Twenty-twenty marks the 60th year of Grand Seiko and the brand is pulling no punches with its high-end commemorative editions. Dedicated to Grand Seiko’s workshop in the town of Shizukuishi, the 60th anniversary pair of Elegance Collection Thin Dress watches both feature decorative engraving, but executed by hand and machine respectively.

Located in the northern province of Iwate, Shizukuishi is a small town surrounded by mountains, including the imposing Mount Iwate, which is an active volcano. The town is home to the Shizukuishi Watch Studio, where the best mechanical Grand Seiko watches are produced (Spring Drive watches, on the other hand, are produced at Seiko-Epson’s facility in Shiojiri in Nagano province).

Elegance Collection ’60th Anniversary’ hand-engraved SBGW263 (left) and machine-engraved SBGW264

Shizukuishi, or しずく いし, translates literally as “water droplet on stone” – shizuku is “droplet” and ishi means “stone”. Legend has it that the town was founded a millennia ago when an old man living in the area heard the sound of dripping water, which originated in a cave where water from the ceiling was dripping onto the rocks below.

The Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Thin Dress ’60th Anniversary’ Hand Engraved (ref. SBGW263) is a nod to the ancient origin story. It featured a solid gold dial hand engraved with a motif inspired by the town’s founding.

Made entirely of 18k white gold, the dial is comprised of three parts – base, chapter ring for the hours, and the outermost minute track. Each element is engraved by the Shizukuishi Watch Studio’s team of engravers led by Kiyoshi Terui, which usually dedicates its skills to engraving skeletonised movements.

Like the other Thin Dress models, this anniversary edition has a domed dial, which means each part of the dial is gently curved, making the engraving all the more challenging.

All of the markings on the dial are hand engraving, including the Grand Seiko logo and the tiny star above six o’clock, which is the Grand Seiko “SD” emblem, short for “special dial” and indicating that the dial is solid gold. And in a first for Grand Seiko, even the hands of the watch are engraved.

In order to accommodate the engraved, solid-gold dial, which is thicker than a standard  brass dial, the platinum case had to be reworked. The case is 0.2 mm thicker than the standard Thin Dress case, with its back secured by four screws, instead of being screw down.

But the movement inside remains the manual-wind 9S64 found in the standard Thin Dress models. It has a three-day power reserve and Seiko’s proprietary, high-performance escapement featuring skeletonised parts fabricated by a MEMS technique of metal deposition.

The same movement is found inside the Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Thin Dress ’60th Anniversary’ (ref. SBGW264). It’s similarly inspired by the town of Shizukuishi, albeit from a different perspective.

The watch has a dark green dial that’s meant to evoke the forests around the Shizukuishi Watch Studio. It is also engraved, but by machine to create a fine, geometric pattern that catches the light.

The SBGW264 has the standard Thin Dress case with a display back, but in 18k rose gold.

Key facts

Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Thin Dress ’60th Anniversary’ Hand Engraved
Ref. SBGW263

Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 11.8 mm
Material: Platinum
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: 9S64
Features: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Winding: Hand wound
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Crocodile with folding clasp

Limited edition: 20 watches
Availability: From July 2020 at Grand Seiko boutiques
Price: US$97,000, or ¥10 million (prices exclude tax)

Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Thin Dress ’60th Anniversary’ Engraved
Ref. SBGW264

Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 11.6 mm
Material: 18k rose gold
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: 9S64
Features: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Winding: Hand wound
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Crocodile with pin buckle

Limited edition: 120 watches
Availability:From July 2020 at Grand Seiko boutiques and salons
Price: US$24,000, or ¥2.5 million (prices exclude tax)

For more, visit Grand-seiko.com.