Some of these watches sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars because of how rare they are, with only 15 units produced in total. The Seiko watches come in many sub-brands that collect the most luxurious designs in one place for collectors to grab these incredible limited-edition models. The sapphire and garnet inlays recall the reflections of trees and sky on the lake near the place where the watch was born. The clear waters of the region inspire the pristine designs of the watch’s reflective surfaces. Micro Artist Studio, the place where the Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection was made, is located near Mishaka Pond, in the forest east of Lake Suwa. In total, the watch contains 24 green garnets, 56 other jewels, and 97 diamonds (equal to about 2.58 carats). The glass is a box-shaped sapphire crystal, and the case is made from immaculately polished platinum. The dial is constructed of green mother-of-pearl with indexes of sparkling green garnet. It’s part of a limited edition set of 15 units, making it the rarest Seiko watch still manufactured. The Masterpiece Collection, reserved for the rarest Seiko watches in existence, climaxes with this watch, which sells for $185,000. The rarest Seiko watch is the Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection SBG207. Grand Seiko Elegance Collection SBGW263.Chances are, you’ve seen this famous work – when you think “old Japanese tidal wave painting,” you’re probably thinking of the right thing. The most famous example of this technique is a painting by Katsushika Hokusai called The Great Wave off Kanagawa. This painting, called Ukiyo-e, typically depicts classical Japanese figures, including mythology, the rural countryside, and Kabuki performances. The dial of this watch uses a design technique inspired by the Kira-Zuri method, an artistic technique famous for classic Japanese painting. The Shinshu Watch Studio, which designed the spring drive model used here, outdid themselves with this watch. This watch is the first of many Seiko models to be designed and manufactured with the intent of being sold exclusively in the United States. The case is platinum with dual-curved sapphire crystal glass and an anti-reflective coating. The watch contains 30 jewels inside its spring drive construction. This is why it retails for $53,000 and commands the room with its incredible design.
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This Grand Seiko Heritage Collection watch, the best of its bunch, is part of a limited series of 20 watches. Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGA385.With the right skill, the watch cases can be polished into incredibly crisp, precise flat surfaces worthy of only the highest-end watch designs. This polishing method allows for incredible uniformity in the polish since workmen can use the front of the polishing disc and not just the side. The Credor Rose Gold watches are made with Zaratsu polishing. Collectible Credors are the watches to beat when it comes to rare alloyed watches from Seiko. This luxurious, rare watch retails for $41,000. It operates by a spring drive that has a 60-hour power reserve. The Eichi II in Rose Gold is a 2018 watch made from cold-forged rose gold alloy. They have enamel dials and a posh, decorative appearance that makes them coveted and stylish. They have their own luxury aesthetic designed to look and feel expensive. Since 1974, the Credor sub-brand has represented coveted Seiko royalty. They even created special shipping cases out of an alloy that repelled magnetic fields! To make sure the watches were as accurate as possible when shipped to Switzerland for competition, Seiko created a special shipping route that would minimize the earth’s magnetic effect on the watches in transit. Designer Daini Seikosha discovered that the Seiko watch’s problem was the magnetized hairspring. Seiko was having trouble in the 60s competing with Swiss luxury wristwatch manufacturers, particularly in the accuracy department. If an Astronomical Observatory Chronometer went to auction in mint condition, we believe it would be one of the most expensive Seiko watches of all time. In the mid-2010s, one was sold for $40,000, though it didn’t come with the box or original strap. This watch rarely appears on the market and it’s unknown how many are still in existence. This made the watch sure to be discontinued and even surer to skyrocket in price in the future. Not only the case but the dials and even the hands were made from 18ct gold. In 1968, Seiko only made 73 Astronomical Observatory Chronometers.