Masterpiece CollectionKintaro Hattori 160th AnniversaryLimited Edition

CONCEPT

Kintaro Hattori. A man of action
and strong convictions

Seiko's founder Kintaro Hattori was born in central Tokyo in 1860 at a time in Japanese history characterized by rapid modernization and westernization. The young entrepreneur saw the sudden and momentous changes in Japanese life as a moment of opportunity. In 1881, at the age of just 21, he set up his own company, "K. Hattori", to wholesale and retail imported timepieces and, just twelve years later, he established a factory which he called Seikosha, 'The house of precision', to produce his own clocks and, later, watches. His aim was for Seikosha to be able to manufacture and assemble all the components for its timepiece in-house by mastering every aspect of the horological art. Step by careful step under Kintaro's leadership, the company achieved his aim. Its long list of watchmaking innovations down the decades bears testament to his remarkable vision and continues to inspire it to this day.

Seiko's founder, Kintaro Hattori

The Story of Kintaro Hattori

• 

  REVOLUTION

  Always one step ahead of the rest.

  "Every merchant needs to be one step ahead of the rest, but only one step. If you go too many steps ahead, you will become distant from the public and closer to a prophet. A merchant should never become a prophet."

• 

  EVOLUTION

  Don't run but always keep going.

  "It is better to have ambitions and work step by step without haste but without rest."
  "If you hurry, you have to rest. If you want to move forward without rest, then you must not hurry."

• 

  QUALITY

  Good products always get the patronage of customers

  From the very beginning of Seikosha, Kintaro Hattori was determined to achieve success by making timepieces of the highest quality and his extraordinary determination is revealed in the name he gave to his factory, "The house of precision". He was firmly convinced that only products of high quality would earn the trust of his customers.

DESIGN

• 

  The 160th anniversary of Kintaro Hattori's birth is marked with a remarkable timepiece made by the elite team of watchmakers at the Micro Artist Studio. The softly rounded case is made of Platinum 950 and is Zaratsu polished to a perfect distortion-free finish. The sapphire crystal glass is dual-curved and each surface is shaped to ensure perfect legibility.

• 

  The dial's intricate pattern is made possible by processing techniques that create a delicate dial surface with varying depths. As has been the tradition since the 1960's, a star mark located at six o'clock denotes that the indexes are of solid gold. The interplay of light and shadow on the dial that is an essential part of the signature of every Grand Seiko watch is accentuated by the application of seconds markers that enhance the legibility of the time. The indexes and the hour and minute hands are in 14K white gold and are specially cut to create a sharpness that amplifies the enduring beauty of the gold.

• 

  The watch is powered by Caliber 9R02 which is assembled, adjusted and finished by hand by the craftsmen and women of the Micro Artist Studio. It delivers a power reserve of 84 hours thanks to the Dual Spring Barrel in which two independent thin, long mainsprings are set in parallel in a single barrel, and the Torque Return System. The caliber also incorporates an 18k yellow gold plaque which carries the engraved words "Micro Artist" but which can, if the owner so wishes, be replaced with a word of their choice. This slim and exquisite timepiece has a depth of just 9.6mm and will be available in January 2021 as a limited edition of 50 in the Grand Seiko Boutiques worldwide.

  *In an actual product, the case back direction might be different from the photograph.