Grand Seiko Elegance "Omiwatari" Spring Drive white dial steel bracelet 38,5 mm

An elegant watch

This SBGY013 features a 38.5mm diameter and 10.2mm thick "Dress Style" steel case. Its finish is perfect, especially thanks to the Zaratsu polishing technique, which had to be adapted specifically for this case to create a distortion-free finish on its curved lugs! The sides of the case are satin-finished to contrast perfectly with the rest of the case. The watch is topped with a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal and is dressed with a steel bracelet. This bracelet is the first to fit the "Omiwatari" case, and its design is inspired by many Grand Seiko bracelets from the 1970s: it is composed of 9 polished and brushed links, making it very comfortable to wear. A real jewel on the wrist.

Inspired by Omiwatari

This timepiece is inspired by the legend of Omiwatari, literally "crossing of the gods". Every winter, Lake Suwa, which is close to our Manufacture, freezes and ridges form on its surface. According to local legend, these ridges are the path taken by the gods from one shore to the other. True or not, this legend inspired the artisans at Shinshu Watch Studio to create a subtle dial for this hand-wound Spring Drive timepiece. This new model represents the color and texture of the snow-covered ice of Lake Suwa by adorning itself with a white dial.

The dial, which mimics the ripples of the frozen lake, was made by artisans who hammered a mold with several types of hammers to create this distinctive pattern. To match the dial and domed sapphire crystal, the multifaceted diamond-cut hour markers are curved, as are the seconds and minutes hands. Thanks to the Spring Drive movement, the seconds hand glides smoothly, reflecting the natural flow of time. This is what Grand Seiko calls "Flow of the Time."

For the anecdote, the second hand is traditionally hot-blued by a craftsman of the Shinshu Watch Studio of Seiko Epson, in the Shiojiri factory.

An exceptional mechanism

This Omiwatari is powered by the exceptional caliber 9R31! Unveiled in 2019 alongside the caliber 9R02 which is produced by Micro Artist Studio, the 9R31 commemorated the 20th anniversary of Spring Drive. This slim, high-performance movement features a double barrel structure, which allows it to offer a large 72-hour power reserve while still being compact. The power reserve indicator of this hand-wound caliber is visible on the back of the watch through the sapphire caseback. Its hand is hand-blued for a perfect finish.

This movement is beautifully decorated with exposed rubies, blued screws and beveled diamond-cut bridges. This 9R31 has a unique brushed finish bridge. Similar to the 3/4 plates used by German watchmakers, this construction is perfect for maintaining high shock resistance and improving the efficiency of the gear train. In total, the caliber 9R31 has over 200 components and is the second thinnest Grand Seiko Spring Drive caliber after the caliber 9R02. It is produced by the Shinshu Watch Studio, located in the Shiojiri plant of Seiko Epson Corporation.