British Roadsters Meet Japanese Mountains in Exclusive Grand Seiko Toge Special Edition


The Japanese word toge (“TOE-gay”) refers to a navigable road through a mountain range, and thus presented itself as the perfect moniker for Grand Seiko’s newest special-edition timepiece conceived in partnership with UK-based luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland. Why is it ideal? The Toge Special Edition, which will be exclusively available at Watches of Switzerland boutiques, offers a dial decked out in British Racing Green and bears the distinctive texture that Grand Seiko created to echo the slopes of Japan’s Mount Iwate.

The Toge Special Edition (SBGM241) is available exclusively through the Watches of Switzerland Group.

Designed to “subtly evoke the image of a spirited drive over the many ridges of Mount Iwate,” the watch is housed in a 39.5 mm stainless steel case with a crescent-shaped profile, curved lugs, and a retro-style box-shaped sapphire crystal. The case, designed specially for this edition by Grand Seiko’s longtime chief designer Nobuhiro Kosugi, features the meticulous Zaratsu polished finish for which Grand Seiko watches have become renowned.

The British Racing Green dial is enhanced with the “Mount Iwate” textured motif.

The textured green dial hosts the classical elements of Grand Seiko, including the razor-style hour and minute hands, applied, faceted hour indices, and a polished frame around the date window at 3 o’clock. This model stands out with its broad, golden GMT hand, whose arrow tip indicates a second time zone on an inner yellow-printed 24-hour scale.

Caliber 9S66 is visible through the caseback.

Inside the Toge Special Edition, ticking behind a clear sapphire caseback, is the automatic Grand Seiko Caliber 9S66. Its technical advancements include a MEMS escapement and a hairspring and mainspring made from Grand Seiko’s proprietary Spron alloy, offering exceptional resilience, corrosion-resistance and anti-magnetism. Its accuracy has been tested to within -3 to +5 seconds per day, and its power reserve is a healthy 72 hours, or three days.

The crescent-shaped case was specially designed for this model.

The Grand Seiko x The Watches of Switzerland Group Toge Special Edition (the model’s full name; its much shorter reference number is SBGM241) is mounted on a brown crocodile leather strap with a three-fold push-button clasp. It will be available for purchase at Watches of Switzerland boutiques and select Mayors locations in July 2020 and available online at www.watchesofswitzerland.com and www.mayors.com. The partnership between Grand Seiko and Watches of Switzerland Group has also yielded an innovative Augmented Reality experience through which potential customers to virtually “try on” the watch via an Instagram and Facebook filter.

The watch includes a GMT function indicated by a golden hand.
Manufacturer:Grand Seiko
Reference number:SBGM241
Functions:Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
Movement:Self-winding Caliber 9S66, 35 jewels, MEMS escapement, Spron hairspring and mainspring, accuracy to +5/-3 seconds per day, 72-hour power reserve
Case:Stainless-steel case with antireflective box-shaped sapphire crystal, sapphire caseback, Zaratsu polishing
Bracelet and cla­­sp:Crocodile leather strap with steel three-fold push-button clasp
Dimensions:Diameter = 39.5 mm, height = 13.7 mm
Price:$5,200
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  1. Marcelo

    Lovely piece. Breathtaking dial. You neglected to mention how many will be produced in this limited run. Do you know?

    Reply
  2. Gerry Dimatos

    I love everything that Grand Seiko do and this one is no exception…

    Reply
  3. Gerry Dimatos

    I love absolutely everything that Grand Seiko do, and this is no exception……..
    The Swiss have nothing in Grand Seiko.

    Reply
  4. WOW, Ive never been a fan of the green faces or aligator bands. However Grand Seiko has hit a home run with this combination. Beautiful watch I cant wait to get one.

    Reply
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