Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition: Precious In Platinum
Grand Seiko is, above all, a brand of subtleties. There is a good reason for that, as they invest so much time, effort, and resources to perfect every single detail so that even a subtle watch becomes extraordinary. It is also a sign of modesty, not to boast, but to simply enjoy creating something superb that connoisseurs highly value and appreciate. The latest highlight representing this unique spirit is, without a doubt, the new Heritage Collection Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition SLGH007.
This watch is an ode to the companies founder, Kintaro Hattori. With his motto, “Always one step ahead of the rest,” he constantly looked for new ways to take his company and the products it made to the next level and inspired its employees to do the same. In 1960 this vision resulted in the first Grand Seiko, a step Hattori, who passed away in 1934 at the age of 73, would have most certainly appreciated. In honor of the 140th anniversary of the company’s foundation, Grand Seiko is outdoing themselves with the SLGH007. The design of the watch is quite restrained, yet it has an undeniable character that makes it instantly clear that this watch is something special. The 40mm large case is crafted from platinum and finished to perfection. While many would consider it a dress watch, it is capable of being much more, as its 100-meter water resistance indicates. It might be unheard of, but swap the alligator leather strap for a rubber one, and even diving with it is an option.
This is, however, not the preferred habitat of this Grand Seiko. Limited to 140 pieces is it meant to delight those who know, who recognize this watch’s extraordinary nature. The black dial features a pattern inspired by tree rings as a subtle nod to the growth the company has gone through themselves in the past 140 years. It is done with such finesse that it draws your attention without overpowering the rest of the design. Less modest is the back, where caliber 9SA5 can be admired in all its glory. This movement offers visually beautiful architecture with high performance. It runs at 36,000 vph/5Hz and provides a power reserve of a generous 80-hours. With this, it is a fitting tribute to the vision of (Grand) Seiko’s founder, Kintaro Hattori, and the 140 years of development the company went through.
