Band width：22mm
Clasp width：18mm
Color：Brown
Material：Crocodile
It will be available from 2022.11

The Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT001 Unique Piece will be auctioned in the upcoming Phillips The New York Watch Auction: SEVEN on December 10-11, 2022 in New York City.

Edition - Unique Piece

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Press releases - 2022
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SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION
Mr­­ Noboru­­ Miyadera
2-8-10, Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo­­ 105-8467
Japan
Telephone +81 3 6739 2150
Telefax +81 3 6739 2071
seiko-pr@seiko-watch.co.jp
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CREDOR – "The Dream of the Butterfly" - Unique piece

CREDOR – Art Piece "The Dream of the Butterfly" Platinum by engraver Kiyoshi Edition - Unique piece - 2022

 From <Credor>, a butterfly created by the ultimate metal engraving gracefully dances,
One watch in the world appears

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Seiko Watch Co., Ltd. (President: Akio Naito, Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that from the Credor's "Art Piece Collection", we have created a "Butterfly A limited model that expresses “dream” will be released on Friday, August 19th.

The world of "Dream of Butterfly" expressed by "moving engraving"

Kiyoshi Terui, a metal engraver who received an outstanding craftsmanship (contemporary master craftsman) in 2002 and the Medal with Yellow Ribbon in 2007, created a wristwatch equipped with the metal engraving technology "moving engraving." Realization, adding a new page to the history of Credor. Twenty-seven years after starting his metal engraving, Terui has always produced various metal engraving works based on his own belief of “creating something unique and new”.

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Inspired by the tale of the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, "The Dream of a Butterfly," this model was developed as a "butterfly that flutters on a rotating disc," realizing a longtime dream of Terui's moving metal engraving. 

By turning the crown at 4 o'clock, six butterflies made of 18K yellow gold with metal engraving will gracefully flap their wings on the rotating disk. The dial is made of engraved 18K white gold, and the 18K yellow gold arabesque with openwork markings at 12, 4, and 8 o'clock that serve as indexes. The three outer butterflies pass under the arabesque while flapping their wings.

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The movement, which can be seen from the back, is also delicately engraved with wisteria flowers that bloom gracefully. A dream-like world is expressed by inlaying two butterflies, a white lip and a black lip, between wisteria swaying in the wind.

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In this work, the butterfly drive part was assembled by Terui himself, and the assembly, including the movement, was handled by contemporary master craftsman Satoshi Hiraga. There are more than 70 parts to move the engraving, and each part requires fine adjustment to drive the butterfly smoothly. Without Terui and Hiraga's excellent technique, this work could not have been realized. Two master craftsmen have created a single elegant watch in a world of exquisite craftsmanship and exquisite beauty.

<Credor> was born in 1974 as a brand of luxury dress watches with rich individuality, created by Japanese sensibility and sophisticated technology. The name, which means "Golden Top (CRÊTE D'OR)" in French, is appropriate for the movement, and every single component, from the movement to the fine parts, is made with carefully selected materials and master craftsmanship to protect its beauty and quality.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection: Art Piece

Model: "The Dream of the Butterfly"

Reference: GBBY983 

Case
38.8mm diameter x 11mm height - 45.4mm lug-to-lug
950 platinum case
Glass: Dual curve sapphire glass (internal non-reflective coating)
Sapphire caseback
Water-resistant case
Weight: 135.0g
Dial
18k white gold dial, engraved by hand
18k yellow gold rotating automaton with moving butterflies
Blued hands
Movement:
Hand-wound - fully engraved by hand
Calibre 6890 - in-house
22 jewels
21,600 vibrations/hour
37h power reserve
Hours, minutes, automaton
Strap
Crocodile Strap (Black Musou Tailoring)
Platinum 950 one-push three-fold clasp

Edition  - Unique piece available today

🔴 Price: JPY 49,500,000   (approx. EUR 360,000) 💰

 

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Grand Seiko – Evolution 9 Spring Drive 5 Days Titanium - Caliber 9RA5

 

SEIKO – Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive 5 Days Titanium - Caliber 9RA5 - 2022

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This 200m Grand Seiko diver’s watch from the Evolution 9 Collection has a deep black, richly textured dial inspired by the dynamic and sometimes violent tides caused by the Black Stream, or Kuroshio current that surrounds the Japanese archipelago.

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The watch exhibits the Evolution 9 Style, a new grammar of design that enhances the Grand Seiko Style established in 1967 and takes the beauty, legibility and comfort of Grand Seiko to a new level. Its Zaratsu polished, distortion-free mirror finish and delicate hairline finish alternate to give the case a quiet and harmonious glow. 

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A new font has been created for the numerals on the bezel especially for the collection. The lugs are wider and the bracelets are more robust and, like the cases, have a low center of gravity to ensure that the watches sit comfortably and securely on the wrist.

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The watch’s case and bracelet are made of high-intensity titanium, which is about 30% lighter than stainless steel and brighter in color. The inner section of the rotating bezel is in ceramic to protect the watch from being scratched. 

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The hands and indexes are coated with sufficient Lumibrite to further enhance the legibility of the time at night. The crown guard is carefully designed to avoid being caught on the sleeve in both sport activities and everyday use. 

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The watch is powered by the latest Spring Drive movement, Caliber 9RA5, which offers an accuracy rate of ±10 seconds per month and a 5 day power reserve. Caliber 9RA5 has enhanced rigidity and shock resistance thanks to the new layout of the gear train towards the center of the movement and a central bridge that holds them together. 

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This One-piece Center Bridge achieves a shock resistance that meets the ISO standard for diver’s watches. The movement incorporates two barrels which deliver a power reserve of up to 120 hours. 

