“What’s your favourite season?” appeared to be the chorus mostly echoed all through the Couture Time tradeshow held this previous weekend on the Wynn On line casino in Las Vegas. After all attendees weren’t debating the deserves of a selected time of yr, however moderately the quartet of season-themed watches launched by Grand Seiko on the present – 4 model new dial executions constructed round Hello-Beat and Spring Drive actions that aren’t formally restricted in manufacturing, however will solely be out there to the model’s retail community in North America.
Spring, Summer season, Fall, and Winter from left to proper
With opinions firmly established by a sneak peek at early press supplies, we went into our assembly with the Grand Seiko staff absolutely anticipating the colourful emerald green-dialed ’Summer season’ version (ref. SBGH271) to be the favourite, however after a little bit of wrist time with every, the consensus shifted subtly to the attractive SBGA413 ’Spring’ version, delivered in a super-soft shade of pink, impressed by the fragile cherry blossoms that fill the Japanese panorama between April and Might yearly. Similar to the blossoms themselves, the dial appears to be like gentle white below oblique mild, then in direct daylight subtly takes on colour to yield a wholly new hue, although by no means going full-on flamingo pink. Like lots of Grand Seiko’s hottest dials, it’s an ultra-versatile chameleon that needn’t be restricted to formal contexts. It’s in all probability a bit too early to counsel that ‘pink is the brand new black,’ but when there ever had been a contender, it could completely be this.
To not be completely outdone, the richly coloured SBGH271 version actually captures the power and vibrance of nature on the top of the summer time season. With inexperienced dials being considerably en vogue proper now, it’s nice to see Grand Seiko taking part in a robust card on this discipline with a dial choice that the model has traditionally reserved for its JDM (Japan Home Market) exclusives. Then as we transfer into fall, the hues on SBGH273 shift to a moody shade of blue, evoking the crisp fall air on a moonlit evening. Naturally, the fourth watch within the collection is ‘Winter,’ however Grand Seiko couldn’t repeat the pure white dial of its super-popular ’Snowflake’ (ref. SBGA211). As an alternative, we have now one thing a little bit moodier – SBGA415 is characterised by its richly textured silver dial impressed not by a single snowflake, however by gray skies, deep snow, and the final subdued tones of winter in Japan.
All 4 watches genuinely convey one thing solely completely different to the wrist: Spring and Winter each exhibit the broad swathes of dial texture that jumps to life at simply the correct angles. If it’s sheer on a regular basis versatility that you simply’re after, Winter might be going to be the best choice. Summer season and Fall disguise their refined dial textures below a markedly dynamic visage, and are simply probably the most eye-catching, however for those who’re after one thing really particular that’s merely by no means been executed earlier than, Spring is the one to get.
Every watch within the assortment is constructed utilizing Grand Seiko’s 40mm by 12mm thick 62GS case, which bears the sculpted caseband, angular lugs, and broad field crystal exhibited in Grand Seiko’s authentic self-winding watch. In comparison with the extra fashionable 44GS case utilized in lots of Grand Seiko’s hottest fashions, the 62GS is a extra traditional execution that also bears Grand Seiko’s plain fashionable design grammar and sporty 100-meter water resistance. Longtime Grand Seiko followers would possibly discover that these new ‘Seasons’ watches echo the sold-out and extremely sought-after SBGA125 Heritage restricted version from 2017, re-cast in a collection of dynamic new dials. At a look, the 62GS differs from Grand Seiko’s bolder 44GS case, the latter of which is greatest characterised by a bolder visible profile, due to the addition of a bezel and a few heavier traces all through. That is the case used on the Snowflake, in addition to on final yr’s US-exclusive ‘Kira-Zuri’ fashions unveiled at Couture.
It’s price noting that two completely different actions, and two completely different case supplies are unfold via the 4 watches, however every is priced at $6,300. The Spring and Winter watches are constructed utilizing Spring Drive actions (denoted by the facility reserve indicator at eight:00) and titanium circumstances, whereas Summer season and Fall use the dearer Hello-Beat actions, however a inexpensive case materials: chrome steel. For Grand Seiko to maintain the value level constant throughout all 4 items whereas asking merely “which do you want greatest?” moderately than forcing its followers to purchase the entire set with a view to receive their favourite dial, actually earns it loads of avenue cred amongst the group.
What in the end emerges because the precise favourite in the US must also show to be an fascinating and inherently precious set of findings for future territory exclusives. That being mentioned, if there’s sufficient curiosity within the collection, the Grand Seiko did trace at the potential of introducing a particular field set for these with significantly deep completionist tendencies. As we look ahead to these to hit retailers by the top of the summer time, within the meantime, severely: which season’s your favourite? grand-seiko.com
