Introducing Grand Seiko Brings Back the 45GS High-Beat Timepiece with Various Enhancements

In the first years after Grand Seiko's birth in 1960, no two watches looked alike. However, this changed in 1967 when a young designer was tasked with creating a timepiece that would define the brand's future and establish its distinctive design language. The result was the iconic 44GS, a watch that embodied the design principles of what is now known as the Grand Seiko Style. Yet, just a year later, in 1968, Grand Seiko introduced the 45GS. While it closely resembled the 44GS in appearance, the 45GS brought notable upgrades, including the brand's first manual-winding high-beat movement, the Caliber 4520, and dual signatures of Seiko and Grand Seiko on the dial.

The original 45GS form 1968

Grand Seiko is now introducing two re-creations of the 45GS, one crafted in stainless steel and the other in 18k yellow gold, as a tribute to the two variations originally launched in 1968. The new re-creations stay true to the 44GS case design, with its angular structure, flat mirror-polished surfaces, and curved sides, now enhanced with Grand Seiko's latest watchmaking innovations. The case measures 38.8mm in diameter and 10.4mm in thickness, featuring a box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface and a see-through case back.

The dial colors remain nearly identical to the originals. The yellow gold model features a light cream dial, contrasting with the silver hue of the stainless steel version, both capturing the elegance of the original designs. At the 12 o'clock position, the Seiko lettering has been recreated to reflect the vintage character of the original. At 6 o'clock, you'll find the GS and Hi-Beat markings, along with the number 36000, denoting the movement's high frequency, and the Daini Seikosha factory logo, honoring the birthplace of the original 45GS.

These watches are powered by Grand Seiko's latest hand-wound, high-frequency mechanical movement, the Caliber 9SA4. Like the original Caliber 4520, the 9SA4 is designed with a focus on high-rate stability and precision, operating at 36,000 vph (5Hz) and beating 10 times per second. However, it offers an impressive 80-hour power reserve when fully wound, thanks to its twin barrels. Through the caseback, you can spot a small blued hand that serves as the power reserve indicator.

Both watches come with a black crocodile leather straps and are fitted with either 18k yellow gold or stainless steel buckles. The gold version is limited to 200 pieces and priced at USD 30,000 (AED 110,000), while the stainless steel version is limited to 1,200 pieces and priced at USD 9,700 (AED 36,000).

For more information you can visit Grand Seiko's official website.