 

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They are different sizes so as to deliver the torque required for the five day power reserve while optimizing the use of the limited space within the movement.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Model:   Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive 5 Days Titanium - Caliber 9RA5

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 Ref. SLGA015

Collection    Evolution 9

 

Movement
Winding mechanism Automatic with manual winding

Caliber no.:     9RA5 Instructions
Movement Type:     Spring Drive
Accuracy:     ±0.5 second per day (±10 seconds per month)
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date, Power reserve indicator

Magnetic resistance:     4,800 A/m

Power reserve     Approximately 120 hours (5 days)
Number of jewels     38 jewels
Weight:     150 g
Other details / Features:    
    Unidirectional rotating bezel
    Screw-down crown
    Three-fold clasp with secure lock
    Power reserve indicator

Exterior

Case:     High-intensity Titanium
Textured Dial 

Case back:     Screw case back
Glass Material:     Sapphire crystal
Glass Coating:     Anti-reflective coating on inner surface
LumiBrite:     LumiBrite on hands, index(es) and bezel
Case size:     Diameter 43.8mm Lug-to-lug 51.5mm Thickness 13.8mm
Band width:     23mm
Clasp type:     Three-fold clasp with secure lock & push button release, solid & slide adjuster
The perimeter of Band:     185mm

 

Price incl. VAT   12'000 CHF

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SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION
Mr­­ Noboru­­ Miyadera
2-8-10, Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo­­ 105-8467
Japan
Telephone +81 3 6739 2150
Telefax +81 3 6739 2071
seiko-pr@seiko-watch.co.jp
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SEIKO – PROSPEX Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph

SEIKO – PROSPEX Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph Blue Dial 2022

Precision in every aspect. 
A new Speedtimer chronograph.

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Heritage and innovation in harmony. The new Prospex Speedtimer mechanical chronograph.

The creation of the 1969 Seiko Speedtimer was an important landmark in the history of the chronograph. 

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It was one of the world’s first automatic chronographs but its true significance lay in that fact that its movement, Caliber 6139, was the first to incorporate both a column wheel and a vertical clutch, two devices which made the measurement of elapsed time more precise and error-free than ever before. 

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Today, a new creation pays homage to the 1969 original and showcases many of the most innovative aspects of Seiko’s watchmaking. 

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The original 1969 Speedtimer was the first chronograph in the world to incorporate both a vertical clutch and a column wheel.

Precision in every design detail

Just like the 1969 original, every detail of this new creation’s design is tailored to reflect the precision required for elapsed time measurement at the highest level. The sub-dials and markers on the outer dial ring are in white so that they stand out prominently against the blue dial. The chronograph hands are in red to ensure that elapsed time can be read accurately at a glance.

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Thanks to the dial’s vertical hairline finish, the dial turns from navy to vivid blue as the angle of vision changes.

The chronograph second hand is gently curved down towards the dial so that the tip of the hand is as close as possible to the dial's markers and extends right to the tachymeter markings at the dial edge. The minute and hour hands and the edge of the indexes are generously coated with Lumibrite so that the time can be read even in low light conditions. The pushers are prominent and have a wide and flat upper surface area to facilitate secure and accurate operability. In every aspect, precision has inspired the design.

The Caliber 8R Series.  
Designed for maximum precision in every aspect.

This new Speedtimer is powered by Caliber 8R46, which incorporates both vertical clutch and column wheel mechanisms, just like the 1969 original. The vertical clutch eliminates any shuddering or jumping of the hands and so enhances the measurement accuracy while the column wheel ensures the precise control of the chronograph operation.

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Designed and hand assembled completely in-house by Seiko’s most skilled watchmakers, Caliber 8R46 ensures the highest possible levels of precision and durability.

In addition, the movement incorporates Seiko’s unique three-pointed hammer which ensures that, when the re-set pusher is depressed, the hands return to zero instantly and in perfect synchronization. The escapement is lightweight and strong, thanks to the use of MEMS technology which enhances the stability of the watch’s precision.

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As well as the steel bracelet, a black leather strap is also offered with the watch.

The watch is presented on a stainless steel bracelet that is specially designed and constructed for this series. Its thickness and weight, combined with the low center of gravity of the case, ensure stability and a high level of comfort on the wrist. In addition, the presentation case includes a leather strap whose stitching is specially designed to increase the strap’s durability.

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This new Speedtimer chronograph will join the main Prospex collection and will be available from September 2022 at the Seiko Boutiques and selected retail partners worldwide.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

SPORT - Collection

Model:  PROSPEX Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph: SRQ043

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Ref.  SRQ043

Movement
Caliber Number    8R46
Movement Type:    Automatic with manual winding
Precision:   +25 to -15 seconds per day
Power reserve    Approx. 45 hours
Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Jewels:  34
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m  

 

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Functions
        Equipped with small seconds hand
        Stop second hand function
Case
Material    Stainless steel (super hard coating)
Size
Thickness:15.1mm
Diameter:42.5mm
Lug-to-lug:50.0mm
Crystal:   Dual-curved sapphire crystal
Crystal Coating:   Anti-reflective coating on inner surface
LumiBrite:    Lumibrite on hands and index(es)
Water Resistance:    10 bar
Weight:   194.0g
Band
Stainless steel bracelet with super-hard coating
Three-fold clasp with push button release 

Bracelet Length:    203.0mm
Distance between lugs:    20mm

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Additional calf strap

🔴  Approximate recommended retail price in Europe: €3,200

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SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION
Mr­­ Noboru­­ Miyadera
2-8-10, Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo­­ 105-8467
Japan
Telephone+81 3 6739 2150
Telefax+81 3 6739 2071
seiko-pr@seiko-watch.co.jp
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