Description
About Grand Seiko SBGC251
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Chronograph GMT
A Spring Drive Chronograph of quiet authority
Powered by Caliber 9R86, this Spring Drive chronograph delivers state of the art precision in the measurement of time of day and elapsed time and yet has a quiet and refined aspect that belies its high functionality. The chronograph measures elapsed time up to 12 hours and the seconds hand moves in perfect, continuous and silent glide motion as it does so. The GMT hand allows time in another time zone to be shown exactly and the hour hand can be adjusted to a new zone without compromising the accuracy of the timekeeping. The case is in high intensity titanium, a material that is 30% lighter than steel and yet more impervious to scratches and corrosion. This is a chronograph of true authority.
About 9R Spring Drive
Spring Drive, one of the great innovations in modern watch making history, regulates a spring-driven movement with state-of-the-art electronic technology that functions without batteries or other external power source. Its sole power source is a mainspring, which drives a series of gears. A rotor, connected to the end of these gears, generates a small electrical charge that activates an electronic circuit and quartz oscillator. Its accuracy is unprecedented for a watch wound by a mainspring. The development of the 9R Spring Drive movement was possible only because Grand Seiko is one of the few manufacturers with expertise in both mechanical and electronic watches.
Grand Seiko SBGC251 Features
- 24-hour hand (dual time display function)
- 50 jewels
- Allergy-safe metal
- Calendar-linked time difference adjustment function
- Chronograph with 30 minutes & 12 hours
- Power reserve indicator
- Screw case back
- Screw-down crown
- See-through case back
- Rotating bezel
Grand Seiko SBGC251 Special
The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Style
In 2020, Grand Seiko introduced a new design philosophy called the Evolution 9 Style. It was based, of course, on the Grand Seiko Style which has always defined the design of all Grand Seiko watches and continues to do so. The Evolution 9 Style preserves the fundamentals of the Grand Seiko Style but adapts them for a new generation by setting new standards of legibility, comfort and beauty.
Ever since its creation in 1960, Grand Seiko has evolved continuously as new technologies, materials and ideas have opened up new design possibilities and the Evolution 9 Style is another step forward on this never-ending road. It was developed to further refine the aesthetics that have been at the heart of Grand Seiko from the start and to renew them for the years to come.
Discover more about The Evolution 9 Style
Caliber 9R86
Spring Drive is a unique watch technology. It generates energy like every other traditional mechanical watch but combines this with an electronic regulator to deliver a level of precision that no mechanical watch can match. The development of Spring Drive was possible because Grand Seiko is one of the very few manufacturers with mastery of both electronic and mechanical watchmaking.
The Spring Drive Chronograph Caliber 9R86 delivers high accuracy measurement of both time of day and elapsed time. It has a precision of ±15 seconds a month, or ±1 second a day and, equally importantly, measures elapsed time not to the nearest fraction of a second but exactly, thanks to the fact that the glide motion hands stop at the very instant that the button is pressed. The chronograph measures time for up to 12 hours.
The 72 hour power reserve is maintained even if the chronograph is in operation.
Grand Seiko SBGC251 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
