Seiko - Baselworld 2014 : Broadening the spectrum of possibilities
Seen from the rest of the world, Seiko is a major brand with a very broad range. Viewed from its home country, Seiko is a monumental group encompassing an abundance of brands, lines and styles. In presenting the 2014 collections destined for Europe, the Japanese giant vividly demonstrated both its size and the breadth of its skills. The Prospex range - one of Seiko's most important alongside the Velatura, Kinetic, Premier and others - is to be introduced in Europe. The fact that it has remained virtually unknown until now is standard practice for the group, which tends to export its concepts only sparingly. Prospex is all about adventure sports such as diving or aviation. The robust construction of these models is based on a monohull case and the use of tried and tested quartz, Kinetic or automatic movements.
In parallel, the group is pursuing the development of its upscale lines, personified by the Grand Seiko brand. These rigorously manufactured watches are mechanical or electromechanical thanks to Spring Drive movements. The major 2014 launch is the Hi-Beat GMT. Its calibre, one of the very few to operate at a frequency of 5 Hz (hence its name) is now also equipped with a dual time-zone mechanism. This concept was introduced last year on gold models that are almost impossible to find outside Japan. It is worth noting in parallel the introduction of bottle-green dials - a colour rarely used and rarely in such an appealing way - as well as a deep blue. Dial textures are a speciality of Seiko, which offers extremely refined sunburst motifs produced in-house. In particular, the pattern on the Hi-Beat GMT models is inspired by the ripples that can be seen on the snow-capped mountains facing the construction workshop of the Grand Seiko mechanical movements, in northern Japan.
Seiko is however first and foremost an industrial juggernaut specialising in quartz technologies. It is indeed virtually the only brand to continue offering battery-driven prestigious men's watches. The brand focuses on two models. The first is the Astron, featuring a world-time display that is solar-powered and automatically synchronised by satellite. This now slimmer and smaller instrument watch is becoming increasingly wearable and affordable.
The second is incomparably more 'confidential'. Ref. SBGV011 is a Grand Seiko driven by Calibre 9F, a high-precision analogue quartz movement boasting an ultra-fast stepper motor of which the brand is extremely proud. It serves as a reminder that quartz is not necessarily synonymous with low-end products and that it has its own fans along with its own distinctive assets.
In case you have missed it... - Last month's watches
Armin Strom - Gravity Air
The Gravity Air watch, part of the Gravity collection, features a titanium case and a white dial. It is fitted with the new AMR13 calibre.
Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon
The Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon will be presented for the first time at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2014 in Geneva.
Baume & Mercier - Clifton Chronograph 10129
The Clifton Chronograph 10129 draws its inspiration directly from a 1950 Baume & Mercier model.
Concord - C2 Teknologic
The C2 Teknologic, C2 Y-13 Limited Design Editions' latest creation, draws its inspiration from underground techno-music.
Corum - Ti-Bridge Lady
The Ti-Bridge Lady, a feminine version of the Ti-Bridge launched in 2009, highlights the exclusive CO 007 caliber entirely developed and produced by Corum.
Longines - The Longines Heritage 1968
The Longines Heritage 1968 line was inspired by a historical timepiece from the collections in the Longines Museum.
Perrelet - New Diamond Flower Gold
The New Diamond Flower Gold is a pink gold interpretation of Perrelet's New Diamond Flower feminine timepiece.
Seiko - Velatura Kinetic Direct Drive Phase de lune
This model is a special edition created in celebration of Seiko's 100th anniversary. Seiko Kinetic is a unique achievement, as it is the only watch in the world to convert kinetic energy into power to drive an electronic movement.
Vacheron Constantin - The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac; 2014, Year of the horse
With The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, the manufacture celebrates the sign of the horse that will take over from the snake in February 2014.
Van Cleef & Arpels - Pierre Arpels Bracelet Or
The latest version of the Pierre Arpels watch, designed 1949, features a bracelet in pressed Milanese stitch - a rare craft skill.