At the now traditional Couture exhibition in Las Vegas, Grand Seiko unveiled a trio of watches from its Elegance Collection exclusively for the US market. (You may recall the brand's US-exclusive Seasons collection presented at the Vegas show a few years back). These variations on the classic dress watches with manual winding, SBGW231, each depict shades of green found in the Genbi Valley in Iwate. The SBGW273, SBGW275, and SBGW277 models will be released in a limited edition of 140 pieces, available exclusively in the USA.
The trio is based on the SBGW231 model - dress watches with manual winding, which are a core model for Grand Seiko. Although not as appreciated in the States as they deserve, I believe the allure of Grand Seiko's textured dials will introduce the collection to a new demographic. With Zaratsu-polished hands and applied indices (yes, this means there's no date feature), the dials have the opportunity to make a subtle yet memorable impact, something Grand Seiko excels at.
All three models feature a thin green dial with a clear texture. The SBGW273 model boasts a light green dial and a blue second hand, intended to evoke the new growth that comes with the changing seasons. While I approach things like blue hands with caution, Grand Seiko has certainly made the right choice here, as a steel hand against such a soft dial color might appear dull or lifeless. In contrast, the blue is just right.
The SBGW275 model has a teal-colored dial, inspired by the rivers of the Genbi Valley. Grand Seiko's design shines brightest when the brand draws on the blurred lines of nature, and this combination of green and blue is an excellent example. Successfully merging the clarity of green with the refreshing coolness of blue, the SBGW275 model is likely my choice among these three models.
Finally, there's the SBGW277 model with a beautiful traditional green dial that has an earthy hue, which is really highlighted by the brown leather strap.
Placed in a case 37.3 mm wide and 11.6 mm thick with a lug-to-lug height of 44.3 mm (water resistance of 3 m), these manual-wind watches are made of polished stainless steel with AR-coated sapphire crystal. I've long felt that the 36.5-39 mm case size range is underrated, so I was pleased to see Grand Seiko pay it some attention, and this happiness is only enhanced by the fact that these watches are manual-wind. Is it a bit thick for a dress watch? Yes, I'd say 11.6 mm is the upper limit of what I'd accept, though the proportions and wearability are very good.
Turning the case over, you can see the 9S64 movement, a manual-wind caliber long used by Grand Seiko. Although these three pieces were non-functional, I've seen and handled many watches equipped with the 9S64 caliber. It has an accuracy of -3 to +5 seconds per day and a power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound.
I genuinely believe that this trio of unisex manual-wind watches with beautiful textured dials by Grand Seiko is perfect for the United States market, where "small" dress watches are overlooked and too rarely given real special attention.
Each model is limited to 140 pieces, the Grand Seiko Elegance Collection SBGW275 with a teal dial will be exclusively sold in Grand Seiko boutiques and online, while the SBGW273 and SBGW277 will be available at select retailers for $4,900 USD each.