Grand Seiko Captures The Beauty Of The Night Sky In New Limited Edition
The watchmakers of Grand Seiko’s Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri, Japan, have created yet another masterpiece to celebrate Seiko’s 140th anniversary. Named SBGZ007, it does remind of the SBGZ001, mainly thanks to its textured case made of platinum. The texture itself is, however, quite different. The artisans of Grand Seiko took inspiration from the night sky over their manufacture and decorated the Zaratsu polished case with a star-like pattern. This further highlights the slim and elegant profile of the case, which has a diameter of 38.5mm and is only 9.8mm thick.
A deep blue dial is customary when a brand wants to bring to life the beauty of the night sky. Most opt for aventurine, a type of glass with (gold) flecks in it representing the stars. Grand Seiko preferred a different approach. They combined stamping, plating, and painting to recreate the sky and all its stars. The result is mesmerizing, and the longer you look at the dial, the more stars you see. Grand Seiko kept the rest of the dial of the SBGZ007 rather sober. The hour markers are made from white gold to ensure that they will retain their brilliance for decades to come. The sword hands clearly indicate the time and make a powerful impression, giving the watch even more character.
Such a great watch deserves a great movement, and caliber 9R02 is nothing less. Fitted with a Spring Drive, it was initially launched in 2019 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of this proprietary technology. Thanks to this deviate the SBGZ007 just 15 seconds a month, an unprecedented accuracy. The movement is fitted with two main springs in a single barrel, that thanks to an ingenious torque return system, offers a generous 84-hour power reserve. As can be expected of Grand Seiko, is the finishing of the movement superb. It can be admired in all its glory at the back of the watch, with its anglage and blue tempered screws. There we also find a small gold plaque that can be engraved with a text of choice. The SBGZ007 is limited to 50 pieces and available at the Grand Seiko boutiques starting August this year.
