Description
About Grand Seiko SBGE305
Grand Seiko Caliber 9R 20th Anniversary Spring Drive GMT Limited Edition Sport Collection
A limited edition inspired by morning glow of the Hotaka mountain range in summer
This limited edition commemorates the 20th anniversary of Grand Seiko’s original Spring Drive movement, Caliber 9R, which was created in 2004.
The dark red dial of this new Sport Collection GMT takes inspiration from a vivid sunrise as it illuminates the steep landscape of Japan’s Hotaka mountain range in summer. As with all Grand Seiko GMT watches, its ease of use is ensured through the local hour hand, which can be set independently, forward or backward, while the watch is running, ensuring precision is maintained when changing time zones according to one’s travels. Set against the dark red dial, the silver GMT hand further enhances the high legibility for which Grand Seiko is renowned.
The ideals of a Grand Seiko sports watch are fully apparent in this new creation, which features a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel. The crown and the case back are secured by screw-down mechanisms, and the watch is water resistant to 20 bar.
Limited edition of 1,300 pieces.
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.
Caliber 9R66
Caliber 9R66 is an automatic Spring Drive movement with a 72-hour power reserve and an added GMT function.
Grand Seiko SBGE305 Features
- 30 jewels
- LIMITED EDITION on the case back
- Serial number engraved on the case back
- 24-hour hand (dual time display function)
- Calendar-linked time difference adjustment function
- Date display
- Power reserve indicator
- Fixed black ceramic bezel with 24-hour display
- Screw case back
- Case back with lion emblem
- Screw-down crown
Grand Seiko SBGE305 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
