Horological Meandering

Just yesterday Seiko and its local distributor Thong Sia hosted a group of watch collectors and Grand Seiko fans. The attendees enjoyed a presentation at the Thong Sia showroom followed by an excellent Japanese dinner. I have always been a fan of Grand Seiko (click here and here for my reviews of the Grand Seiko GMT SBGM003).

In Singapore for the event was a three person team from Japan, comprising Mr Harumitsu Akashi, Senior Manage for the PR and Advertising Department, Mr Noboru Hosokawa, an engineer, and Ms Chitose Masuda, a master watchmaker from Seiko Epson.

From left: Mr Noboru Hosokawa, Ms Chitose Masuda and Mr Harumitsu Akashi

A big thank you to Mr Akashi, Mr Hosokawa and Ms Masuda, the team at Thong Sia as well as Peter Chong, for the wonderful evening.

- SJX

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-16 00:02:22

Prior to dinner Mr Akashi gave a brief presentation to explain Grand Seiko as well as its various innovations, including Spring Drive and the materials Seiko has developed for hairsprings and mainsprings.

Particularly interesting was the explanation of the high-end GS quartz calibres, which have twin-impulse motors (as opposed to single impusle for conventional quartz) which allow Seiko to use the same thick and heavy hands on the quartz watches. Even the copper wire coil in a GS quartz is unique, the wire is half the diameter of a regular coil and it is coiled so precisely when its cross-section is viewed under a microscope there are no gaps between the wires.

As Mr Akashi explained the various technical aspects of Grand Seiko, Ms Masuda deftly offered a live peek into the parts of a Grand Seiko movement, demonstrating the mechanics of the Spring Drive as well as the chronograph. Ms Masuda's skills were obvious and backed up by her name card which indicated she had previously won a technical prize for her craft.

At the end of the presentation the message was clear: there is an overwhelming obsession with quality at Seiko, right down to the smallest, microscopic (literally) details. And that is evident in the watches.

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-15 22:40:04

The group then adjourned to Kuriya Penthouse at Orchard Central for dinner. Located on the top floor of the mall, the restaurant offers a brilliant view of Orchard Road and surrounding area (which is most of the island). The kaiseki was excellent, well prepared with excellent ingredients. The pictures only show about a third of the courses, I forgot to photograph the rest.

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-15 22:57:26

You weren't doing your job properly. How could you forget those important shots?

I bet a pretty girl distracted you

cen@nusa2

Afte dinner a lucky draw was conducted, with the prize being Twelve Faces of Time, the book on watchmakers launched at Baselworld earlier this year. One of the 12 watchmakers featured is Kenji Shiohara of Seiko's Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri.

Name cards were mixed in a large bowl and Ms Masuda, blindfolded of course, picked the winner who was Lionel Kok - congratulations!

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-15 23:09:00

Some of the Baselworld 2010 collection was show, including the 50th anniversary models. These look much better in person than in photos - the textures, colours and sheen of the polished surfaces are incredible. Especially attractive is the blue dial model that has a deep and richly coloured blue dial which is almost black at certain angles.

 

 

There were of course numerous Grand Seikos on various wrists. One that caught my eye was the SBGM009 GMT on the wrist of Mr Akashi. I had always thought it had a black dial, but it is instead a very dark shade of brown, reminiscent of shoyu, or soy sauce.

Above: Grand Seiko SBGM009

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-15 23:29:47

And of course a group shot was mandatory.

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-15 23:33:19

looks like a fun evening and nice change to have a non-European brand host its fans. Congratulations to Lionel (dont forget to bring the book at the next GTG).

i love grand Seiko's and was sad to have to sell all of mine, but nessesity meant they had to go. perhaps one day i will get some more, especially with a new range and the superb chrono spring drive.

its interesting what you saw in the 009 GMT as i'm sure mine was black dialled, but i am partially colourblind. it had everything i wanted, its gone and i'm now on the look out for another GMT. life sucks

best

Graham

Finally, if the honourable members of this forum would indulge me in some crass showing off of my excessively valuable and vastly expensive collection of Seiko watches. These photos were requested by the modest forum member known only as cen@jkt and thus I could not refuse.

- SJX

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-15 23:58:40

for us to continue to be friend . I need to know that you are as obsessive and compulsive and all other bahviours indicating that you are as normal as me. I wouldn't want a crazy person as a friend, you know.

Xie xie. Arigato gozaimasu.

Hope this gathering will lead to a fruitful journey.

cen@bali

. . . Grand Seiko makes an appearance Stateside, and when they do, I hope Miss Masuda will make her way over to give us a demonstration.

I've seen cazalea's collection and few others specimens recently . . . they're amongst my current favorites, and I hope to work one into the collection eventually.

Cordially, Art

Thanks for the great report!
Shame on you about the food photos, but you made up for it with the fun collection report.
Cheers
Cazalea

  

 

 She's a beauty. Really? About the moderators??? Of course, understated perfection, to say the least. A perfect example of why woman buy shoes and men buy watches....

thks fr sharing

I just love Seiko watches!  I am happy that someone else shares a passion for their timepieces.  I would love to have a high-beat GS one day!

Cheers,
Daos

Prospex Marinemaster and loving it. Living at the beach at the moment, it is the essential beach/summer watch. Virtually indestructable, and resistant to any corosive material (or so it seems), it is a fab watch for the money.

Thanks for the report. I predict a Grand Seiko is on my Santa shopping list!

Andrew H

We need pictures soon.

- SJX

No message body

nt

No message body

No message body

I have acquired another LE (SBGR003) GS from a good friend of mine - being serviced now and will post pics when ready.

My Grand Seiko SBGA003 has become one of my all time favorite watches, IMO its the perfect watch.

Best

Drew

Thanks for the report and pics sjx

No message body

and I'm sure they will have a big following in due course.Thanks for the post.

Looking forward to seeing these one day.

Regards,

Richard.

No message body

Thanks SJX for the report.

Slowly but inexorably, Grand Seiko has moved out of native Japan onto distant shores.

I am sorry to have missed the event due to a clash with other engagements; but on behalf of PuristS-around-the-world, I asked about the availability of Grand Seiko outside Japan.

By e-mail, Akamitsu-san replied: "We thank you very much for being long time owners of Grand Seiko. We are planning to expand its distribution starting from later this year."  That'll be the Fall of 2010 in USA. 

 

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2010-07-17 01:45:52