Description
About Grand Seiko SBGP017
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition
The 55th anniversary of the 44GS design is celebrated in a watch inspired by the sea of clouds in Shinshu
The 1967 44GS was the watch that first embodied the design grammar known as the “Grand Seiko Style”, the set of nine principles which gave Grand Seiko its distinctive look and which still inspires every new creation today.
As part of the year-long celebration of the 55th anniversary of the 44GS, SBGP017 embodies the spirit of this seminal 1967 design and offers a remarkable precision rate of +5 to -5 seconds per year.
The dial is as remarkable as the calibre that delivers this exceptional accuracy. It has the texture of the sea of clouds that form around the mountains on some mornings in the Shinshu region where this and all Grand Seiko quartz watches are made. Sometimes, the air is so still and humid that dense clouds gather and overlap to create a sea of clouds above Shinshu’s lowlands that stretches away to the horizon in every direction and that is tinged with blue, reflected down from the clear skies above them.
The watch is powered by a specially enhanced version of Calibre 9F85 that is accurate to +5 to -5 seconds a year. This high precision rate is achieved by the use of quartz crystals that are aged and then individually selected for their particular performance characteristics. The same commitment to precision is expressed in every aspect of the watch’s functionality. It has a time difference adjustment function that allows the hour hand to be moved without stopping the seconds hand, thus preserving its high precision when the wearer changes time zones. A backlash auto-adjust mechanism eliminates any shudder in the seconds hand. The date changes in the blink of an eye. A twin-pulse control motor allows the minute and seconds hands to be longer and thicker so that the exact time can be read with ease.
※The specifications below show “Accuracy: ±10 seconds per year” due to the design of the system. The correct accuracy of this watch is “Accuracy: ±5 seconds per year”.
Limited edition of 2,000 pieces.
Grand Seiko SBGP017 Features :
- LIMITED EDITION on the case back
- Serial number engraved on the case back
- See-through screw case back
- Calendar-linked time difference adjustment function
Grand Seiko SBGP017 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
