A Singular Presence, 'Galante,' Championing "SEXY RICH"

'Galante' occupies a unique position within the SEIKO brand. Championing the concept of "SEXY RICH," it competes with a diverse and unique range of designs, while sharing a common design element of four pillars near the lugs. Now, a new member has joined the 'Galante' family, boasting the ultimate in functionality.

Previously, all 'Galante' models were equipped with the automatic Spring Drive Cal. 5R65/66, featuring a three-hand display and date calendar. However, the 'Galante' introduced in 2007 is the "Spring Drive Chronograph." Its Cal. 5R86 movement, like the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph's Cal. 9R86, is the first Spring Drive chronograph. This chronograph mechanism employs a vertical clutch system, a sophisticated technology handled by only a limited number of manufactures in the Swiss watch industry.

This method, which starts measurement by pressing the clutch wheel, the power source, against the center chronograph wheel that drives the chronograph seconds hand, is a brilliant innovation that minimizes hand jump and avoids gears prone to wear. Remarkably, SEIKO had already developed this system back in 1969, and models equipped with it were manufactured until the 1970s.

In essence, this system represents a traditional mechanism for SEIKO. Furthermore, the strikingly prominent push-buttons have been optimized for the most intuitive operation—a half-press to standby, followed by a full press to engage—based on a thorough analysis of SEIKO's own historical stopwatches (termed 'Ready/Start Mode').