THE Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours was crowned as the best men’s watch of the year in 2021 at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève award ceremony in Geneva recently.

Some 30 juries selected the Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours from the six nominated watches in the men’s watch category.

The Hi-beat 36000 80 Hours watch offers a new perspective on the brand’s philosophy, the nature of time. Its dial is inspired by the slender and strikingly beautiful white birch tree forests that thrive in northern parts of Japan, and that grow in profusion near the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where this and all Grand Seiko mechanical watches are made.

The design is true to the Grand Seiko Style defined back in 1967 with the celebrated 44GS, but its heritage is combined with a powerful contemporary feel that points towards a new era.

The award was accepted by Frédéric Bondoux, Grand Seiko Europe president, followed by a speech by Akio Naito, Seiko Watch Corp president who joined the ceremony remotely from Tokyo, Japan.

In his speech, Naito said, “This watch exemplifies Grand Seiko’s never-ending pursuit of watchmaking excellence in every aspect. We are honoured that the tradition of quality and spirit of Grand Seiko’s watch-making is recognised at our industry’s most important award ceremony.”

The watch’s powerful hands and grooved, prominent markers ensure perfect legibility, its Zaratsu polished, distortion-free mirror finish and delicate hairline finish alternate give the case a quiet and harmonious glow.

The case has wide lugs and a low centre of gravity to ensure the watch sits easily and securely on the wrist.

It is powered by the revolutionary Hi-beat Caliber 9SA5, which has a precision rate of +5 to -3 seconds a day and achieves a long power reserve of 80 hours.

It retains its precision for longer and is more resistant to shock and friction.

The precision, power and slimness of Caliber 9SA5 are the result of the radical re-design of key structures including the entirely new escapement and free-sprung balance developed in-house.

The Caliber 9SA5 uses an overcoil, whose curved shape was decided after more than 80,000 simulations, with the result that its performance is optimised in every possible position, while the current Caliber 9S uses a flat hairspring.

Its unique design allows for its isochronism to be adjusted, and the movement is as beautifully finished as it is efficient.

The bridge has a gently curving outline that is inspired by the shapes of Mt Iwate and a bend in the Shizukuishi River near the studio where the watch is made.

The Caliber 9SA5 will be the foundation upon which a whole new generation of Grand Seiko mechanical watches will be created in the future.