Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Once US-Exclusive Grand Seiko 4 Seasons Collection Now Available Worldwide (Live Pics & Price)
Up until now a US-exclusive collection, the Grand Seiko 4 Seasons are now available worldwide.
Virtually all brands are working with limited editions, special editions, boutique exclusives or even country exclusives. And Grand Seiko is no stranger to the concept, as evidenced by the recently launched Elegance SBGW267 & SBGW269 European Editions. In the same vein, the Japanese manufacturer had a collection sold exclusively in the US, but today it is opening up its 4 Seasons collection to worldwide sales. Offering a lot of the things we know and love about Grand Seiko, with four very handsome and distinct dials, it’s time to introduce the Grand Seiko Hi-beat SBGH271 & SBGH273, and the Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA413 & SBGA415 collections to all of you not living in the US.
Let’s make one thing very clear from the beginning: these watches are not new. The quartet of watches, dedicated to the passing seasons, was initially a US-exclusive collection but is now available worldwide.
Seasonal changes have been an inspiration for Grand Seiko before, with watches representing the unique characteristics of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The concept is comparable to the Grand Seiko Elegance GMT 4 Seasons collection we featured earlier in the year. All four watches presented to you today feature the same case and bracelet design, but differ from each other in material, dial and movement.
Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SBGH271 & SBGH273
First up are a pair of pure mechanical, high-frequency watches, dedicated to summer and autumn. As we’ve come to expect from Grand Seiko, each one features a nature-inspired textured dial. The SBGH271 (Summer) has a luscious green dial with polished and faceted applied gold indices. The horizontal texture is very subtle as this watch is more about colours than texture. A pair of gold hour and minute hands with a Zaratsu-polished edge match the indices. The date window, and the seconds hand are also done in a luxurious gold tone.
The SBGH273 (Autumn) follows suit with its ‘summery’ sibling, albeit with a dark blue dial with vertical applied texture instead of horizontal. The inspiration comes from a moonlit night sky during the autumn season. This time around, the indices and hour and minute hand, as well as the frame surrounding the date, are done in steel. The seconds hand is the exception, which is once again done in gold, matching the applied GS logo at 12 o’clock.
Powering both watches and visible under the sapphire crystal with GS ‘lion’ logo is the high-frequency 9S85 calibre. This in-house movement runs at a frequency of 36,000vph and uses 37 jewels. It is regulated to run within -3/+5 seconds per day and offers a 55-hour long power reserve.
Both models come on a three-link steel bracelet with alternating brushed and polished surfaces. The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SBGH271 & SBGH273 retail for EUR 6,400. The SBGH273 will be available from November 2021 and the SBGH271 from February 2022.
Quick facts – 40mm diameter x 12mm height – stainless steel case and bracelet – sapphire crystal on both sides – 100m water-resistance – textured green dial (SBGH271, Summer) or deep blue dial (SBGH273, Autumn) – polished, faceted applied indices and hands (gold for SBGH271, silver for SBGH273) – framed date window – calibre 9S85, in-house – automatic winding – 37 jewels – 36,000vph (5Hz) – 55h power reserve – regulated to -3/+5 seconds per day – hours, minutes, seconds, date – EUR 6,400
Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA413 & SBGA415
The second pair of watches in the 4 Seasons collection is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA4123 & SBGA415. Instead of a stainless steel case and bracelet, these two come in a full titanium suit. The industrial appearance of titanium perfectly matches the winter theme of the SBGA415 but at first, seems an illogical choice for the SBGA413. Contemplating a little longer, it starts to make sense as life begins to bloom again during springtime.
The distinction between the two is on the dial and its decoration. The SBGA413 has a rich textured cherry-blossom pink dial, which stands out under direct light, revealing all its beauty. It is reminiscent of the cherry blossom forests in full bloom, near Mount Fuji. The dial has a similar layout to the stainless steel models, with the addition of a power reserve indicator between 7 and 8 o’clock.
The second Spring Drive watch is the SBGA415, the most subdued of the quartet and represents winter. The dark grey dial almost matches the grey of the case and bracelet but is livened up under sunlight. Sharing a similar texture and dial layout as the SBGA413, with the exception of a blued seconds hand. The rest of the details, such as the hour and minutes hand, the framed date window and the power reserve indicator are done in the same way.
Underneath a sapphire crystal caseback, again decorated with the GS ‘lion’ logo, you have a full view of the 9R65 Spring Drive movement. This movement is entirely developed and constructed in-house and combines the best of quartz and mechanical watchmaking. The hybrid movement features automatic winding, has a 72-hour power reserve and averages a +/- 15 seconds per month accuracy.
The Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA413 & SBGA415 both have a three-link titanium bracelet and are priced at EUR 6,700. The SBGA415 will be available from November 2021 and the SBGA413 from February 2022.
Quick facts – 40mm diameter x 12mm height – titanium case and bracelet – sapphire crystal on both sides – 100m water-resistance – textured cherry-blossom pink dial (SBGA413, Spring) or dark grey dial (SBGA415, Winter) – polished, faceted applied indices and hour and minute hands – polished seconds hand – framed date window – calibre 9R65, in-house – Spring Drive technology with automatic movement – 72h power reserve – regulated to ±1 seconds per day / ±15 seconds per month (average) – hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve – EUR 6,700
For more information, please visit GrandSeiko.com
8 responses
I love GS and will probably get one but the way the end links are finished are such a big turnoff for such a beautiful watch, it is probably the way titanium behaves since the snowflake has the same problem.
I think that black types saying Grand Seiko are absolutely unnecessary disturbing repetition. That goes especially for green dial with gold indexes. GS should be enough. Rolls Royce doesn`t have to spell it on its cars. Whole motoring world known what RR stands for. Otherwise cool watches.
I wrote black types. Of course white types as well.
I agree with your comment; however, Grand Seiko has not been a stand alone brand nearly as long as RR, and other high end brands with recognizable logos–AP, VC, Rolex, Omega–have recognizable logos, but also add the full name in type. 90% of the public would not recognize the logos. So, while I’d prefer just the logo, none of those brands are likely to change, and neither is GS.
So US customers who initially bought any of these references partly because of their limited nature are now being laughed at by GS…This is bad customer service pure and simple. Any blog post that covered these references when they were released should remove “US-Exclusive” from their original posts.
I fully agree with you Iggy and in general. If a watch or any product by all means has been released with a regional exclusivity or as such (i.e. limited edition), then its not great to see later that becoming widely available. It does take away the sense of pleasure and weight of ownership to some extent.
No one should buy a watch considering its potential resale value based on exclusivity, but rather only because one likes it and enjoys to have it on their wrist. But a real collector will always most of the time will fetch additional pleasure to have a watch which is rare or exclusive. That is why people still today sought after the vintage watches.
Also it is not right from the company’s side to break the promise or change the strategy having labeled something exclusive and later making it widely available. It goes to show that the company does not value the customer’s sentiment and is trying to gain additional benefit at the cost of them.
Considering the number of limited watches GS are releasing these days (around 30 during 2020-21 alone), what if all on a sudden they decide to re-release them by labeling say 145th anniversary or 150th anniversary edition and so on ? People pay a premium for these watches considering their exclusivity (most of the limited editions are considerably higher in value than regular models). Acts like these can deter future customer and kickback to the plight that GS is aiming for in the form of becoming the next luxury level watch brand.
Are you sure about the prices? They seem to be way more expensive than the original USD prices
@Kai Wang – yes we’re sure, the difference is that prices in USD are almost always indicated without taxes (due to different taxes in US states) while prices in Europe are including VAT