Traditional Japanese craftsmanship meets horological prowess in Grand Seiko’s latest limited edition, ref. SBGW295. The watch is a faithful recreation of the first Grand Seiko that premiered in 1960. It features a magnificent urushi dial made from Japanese lacquer and enhanced with iron in order to achieve its immaculate pitch-black hue.
A piece of art, it serves as a beautiful background for the maki-e hour markers that are applied by urushi master Isshu Tamura in his studio in Kanazawa, a city located on the west coast of Japan. The application of the indexes is a time-honored craft that requires the utmost dexterity, as the lacquer is applied layer by layer and finally dusted with 24-carat gold powder.
The challenge is to achieve a uniform appearance on the slightly curved surface. Except for the urushi and maki-e treatments, the watch dial and the Grand Seiko lettering are identical to the original creation from 1960.
The same rings true for the diameter which has a moderate diameter of 38mm. The case is crafted from Grand Seiko’s genuine Brillant Hard Titanium alloy, which is light yet robust and scratch-resistant. It omits a bright shimmer that is further enhanced by the Zaratsu finishing technique synonymous with the Japanese luxury brand.
The ref. SBGW295, whose full name is Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Re-creation of the first Grand Seiko, is powered by manually-wound Caliber 9S64 offering an accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day and a power reserve of three days. Its beautiful decorations and high-end finishings can be admired through the sapphire case back. Limited to 500 pieces, the commemorative timepiece is delivered with two watch straps, of which one uses an ancient weaving technique known from the production of samurai armors.
Pricing for the Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Re-creation of the first Grand Seiko (ref. SBGW295) is marked at $13,800.
To learn more, visit Grand Seiko, here.