Watch of the Week: Grand Seiko Sōkō Frost SBGH295

Grand Seiko has built quite a reputation by taking inspiration from Japan’s impressive natural beauty and translating it in an inventive way into their watches. The new Grand Seiko Sōkō Frost SBGH295 shows this perfectly, as it captures the clear, vivid blue skies over the Sea of Japan in a hue that can typically be seen in the early winter months. It gives the sportive watch an icy cool touch that suits it very well.

The case of the Sōkō Frost SBGH295 is inspired by the 62GS. This was the first Grand Seiko fitted with an automatic movement launched in 1967. Unique about this case is that it lacks a bezel, offering more room for the dial to shine. The case itself also reflects a lot of light, thanks to the signature Zaratsu polishing technique. With a diameter of 40mm does the watch looks impressive without becoming too much. It offers the perfectly balanced style of being an elegant sports watch. That is also why Grand Seiko delivers it not only with a comfortable stainless steel bracelet but also with a crocodile leather strap with a folding clasp.

Inside the Grand Seiko Sōkō Frost SBGH295, we find caliber 9S85, which can be admired through the sapphire see-through caseback of the watch. This movement is a so-called hi-beat caliber, meaning that it runs at 36,000 vph. This results not only in a more smooth moving seconds hand but also in higher precision. Grand Seiko rates this at -3 to +5 seconds a day. Caliber 9S85 offers a power reserve of 55 hours, and the screw-down caseback ensures water resistance up to 10 bar.
While the Sōkō Frost SBGH295 is not limited, it is a special edition and exclusively available in the United States at Grand Seiko’s premier retailers and boutiques.