Founded in 2000, the Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri, Japan has taken on an almost mythical reputation among watch lovers the world over. Grand Seiko’s finest Spring Drive movements come to life in this setting at the hands of skilled artisans utterly devoted to their craft. Among their best-known creations is the first movement that the studio developed for Grand Seiko, the Caliber 9R01 with eight days power reserve. This powerful yet precise and efficient movement is reserved for some of the rarest masterpieces of Grand Seiko.
The 9R01 movement is a veritable map of the region in which Spring Drive is made, with references to the lights of Shiojiri city, nearby Lake Suwa, and the view of Mt. Fuji in the distance. Finished by hand to a degree seldom seen in fine watchmaking, it is also precise, with an accuracy of ±10 seconds per month and a power reserve of approximately 192 hours.
Located within the same Shiojiri facility as the Micro Artist Studio is the Shinshu Watch Studio, which employs high-jewelry artisans of the highest order along with experts in numerous other areas. Here, the Platinum 950 case and dial of reference SBGD215 are set immaculately with a stunning assortment of 148 diamonds and 145 sapphires. The gem-set gradation of five levels on the bezel and three levels on the top part of the lugs and case required different shades of blue sapphires to achieve, and a hand-engraved carving inspired by a lion standing on a snow-covered mountain occupies the sides of the case at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. A lion’s mane motif fills the central portion of the dial.
The lion has been a potent symbol of Grand Seiko since its first timepiece in 1960. That watch bore a lion emblem on its case back, signifying the ambition of the original Grand Seiko team to create the finest watch they could in terms of precision, legibility, and durability. This bit of watchmaking history is relevant even in the context of a high-jewelry masterpiece such as the one you see in these photographs.
Though lavishly set with 293 gems, this is a watch to be worn and enjoyed with specifications that lend themselves to daily wear. To wit, the case is water resistant to 100 meters and the precious stones on the dial serve not only beauty but function: they are precisely set markers for reading the time.
The Masterpiece Collection Spring Drive 8-Day Jewelry Watch SBGD215 is a limited edition of eight with a price of $300,000 and will be available exclusively at Grand Seiko Boutiques starting in May 2024.
