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In what’s develop into one thing of a practice, Grand Seiko has simply launched a trio of watches in its Magnificence Assortment completely for the USA market on the Couture present in Las Vegas. (You’ll bear in mind a couple of years again when the model launched its USA unique Seasons Assortment on the Vegas commerce present.) Variations on the basic handbook wind gown watch SBGW231, every bit on this this trio is a tackle the completely different shades of inexperienced discovered within the Genby Valley of Iwate. Designated the SBGW273, SBGW275, and SBGW277, every might be restricted to 140 items accessible completely in the USA.
The trio is predicated on the SBGW231, a handbook wind gown watch that may be a Grand Seiko staple. Whereas it doesn’t get as a lot love within the states because it deserves, I imagine the enchantment of the Grand Seiko textured dials will introduce the gathering to a brand new demographic. With simply Zaratsu polished arms and utilized indices (sure, which means there’s no date), the ground is given to the dials to make the refined and successfully memorable impression that Grand Seiko has gotten so good at.
All three have a refined, crisply textured inexperienced dial. Meant to evoke new development that comes with the altering of the seasons, the SBGW273 has a light-green dial that’s splashed with a blue seconds hand. Whereas I discover myself further considered with issues like blue arms, Grand Seiko undoubtedly had the best thought right here as a metal hand in opposition to such a gently coloured dial may seem uninteresting or lifeless. Fairly, the blue is simply the best pop.
The SBGW275 has a teal dial impressed by the rivers of the Genby Valley. Grand Seiko’s design is at its finest when the model leans into nature’s blurred strains and this mix of inexperienced and blue is a superb instance. Efficiently balancing the crispness of inexperienced with the refreshing coolness of blue, the SBGW275 would most likely be my select of those three.
Lastly there’s the SBGW277, which has a gorgeous conventional inexperienced dial that has an earthiness that’s actually accentuated by a brown leather-based strap.
Housed in a 37.3mm-wide and 11.6mm-thick case with a 44.3mm lug-to-lug peak (3om of water resistance), these manual-wind items are all completed in polished stainless-steel with an AR-coated box-shaped sapphire crystal. I’ve lengthy felt that the 36.5-39mm case measurement vary is under-appreciated, so I used to be comfortable to see Grand Seiko giving some love right here, a happiness that’s solely furthered by the truth that these are manual-wind. Is it on the thicker aspect for a gown watch? Yeah, I’d say 11.6mm is on the higher restrict of what I’d settle for, although the proportions and wearability are stable.
Turning the case over reveals the 9S64 motion, a manual-wind caliber lengthy utilized by Grand Seiko. Although these three models have been non-operational, I’ve seen and dealt with loads of watches which might be outfitted with the 9S64. Correct to -3 to +5 seconds per day, it has an influence reserve of 72 hours when absolutely wound.
I actually suppose this trio of unisex-sized manual-wind watches with pretty Grand Seiko textured dials is ideal for the USA market the place “smaller” gown watches are woefully missed and too not often given any actual particular consideration. With every mannequin restricted to 140 items, the Grand Seiko Magnificence Assortment SBGW275 with teal dial might be unique to Grand Seiko boutiques and the web retailer, whereas the SBGW273 and SBGW277 might be accessible at choose retailers, every with a value of $4,900. You possibly can be taught extra at grand-seiko.com
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