Scottish Watches Podcast #350 : The Grand Seiko Show – With Rob Brook

Click here to read along and see the photos in our show notes as you listen – http://www.scottishwatches.co.uk/2022/04/07/scottish-watches-podcast-350-the-grand-seiko-show-with-rob-brook/

Welcome to the Scottish Watches Podcast – Episode 350!

The history and technical prowess of Grand Seiko with our good friend Robert Brook who is the brand manager in the UK and Ireland.

Scottish Watches and TOCKR Watches

Plus we travel to W&W to go hands on with Grand Seiko’s new pieces including the Evolution 9 collection and the king of watches that is the Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon.

 New Grand-Seiko Shizukuishi Studio photo of Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishiphoto of Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishiphoto of Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishiphoto of Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi Designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Photo of Architect Kengo Kuma Rob joined Grand Seiko 5 years ago, helping the brand launch their first boutique in the UK at Knightsbridge, London (57 Brompton Road Knightsbridge London). Now he is the brand manager for the UK and Ireland.A picture containing indoor, floor, furniture Description automatically generatedA picture containing text, floor, indoor, ceiling Description automatically generatedA picture containing indoor, floor, ceiling, living Description automatically generated Wristwatch check: Rob is wearing his Grand Seiko sbga407g Skyflake A person wearing a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA person wearing a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA person holding a watch Description automatically generated with low confidence Grand Seiko Sowflake sbga211 A silver watch on a stone surface Description automatically generated with low confidenceA picture containing clock, watch, mounted Description automatically generated Dave is wearing his Grand Seiko sbge245g. A person wearing a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceIntroducing Grand Seiko Sport Collection SPRING DRIVE GMT Limited Edition SBGE245G: The ADVENTURERS Watch - Hours And Minutes | Australia's First-Of-Its-Kind Leading Online and Print Watch Magazine / Tabloid Rikki’s wearing his Seiko Prospex Special Edition PADI SPB071J1. A watch on a wrist Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA close up of a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA picture containing text, watch, blue, gauge Description automatically generated Grand Seiko history: The brand came from the Seiko umbrella and had the double branding of Seiko at 12 and Grand Seiko at 6 before 2017. 1964 Grand Seiko Self Dater. A silver analog watch Description automatically generated with low confidence2016 Spring Drive 8 Day Power reserve. A picture containing watch Description automatically generated The corporation has been in the same family since it’s founding in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori. Then known as Seikosha. (1920 factory bellow)Kintarō Hattori - WikipediaA picture containing text, old, black, white Description automatically generatedToday it’s run by Shinji Hattori.Shinji Hattori Grand Seiko was born out of inner competitions between the two main factories of the brand in 1960. The first Grand Seiko. A close up of a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidence Designer Taro Tanaka started designing for the brand in 1962 and introduced the sharp aesthetic that persists  today, which allows for light and shadow play.A person wearing glasses Description automatically generated with medium confidence1967 44GS Grand Seiko was established as a global brand in 2010. 2010 9S65 series. A silver analog watch Description automatically generated with low confidence Seiko’s and the world’s first quartz watch, the Seiko Astron. (1969)Seiko Quartz Wristwatch | National Museum of American HistoryTop 6 Grand Seiko 2017 wrist watches available online at EthosYoshikazu Akahane conceived the idea of the Spring Drive initially during the development of Twin Quartz, which would evolve into the Spring Drive, in 1977, and in 1978. How Long Did It Take To Develop Spring Drive? | GS9 Club | Grand Seiko : GS9 Club | Grand SeikoThe first Spring Drive prototype from 1982. Spring Drive prototype from 1982 Second from 1993. prototype of Grand Seiko Spring Drive caliber from 1993The Caliber 7R68, introduced in 1999, was the first to be brought to market, inside the Seiko SBWA001. Hunting (and catching) the epic and rare Seiko SBWA001 from 1999, the first-ever Spring Drive watch - Time and Tide WatchesA picture containing electronics Description automatically generatedIn 2004 Spring Drive was introduced in continuous production for the first time, approximately 27 years after Akahane conceived it, as the calibre 9R65. Grand Seiko Spring Drive movement 9R65 Grand Seiko – Inspired by Nature A few pieces:A picture containing tree, green, outdoor, forest Description automatically generatedA picture containing sky, outdoor, watch, pole Description automatically generatedA silver watch on a white surface Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA picture containing tree, outdoor, watch Description automatically generatedA picture containing snow, outdoor, watch, chain Description automatically generatedA picture containing clock, building, watch, mounted Description automatically generatedA picture containing sky, water, outdoor, watch Description automatically generatedA watch with a moon in the background Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA close up of a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceJoin the GS9 club – https://grandseikogs9club.uk/                                                                                      Grand Seiko sbga413g A picture containing watch Description automatically generatedPictures of this watch by @tick_tick_vroom A watch on a person's wrist Description automatically generatedA watch on a person's wrist Description automatically generated Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours wins the Men’s Watch Prize at the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève This is one of the first watches to follow the Evolution 9 design philosophy. A picture containing watch Description automatically generatedA picture containing building, outdoor, watch Description automatically generatedThe Caliber 9SA5 has these upgrades:A picture containing watch, compass Description automatically generated A new overcoil has a unique curved shape that was decided after more than 80,000 simulations, as a result of which its performance is optimized in every possible position. A picture containing indoor Description automatically generatedFree-sprung Balance regulates the isochronism for long-term precision and stability.A picture containing indoor Description automatically generated Dual Impulse Escapement which increases the transfer efficiency of the power of the mainspring to 10 beats per second while delivering a continuous operation period of 80 hours thanks to twin barrels.A picture containing metalware, gear Description automatically generatedIt’s 15% slimmer than other GS calibres because of its vertical gear train.  The calibre 9RA5 achieves a high accuracy of ± 10 seconds per month in large part by using a high precision Spring Drive package IC, which is a vacuum-sealed package consisting of a carefully selected crystal oscillator aged for three months and an IC that is powered by an extremely small electric current. It also utilizes a temperature sensor to collect temperature data 540 times daily, determine the influence of temperature changes within the IC and compensate for variations in the oscillator’s performance. Furthermore, placing both the crystal oscillator and the IC within a single, vacuum-sealed package eliminates temperature differences between the IC and the crystal oscillator. A close up of a watch Description automatically generated with low confidenceIt achieves 120 hour power reserve due to the Dual-size Barrels and greater winding efficiency and a slimmer movement thanks to the Offset Magic Lever.A picture containing gear Description automatically generated Watches and Wonders: Grand-Seiko Evolution 9 collection The Evolution 9 Style focuses on improving the legibility, comfort, and beauty of its pieces. Although I haven’t seen them in person the renders show a refined case design with more compact features that can make this the most comfortable GS case so far. All cases in this collection are made of high-density titanium which adds to the comfort while wearing these.

