2020 Grand Seiko "Mt. Iwate" Limited Edition SBGR319G
Ref: SBGR319G (9S68-00D0)
Specification
Lugs : 21mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Paperwork Only. The watch comes paired with its original stainless steel Grand Seiko signed bracelet with its Grand Seiko signed clasp, the watch will fit up a 7.2inch wrist. The watch is from November 2020 and is sold in worn condition, but overall fair condition as you can see, a full case & bracelet refurb can be provided at an additional cost. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UjLL1DMImp_YucvinlSEaAtgpKohacN1?usp=share_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 7:58 - https://youtu.be/OKXZOJQh3WQ
The Watch
Here we have a 2020 Grand Seiko "Mt. Iwate" SBGR319G a Limited Edition of 350 pieces for the Asian market, the 42mm curvaceous stainless steel case has surfaces that are satin-brushed and expertly Zaratsu-polished by a true craftsman, the case gently curves over your wrist tapering at the drilled lugs with a lug-to-lug length of 47.5mm and a case thickness of 13mm giving the watch a striking and impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a screw-down signed crown sitting slightly recessed, a smooth mirror polished bezel holds a flat sapphire crystal above a stunning dial that is inspired by the factories nearby "Mt. Iwate" a paperlike snow texture with random lines across it to resemble the way the north winds affect the snow on the mountain sides, a truly mesmerising spectacle. An outer minute track has applied Zaratsu polished single and double chamfered-edges baton indexes marking the hours that magically play with the light as you rotate your wrist. At 3 o’clock a framed date window, elegant Dauphine hands are Zaratsu polished with razor edges complemented by a tapered sweeping hand-blued second hand. At 12 o’clock an applied "GS" and a printed "Grand Seiko", at 6 o’clock "Automatic" completing this striking "Mt. Iwate" inspired timepiece. On the reverse, is a screw-down exhibition case back, inside an automatic Grand Seiko Cal. 9S68, 35 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, the movement has been adjusted to six positions and temperatures at the factory, finished with attractive Cotes de Geneve decoration, the movement has been developed with Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Technology where precise components are produced using advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The watch comes fitted on a 21mm stainless steel bracelet expertly brushed and polished with a push-button released signed clasp and the watch comes with its Grand Seiko paperwork only.
Personal Note
I had never heard of or seen this reference before it landed on my desk! The "Mt. Iwate" features one of the most striking dials I have seen on a Grand Seiko yet, the lines are beautifully executed and really draw you in to look closer at the details. As always, everything else about this Grand Seiko is Grand Seiko to the top level, beautiful finishing, high-quality movement... I could really go on!
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 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.