When the watchmakers and technicians at Grand Seiko‘s Studio Shizukuishi in northern Japan begin their workday, they are greeted by a brilliant blue sky over nearby Mount Iwate, tinged with the reddish glow of the morning sun. Grand Seiko has striven to re-create those spectacular dawn colors on the dial of the latest limited-edition timepiece commemorating the high-horology brand’s 60th anniversary. Here is what you should know about this week’s Watch to Watch, the Grand Seiko Ref. SBGR321.
The new timepiece (Ref. SBGR321) has a 40-mm-diameter stainless steel case and a matching steel link bracelet with a push-button-release three-fold clasp. The case is water-resistant to 100 meters and magnetic-resistant to 4,800 A/m. Under its nonreflective-coated sapphire crystal is the sky-inspired blue dial, accented with the traditional Grand Seiko “razor” hands, faceted hour indices, and 3 o’clock date display in a polished, framed window.
Echoing the dazzling azure tones of the dial are the titanium section of the openworked rotor that winds the movement, Seiko’s Caliber 9S65. The rotor, bearing a medallion with Grand Seiko’s lion emblem, is encircled by a red ring representing the glow of the early morning sun that illuminates the Studio Shizukushi through its broad windows. The movement, which is visible through a sapphire caseback, is assembled, adjusted, and inspected by hand at that selfsame Studio; it boasts a daily rate accuracy from +5 to -3 seconds per day, beats at 28,800 vph, and stores a power reserve of 72 hours. This 60th Anniversary edition is limited to 2,500 pieces, priced in the U.S. at $5,200, and will be available worldwide in October 2020.
| Manufacturer: | Grand Seiko |
| Reference number: | SBGR321 |
| Functions: | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Movement: | Seiko Caliber 9S65, automatic, 28,800 vph, 72-hour power reserve, 35 jewels, accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day, special decorated rotor |
| Case: | Stainless-steel case with screw-down exhibition caseback, screw-down crown, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, water resistant to 100 meters, magnetic resistant to 4,800 A/m |
| Bracelet and clasp: | Stainless-steel bracelet with push-button triple-folding clasp |
| Dimensions: | Diameter = 40 mm, height = 13 mm |
| Price: | $5,200 |
To discover more models celebrating Grand Seiko’s 60th anniversary, click here.
Lovely words Mark, the watch sounds beautiful, but a picture would have been good!