VIDEO: The timelessly elegant Grand Seiko SBGY002

James Robinson

Created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Grand Seiko’s prolific Spring Drive movement, SBGY002 is a limited edition dress watch for discerning fans of the Japanese watchmaker’s signature snowflake dial. Hewn from solid 18k yellow gold, the case of the rarified timepiece is signature SBGY and, as a result, measures in at just 38.5mm and 10.2mm, ensuring that it will more than comfortably fit under even the tightest of cuffs. The dial is nothing short of mesmerising, with the famed textured snowflake aesthetic doing what it does best — leaving the wearer in complete awe regarding the level of intricacy and detail. The dial is complemented by a solid 18k yellow gold implementation of Grand Seiko’s classic dauphine hour and minute hands, while, perhaps strangely, the seconds hand is blued steel. And while I admit there was a hint of trepidation about the almost jarring contrast between yellow and blue when I first saw images of the SBGY002, the dichotomy of colours works wonders in the flesh.

Powering the dress watch is the Japanese firm’s Calibre 9R31, which is skilfully crafted by hand in the watchmaker’s Shinshu watch studio, which, incidentally, is where the first-ever spring drive movement was created. The manual winding movement benefits from three days of power reserve, with a power reserve complication that can be viewed on the movement’s expertly finished bridge, through a sapphire crystal capped case-back, and a very impressive accuracy rating of ±1 second per day/±15 seconds per month.

Complementing the 18k yellow gold case is a handsome chocolate brown alligator leather band with conforming 18k yellow gold deployant clasp. Limited to just 700 pieces in total, this Grand Seiko SBGY002 is one scarce timepiece, and has a recommended retail price in Australia of $35,200. It’s definitely in the discussion for our favourite dress watch of 2019, and anyone lucky enough to get their hands on one has done very, very well for themselves.

Made in partnership with Grand Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.