BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Grand Seiko returns to our website once again with a new nature-inspired timepiece; this time, it’s a part of their Sport Collection GMT, er, collection. Anyway this piece, with the reference SBGJ277, is inspired by the end of winter around Grand Seiko’s Shizukuishi studio, where the greenery begins showing through once more, but the mountain tops still have plenty of snow on them. How much of that do you believe? Well, that’s up to you, but the green colouration is certainly striking.
The watch’s case is as much as you’d expect, if you’re familiar with Grand Seiko’s pieces, quite large but with sporting purpose. The case measures 44.2mm x 14.4mm and is made of stainless steel with a matching bracelet. If it’s something you’re interested in buying, and I can see why you would be, it’s one you’ll want to try on before you commit to buying. I know some of you bemoan watches measuring over 40mm, and this is quite far beyond that, but in this case, you have a point: 44.2mm is pretty hefty. The case is water-resistant to 200m.
Some of that width is taken up by the two-tone 24-hour GMT bezel which, as you’d expect, rotates in both directions. It’s also worth noting that the Grand Seiko model range this belongs to is renowned for using sapphire crystal on its bezels, rather than an aluminium or ceramic insert. It’s not the easiest thing to make, but it gives them a unique look and allows them to use Lumibrite on the bezel in addition to the dial, so props for that. I also like the distinctive look of the dial, which is a silvery white colour and is textured to look reminiscent of the snow settled on the ground up in the mountains. Silvery applied markers and silvery hands also appear to complete a crisp look.
Behind all of this (and under a solid caseback) is the self-winding calibre 9S86, which isn’t a Spring Drive movement, of course, but rather one from Seiko’s Hi-Beat collection. With that, the watch runs at 5Hz, which should make it a little more accurate than most; Grand Seiko says this movement is accurate to within -3/+5s per day. It also has a 55-hour power reserve, and setting the GMT function through the crown should be a doddle.
The new reference SBGJ277 adds green to Grand Seiko’s sporting lineup in a subtle and classy way, but it’s good to know that it’s got the robustness Grand Seiko is renowned for. Available now through Grand Seiko boutiques and authorised dealers, this watch costs $6,800 before taxes.
