SKY HIGH

Grand Seiko unveils two new Caliber 9S 25th Anniversary limited editions inspired by the skies of Mount Iwate.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

TO CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS CALIBER 9S, Grand Seiko released two new timepieces that sport the same case design and diameter as the original watch that housed the 9S movement: the SBGH311 and the SBGR325.

When Caliber 9S debuted in 1998, it was synonymous with Grand Seiko’s unwavering dedication to the pursuit of high accuracy and boundary-pushing technological advancements in watchmaking. Ushering a new era for the brand’s mechanical watchmaking, Caliber 9S set a new precedent.

Throughout the last two decades, the original Caliber 9S has evolved into a series of movements with different functions, featuring new alloys for both the main and balance springs and MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) engineering, which allows critical components to be manufactured to a tolerance of one-thousandth of a millimeter. Ultimately, these evolutions became the platform on which Grand Seiko mechanical movements are built, leading to the creation of the revolutionary Caliber 9SA5 in 2020.

Adhering to the Grand Seiko design ethos, both of the new timepieces draw inspiration from nature — specifically, the varying elements of the skies over Mount Iwate. The SBGH311 features a textured dial that portrays the density of the clouds through a sleek, gray monochromatic look. Through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback, the Grand Seiko emblem is revealed; it is set into the titanium oscillating weight, whose color is achieved by an anodic oxidation process exclusively designed to mimic the deep-blue sky above the sea of clouds that surrounds Mount Iwate’s peak. Inside, the timepiece is equipped with the Hi-Beat 36000 automatic mechanical Caliber 9S85, hand-assembled by the highly trained craftsmen and women of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi; it has an average accuracy rate of +5 to -3 seconds per day and delivers a power reserve of 55 hours.

In contrast to the SBGH311, the SBGR325 radiates with a vibrant light-blue dial representing the clear skies of Mount Iwate. But similar to the SBGH311, this timepiece also features the seconds hand in a cobalt blue and the Grand Seiko logo in a gold color, commemorating the 9S movement. On the back, you can find the oscillating weight in the signature Grand Seiko blue color created by the same anodic oxidation process as the former. Finally, the timepiece is powered by Caliber 9S65, which has an average daily rate of +5 to -3 seconds per day and a three-day power reserve.