Description
About Grand Seiko SBGY009
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition
The moon, the mountains and the serenity of the night sky
The dial has a deep blue color that captures the alluring beauty of the full moon in the night sky above the Shinshu mountains that can be seen from the studio in Shiojiri where this and all Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches are created. The sunray pattern catches the light at every angle and recreates the gentle sparkle that the moon casts over the landscape when it is at its very highest point in the sky. The signature glide motion seconds hand of Spring Drive is in a gold color and captures the grandeur of the night sky as it sweeps silently across the wide dial, bringing the wearer closer than ever to the serene and eternal nature of the passage of time. The minute and seconds hands are curved by hand so that they slope gently down towards the minute track at the edge of the dial, enhancing the legibility of the exact time. The watch is presented on a dark blue strap that harmonizes perfectly with the rich tone of the dial.
SBGY009 is powered by the manual-winding Spring Drive Caliber 9R31. This movement incorporates an innovative Dual-Spring Barrel that contains two mainsprings set in parallel and so delivers a power reserve of 72 hours. The thinness of this movement, the slim construction of the case and the box-shaped sapphire crystal all combine to allow the craftsmen and women of the Shinshu Watch Studio to create a slim and classical design that captures the spirit of the original 44GS, while also achieving a low center of gravity that provides excellent comfort on the wrist.
The watch is offered as a limited edition of 1,500. Each individual serial number and the words ‘Limited Edition’ are engraved on the case back.
About Spring Drive
Spring Drive is Seiko’s exclusive movement that achieves an unprecedented level of accuracy (+/- 15 seconds per month on average, equivalent to +/- 1 second per day) by regulating a spring-driven watch with state-of-the-art electronic technology that functions without batteries or other external power source.
As in conventional mechanical watches, the sole power source of Spring Drive is a mainspring that can be wound by the motion of an oscillating weight or by winding the crown. And just as in mechanical watches, the mainspring drives a series of gears that rotate the hour, minute and second hands. A rotor, connected to the end of these gears, generate a small electrical charge that activates an electronic circuit and quartz oscillator.
The Tri-synchro regulator is a unique speed controller for Spring Drive that replaces the escapement, which is a mechanical speed control device used in almost all conventional mechanical watches. The Tri-synchro regulator moves the second hand in a smooth motion, without ticking and with extreme accuracy.
Some 80% of the components in a Spring Drive caliber are the same as those in a luxury mechanical watch. Spring Drive is a movement powered by a spring, just like a mechanical watch, with a different kind of regulator and combines the long-lasting autonomy of a mechanical watch with the precision that, until now, only electronic watches could provide.
To ensure reliable and accurate operation, all these parts need to be manufactured to the highest standards of precision, and assembling them requires superior craftsmanship.
The development of the Spring Drive movement caliber 9R was made possible because Seiko is one of the very few manufactures with expertise in both mechanical and quartz watches.
Since the first Grand Seiko Spring Drive in 2004, new movements have been created with even more complex mechanisms–including the GMT in 2005 and chronograph with GMT in 2007. Showing that with the Spring Drive caliber 9R, time never loses momentum.
Grand Seiko SBGY009 Features :
- 30 jewels
- LIMITED EDITION on the case back
- Serial number engraved on the case back
- Power reserve indicator
- Screw case back
- See-through case back
- Dual-spring barrel
Grand Seiko SBGY009 History :
Prior to 1960, to challenge the status of Swiss watches and change the perception of Japanese watches, Daini Seikosha and Suwa began the discussion of a product line that can match the quality of Swiss watches under the suggestion of the parent company. At the time, Suwa Seikosha Co. was in charge of manufacturing men’s watches, so it was decided that Suwa would be producing the first Grand Seiko (GS).
The first Grand Seiko was released in 1960, it was based on Seiko’s previous high-end watch, CROWN. This Grand Seiko has a 25-jewel, manual-winding, 3180 caliber, and only 36,000 units were produced. This was also the first chronometer-grade watch manufactured in Japan, and it was based on Seiko’s own chronometer standard.
Design style
The design language of the Grand Seiko was set in 1967, with the creation of Grand Seiko 44GS. The 44GS set the ground for all future Grand Seiko with nine elements. These elements help improve the legibility of the watch under different situations, and create a sharp, crisp visual impression:
- Double width index at 12 o’clock
- Multi-faceted rectangular markers
- Highly polished bezel
- Highly polished planes and two-dimensional surface
- Half recessed crown
- Flat dial
- Multi-faceted hour and minute hands
- Curved side line
- Reverse slanted bezel wall and case side
- Dress style with simple but beautiful design
- Zaratsu polishing
source : wikipedia
