BIG MECH
Among the few non-Swiss brands to successfully challenge the country’s horological hegemony, Japan’s Grand Seiko watches command cult status amongst in-the-know collectors who appreciate its heritage, authenticity, and innovative spirit backed by full in-house production capabilities. Even so, Grand Seiko, previously an upscale collection under Seiko’s wider repertoire, had pretty much been an open secret amongst collecting communities at best, as the timepieces were originally reserved for the Japanese domestic market since its launch in 1960.
It wasn’t until 2010 when Grand Seiko started retailing, with the Hi-Beat 36000 GMT bagging the ’ prize.
