Grand Seiko Elegance Hi-Beat 36000 GMT "Yuka Momiji" red dial steel bracelet 39,5 mm

The story

In Japan, the charm of the passing seasons is ingrained in everyday life. Taking up the "Nature of Time" concept so dear to the brand, this Hi-Beat 36000 GMT mechanical timepiece is inspired by the "Yuka Momiji", which expresses the beauty of autumn as it can be felt in a traditional Japanese house with a lacquered wooden floor. Light streams in through the windows, and the bright red of the autumn leaves outside is reflected on the floorboards. The planks then light up with vivid colors, while retaining the definition of their striated form.

This watch follows on from the limited edition SBGH269 presented in 2019, which used the same dial pattern and color palette, albeit with a different case and no GMT function! This is a highly sought-after model among collectors of the Japanese brand, so it's great news to find this exceptional dial in a watch from the current collection!

An exceptional model

This SBGJ273 features a steel case influenced by the first Grand Seiko design from 1960. The watch measures 39.5 mm in diameter by 13.9 mm in thickness, with a "vintage" aesthetic enhanced by a "box-saphed" sapphire crystal. The design is classic, thanks to the mirrored surfaces of the bezel and case, and slightly curved lugs with a distortion-free mirror finish, achieved through Zaratsu polishing, a signature of the Japanese Maison. The design of this "Elegance" model has become a true classic of Grand Seiko mechanical watchmaking.

Its dial features an exceptional chromatic palette of reds, reflecting the subtle variations between the maple leaves and the lacquered wood planks that reflect the light. The depth and complexity of this dial is complemented by the GMT hand, which takes on a bright gold color, adding that little extra and that autumnal feel. Finally, the faceted "diamond-cut" hands and hour markers pleasantly reflect the light, while guaranteeing optimal time legibility, even in low-light conditions.

Mechanical side

Grand Seiko has chosen to equip this watch with a GMT Hi-Beat 36,000 alternations 9S86 manufacture caliber. This choice is not insignificant, as such a frequency allows extreme precision and demonstrates all the know-how and mastery of the Japanese brand in the design of High Frequency movements. Indeed, few watchmakers propose to take up this challenge, as a faster rotation speed can affect the power reserve and even the longevity of the movement itself. Backed by 50 years of experience, and the fruit 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 55-hour power reserve. Superior COSC chronometry standards!