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Grand Seiko celebrates the 20th anniversary of its 9S calibre, on which it built its exceptional precision standards for its timepieces, with an outstanding line-up of special editions
In the world of watches, anniversaries are always exciting times for horophiles. Whenever a brand marks a special milestone, the celebration never fails to include the well‑timed launch of a limited‑edition product.
A single special release, however, is not enough for Grand Seiko, which is feting the 20th year since the creation of its 9S mechanical calibre in 1998. The Japanese watchmaker has chosen to celebrate the occasion in grand style this year, having unveiled an entire line-up of limited‑edition timepieces that pay homage to the heritage of this remarkable movement.
(Related: 7 Reasons Why The Grand Seiko Is The Ultimate Cult Watch)
The calibre 9S has defined the brand’s high standing in the industry. When it was first rolled out, it was an entirely new movement, which was designed from scratch to deliver the high precision for which Grand Seiko has become renowned for. Since then, the calibre 9S has been continuously enhanced. It is the platform on which the whole Grand Seiko suite of mechanical calibres has been built upon and has come to be recognised as one of the world’s finest watch movements.
Now, it comes housed in three anniversary timepieces that reflect Grand Seiko’s distinctive classic style. The gem of the series is no doubt the Hi-Beat 36000 VFA in platinum (SBGH265J)—a “very fine adjusted” model that surpasses the Grand Seiko standard of precision, with an extraordinary rate of +3 to -1sec per day—with only 20 pieces available worldwide.