Grand Seiko Presents The US Exclusive ‘Katana’ Collection
Grand Seiko has just announced three new watches in the iconic 44GS case exclusively for the US market.
The three new references that wear a 40mm diameter and 12.50mm thick stainless steel case come with the traditional Zaratsu polishing, sapphire glass on the front and back, screw-down crown, 100m of water resistance and a three-links steel bracelet with a folding clasp.
It is on the dial that the three variants of the new “Katana” collection are distinguished, inspired by the “Tamahagane” steel that is used to craft Katana. A two-step process, with the first in which high carbon steel is used to produce the sharp outer edge known as “Kawagane” which serves as the inspiration for the black dial of the new SBGA489, while the second is used to generate the strong inner blade core stamped in the green tone dial of the SBGA491. Both references also feature a sandblasted pattern, silver-applied faceted indexes, Dauphine hands and a framed date window at 3 o’clock. A gold centre seconds hand matching the power reserve indicator at 7:30 and the applied brand’s logo at noon.
Finally, the SBGA493, which unlike the other two comes as a limited edition, features a red dial with a pattern that expands from the centre to the periphery and is inspired by the forging process that reproduces sparks when the hammer hits the heated blade. The dial, which follows the same layout as the other two references, comes with some differences, with the power reserve indicator showing only its scale in gold and the respective pointer, while the centre seconds hand and the brand’s logo appear here in silver.
Inside, the new collection comes equipped with the Spring Drive Caliber 9R65 that reaches 32,768 Bph and offers up to 72 hours of power reserve.
The two regular references will be available from August in the brand’s official boutiques and selected authorized retailers for a price of USD 5,600, while the limited edition of 500 pieces will be available from September for a price of USD 6,000.
Read more here.
General Specifications:
Brand: Grand Seiko
Reference: SBGA489, SBGA491, SBGA493
Dial: Black (SBGA489), green (SBGA491), red (SBGA493)
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Dimensions: 40 mm diameter, 12.50 mm thickness
Crystal: Sapphire glass
Case Back: Sapphire glass
Water Resistance: 100 Meters
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp
Calibre: 9R65
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve indicator
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 32,768 Vph
Jewels: 30
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Price: USD 5,700 (SBGA489, SBGA491), USD 6,000 (SBGA493)
Availability: August 2023 (SBGA489, SBGA491), September 2023 (SBGA493) exclusively US market
Limited Edition: No (SBGA489, SBGA491), Yes (SBGA493) 500 pieces
