2021, as is now quite evident, has proven to be the year of green in the world of watchmaking and even Grand Seiko has seen fit to launch three new limited editions in three different shades of that color. Once again scoring an absolute home run.
The dial
These are the models of the Elegance line SBGW273, SBGW275 and SBGW277, developed on the basis of the manual winding model SBGW231, which however have sparkling dials in the shades of Green Tea, Tea Leaf and Fern Green respectively.
The shades chosen are undoubtedly extremely particular and inspire their strong identity to the Genbi valley which, generated from the ashes of Mount Kurikoma and the Iwai River, is famous for its luxuriant vegetation and its fairytale landscape.
The dials are presented without date, thus improving their symmetry and, in communion with the perfectly polished indexes (a characteristic that has always distinguished Grand Seiko), make these watches profoundly elegant, even if the colors are uncommon and not exactly classic.
The geometry of the case
The case is also a breath of fresh air in this period of oversized dimensions, in fact, with a diameter of 37.3 mm and a lug-lug length of 44.3 mm, the fit is favored even for the most modest wrists.
However, the thickness could be worrying which, with 11.6 mm, maybe some might arouse an impression. Do not worry, an important portion of that figure is due to the sapphire crystal which, as transparent, escapes sight, making it appear much thinner.
The caliber
The heart of these timepieces is the same as the model from which they take the rest of the technical characteristics, the caliber 9S64. Hand-wound, although it is only one of the basic calibers of the house of the rising sun, it offers more than honorable performances with a power reserve of three days oscillating at 4 Hertz (28,800 vph). All while maintaining a maximum daily deviation between +5 and -3 seconds and being visible through the sapphire caseback, which also allows you to admire the care and precision of the finishes.
Availability
Unfortunately, as with other limited editions of the Grand Seiko house (for example those dedicated to the four seasons), the lucky destination market is solely the American one and the new releases are added to the special editions for the company’s 140th year, which is celebrated. just this year.
The models available were in fact 140 for each of the three different configurations with a price of 4,900 USD, slightly higher than that of the basic model SBGW231, but as limited editions, perfectly justified.
Final remarks
Once again Grand Seiko confirms itself not only as a brand of the highest quality but also of great artistic innovation as, although this was the year of green, the shades presented were decidedly courageous. Despite the risk, I believe they have been spot on and I hope that this search for alternative solutions will continue.
Sometimes, the idea of necessarily finding a connection with an inspiration from the natural world can be heavy, just as the concept of a limited edition can get tired in the long run, there is no doubt about this.
In this case, however, the first aspect is almost a must and I am happy that a story has been found to narrate these magical shades; however, the fact that the production is limited bothers me a lot, especially if it is such a beautiful watch!
