2019 Grand Seiko Spring Drive "Skyflake" SBGA407
Ref: SBGA407
Specification
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko box, swing tag and Grand Seiko paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 19mm Grand Seiko dark blue Crocodile leather strap with a signed Grand Seiko buckle. The watch is from June 2019 and is in fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tADi6hG8vGEqpFE2MwiCuivEpJTM8jqC?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 20:36 - https://youtu.be/vvg-H1AWPAI
The Watch
Here we have a 2019 Grand Seiko Spring Drive "Skyflake" SBGA407 with a 40mm stainless steel case, its angles and edges are exquisitely Zaratsu polished by masters of the art. The curved faceted drilled lugs gently taper, and a lug-to-lug length of 48mm and a case thickness of 13mm ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side a large signed screw-down crown. A flat bevel-edged Sapphire crystal protects the sky-blue Japanese paper textured dial, it's inspired by the windswept snow-capped mountains of Shinshu, hence the name “SkyFlake”. The baton indexes have razor-sharp edges that are expertly polished to an incredible standard, at 3 o’clock a framed date window, between the 7 and 8 positions sits an elegant power reserve. The dauphine hands are again highly polished with razor-sharp edges that catch the light perfectly, and a blued sweeping seconds hand tapers to a point. On the reverse, a screwed-down exhibition case, showcasing the CÔTES DE GENÈVE finished Spring Drive, Grand Seiko Cal. 9R65, the innovative Spring Drive movement which 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 generates a small electrical charge that activates an electronic circuit and quartz oscillator, therefore there is no need for a battery. Comes paired with its original 19mm Grand Seiko dark blue Crocodile leather strap with a signed Grand Seiko buckle, and this watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko presentation box, swing tag and Grand Seiko paperwork.
Personal Note
The "Skyflake" is certainly up there among the Grand Seiko family for me, this model just wears so perfectly on the wrist and features so many beautiful details that can be truly admired in hand! If you are considering adding a Grand Seiko to your collection this may be the perfect one to consider, it optimises everything about Grand Seiko, especially with the Spring Drive. If this wouldn't be your first Grand Seiko, well I don't have to sell you on it all, you'll likely already have it on your wish list!
The Brand
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 the "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.