As Grand Seiko celebrates 55 years since the debut of its iconic 44GS, a watch that ushered in and was guided by the nine design principles collectively known as the “Grand Seiko Style,” we’ve gotten to see a plethora of fun new editions and colorways getting introduced to the 44GS lineup’s Heritage Collection. The Sea of Clouds edition represented the textured haze above the company’s headquarters in the Shinshu region of Japan, and the Hi-Beat 36000 GMT was a four-handed take on the classic silhouette.
Today, Grand Seiko unveils yet another 55th Anniversary Edition with the SBGY009. Where the Sea of Clouds watch emulates the Shinshu sky during the day, this new piece similarly transports the wearer to Japan as it depicts the sky at night with its deep blue sunray dial that catches the light at all angles. The silver indices and hands serve as the stars as the golden seconds hand silently sweeps across the dial like the moon across the night sky. Additionally, the box-shaped sapphire crystal sports an anti-reflective coating for maximum legibility.
The 40mm stainless steel case holds the Caliber 9R31 movement, which brings Grand Seiko’s proprietary Spring Drive to this line for the very first time. The movement is a hybrid that combines a quartz regulator with a dual spring barrel mechanical movement, achieving the best of both worlds. A see-through caseback lets you see the manual-winding mechanism equipped with a 72-hour power reserve indicator. Each watch also comes with a crocodile leather strap.
Limited to just 1,500 pieces, the Grand Seiko 44GS 55th Anniversary Edition SBGY009 has been given an August release date and is currently on sale through the watchmaker’s online store for $8,100.
