Grand Seiko SBGM253

There are just 1,700 pieces of this limited-edition design available globally, created to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9S Calibre.

The signature textured dial is inspired by the view from Mount Iwate near the Shizukuishi Watch Studio where Grand Seiko mechanical timepieces are made. The blue dial colour represents mid-heaven or ‘中天= Chūten’ – the sky you can see when looking even further upwards from the top of the mountain.

‘The Nature of Time’ theme features prominently in Grand Seiko watch designs – a Japanese spirituality where each moment is a unique expression unveiled through light and shadow. The watchmakers’ pride in their surroundings is represented from engineering watch movements which emulate the smooth motion of time passing, to creating dials reflecting the beauty of Japanese nature.

This watch is powered by the mechanical in-house Calibre 9S66, with a power reserve of 72 hours, accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day and a GMT hand for maximum accuracy in all time zones.

As a true ‘manufacture,’ Grand Seiko incorporates the latest in-house technical developments alongside its breadth of craftsmanship in all mechanical movements – with around 300 individual components, they exhibit near-perfect consistency to ensure precision. Mere parts alone, however, cannot constitute the level of accuracy for which Grand Seiko is renowned; Grand Seiko Takumi craftspeople adjust parts by hand to tolerances of one hundredth of a millimetre – detailed craftsmanship ensuring the precise timekeeping delivered by the 9S mechanical movement.

The sapphire crystal case back showcases a blue oscillating weight inspired by the ‘mid-heaven’ design. The titanium section of the weight is treated with an anodic oxidation process – a surface treatment in which metal is subjected to electrolysis to generate an oxide film that enables the production of the desired colour.

Every Grand Seiko features signature high standards of precision, durability and legibility, handcrafted in Japan by Takumi artisans. Grand Seiko: beautifully, precise Japanese watchmaking, from the pinnacle of Seiko Watch Corporation’s in-house ‘manufacture.’