Grand Seiko Hi-Beat
 A vintage watch from Hi-Beat line of watches | |
| Type | Automatic Hi-Beat |
|---|---|
| Display | Analogue |
| Introduced | 1967 |
The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat is a line of high-frequency automatic mechanical watches engineered and manufactured by Japanese watchmaker Grand Seiko. The series was created at Seiko's Suwa factory (Suwa Seikosha) in Nagano Prefecture and launched in 1967.[1][2][3]
These watches feature movements that beat at 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second) resulting in smoother seconds-hand sweep. The Hi-Beat series has won many watchmaking and watch design awards.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
In 2016, Japanese government awarded yellow ribbon Medal of Honor to the Seiko engineer who designed several models in the Hi-Beat line of watches.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Archives: The Origin of Grand Seiko". Grand Seiko GS9 Club. 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Wijsman, Robin (28 April 2024). "The Two Seiko Factories: Daini and Suwa". WatchEra. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Flett, David (27 December 2020). "Collector Guide Seiko Factory History – Daini, Suwa, Fact and Fiction". Beyond The Dial. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Hörl, Hans (27 April 2021). "Seiko Prospex SLA039J1 mit dem iF Design Award 2021 ausgezeichnet". NeueUhren (in German). Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ "Seiko wins the "Petite Aiguille" prize at the 2014 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève". World Tempus. 8 August 2025. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ "The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 wins the "Men's Watch Prize" at the 2021 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève". Grand Seiko. 19 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Grand Seiko's Manual-winding Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 wins "Best of the Best" at the Red Dot Design Award 2025". Grand Seiko. 19 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Grand Seiko Hi-Beat wins a "European Watch of the Year" Award". Europa Star. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 wins the best men's watch of the year award". The Malaysian Reserve. 11 November 2021. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 is awarded the "Best of the Best" at the Red Dot Design Award 2022". Grand Seiko. 19 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Fedow, Lenore (12 May 2016). "Seiko Designer Wins Medal from Japanese Government". National Jeweler. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
He has won three Good Design Awards for his work with the brand's Luxe collections. Possibly his most famous achievement, however, is designing the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 GMT, which won the "Petite Aiguille" prize at the 2014 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, the equivalent of the Academy Awards of watchmaking.