The following article was produced with Grand Seiko.
Australia’s favourite Japanese watchmaker returns to Watches & Wonders 2025 with four striking new releases, each one an enduring love letter to the region’s inherent beauty and nature.
From snow-covered mountains to frostbitten forests, Grand Seiko’s quiet obsession with its surroundings has inspired many of its most iconic collections; an obsessive craftsmanship that has long defined Grand Seiko, telling the continuing story of this celebrated watchmaker, from the beating heart of Japan.
Grand Seiko Tentagraph ‘Snow Blue’
The latest evolution of Grand Seiko’s now-iconic Tentagraph arrives in the brand’s signature wintry palette, inspired by the snow-draped majesty of Mt. Iwate during the harshest months of the year. For the watchmakers stationed at Grand Seiko’s Studio Shizukuishi, it’s a familiar sight. The windows to their laboratories look out toward this exact peak at different points of the year, acting as a constant backdrop that shapes the brand’s aesthetic and technical direction.
For a brand that has become synonymous with the delicate beauty of nature, this year’s Tentagraph offers a commanding presence; its 43.2mm diameter, noticeably more assertive than some of the brand’s more delicate offerings at Watches & Wonders.
Forged in High-Intensity Titanium, this piece says: “Even if life is rough, we should live with determination.” It’s a poignant reminder of tenacity and durability that Grand Seiko hope to reflect in their collections.
But peek beneath the surface, and you’ll find Grand Seiko’s first mechanical chronograph movement – the Calibre 9SC5 – a technical powerhouse that seamlessly combines the piece’s innate strength with a signature subtlety. Available in Grand Seiko boutiques in May 2025.
Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. Limited Edition ‘Ice Forest’ Platinum
Grand Seiko has always had a reputation for precision. But this year, they’ve quietly outdone themselves with the new calibre 9RB2, a Spring Drive movement boasting an almost unbelievable accuracy of ±20 seconds per year. It’s no wonder, then, that this release is engraved with the SPRING DRIVE ULTRA FINE ACCURACY moniker: an enduring reminder of Grand Seiko’s impressive horological prowess.
This limited edition Spring Drive debuts in a 37mm Platinum 950 case and is hand-crafted with meticulous detail.
Each dial takes its inspiration from the frost-laced trees of the Kirigamine Highlands seen through crisp mountain air; the pale blue tone is subtly textured, echoing the early mornings that freeze the Shinshu landscape into stillness. Only 80 pieces will be made and are exclusive to Grand Seiko boutiques from June 2025.
Turn the piece over and you’ll see Grand Seiko’s full artistry at work: Zaratsu-polished surfaces, glinting jewels that represent starlight on snow. Even the accuracy regulator has been refined. If Grand Seiko is a brand defined by quiet perfectionism, this limited edition release could be the brand’s biggest hit for 2025.
Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. ‘Ice Forest’ Titanium
Joining its platinum sibling is a second Ice Forest edition – this time in High-Intensity Titanium and built for daily wear. It shares the same compact 37mm size, but brings a cooler, silver-tinged dial and a heat-blued seconds hand that effortlessly glides like a chill winter wind over snow.
The textured dial evokes the same Kirigamine inspiration, with a slightly brighter, more energetic tone. The bracelet includes a newly engineered three-step micro-adjust clasp for a practical touch that doesn’t detract from the watch’s clean aesthetic. Priced more accessibly and made for broader wrists, this piece keeps all the ultra-fine engineering, while offering a more contemporary sport-luxe appeal.
Grand Seiko Tentagraph ‘Tokyo Lion’
If the Ice Forests reflect Grand Seiko’s contemplative soul, one could argue that the Tentagraph Tokyo Lion is the brand’s primal roar. It’s bold, combative, and purpose-built for the modern sports watch enthusiast… yet finished with the same attention to detail that defines every piece from the brand’s Shizukuishi studio.
The Tokyo Lion’s angular silhouette channels the power and presence of its namesake. The case is made from Brilliant Hard Titanium and is twice as hard as stainless steel and a fraction of the weight. It allows the watch to have an enviable scratch resistance without sacrificing any comfort or wearability.
As with all things Grand Seiko, the dial itself has been carefully considered, mimicking the wind-swept mane of a lion that adds a wild and textured backdrop for the raised, three-dimensional sub-dials and diamond-cut indexes that depict the lion’s mighty claws.
This year, the Sport Collection has seen the introduction of Grand Seiko’s first mechanical chronograph, the calibre 9SC5. Beating ten times per second and delivering 72 hours of power, the Tentagraph is tested for 20 days (three more than is standard for Grand Seiko movements) to ensure it holds its precision between +5 to -3 seconds per day, even with the chronograph running.
In short, the Tentagraph is a confident release from Japan’s most inspired watchmaker. For a brand so deeply associated with serenity and the stillness of nature, it’s refreshing, frankly, to see that Grand Seiko isn’t afraid to bare its teeth.