SBGE285A large clock on a pole Description automatically generated with low confidenceA picture containing watch, black, mounted, hand Description automatically generatedA close up of a speedometer Description automatically generated with medium confidenceSBGE283A picture containing watch Description automatically generatedA picture containing watch Description automatically generatedSBGC249A picture containing watch, indoor Description automatically generatedA picture containing watch Description automatically generatedA close up of a watch Description automatically generated with low confidenceSBGC251A close up of a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceSLGA015 43.5mmA picture containing outdoor, water, sky, watch Description automatically generatedA close up of a watch Description automatically generatedA close-up of a car dashboard Description automatically generated with low confidenceA person wearing a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceSLGT003 Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon. This mechanism is engineered in a manner that allows it to supply energy directly to the tourbillon (which also improves accuracy by minimizing gravitational effects), thus eliminating energy loss through changes in torque that would have occurred otherwise. They’ve perfected this movement into its new Caliber 9ST1 that is accurate to -3/+5s, has 72 hours power reserve (50 hours of Constant Force) and is merely 7.98mm thick. This movement is beautifully finished and shown off through both the display case back and the open-worked front. The dial is made up of two concentric rings with batons applied to them for the indices, thus maximizing the view of the movement. It is also appropriately positioned nearer to the  12 o’clock position above the Constant-Force Tourbillon which completes a very artistic skeletonized view of the whole watch. Introducing Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT003 (price)A close up of a watch Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA picture containing watch Description automatically generatedA picture containing music, black Description automatically generatedA picture containing watch Description automatically generated

Grand Seiko website – https://www.grand-seiko.com 

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