Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT003, hand-wound, 43.8mm diameter case, platinum + brilliant hard titanium case and Himeji black plank leather strap (crocodile strap included), water resistant to 10 ATM, limited to 20 pieces worldwide, ¥44,000,000.
On November 10, the Geneva Watch Grand Prix (GPHG) 2022, which is the focus of the world’s watch industry, was announced. Perhaps the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon attracted more attention than MB&F’s Legacy Machine Sequential Evo, which won the grand prize, the Aiguille d’Or (Golden Needle Prize).
Despite being the final nominee in the Tourbillon category, H. Moser & Cie won this category, eliciting sighs of disappointment from those involved, but a surprise was waiting for them, just like Japan’s defeat of Germany and Spain in the World Cup.
The name “Kodo” was called for the grand prize in the chronometry category. This category award is given to watches with exceptional precision, and has been awarded to high-end models with special escapement mechanisms in the past. Takuma Kawauchiya, a Seiko Watch engineer who was involved in the creation of this watch, expressed his delight at receiving the award on the honor platform. The GPHG is a dream stage that I have been checking every year since I started watchmaking school. I have always wanted to stand on this stage someday with a watch that I was involved in. I am truly deeply moved.”
The author had interviewed Mr. Kawauchiya prior to the GPHG. I was interested in Mr. Kawauchitani not only because I had a hunch that he would win the award, but also because I was interested in his unique career.
When I was in college, my life was like a guitar in my right hand and a skateboard in my left,” laughs Kawauchiya, who is now 44 years old. He has been active in a band since his college days, and after graduation, he did not find a job, but instead devoted himself to his musical activities, joining keyboardist Jun Fukamachi’s band and a jazz instrumental band.
However, when he participated in an audition for a famous artist at the age of 30, he realized his limitations and began to search for another path. One day, a casual remark from his mother that he should become a watchmaker because of his dexterity led him to research the world of watches, and he was fascinated by a video of Philippe Dufour, which opened his eyes to watches. After attending watchmaking school, he joined the company in 2010 and was assigned to the R&D Center.
