Since its separation from the parent brand Seiko in 2017, Grand Seiko has made its mark outside Japan with a continuous stream of superb watches.
Among the most popular models are those with nature-themed dials. The new Hi-Beat 36000 GMT SBGJ277 Sekkei model, presented by Grand Seiko at the Watches & Wonders 2024 exhibition, features a silver-white textured dial combined with a two-tone green and white bezel. The model is equipped with a Hi-Beat movement with a GMT complication, allowing you to track the time in a second time zone, and the 24-hour bezel can also be used to indicate the time in a third time zone.
The latest Hi-Beat GMT model has joined the Grand Seiko Sports Collection, which includes GMT models like the Hotaka Peaks or the limited edition SBGE275 20th-anniversary with an icy white dial, both equipped with Spring Drive movements.
First appearing in models SBGJ239 and SBGJ237 with the Hi-Beat movement, the latest GMT SBGJ277 Sekkei model boasts the same technical specifications but is adorned with a magical snow-textured dial.
Textured dials inspired by nature have now become a hallmark of Grand Seiko's repertoire, from expensive dress watches to robust sports watches. Nature is a cornerstone of Japanese culture, revered and feared in equal measure.
In Grand Seiko, it is also a dominant theme, and the surroundings of the Japanese brand's manufactories are specifically studied to inspire the Takumi (craftsmen). All Grand Seiko mechanical watches (excluding Spring Drive calibers, which are produced in the Shinshu studio) are made in Shizukuishi in Iwate Prefecture, where the impressive 2,038-meter-high Mount Iwate is located.
The snow-white dial of the new SBGJ277 watches reflects the green vegetation of the summer months when snow is still on the ground. These snowy valleys, called “Sekkei,” served as inspiration for the creation of the dial and the two-tone bezel.
The uneven patterns, similar in texture to the dials of Sakura watches, create the impression of a crisp frosty surface that plays with light, creating brighter, white reflections and more subtle gray shadow areas.
The GS Sport collection emphasizes clarity of readings, and the large, applied mirror-polished indices at the “12”, “3”, “6”, and “9 o'clock” positions are equipped with LumiBrite inserts matching the hour and minute hands.
A travel-friendly date window with a white background is located at the “4 o'clock” position and is indexed by local time. To convey the contrasting green colors of the snowy valleys, the central GMT hand is shaped like an arrow in dark green, and the 24-hour scale on the inner flange is highlighted in white and green.
The sporty 200-meter water-resistant stainless steel case has a diameter of 42.2 mm, a thickness of 14.4 mm, and a hermetically sealed back. The case meets GS standards and features a fine matte finish and mirror polishing using the proprietary Zaratsu technique.
The bidirectional rotating 24-hour bezel is covered with sapphire glass, reminiscent of old bakelite bezels of mid-century watches. The green and white colors, symbolizing night and day, are applied to the white area of the two-tone bezel using LumiBrite technology, and the numbers on the green area mean that the bezel can be navigated in the dark.
In traveler models or true GMTs (as opposed to office GMTs), the local time hour hand can be adjusted independently using the crown in one-hour increments in both directions without stopping the second hand.
In three time zones, local time is set using the central hour and minute hands, and the arrow-shaped hand can be used to set home time. If desired, a third time zone can be visualized by positioning the 24-hour bezel scale against the local hour hand.
The Grand Seiko 9S86 Hi-Beat caliber operates at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour or 5 Hz, with the accuracy of the automatic mechanism ranging from +5 to -3 seconds per day, exceeding chronometer standards, and a power reserve of 55 hours. The Grand Seiko SBGJ277 model is equipped with a three-link stainless steel bracelet with matte and polished surfaces and a triple folding clasp with a push-button release.
Availability and Price
The Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGJ277 is priced at €7,400 and will be available from May 1, 2024, at Grand Seiko workshops, salons, and boutiques. It is part of the permanent collection. More information can be found on the grand-seiko.com website.