Grand Seiko raises the bar for mechanical sports chronographs with the Tentagraph collection
It is often said that, of all the watchmaking complications, the chronograph ranks among the most challenging to master. Grand Seiko, however, has set the bar even higher. For the brand, the decision to create its first fully in-house mechanical chronograph was not simply about technical conquest, but about setting a new benchmark for Japanese watchmaking.
Indeed, when Grand Seiko launched the Tentagraph in 2023, it made more than a debut; it was a declaration that Japan could interpret one of horology’s most demanding forms with its own language of accuracy, endurance, and beauty.
At the heart of each Tentagraph is the calibre 9SC5, Grand Seiko’s first automatic high-frequency chronograph movement. Oscillating at 5Hz, or 10 beats per second, the watch’s regulating component delivers sustained accuracy and resilience. Every movement undergoes an intensive 20-day test at the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi where the watches are made, ensuring it meets the brand’s stringent benchmark of –3/+5 seconds per day, while offering exceptional three-day power reserve—rare for a high-beat chronograph.
Design is no afterthought, either. Crafted in accordance with Grand Seiko’s original design philosophy, the Evolution 9 Style, the aesthetics meld subtlety and sharpness to showcase the intrinsic beauty and functions of the watches in the best possible light.
The SLGC001 and SLGC007, introduced in 2023 and 2025, respectively, are housed in a 43mm high-intensity titanium case that feels unexpectedly wearable, thanks to its lightweight construction. Despite their dimensions, the watches are balanced on the wrist, with reassuring solidity, crisp pushers, and bracelets that integrate seamlessly with the case. The black ceramic bezel frames striking dials in deep blue (SLGC001) or snow-blue (SLGC007) that evoke Mount Iwate, which is visible from the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.
Meanwhile, the SLGC009, introduced at Watches and Wonders 2025, adds even more bite to the collection. Bearing Grand Seiko’s Tokyo Lion design style, this version is clad in a high-intensity titanium case inspired by a lion’s paw, and features claw-like lugs, and a textured dial inspired by “the mane of the lion as it waves in the wind”. To complete the look, the watch comes fitted with a newly developed brown rubber strap—complete with imprints of a lion’s paw.
Beyond appearances, these chronographs are built for the real world. Each model is water-resistant to 100 metres, and are equipped with three-day power reserve. For the discerning collector, the Tentagraph is proof that Japanese watchmaker is not only equal to creating the world’s best chronographs, but capable of rewriting the rules with its own sense of refinement.
