Introducing The New Grand Seiko SBGH311 and SBGR325 Limited Editions
Grand Seiko has just unveiled two new creations that serve to mark the 25th anniversary of its Caliber 9S.
The arrival of the Caliber 9S takes the Japanese brand to a higher level, representing a performance that exceeds the standards of the watchmaking industry. Since then, many movements have been developed from the original Caliber 9S, housing different functions and different alloys for the main and balance springs, with emphasis on the Caliber 9SA5 that appeared in 2020.
The two new commemorative editions have the same case design and diameter as the first watch equipped with the 9S movement created by designer Nobuhiro Kosugi in 1998.
The first of two new creations, the SBGH311, features a textured silver dial with a clouds pattern, inspired by the sea of clouds that cover Mt. Iwate in Iwate Prefecture, where all mechanical Grand Seiko watches are produced. Applied diamond-cut hour indexes and hour and minute hands, central seconds hand tempered in blue, date framed window at 3 o’clock and applied gold brand logo at 12 o’clock followed by the black inscriptions of the brand name and on the opposite hemisphere at 6 o’clock of “Automatic” followed by “Hi-Beat 36000”.
Also noteworthy is the sapphire case back, through which it is possible to observe the 360º titanium oscillating mass in a deep-blue sky engraved with the Grand Seiko emblem.
Inside, it comes equipped with the high-frequency Caliber 9S85 automatic movement, which runs at 36,000 Vph and offers up to 55 hours of power reserve.
The second creation, the SBGR325, features a blue sunray dial, which evokes the sky observable from the top of Mt. Iwate and with the exact composition of details inside the other commemorative edition that we talked about above, with the exception of the single inscription “Automatic” at 6 o’clock instead of the two lines of text of its “twin”.
At the heart of the watch operates the Caliber 9S65 automatic movement which, like the 9S85, offers an accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day and offers up to 72 hours of power reserve, which can be observed through the open case back.
Both watches are offered on a 5-link stainless steel bracelet with an alternating polished and brushed finish, limited to 1,200 units each.
Regarding availability, the SBGH311 will be available exclusively in the brand’s official boutiques during January 2023 and to a selection of authorized retailers from February 2023, while the SBGR325 will only be available from April 2023.
Read more here.
General Specifications:
Brand: Grand Seiko
Reference: SBGH311, SBGR325
Dial: Silver (SBGH311), blue (SBGR325)
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Dimensions: 37 mm diameter, 13.3 mm thickness
Crystal: Sapphire glass
Case Back: Sapphire Glass
Water Resistance: 100 Meters
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
Caliber: 9S85 (SBGH311), 9S65 (SBGR325)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Winding: Automatic
Jewels: 37 (SBGH311), 35 (SBGR325)
Power Reserve: 55 hours (SBGH311), 72 hours (SBGR325)
Price: € 7,200 (SBGH311), € 5,800 (SBGR325)
Availability: January/February 2023 (SBGH311), April 2023 (SBGR325)
Limited Edition: Yes, 1,200 pieces each
