FRÉDÉRIC BONDOUX - Grand Seiko

“GRAND SEIKO IS A TRILOGY
BY HANDICRAFT
EXCELLENCE, THE EMOTION OF
BEAUTY AND THE POWER OF
TRANSMISSION OF SAVOIR FAIRE.”

Everyone who has ever bought a watch in a shop knows the watch brand Seiko: traditional craftsmanship at affordable prices. Mass-produced, one might say disrespectfully. But Seiko can do much more than just make pretty watches for him and her. Grand Seiko, the luxury department of Seiko, so to speak, has existed since 1960. Noble and unique watches, state-of-the-art chronometers for connoisseurs and enthusiasts.

A look back: In 1881, Kintaro Hattori founded the watchmaking shop K. Hattori & Co. in Tokyo and made a name for himself selling and repairing imported watches. In 1890, Kintaro Hattori founded the Seikosha factory, which then began producing wall clocks. In Japanese, Seiko means "exquisite" or "exact". Sha, on the other hand, means “house” when translated into German.

However, the history of Grand Seiko only begins in 1959. It was then that Seiko decided to split the two factories, Suwa Seikosha and Daini Seikosha, into two separate business units. Although Seiko watches were produced in both factories, they were independent of each other, so to speak, like two competing companies. In this way, the innovative power and the competition between the two companies should be promoted, which each had to muster all their creativity to outperform the competitor. So

the best clocks should be developed.
Frédéric Bondoux has been for over two years
Grand Seiko's European boss and knows them
History of the renowned watch brand like
hardly a second. We talked to him about
Development, present and perspective of the
premium segment of Seiko.
Monsieur Bondoux, for what reason was
alongside the traditional, innovative brand
Seiko developed another Seiko brand?
They wanted a new, different way back then

tread. All Grand Seiko are hand-
work made, with all the associated details

and subtleties and the special quality
a real manufactory. Grand Seiko has them
DNA of a luxury home, but from the
Japanese culture of deep respect
life, nature and traditions
is worn: Grand Seiko is a trilogy of
craftsmanship excellence, the emotion of
beauty and the power of transmission
Savoir faire. Originally the brand

Incidentally, only for the domestic, i.e. Japanese
oriented market. Since 2010, Grand

Seiko now available outside of Japan, and
since 2017 it is actually an independent one
Brand next to Seiko.

THE “GRAND SEIKO
EVOLUTION 9” COLLECTION
1 TITANIUM

The SBGE283, from high-intensity
sity titanium. Drive:

Spring Drive. power reserve:
72 hours. Price: 8,500 euros.
2 DIVER'S WATCH
The SLGA015 “Spring Drive
5 days". Drive: Spring
Drive. Power reserve: 5 days.
Price: 11,800 euros.
3 LIMITED
The SBGC249, a limited edition
Edition to celebrate the 15-
year anniversary of
Spring Drive Chronograph.
Price: 12,500 euros.
4 NICE & MISTY

The finely structured surface
surface pattern of the SBGE285

reminiscent of the morning mist,
of the mountains of Nagano
(the home of Spring Drive)
covered in winter.
Price: 8,500 euros.
5 JEWEL
The SBGC251 has one

spring drive and a gear
reserve of 72 hours.

50 stones. Price: 11,500 euros.

1

2

4

5

3

“GRAND SEIKO IS A TRILOGY
BY HANDICRAFT
EXCELLENCE, THE EMOTION OF
BEAUTY AND THE POWER OF
TRANSMISSION OF SAVOIR FAIRE.”

21

22 23
PEOPLE FREDERIC BONDOUX

23
FREDERIC BONDOUX PEOPLE

Would it be too easy to say that
Grand Seiko is the luxury version of Seiko?

Yes, for sure. Although we are connected by diesel
be history, but both companies have one

other provision.
Where would you put Grand Seiko among all those
other well-known watch brands?

Let me put it a little poetically-
cken: We speak the same language as

our competitors, but with a different one
Grammar. Grand Seiko united with his
Watches the attributes of simplicity, beauty
and precision - and that's what makes our brand
something very special.
What models do you think
the milestones in the history of
Grand Seiko?
I can say without exaggeration: all of ours
Calibers are excellent, no matter if they
mechanical, with quartz or with Spring Drive
are driven. Each of our watches reflects
all of our craftsmanship
contrary. For me personally it's like this: my heart
beats for mechanics, my head ticks more for
Spring Drive*!
Do your dials have a special
Meaning?
Yes, definitely. Our dials symbolize
the beauty of nature during the four

Seasons in Japan and are a tribute

of the time that passes and gives us so many poetic
telling Japanese stories.

Where do you see Grand Seiko in 20 years?
The young generation, who work for and with us
works, has clear ideas and is the
values ​​and what Grand Seiko stands for,
perfectly connected. With these employees and

We seriously strive for their passion
after, one of the main players in our price
to be in a segment – ​​that may be the case in 20 years,

but also earlier. At least it should be in 20
still be like this for years.
Will the desire for high-quality and
expensive watches, in your opinion
decrease or increase?

Here, too, I would like to answer philosophically
words: beauty lasts forever.

Finally, a personal question:
Which watch do you prefer to wear?
The SBGW231 – for me the perfect example
for “simplicity, beauty and precision
united". However, closely followed by the
SBGY007 "Omiwatari". A fantastic watch.
* Spring Drive is a name for a range of watch mechanisms used in
Shiojiri to be made. The concept of a tension spring
Using a crystal timing package drive has been made
first in 1977 by Yoshikazu Akahane at Suwa Seikosha
developed.

1 GREEN SPIRIT

SBGW285 with stainless steel
case, manual winding, green

dial and crocodile leather
tape. Price: approx. 4,800 euros.

2 HEARTBEAT
Grand Seiko "Kodo" (Japanese

for heartbeat). constant force
Tourbillon with case off

platinum and titanium. The model
is limited to 20 pieces.
3 ELEGANT
The Grand Seiko SBGY007
"Omiwatari". manual winding
Steel, crocodile leather. One
of favorite watches from
Frederic Bondoux.
Price: approx. 8,600 euros.

“WE SPEAK THE SAME

LANGUAGE LIKE OUR COMPETITION
APPLICANT, BUT WITH A

DIFFERENT GRAMMAR.”