Photo Report HODINKEE And Grand Seiko In London And Glasgow, With Grand Seiko Designer Nobuhiro Kosugi

Despite the long and arduous journey, Mr. Kosugi enthusiastically and energetically shared with us key details of the origins of the 44GS case, and how the design has evolved for a new era. He mentioned in particular that in 1967 the 44GS case was extremely difficult to manufacture thanks to the high level of polish required, as well as the very sharp transitions between the various faceted surfaces of the case. According to Mr. Kosugi, the new 44GS case differs in certain key respects – modern finishing techniques as well as highly trained craftsmen are both essential to creating a case even more visually compelling than the original. He also discussed in some detail the critical role that controlling light and shadow plays in designing Grand Seiko watches, in which the combination of various textures of the dials with meticulously finished hands, cases, and dial markers, creates a unique, and uniquely Japanese, aesthetic.