Grand Seiko Heritage "Mid-Heaven" Automatic 25th Anniversary blue dial stainless steel bracelet 37 mm

The Renaissance of Grand Seiko mechanical

25 years ago, Grand Seiko introduced its iconic 9S, a mechanical caliber born of an uncompromising desire for the highest precision in mechanical watchmaking. Through significant advances in manufacturing and craftsmanship, the 9S caliber was developed entirely from scratch by Akira Ohira, offering a superior level of performance that was reflected in the new definition of the Grand Seiko standard. This caliber made its debut in 1998 as SBGR001, and marked the beginning of a new era for Grand Seiko: the Renaissance of mechanical Grand Seiko. This reference was the basis for the many mechanical watch designs that followed over the next 25 years. These ranged from the first 9S Hi-Beat models to the more recent introduction of the 9SA5, the most advanced Grand Seiko Hi-Beat movement to date.

The release of this movement in 1998 was also accompanied by a new design of the watches that matched their uniqueness, precision and overall sense of beauty. Lead designer Nobuhiro Kosugi sought to create the "best practical watch possible," and in his efforts, he and his team established a new design based on the Grand Seiko style, cementing an aesthetic that remains strong to this day.

Today, Grand Seiko celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first Calibre 9S with this limited edition model of 1,200 pieces, which retains the same iconic case design that first hosted the 9S movement in 1998. Measuring 37mm in diameter and 13.3mm thick this commemorative timepiece perfectly embodies Kosugi's original design while honoring the beauty of Shizukuishi.

The sky of Mount Iwate as a source of inspiration

Grand Seiko here makes the choice of historical conformity by adorning its new SBGR325 with a 37-millimeter-diameter case like the 1998 SBGR001. These measurements give this Grand Seiko model a unisex dimension. Its case with pierced lugs and a forged steel bracelet, offers an alternation of surface treatments that are typical of all Grand Seiko production: satin-finished lugs and case middle and a large chamfer joining the two with a Zaratsu mirror-polished finish, to make it eye-catching! A truly exceptional and surgical finish...

As far as the dial is concerned, the Japanese brand totally respects its principle of "Nature of Time" a concept very present in the designs of Grand Seiko watches. Indeed, the watchmakers' pride in their environment is represented by the engineering of watch movements and the creation of dials that perfectly reflect the beauty of Japanese nature. It was therefore necessary for the brand to perfectly reflect the landscape of the Shizukuishi, where the movements of the 9S family are manufactured.

Shizukuishi is the spiritual home of Grand Seiko's mechanical watchmaking. Known for its bucolic views and breathtaking scenery, the town's name is also poetic, meaning "water flowing over stone." The beauty of the landscape is further enhanced by the proximity of Mount Iwate, a towering snow-capped peak that emerges from the surrounding clouds at daybreak. This SBGR325 features a sky blue dial, evoking the clear, uncluttered sky of Mount Iwate. Admiring its dial, we are directly transported to the heart of Iwate Prefecture, the birthplace of Grand Seiko mechanical watches. The hour and minute hands are diamond-cut, while the seconds hand is blued by heating. Like all Grand Seiko watches, the indexes offer beauty and legibility, a key principle of the Grand Seiko design language. Finally, a gold colored Grand Seiko logo offers a touch of warmth on a cooler background. As you can see, this SBGR325 offers a dial and design that is simply extraordinary!

Mechanical side

It was logical for Grand Seiko to equip this limited edition watch, with the automatic manufacture caliber 9S65, to celebrate its 25 years with dignity. With 50 years of experience, and the result of many years of development and research, this movement produced at the Shizukuishi Watch Studio offers a precision of -3 to +5 seconds per day, as well as a power reserve of 72 hours. Chronometry standards above the COSC!

This caliber is visible through the sapphire caseback and offers a little extra: its oscillating weight has undergone an anodic oxidation treatment, which gives it a unique and vibrant blue hue. This blue hue evokes the blue of the Manufacture's signature color. Grand Seiko's emblem, the Lion, is inserted into the oscillating weight.