2020 Grand Seiko AJHH "Red Snowflake" SBGA421
Ref: SBGA421 (9R65-0DL0)

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko box & Grand Seiko paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original Grand Seiko 20mm 5-link Titanium bracelet and signed folding clasp with polished and brushed finishing. The watch is from April 2020 and is sold in worn condition, however as you can see from the photos the watch is in excellent condition despite its age. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

The Watch

The first Grand Seiko debuted in Tokyo in 1960. The reference 3180 was made by Suwa Seikosha. Rather than sending its 25 Jewels Chronometer movement to the Swiss to be tested, Seiko decided to do the testing themselves. The European Chronometer Official Association believed that a chronometer-rated watch had to be independently tested to be awarded that designation. Seiko watches were not independently tested so therefore they could not be chronometers. The ECOA did what irritated watchmakers do, they wrote a stern letter to Seiko requesting that the designation of Chronometer on Grand and King Seiko watches stop. Seiko obliged and ceased using "Chronometer" on their watches. In response, the Japanese Chronometer Authorization Association was started in 1968 as an independent group to test timepieces to chronometer standards. The Association was short-lived: due to the rise of quartz watches, it closed in 1983. Today Grand Seiko movements are tested over 17 days in 6 positions compared to COSC testing over 15 days in 5 positions. In 1985 Suwa Seikosha became Seiko Epson Corporation In 2017 Seiko announced that Grand Seiko would become an independent brand.

Here we have a 2020 Grand Seiko AJHH "Red Snowflake" SBGA421 with a 40.5mm Titanium case made in collaboration with the AJHH (Japanese Association of Haute Horlogerie) to celebrate their 60th Anniversary, exclusively available in selected boutiques in Japan. Zaratsu polishing provides the highly polished surfaces that curve over your wrist towards the tapered drilled lugs with a lug-to-lug of 48.5mm and a case thickness of 12.5mm giving the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a screw-down signed crown sitting slightly recessed, a smooth bezel holds a flat sapphire crystal above a stunning white dial with a “Snowflake” textured pattern that resembles freshly drifted snow. An outer red ring adds a pop of colour. Zaratsu polished trapezoid and chamfered-edged baton indexes mark the hours, at 3 o’clock a framed date window. Elegant dauphine hands are Zaratsu polished with razor edges complemented by a red sweeping second hand, between the 7 and 8 a power reserve with a red hand. At 12 o’clock a gold “GS” and an applied “Grand Seiko”, at 6 o’clock a bright red “Spring Drive” completes this striking red accented dial. On the reverse is a screw-down exhibition case back with a red sapphire crystal symbolising the red “Rising Sun” of Japan, inside a Grand Seiko Cal. 9R65 Spring Drive, the innovative Spring Drive movement is mechanical, but with an electromagnetic escapement regulated by a quartz oscillator. It has 30 jewels and a power reserve of an impressive 72 hours, its sole power source is a mainspring that drives a series of gears. A rotor connected to the end of these gears then generates a small electrical charge that activates an electronic circuit and quartz oscillator, therefore there is no need for a battery. The watch comes fitted on a Grand Seiko 20mm 5-link Titanium bracelet and signed folding clasp with polished and brushed finishing and comes with its Grand Seiko presentation box and papers.

Personal Note

The "Snowflake" has always been a popular classic by Grand Seiko with no need to change anything on it, however, when I first saw this reference I was blown away by how much those pops of red really change the feel of the watch. If you are in the market for a Snowflake, I would totally recommend coming in to view this reference and if your budget can stretch to this, I'd suggest snapping it up!