What is the difference between Seiko and Grand Seiko?
Wenn du dich für Uhren interessierst, wirst du früher oder später über die Uhrenmarke Seiko stolpern.
But surely you've heard of Grand Seiko.
It is obvious that these two watch brands have something to do with each other, but what is the difference between Seko and Grand Seiko?
Grand Seko is in a way the luxury brand of Seiko. Although Seiko already produces high-quality watches, Grand Seiko puts another quality on it. The luxurious Grand Seiko watches are a masterpiece of craftsmanship, which convince not only visually, but also technically.
History of Seiko and Grand Seiko
The Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko was founded by Kintarō Hattori at the end of the 19th century.
His first watch factory, which he opened in 1890 and bore the name Seikōsha, initially pursued only the goal of producing the best wall clocks in all of Japan. The Seikōsha wall clocks sold so well that Hattori expanded the range to include pocket watches as early as 1895.
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Already at the beginning of the 20th century, Seikōsha was the largest watch manufacturer in Japan.
He launched his first wristwatch in 1924.
It had the imprint SEIKO, which was later adopted as the company name.
In terms of watch technology, Seiko has always been among the best manufacturers.
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However, Seiko could never compete with the watch manufacturers from Switzerland, which is why they launched Grand Seiko in 1960. As a luxury Seiko brand, Grand Seiko was to compete with the established brands from the West.
But the days of Grand Seiko were numbered ...
When the entire Western watch industry plunged into the quartz crisis with the first quartz watch ready for mass production, demand for luxury watches from Japan also plummeted.
Grand Seiko did start developing a quartz watch, but the entire production of Grand Seiko would soon be stopped. The cheap quartz watches on which Seiko fully focused, washed out not only the Western watch market with cheap watches but also the market of Grand Seiko.
It was not until 1988, when the Western watch industry regained its footing (thanks to skeletonized luxury watches), that Grand Seiko was brought back to life to sell high-end Seiko quartz watches.
Grand Seiko's high-quality quartz watches were excellent and quickly enjoyed a certain notoriety. Nevertheless, the watches were only available in Japan, which greatly limited their sales. It was not until 2010 that Grand Seiko could be purchased worldwide.
In 2017, Grand Seiko was separated from Seiko and became an independent brand.
Since then, Grand Seiko has been regularly releasing fantastic timepieces. Be sure to check out our top 10 from 2023.
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The miracle movement from Grand Seiko
We're talking about the "Spring-drive", arguably the biggest advancement since the quartz movement.
In 1977, a young Seiko engineer had a vision of a mechanical movement with the accuracy of one second per day. At that time, only the best quartz movements achieved an accuracy of one second per day.
After 28 years of development and countless setbacks, he was finally able to realize his vision, and the Springdrive was born. And in 2005, it found its place in a Grand Seiko for the first time.
With a rate accuracy of 15 seconds per month, the mechanically driven movement was and still is revolutionary.
For reference, mechanical automatic watches have a deviation of 6 to a minimum of 2 seconds per day, which results in a monthly average of between 180 and 60 seconds deviation.
As already mentioned, the Springdrive is wound by a flywheel like a mechanical movement, but the gear train is then braked by an electric control system. The energy for the control system comes of course from the main spring which is wound via the flywheel, which is why the Springdrive does not need a battery.
In our article about the Springdrive we explained the technical functionality in more detail.
In the beginning, the Springdrive was also found in watches from Seiko, but now it is exclusively available from Grand Seiko.
In our opinion, the most appealing example of a Grand Seiko with Springdrive movement is the Snowflake series. The dial of which is supposed to represent the snow, the winter landscapes in Shiojiri.
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Should you buy a Seiko or Grand Seiko?
Of course, Grand Seiko watches are much better made than Seiko watches and they are certainly more exclusive.
But is it worth spending twice as much just because it says Grand Seiko on it? Decide for yourself!
The fact is that both watch manufacturers play in a different league. While with Seiko you get a beautiful watch that tells you the time, with Grand Seiko you find a masterpiece, where you constantly find new details that you have not noticed before.
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The price development could also be a crucial factor. Seiko watches are produced in large quantities and, as a result, almost always show a negative price development. Grand Seiko watches are much better at maintaining their value. Before making a purchase, inform yourself about which models have the potential for a positive price development.
Moreover, since Grand Seiko will move further away from Seiko as time goes on, the question arises as to whether one should make a comparison at all. A Grand Seiko is not just an improved Seiko, even if it still carries that reputation from the past.
In any case, Grand Seiko is a great watch brand for entering the luxury segment. How Grand Seiko compares to well-known brands is analyzed in the comparison of the Grand Seiko Heritage and the Rolex Datejust.
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Conclusion
Is Grand Seiko, the luxury brand of Seiko?
Yes and No
What used to be just big brother is now a brand in its own right. When it comes to quality and exclusivity, Grand Seiko clearly stands out.
As an entry point to the world of luxury watches, Grand Seiko watches are excellent, especially if you take into account the stable price trend.
Despite all the differences, the collections of Seiko and Grand Seiko still share many similarities. They have similar movements and both exhibit a typically Japanese classic design for watches.
Featured Image Source: Pexels, updated article
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Q&A
Differences between Seiko and Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko was the luxury brand of Seiko, which is independent since 2017. Apart from a completely different range, the biggest differences are the quality and exclusivity. Unlike Seiko's watches, each Grand Seiko is 100% made in Japan and meets the highest standards. Grand Seiko's exclusivity also has a positive impact on value stability.
Do Grand Seiko watches belong to the luxury watches?
Yes
Since they are not that expensive compared to western watches, they are often called an entry into the luxury world. Grand Seiko produces qualitatively excellent watches, only in terms of exclusivity they are still lagging behind the competition. Let's look at it positively, as long as Grand Seiko lacks exclusivity compared to Rolex and Co. we can still buy real watchmaking art at a fair price.
Where are Grand Seiko watches made?
Grand Seiko watches are made in 2 factories near Tokyo. They all have In-house-movements, which means that 100% of the watch is made in their own factories. A feature that is common in the watch industry only in the upper luxury segment.
About the author
Maio Rosatzin
My passion began with a Breitling Premier B01. Since then, I've been sharing my fascination for watchmaking here on my blog. Let's dive into this fascinating world together!
