The dial of this timepiece takes inspiration from the Paulownia flower, ‘Kiri’ in Japanese – the official flower of Iwate Prefecture, the area where all Grand Seiko mechanical watches are crafted. Paulownia is also known as the ‘princess tree’ around the world and blooms purple in summertime. ‘The Nature of Time’ theme features prominently in Grand Seiko watch designs – a Japanese philosophy where each transient moment is viewed as a unique experience unveiled through light and shadow. The watchmakers’ pride in their surroundings is represented in the elements of each timepiece; from engineering watch movements, to creating dials reflecting the beauty of Japanese nature. Sharp silver-coloured Dauphine-style hands and indices feature under a box sapphire glass on a textured Mount Iwate dial pattern inspired by the jagged ridges of the mountain itself. First released in 1967, the 44GS case shape created a visually recognisable ‘Grand Seiko Style’ design for Grand Seiko watches to follow – balancing legibility and light with a clear and calm dial layout. Compact at only 36.5mm, the Kiri is powered by an in-house built 9S64 manual-winding calibre, this timepiece is accurate to 5/-3 seconds per day, with a three-day power reserve. Every Grand Seiko features signature high standards of precision, durability and legibility, handcrafted in Japan by Takumi artisans.
