The Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT has been a staple within the model lineup for a while now. Actually, I keep in mind studying Ariel’s article nearly 12 years in the past when he was preaching the nice phrase again after I was an aBlogtoWatch reader nonetheless getting acquainted with the luxurious Japanese watchmaker. It’s lengthy been top-of-the-line GMT watches on the market for these individuals who don’t wish to pay the, let’s name it “soda tax” for some Swiss varieties with a hero complicated. Nicely, the newly launched Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT SBGE248 is essentially the most lustworthy in addition to most costly Spring Drive GMT but. With a royal blue dial and bezel with two-tone yellow gold case and bezel, it’s a showstopper however one you’ll need to pay about double what you’d for the traditional metal variant.
The 18ok yellow gold ring within the rotating bezel is a primary for Grand Seiko, nevertheless it’s actually the distinction between the blue and gold that grabbed my consideration. After all, we’re going off press pictures right here so I’ll reserve remaining judgement for after I can see the watch in individual. The yellow gold on the bezel and crown nails the extent to which two-tone works, no less than for my part. The traditional metal bracelet (which I’m fairly certain can have the gold GS emblem on the clasp) pulls the watch again from being an excessive amount of of a retro-style throwback and reveals simply sufficient restraint.
I’d additionally similar to to notice that the GMT hand and energy reserve indicator in gold are simply *chef’s kiss*
Case measurement and motion listed here are unchanged. The 44mm vast and 14.7mm thick case homes the Caliber 9R66 Spring Drive motion with its 72 hour energy reserve. Grand Seiko is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Spring Drive this yr, and you’ll have caught my hands-on protection of the dressy manual-wind Magnificence assortment final week.
This SBGE248 jogs my memory of a extra elaborate and attention-grabbing cousin of the SBGE015, which was in titanium and performed with way more discreet hints of two-tone and black dial. It’s not a restricted version, which is nice to see. Nevertheless, that is going to be a Grand Seiko Spring Drive for a extra self-selective purchaser pool because it’s priced at $11,500. The watch can be accessible this September and you’ll be taught extra at grand-seiko.com
