Seiko

It was a great opportunity to talk about some iconic models that are significant milestones in the Grand Seiko story.

57 GS (aka Self Dater Chronometer, the second Grand Seiko), and 45 GS (HiBeat)


44 GS (the first GS compliant with Taro Tanaka's Grammar of Design, 1967, and also the first GS from Daini), SBGW047 (reissue of 44GS, 2013)


6186 VFA (the VFA from Suwa, probably the best GS ever, 1969), and SBGJ005 (Hibeat GMT, awarded at GPHG 2014)


Our Japanese stay started very strong.
The very first hours in Tokyo were already amazing.


The Morioka tour : back to the roots of 44GS
There are several watches in my collection with a case directly inspired from the 44GS produced by Daini.
As a great fan of Grammar of Design, visiting SII (formerly Daini) with SBGJ005 on my wrist was a very special experience.

On a rainy day, we took the inevitable Hayabusa Shinkanen in the direction of Morioka, in northern Japan.


The SII factory (Seiko Intruments Incorporated) is about 30 minutes away from Morioka railway station, outside the city.


The road leading to the factory is lined with hills with vegetation and trees that had the colors of autumn.


We were warmly welcomed by a member of PR department, in charge of the organisation of the factory tour with us.
Our visit was different from those usually organized for the press and journalists.

After a presentation of the activities of the Seiko group, in a private room, the visit started with the ground floor of the main building.
There is a space arranged like a mini museum.






9S55 was used when Grand Seiko came back on mechanical calibers in 1998



A part of the building houses the production unit of Seiko quartz calibers.
These are not high-end calibres, the 9F Grand Seiko are produced in Shiojiri, in the Epson factory.
I have been very impressed by this chain production line, fully automated and robotized.

At the entrance of the chain there is a metal band which is cut to form the plate of the movement, and quartz calibers are recovered at the exit of the chain.
The machines and robots were designed and manufactured by Seiko.
Photos were not allowed on this area.

The visit continued in another part of the building, dedicated to the production of parts used by the 9S Grand Seiko and the 8L Seiko calibers.
100% of the parts are manufactured by Seiko, in different areas of the factory, from the main plate, to the balance weel and the hairspring.

I was surprised to see a small team, composed of women, in charge of hairspring adjustment.
Women are probably very qualified for this delicate tasks.

The parts are transfered to the Shizuku-Ishu Watch Studio, where the assembly of calibers and watches is achieved by few watchmakers.


Each watchmaker works on a bench specifically made according to their physique, from a dark wood species used in the region of Morioka.





Although watchmakers still use magnifying glasses, I saw that binocular microscopes are systematically used.




I was able to observe Tsutomo Ito in action, the leader watchmaker in charge of the hairspring adjustment process on the 9S calibers.
Ito San has the title of "Mechanical Watch IW Meister" from Iwate prefecture (only 2 watchmakers have been awarded this prestigious title between 2006 and 2013).
He is the most advanced expert in hairspring adjustment, at Shizuku-Ishi Watch Studio.


Ito san came to meet us and we were very honored to discuss with him.
We were able to examine a few parts ... with Ito's personal magnifier.


The discussion with Ito san was really interesting, and we had a great opportunity to have his point of view on various subjects :  Grand Seiko 4520 HiBeat vintage, the specifics parts of HiBeat 9S8x movements, polishing indexes, black polishing techniques, ...




Back on the ground floor of the main building, the tour ended at the small boutique.
Some special Grand Seiko and Credor are available at the boutique.
These pieces are from the regular production, but they are customized with a see-through case back and a golden rotor.



These models are only available in Morioka, and are sold in very small quantities.
As a big fan of GS Limited Editions, I could not imagine leaving Morioka without one of these models.
I choosed a SBGT00M, as this ivory dial was missing in my GS collection.


This rotor is engraved with the inscription "Shizukuishi Highend Watches Studio".



Visiting the Seiko Museum : jump in Seiko history

The visit of the Seiko Museum is a mandatory step for any Seikoholic who makes a stop in Tokyo.








On the ground floor are a beautiful collection of very old clocks, and some famous analog chronographs that are part of the tradition of the brand in sports chronometry.


I really enjoyed the first floor, where are located all the iconic pieces that have marked the history of the brand.




The very first Grand Seiko 3180 produced by Suwa, 1960


Grand Seiko 6186 VFA, Suwa, 1969




Lord Marvel, first commercial 36000 watch, 1967




Beautiful SBGW044


Seiko Astron 35 SQ, first commercial quartz watch, 1969


Seiko Laurel, first japanese wristwatch, 1912


Seikosha Railway Watch, 1931


Dauphine hands


SBGR051 sunburst dial



SBGR051 case




Ginza
Any Seikoholic stopping at Tokyo should go to the Seiko Premium Boutique in Ginza.
The Premium Boutique really has the most incredible and complete collection, much more than any Seiko Boutique.
Most of high end models from both Grand Seiko and all Credor are available at Ginza.


I saw the gorgeous SBGJ021 for the very first time in real life at Premium Boutique.
The color variations on the dial made me think about the trees seen the day before, on the road to SII.


IMHO this watch has all of the spirit of SII:
 . a case inspired by the 44GS (tribute to Grammar of Design),
 . a HiBeat caliber (tribute to Daini's tradition),
 . GMT complication (sign of constant innovation),
 . and the dial's pattern and color are a tribute to nature on Mount Iwate.

This was a really great moment at the Seiko Premium Boutique.

The Wako boutique with the famous Seiko clock tower on the roof is another place to go at Ginza.



We really had good time at Ginza.


























This trip to Japan was really a great and unforgetable experience.

Thank you to the Seiko Morioka staff  for making this possible
Special thanks to Tsutomo Ito san for his time. Arigato gozaimasu Ito san
And many thanks to our vintage guru.

I'll be back, for sure.
;-)


This message has been edited by KMII on 2017-02-03 21:24:15

Thanks for including us in your trip. I was quite swept back to my first Japanese visit a couple years ago.

And congratulations on the new watch which is joining your fine collection.

Cheers,

Mike

You certainly lived the same experience, especially while visiting SII.
Before writing this post, I read many tour reports from different people and there is a lot in common with my own experience.

You had it all! The visit, the watches, the food, the drink, the friendship.

Thank you for this fantastic report. And I really like that special watch you got for yourself.

It was a fantastic trip.
I will post some photos of SBGR00M soon.

And that Boutique GS is indeed very very special!! Thanks for sharing!

Cheers!
Tony

The Premium Boutique really has an incredible collection.
I have never seen so much Credor at the same place, before.

Thanks so much for the post! Really cracking job and great photos!

Thank you to Nikon for the nice pictures
I don't have any talent or special skills.

I love Japan and Seiko, so your review will stay in my memory for a long time.

Thanks for the amazing pics and story,
Alex

I'm happy to share this experience with all Purists.

The Hospitality and Kindness of Seiko is second to none.

There are so many things to say, so many photos to show, a single post is not enough.
Thanks for reading.

but are you having your posts being approved by Seiko PR/Marketing before posting them here? if not, they can be upset. I decided not to post any pictures of their production areas and other sensitive places for this reason.