BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
With Almost all Covid 19-related travel restrictions being lifted, global travel is finally getting back to normalcy, and GMT watches have once again become more relevant and useful. So, here we are with two new Grand Seiko GMTs for your viewing pleasure. Featuring bright and vivacious green and blue dials, the SBGJ259 and SBGJ261 in true Grand Seiko fashion exhibit the Japanese brand’s strength in playing with textures and colors. Also, in true Grand Seiko fashion, these watches are sadly not only limited but also exclusive only to the US market.
Before we get to the individual references, let’s look at what these watches have in common. To begin with, both watches come with visually exciting dials that feature a nice texture or pattern. Placed on top of the dial are finely polished and faceted applied indices that have been designed to shine and dazzle when the light hits them. The sword-shaped hour and minute hands look razor-sharp and combined with the stick-style second’s hand make it easy to keep track of time. A nicely bordered day window sits at 3. Finally, there is a 24-hour chapter ring on the outer periphery that can be used to indicate the second time zone with the help of the arrow-tipped GMT hand.
As for the case, you get a familiar 44GS style stainless-steel body, that like always, has been exceptionally finished. It exhibits a mix of finely brushed and Zaratsu polished surfaces. The case measures 40mm in diameter and is slightly on the chunkier side, with a thickness of around 14.2mm. Thickness aside, the case can sit comfortably on a wide variety of wrists thanks to a manageable lug-to-lug distance of 46mm. The case is water-resistant to a decent 100 meters using a threaded crown, which means that you can easily afford to jump into a pool with this watch on the wrist.
Powering both these beauties is Grand Seiko’s in-house automatic calibre 9S86, which operates at a high frequency of 36000 VPH. Furthermore, the 9S86 comprises 37 jewels, offers a respectable autonomy of around 55 hours, and is accurate to -3 to +5 seconds a day. The movement is nicely decorated and can be enjoyed through the exhibition case back.
Both watches are completed by a stainless-steel bracelet and the retail price has been set at USD 6,800. Production is limited to just 500 pieces, so you will need to be a little nimble if you want to grab one or both.
SBGJ259
The grass green dial on the SBGJ259 is inspired by the bamboo trees found around the Nezu museum and garden designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. To emulate the bamboo trees, the dial comes with vertical striations that give the dial added character and personality. To provide the dial an additional pop of color, the GMT hand and the ‘GMT’ text have been presented in a bright lime green shade.
SBGJ261
Presented with a Royal blue textured dial, the SBG261 aka ‘The Peacok’ is a new blue color variation of the popular and already sold-out SBGJ227 that came with a deep green dial. The distinctive circular pattern on the dial is inspired by the feathers of a peacock and is visually captivating. To provide a nice contrast to the blue background, the GMT hand, the ‘GMT’ text at 6, and the applied GS logo are presented in a golden tone.
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