The watches of Grand Seiko embody many things for many people. They strive for precision and the perfection of form and legibility — attributes expressed through crisp mirror finishes and sharply lined cases. And while there is undeniably beauty in this sort of mathematical precision, Grand Seiko also looks to the world around them — the mountains, valleys and deep waterways that are an endless source of inspiration that Grand Seiko expresses as the Nature of Time.

The importance of nature to Grand Seiko’s design philosophy is more than mere lip service. It’s a consideration that’s evident across every aspect of the brand’s watchmaking — from the shape and finishing of movement elements, to the polish of hands and the lines of the case. And, of course, nature is hugely important for the brand when it comes to dials. Think of Grand Seiko’s most iconic designs — the Snowflake, for example, or the White Birch or even the Mount Iwate dials. All of these creations have deep and direct links to the landscapes and nature that surround the studios where they were crafted.

The Nature of Time is more than a tagline for Grand Seiko; it’s an expression of a design philosophy that is uniquely Japanese — an approach where nature, craft and tradition are seamlessly interwoven. In this first part of our ongoing exploration of Grand Seiko’s relationship with nature, we’re going to look at water.

Water, or Mizu, is an endless source of inspiration for Grand Seiko’s watch designers. Water is profoundly present and important in Japanese culture. After all, the islands of Japan are surrounded by oceans and seas. Beyond this, the tranquil lakes, fast-flowing rivers, and even the skies (frequently associated with the concept of water as a pure substance, but also rain) have served as a creative wellspring for Grand Seiko’s timeless creations. Here are four watches from Grand Seiko that summon the spirit of water.

SLGA019: A vision of gentle waves

You only need to glance at the captivating dial of the Grand Seiko SLGA019 to see the aquatic inspirations of this singular watch. With its gentle wave-like pattern and shimmering, chameleonic blue tones, the dial is perhaps one of the greatest examples of a aquatic-themed dial in watchmaking. But Grand Seiko, being who they are, they’ve taken it one step further. They’ve looked to the beauty in nature close to where the Spring Drive movements are created in Shinshu Watch Studio and found Lake Suwa. This dial is inspired specifically by the gentle waves and soft light that appear over Lake Suwa in the early morning — where breezes stir the body of water into shallow ripples. Grand Seiko has done an exceptional job capturing the mercurial nature of this body of water. This dial is paired with Grand Seiko’s most recent design language, Evolution 9.

Grand Seiko Evolution 9 SLGA019 and its wave-like dial.

Caseback of Grand Seiko Evolution 9 SLGA019 featuring the Spring Drive Movement Caliber 9RA2

Much like Lake Suwa, there’s more to the SLGA019 than what’s on the surface. Under the calm serenity of the dial beats one of the crown jewels of Grand Seiko’s manufacture capabilities, the Caliber 9RA2, one of the latest generation mainline Spring Drive movements, evolved from the 9R6 series of movements in significant ways. Most notably, the power reserve is an impressive five days, accurate to within +/– 10 seconds per month, and with a power reserve indicator located on the rear of the watch — all meaningful quality-of-life features, offered in a slimmer package than ever before.

Tech Specs: Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection SLGA019

Movement: Self-winding Spring Drive Caliber 9RA2; 120-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; central seconds; date
Case: 40mm × 47.9mm(lug-to-lug), 11.8mm thickness; High-Intensity Titanium; water resistant to 10 bar
Dial: Blue with wave pattern; faceted and beveled applied hour markers
Strap: High-Intensity Titanium bracelet with three-fold clasp
Price: SGD 14,000

SBGJ237: A vision of the midnight sky

For watch wearers, one of the most natural associations between watches and water will be the sports watch, and in that pursuit, the SBGJ237 certainly delivers. This practical GMT, built of Grand Seiko’s impressive Hi-Beat 36000 mechanical movement, comes in a large 44.2mm case and is designed for purpose as well as style. As a dedicated GMT, there are elements that just make sense, most notably the bi-directional 24-hour bezel in blue and white with a sapphire insert that serves as a day/night indicator. As is often the case with Grand Seiko, it’s the dial where the personality is most obviously on display. The dial here is midnight blue, with an almost mirror-like finish that reflects the endless skies, a constant presence regardless of where you travel wearing this timepiece. This dial choice is the perfect complement to other elements of the watch that are part and parcel of a reliable travel watch — including the steel bracelet, plenty of luminous material and 20 bars of water resistance. Finally, frequent flyers will appreciate that this watch features what is known as a “true” GMT, where the 12-hour hand can be adjusted independently, allowing you to quickly change your local time.

Grand Seiko Sport SBGJ237

Tech Specs: Grand Seiko Sport Collection SBGJ237

Movement: Self-winding Caliber 9S86; 55-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; seconds; date; GMT with 24-hour hand
Case: 44.2mm × 50.6mm(lug-to-lug), 14.4mm thickness; stainless steel; water resistant to 20 bar
Dial: Midnight blue; faceted applied hour markers with LumiBrite
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp
Price: SGD 9,700

SBGH353: A vision of autumnal calm

Grand Seiko’s Heritage collection is, for many, the very heart of Grand Seiko. A familiar case shape that is well-balanced, well-designed and made for everyday wear. The classic Heritage profile, seen on this SBGH353 model, is inspired by the 62GS from 1967 and serves as a powerfully versatile platform for the brand’s prodigious creativity in the dial department.

The dial of the Grand Seiko Heritage SBGH353 is inspired by the sky of the autumnal equinox

This dial takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese calendar’s 24 seasons, called Sekki — specifically the sixteenth, Shūbun. This time occurs around the autumnal equinox and is defined by clear, calm skies, illuminated by the moon and stars. Here, the deep blue stands in for the night sky, while the gold tone lettering of the “GS” numerals and the seconds hand remind the wearer of glittering stars and shimmering moonlight.

Tech Specs: Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGH353

Movement: Self-winding Caliber 9S85; 55-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; seconds; date
Case: 40mm × 47mm(lug-to-lug), 12.9mm thickness; Ever Brilliant Steel; water resistant to 10 bar
Dial: Deep blue, inspired by autumnal night sky during Shūbun; faceted applied hour markers
Strap: Ever Brilliant Steel bracelet with three-fold clasp
Price: SGD 9,500

SBGJ249: A vision of summer waves

Another of Grand Seiko’s watches to take inspiration from the Sekki is the SBGJ249, a GMT found in the brand’s Elegance collection. This particular reference is inspired by Shōsho, a time of transition to the period of high summer, and the end of the rainy season. It’s a time characterized by a warm wind making delicate ripples across Japan’s innumerable lakes, ponds and waterways, shimmering in the high sun.

Grand Seiko Elegance SBGJ249 and its dial like lapping waves.

Grand Seiko has captured this essence in the dial of the SBGJ249, with a wave pattern realized in the palest of blues, accentuated by the darker blue GMT details, and the mirror finish on the hands and hour markers. Equally as impressive is the high-beat Caliber 9S86, a GMT that is as elegant as the collection to which it belongs.

Grand Seiko high-beat Caliber 9S86

Tech Specs: Grand Seiko Elegance Collection SBGJ249

Movement: Self-winding Caliber 9S86; 55-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and GMT with 24-hour hand
Case: 39.5mm × 46.9mm(lug-to-lug),  14.1mm thickness; stainless steel; splash resistant to 30m
Dial: Light blue with wave pattern; faceted applied hour markers
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp
Price: SGD 9,700