GRAND SEIKO EVOLUTION 9 STYLE

Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Style

A design idea that takes Grand Seiko forward to a new era. 

In 2020, Grand Seiko introduced a new design philosophy called the Evolution 9 Style. It was based, of course, on the Grand Seiko Style which has always defined the design of all Grand Seiko watches – and continues to do so. With three core design principles, Evolution 9 Style preserves the fundamentals of the Grand Seiko Style but adapts them for a new generation by setting new standards of legibility, ease of use and beauty.

Principle 1: Evolution in Aesthetics

The first is an ‘evolution in aesthetics’. The direction of this evolution is to provide further visual emphasis on the Japanese sense of beauty and nature that lies at the heart of the Grand Seiko Style. Its aim is designs that clearly express the rich beauty of the balance between light and shadow, and the soft and subtle gradations between them. 

This is achieved by using shapes composed of planes and flat surfaces arranged three-dimensionally and by minimising the use of curved surfaces. The flat, polished mirror surfaces give distortion-free reflections and allow deep blacks and bright whites to emerge while the frequent use of a hairline finish brings out the many subtle shades of light and dark between these two extremes.

Principle 2: Evolution in Legibility

The second is ‘an evolution in legibility’. The hands and indexes have evolved to become even more distinctive, with their inspiration coming from the first Grand Seiko created in 1960. The hands are bold and multi-faceted and the indexes are powerfully three-dimensional. The result is enhanced legibility.

Principle 3: Evolution in Wearing Comfort

The third is ‘an evolution in wearing comfort’. The case’s centre of gravity is low and the lugs are wide so that the watch sits firmly and comfortably on the wrist, with minimal horizontal movement. 

These three principles are firmly grounded in the Grand Seiko Style set in the 1960s with their focus on the fundamentals of watchmaking: beauty, legibility and comfort. At the same time, the evolutionary steps taken by the design team take Grand Seiko forward with a new energy and a new direction.