Grand Seiko has become known for having some of the best movements in the watch world, but it has the creation of the Caliber 9R Spring Drive to thank for this. Debuting in 2004 after over two decades of R&D, the technology combines the precision of an electronic movement with the eloquence of an automatic mechanism. This year, the Japanese brand is expected to roll out a string of 20th-anniversary releases. Among them is a new GMT with a beautiful dark red dial.
Those familiar with Grand Seiko will undoubtedly know the brand for its exquisite dress watches, many of which feature textured dials that take after different aspects of Japanese culture, nature, or history. While part of the Sport collection, this new GMT ref. SBGE305 doesn’t lose any of that inspiration. Designed to evoke the glowing mornings of the Hotaka mountain range, which sits on the skyline of the company’s Shinshu Watch Studio. The untextured dial color is carried over to the top half (which includes those sunrise hours) of the 24-hour GMT dial on the watch’s chapter ring, while the bottom half is colored in silver. The GMT display gets its own hand as well, featuring a lumed tip.
Complementing the 24-hour chapter ring, which displays the odd numerals, is the black GMT bezel, which displays the even numerals. Powered by the 9R66 caliber, the GMT function can be adjusted without disrupting the local time, making this a traveler’s GMT. In other words, the minute and second hand don’t stop ticking when you change the time of the secondary time zone. Shown on the three-tiered indicator dial, the power reserve of the timepiece is 72 hours.
Limited to just 1,300 pieces and is priced at $6,200. Slated for a June release date, the timepiece will be available from Grand Seiko and its boutiques. Head over to the company’s website to learn more.
