2021 Grand Seiko Omiwatari Spring Drive SBGY007G
Ref: SBGY007G

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko Box & Paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 19mm crocodile leather strap with a push-button release three-fold clasp. The watch is from December 2021 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with its Manufacturer's Warranty.

The Watch

Here we have a 2021 Grand Seiko Omiwatari Spring Drive SBGY007G inspired by Lake Suwa which in the winter freezes over and in some years a ridge can be seen from one side to the other in tradition, it is said this is the  ‘Omiwatari’ or in translation “where the Gods walk out over the ice”. The elegant 38.5mm stainless steel case has been expertly polished for an exquisite finish, and a subtle curve of the lugs sits perfectly on the wrist, the lug-to-lug length of 43mm and a case thickness of 10mm ensure a comfortable fit. On the right side, a signed crown. The stepped brushed smooth bezel holds a domed sapphire crystal AR coated on the inside above a stunning textured pale blue dial that resembles the frozen ice of the Lake, applied indexes marking the hours have chamfered edges Zaratsu hand polished which shimmer in the light as you rotate your wrist, elegant dauphine hands are Zaratsu polished with razor edges complemented by a blue sweeping second hand, at 12 o’clock we have the applied “GS” and Grand Seiko underneath, at 6 o’clock “Spring Drive” completes this incredible dress watch. On the reverse a screw-down exhibition case back, inside a Grand Seiko Spring Drive Cal. 9R31, this 30-jewel manual wind spring drive movement has been designed and developed at the Shinshu Watch Studio in Japan; it has a Dual-Spring Barrel with two mainsprings set in parallel within a single barrel to achieve its long power reserve which has a scale on the movement and the movement has hacking and hand winding for your convenience. The watch comes fitted on a 19mm crocodile leather strap with a push-button release three-fold clasp and the watch comes with its Grand Seiko presentation box & Paperwork.

Personal Note

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.