Introducing the Grand Seiko SBGW283 and SBGW285
In August of last year, Grand Seiko launched exclusively for the US market three limited editions with textured dials in green tones, which were distinguished by their simplicity of three hands watch and the absence of extra complications. The 37mm diameter watches were powered by a manual movement that offered up to 72 hours of power reserve.
Right then, we became fans of those watches because of the way Grand Seiko is able to design pure and uncomplicated watches (in addition to the many complex ones they make) without compromising the charm and classic touch of their timepieces and that’s why we vented our “grief” for not being able to reach Europe.
Now and eight months later, two new gems from this beautiful collection arrive, the SBGW283 with a sky blue dial (continuation of the Tiffani dial syndrome… here we go again!) and the SBGW285 with a green dial, inspired by the views of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi in northern Japan, with the 2,000-meter-high Mount Iwate on the skyline.
The colours of each of the dials mark the arrival of different seasons in Japan, with the pale blue of SBGW283 signalling the arrival of summer, known as Kishun season, while the deep green of SBGW285 signalling the transition from summer to autumn, known as Byōka season.
The watches sit in a 37.3mm diameter by 11.7mm thick stainless steel case and come with a polished finish, box-shaped sapphire crystal and a big crown signed with the brand logo at 3 o’clock.
On the textured dials, polished facetted dauphine hands, applied hour indexes and logo brand at 12 o’clock followed by the inscription of the brand name.
Inside, the manual-winding Caliber 9S64 operates, which is hand-assembled and can be seen through the sapphire crystal. The movement offering up to 72 hours of power reserve is highly accurate and stable.
The watches are offered with a crocodile leather strap matching the color of the dial. They should be available in the brand’s official stores from August 2022, with prices that should be around the value of the previous limited editions and be below € 5,000.
Our Opinion
As has long been known, we are true fans of mid-sized watches and manual movements, and if we had already been delighted with the three exclusive editions launched last year, these two new releases only whet our appetite even more.
Without wanting to put aside the beautiful SBGW285 in green, we have to say that despite the launch of numerous watches with an ice blue or sky blue dial, this one on the SBGW283 seems to be even more special for being textured and also based on such a simplistic model and that’s why it’s our favourite.
If the price is confirmed below € 5,000, we suspect that the watches will not warm up in the shop windows.
Read more here.
General Specifications:
Brand: Grand Seiko
Reference: SBGW283, SBGW285
Dial: Blue, green
Lume: No
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Dimensions: 37.3 mm diameter, 11.7 mm thickness
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Case Back: Sapphire Glass
Water Resistance: Splash
Strap: Blue crocodile leather strap (SBGW283), green crocodile leather strap (SBGW275)
Caliber: 9S64
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Winding: Manual
Jewels: 24
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Price: Not available at the moment
