Although the marque dates back to 1960, Grand Seiko only recently emerged from the shadow of its well-known Japanese parent company, Seiko. Earlier this year, in a clever effort to bridge the nearly 60-year gap separating its founding as a more refined alternative to Seiko and its present-day rebirth as a stand-alone brand, Grand Seiko introduced a recreation of the first Grand Seiko timepiece—with a few critical updates: While the original was produced in an 80-micron, gold-filled case, the 2017 version is bathed entirely in 18-karat gold, including the hour markers (the model also comes in platinum or steel). At 38 mm, the case is a tad bigger. And in its heart ticks the 9S64 manual winding caliber. Limited to just 353 pieces, the Grand Seiko channels the spirit of its predecessor thanks to a dual-curved sapphire crystal that looks as swell as its sixties eponym.
Grand Seiko Limited Edition, $17,200; grand-seiko.us.com
