BY JOVAN K
Grand Seiko brought a wide lineup to Watches and Wonders 2026, and we already covered the new Ushio Diver Spring Drive UFA, which deserved its own space thanks to the movement and sports watch upgrades. Away from that headline diver, the brand also delivered two pieces that remind you where Grand Seiko still feels most natural: elegant cases, texture-rich dials, and references built around Japanese scenery rather than noise. If the Ushio was the practical play, these were the poetic ones.
Grand Seiko Mystic Waterfall Spring Drive 44GS SBGZ011
The Mystic Waterfall Spring Drive 44GS is the standout for anyone who appreciates hand-crafted over hype. Built in Platinum, the 40mm x 9.6mm case and dial are hand-engraved by Takumi artisans to reflect the spray and movement of the Tateshina Otaki waterfall near Shinshu, home of Spring Drive. It is not a stamped texture or surface trick.
This is a detailed engraving that gives the watch a changing depth depending on the light. White gold hands and markers sit over the dial, while the caseback carries a customizable yellow gold plaque, a nice touch for a piece this personal. The watch comes on a Kyoto leather strap with an additional black crocodile strap, keeping the whole package suitably elevated.
Inside is the hand-wound calibre 9R02, one of Grand Seiko’s finest Spring Drive movements. Accuracy is rated to ±1 second per day, with an 84-hour power reserve, which means this is not just decorative watchmaking. It has real substance behind the dial. Production is limited to 50 pieces worldwide, with a price set at US$84,000. Serious money, yes, but also serious execution.
Grand Seiko Cherry Blossoms ‘Sakura-Wakaba’ Hi-Beat SBGH376
The second release lands in a warmer and more approachable lane. The Cherry Blossoms Sakura-Wakaba Hi-Beat uses an 18k yellow gold 38mm x 12.9mm case, and one of the best dials released at the show this year.
Inspired by the Japanese seasonal moment when cherry blossoms meet fresh green leaves, the dial shifts between silver, champagne, and pale green depending on the light. It feels softer and more alive than standard sunburst finishing, which is exactly why Grand Seiko keeps winning on dials.
Power comes from the automatic calibre 9S85 Hi-Beat, running at 36,000 vph with a 55-hour power reserve. The watch also gets a date display, sapphire caseback, and brown crocodile strap that suits the warm gold case well. Price is US$32,800, which places it in competitive territory for a precious metal high-beat dress sports watch with this level of dial work.
The Ushio diver showed where the brand is going, and these two references remind you why so many people were paying attention in the first place.
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