Editor’s Note: Watches & Wonders (formerly SIHH) has moved online and Baselworld 2020 is canceled, but that hasn’t stopped watch brands large and small from debuting their new wares. Stay on top of this year’s best new watch releases here.
The perfect daily-wear watch could take many forms, but a Grand Seiko’s typical mix of elegance, masculinity and refinement makes for one of the most compelling options available. The brand’s newest models take their design inspiration from nature, as ever, and join a US-exclusive collection themed around the seasons. At $5,000, GS is still offering some of the best value and most attractive watches on the market.
In 2019, the brand introduced the first four watches in the series, one for each of the familiar seasons of a temperate climate. It’s possible, however, to break down seasonal changes even more specifically, and the Japanese language names 24 of them. The two new models are dedicated to the first frost around September, called soko, and specifically reference bamboo forests.
Atom_MooreThe bamboo theme is expressed as a fine wood-grain-like dial texture and a verdant seconds hand. Available in two versions, one has a silver dial (SBGA427) with bright green highlights and the other is dark gray (SBGA429) with yellow highlight. Each steel case is 39mm and houses Seiko’s innovative Spring Drive 9R65 automatic movement, which offers a true hybrid of mechanical, spring-driven power and the precision of quartz crystal regulation for high accuracy. A power reserve of 72 hours is indicated on the dial.
The new models are available as US-exclusive “special editions” but not limited in number. They’re each available now on a steel bracelet — a leather strap is included as well — at a price of $5,000.
