If you’re a watch enthusiast in the current zeitgeist, I hope you like the colour green because it is absolutely everywhere at the moment. There are only so many synonyms for the word verdant that can be used to describe a dial. And Grand Seiko dials deserve a lot of description because they are always exquisite, just check out yesterday’s Lake Suwa. Their latest US exclusive (sorry UK fans) might still be green but they’ve seen fit to bless us with three genuinely unique and interesting versions of the colour, captured on their manual SBGW231 from the Elegance collection in a trio of new references.
In terms of the new watches’ specs, they’re identical to the SBGW231, down to the dainty 37.3mm diameter stainless steel case and the 9S64 manual wind calibre. It might not be fresh but no one is complaining either, especially as the 9S64 has a 72-hour power reserve and is visible through the open caseback.
With the specs out of the way, let’s dive into the colours, or more accurately the greens. Each of them has been inspired, in classic Grand Seiko fashion, by the natural landscape of Japan and this collection takes us to the Genbi Valley in the north. The valley is one of the most dramatic areas of a country where the base level of drama is already higher than the BBC’s Bodyguard, so you can just imagine how breath-taking it is. The area has been naturally shaped by the conflicting forces of the Iwai River and Mt.Kurakoma, an active volcano, creating a dynamic fusion of ash and carved rock that blossoms with life.
The first of the watches, called SBGW273, has a very light and pale green dial with a woven texture and a blue seconds hand. It symbolises new growth, with the seconds hand referencing the river at the heart of the valley. It’s the most minty and refreshing of the shades used.
Next up is the SBGW275, which is the teal version. It’s the most aquatic feeling of the trio and represents the waters that bring life. Although that does make me wonder why they didn’t opt for a blue as it begs the question why the waters of life are full of algae… If you set the symbolism to one side, it is still an attractive and deep shade.
Finally, there’s the SBGW277, arguably the most traditional of the three with a grassy green. Volcanic ash is actually a highly fertile substance, meaning that plant life often flourishes in volcanic valleys and it’s this aspect that the 277 brings to the fore.
As mentioned, these three watches are available exclusively in US boutiques and through the online store in the States, with the added restriction that each reference is limited to 140 pieces each. They are all priced at $4,900 and while we’d usually convert that to GBP for reference, there’s really no point here.
Ultimately, these are three recolours of an existing model, so they’re not as exciting as a release like the Lake Suwa, but they’re interesting if you love a green dial.
Price & Specs:
Model: Grand Seiko SBGW273, SBGW275 and SBGW277
Reference: SBGW273 (pale green), SBGW275 (teal), SBGW277 (green)
Case/Dial: 37.3mm diameter x 11.6mm thickness, stainless steel case, pale green, green or teal dial
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Calibre 9S64, automatic, 24 jewels, Chronometer Certified
Power reserve: 72h
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Alligator leather
Price/availability: $4,900 USD, limited to 140 pieces each colour
More details at Grand Seiko.
