Introducing the Grand Seiko SBGE263 LE and the GS9 Club USA
Grand Seiko is bringing two news exclusively to the US market, the first being the announcement of the creation of the Grand Seiko GS9 Club USA, which is an exclusive association for owners of Grand Seiko, which until now was exclusive to Japan, with access to events, gifts and articles. The second novelty is the launch of the new Grand Seiko SBGE263 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand, this is a limited edition of 110 pieces exclusively for the USA.
On the Grand Seiko SBGE263, what stands out to the eye is the impressive, deep brown pattern dial that extends to the brown ceramic bezel, but also the interesting 40.5 mm stainless steel case that is suitable for the largest part of the wrists. The colour of the dial and bezel was chosen because it is associated with the plumage of the eagle, a national bird of the United States and also expressing the colours of nature. The golden GMT arrow hand is also intended to be associated with the eagle’s beak expressing its power. The hour indexes are applied to the dial which, like the large hands alternate between the polished and brushed surfaces filled with LumiBrite, a central polished hand, a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock and a date window at 4 o’clock, last on the dial the golden logo and the Grand Seiko inscription at 12 o’clock pairing with the inscription “GMT” preceded by the silver inscription “spring drive” referring to its movement.
The stainless steel case varies between polished and brushed surfaces, with a 4 o’clock sign crown that matches the steel bracelet. The ceramic bezel comes with a 24-hour scale that allows you to work in partnership with GMT hand or independently.
The SBGE263 is powered by the In-house Spring Drive Caliber 9R66, which offers 72 hours of power reserve and allows independent adjustment of the local time hand without “dragging” the GMT hand, that is, it avoids resetting the watch.
Final considerations, it is a beautiful watch that joins the Grand Seiko Sport Collection, with exactly the same features as the SBGE253, SBGE255 and SBGE257, it is a pity that it is an exclusive for the United States and limited to only 110 pieces, as it would certainly be a variant much appreciated by the general public. A final note, to applaud the chosen size, which seems to be increasingly appreciated by the watchmaking community.
General Specifications:
Brand: Grand Seiko
Model: Spring Drive GMT Eagle USA Limited Edition
Reference: SBGE263
Dial: Brown
Lume: LumiBrite
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 40.5 mm diameter, 14.70 mm thickness
Indexes: Applied
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Case Back: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 200 Meters
Strap: Steel bracelet
Caliber: 9R66
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve indicator, GMT
Winding: Self-winding
Jewels: 30
Power Reserve: 72 Hours
Price: $6,700
Limited Edition: 110 pieces
Availability: January 2021 in GS9 Club Shop and Grand Seiko Boutique