A better shot of my sbgk005
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My WIS journey has led me to admire Grand Seiko more than any other watches that I've owned or seen. I love the heritage and technical achievements of the brand but it's the dials that truly impress.
I've spent a happy hour or two in the GS boutique chatting with the staff and trying on some stunning watches. I love how down to earth the Seiko boutique is and how there is something for everyone there. During an evening event I got to handle a Credor Eichi that I'll never be able to afford and a Cocktail Time that I've often considered. Both had stunning dials but at very different price points.
Here are some rather pedestrian shots of my two current GS, the snowflake and the sbgk005. I find the dials of both to be absorbing and fascinating. The snowflake dial represents snow that has freshly fallen on the mountains visible from the GS design studio and the SBGK005 evokes the nearby Mount Iwate. I never get bored of them.
To quote the Watch Snob..." I can think of no company other than Grand Seiko which makes producing watches of great beauty and real aesthetic and spiritual depth, a priority for all its watches rather than for a few."
There should be waiting lists for snowflakes not submariners ; )
Show us your best GS dials please.
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Last edited by Rocket Man; 18th March 2021 at 13:23.
A better shot of my sbgk005
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So this doesn’t have any fancy patterns and probably didn’t involve someone hand selected at the age 5 to do 25 years of training with a master, but the cream colour is just sublime and the details perfectly executed.
My nomination is the SBGJ201 with the fabulous silvery white Mt Iwate dial. Sadly I don’t have any photos of the one I once owned, but IMO, it’s more impressive than the Snowflake dial.
Grand Seiko are the dial masters, my SBGJ227 ‘Peacock’ is unreal, stunning
And the Skyflake is not too shabby either!
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I’m a recent convert to their dials too.
Here’s my two:- first the 273.
The richness and texture to the dial really is incredible and it’s quickly become my ‘go to’ watch for nearly everything!
Secondly, a not as popular reference but really worth a second look for the tone of colour and printing on the dial. A class act, the 293-
It’s a bit of a dilemma now as I dont need anything else with these two!
The Snowflake is the jewel in my collection. A gift to myself for my 40th birthday.
Ah yes, the SBGH273 Shubun 'Autumnal Equinox':
"The dial of this model is a dark blue to celebrate the autumnal equinox and represent the autumn clouds as they float through the sky."
Must admit that I'm a sucker for their 'Nature of Time' marketing!
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Great pic, great watch! The Snowflake is a classic and I wear mine most days.
Last edited by Rocket Man; 18th March 2021 at 12:50.
Not a fan of that blue one. Looks like blue horse hair. The Snowflake is lovely though.
Btw here is a pic that I found again after I lost it. It's from where the Snowflake dial is inspired
I had stumbled upon it years and years ago while searching GS stuff, then lost it, then tried searching for it on Google but couldn't find it. Found it in my Google Drive.
Last edited by James_; 18th March 2021 at 13:03.
How very dare you!? ;)
This is what Hodinkee say about it:
"It's a deep blue color with a textured pattern that Grand Seiko calls a "Mt. Iwate" pattern after the large volcano that sits near the company's Morioka watchmaking facility. I'd describe it as a combination of a rough grain treatment and a sunburst finish – but most importantly I'd describe it as awesome."
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Some blue dials here... I would add this one:
No texture but very nice metallic blue colour.
My mind often returns to memories of this one, since sold (loved it, didn't need the GMT function and therefore it felt one-hand-too-many):
And even the plain-Jane entry level models can have astounding finishing and quality:
Ant
Not the GS I own, but I think the SBGH267 and SBGM235 are possibly the two most stunning. The SBGJ001/201 Mt. Iwate is right up there too, but particularly those two are - for me - gorgeous.
If they had a 44GS case, SBGH267 dial and spring drive movement (power reserve on the rear please...) I think it might be perfect.
Soom got in first with his SBGX337 but here's a second one. Not as detailed as some of the snow and season gems already on show, but lovely nonetheless :)
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So many interesting & unique GS dials. I think the SBGJ227 ‘Peacock’ is my new favourite but the chances of someone coming along and posting something better is always high with GS.
They seem to be able to outdo themselves on a regular basis.
Mine says Hello! The attention to detail on the markers and hands is very precise. Beautiful deep black dial.
Last edited by Tiny; 18th March 2021 at 20:40.
Some images lifted from another Forum - probably Watchuseek, can’t recall - taken by a poster who attended an a AD evening hosting Grand Seiko, where they had watchmaking demonstrations.
The under noted show the steps taken to create the Snowflake & ‘Champagne’ dial (like on the 9F SBGX963).
Interestingly, whilst looking simpler at first glance, the Champagne dial has a few more steps required than the Snowflake, including separate silver & gold plating, which helps explain why it looks cool metallic in one light yet rich gold in another.
Grand Seiko really excel at dials, just fantastic.
Nope. I bought my first GS pretty much on impulse but this one I found after a bit more research. This model had pretty much everything I was looking for; case, dial, hands, bracelet and not easy to get hold of. I was lucky to find a full set one for private sale in the UK at a good price. Wearing it now
Helps if you’ve got the trousers to match
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As I recall, Grand Seiko employees travelled over from Japan (to the US, I think) for the Authorised Dealer evening, and brought their own samples, watches, display boards etc. from Japan.
I can only assume their translation was a bit off, hence the spelling mistakes.
I guarantee their English is a million times better than my Japanese though, so I'm not judging.
I wonder what the profit margin is for GS on these works of art?
Big brand promotion push seems to be working at least in the watch community. Will prices increase over time?
I'm sure this has all been covered elsewhere.
https://youtu.be/8pKdJfDJp3Y
Looks amazing
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