Grand Seiko Announces Two New Winter Inspired Spring Drive Limited Edition Watches
4 min read
As envisioned by the brand since its inception in 1960, Grand Seiko today is the ‘ideal’ watch with very high standards of precision, durability and beauty. Between 2002 - 2007 Grand Seiko introduced two extremely technical developments that received immediate acclaim - namely a GMT and a Chronograph. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first Grand Seiko GMT watch and the 15th anniversary of the first chronograph watch, Grand Seiko has launched two new Spring Drive limited editions, Both of which will join the Grand Seiko Sport Collection. and their dials take their design inspiration from the wintery snowscapes of the mountains that surrounds the studio where they are made, in Shinshu in central Japan.
The watches are as rugged as the Hodaka mountains that the Grand Seiko watchmakers can see from the Shinshu Watch Studio. As you can see here, their dials are inspired by the wintery snowscapes of the mountains that surrounds the studio where they are made, in Shinshu in central Japan. The case and bracelet of the GMT version are in stainless steel while the GMT Chronograph version is made from high-intensity titanium. The dials capture the rough texture of the snow that can be seen high in the mountains in late winter and early spring, when strong winds carve unique patterns as they whip across the snow surface. The blue accents on both dials echo the bright blue colour of the winter sky in Shinshu.
Both these new editions are powered by specially adjusted Spring Drive movements which offer an enhanced accuracy rate of ±10 seconds per month. Flip them over and both the see-through case back's sport the gold Grand Seiko lion emblem that graces the oscillating weights as an indication of the enhanced accuracy.
1. The Chronograph
Unquestionably one of the most accurate spring-powered movements in the world. This Spring Drive Chronograph measures elapsed time up to 12 hours with an accuracy of ±0.5 seconds per day. Thanks to the regulation system that is unique to Spring Drive, its accuracy remains at this high level even when the power reserve is low. Equally importantly, it measures elapsed time not to the nearest fraction of a second but exactly, thanks to the fact that the glide motion hands stop at the very instant that the button is pressed and not just at the nearest “tick”.
(2007)
Edition: SBGC247
2. The GMT
Thanks to Grand Seiko’s unique Spring Drive technology, the seconds hand glides silently and smoothly, with no ‘tick’, across the dial, perfectly reflecting the natural and continuous flow of time. The power reserve is 72 hours when fully wound and is shown on the discreet indicator next to the eight o’clock marker. The GMT hand allows a second time zone to be shown and a third can also be displayed using the 24-hour bezel. The hour, however can be adjusted without compromising the accuracy.
The GMT version will be available as a limited edition of 1,500 at the GS Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide in March 2022, while the Chronograph GMT version is a limited edition of 700 and will also be available at the Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide in February 2022.
Grand Seiko GMT 20th Anniversary Limited Edition: SBGE275
Approximate recommended retail price in Europe: €7,400 (INR 6,25,815)
Grand Seiko Chronograph 15th Anniversary Limited Edition: SBGC247
Approximate recommended retail price in Europe: €11,100 (INR 9,38,649)
