Grand Seiko releases two new 30mm cherry blossom 62GSs – their slimmest and smallest automatics yet!
Nina Scally- Grand Seiko debuts two scaled-down 62GS watches as part of its Heritage Collection, offering the first ever 30mm size option in this case design.
- The two new models riff off Japan’s natural beauty, calling to mind the fallen petals of the cherry blossom tree as seen in previous iterations.
- The snow-on-sakura dial of the STGK031 and the moonlit cherry blossom dial of the STGK033 benefit from the familiar, bezel-free profile of their ancestors for more dial presence.
Spring is finally on its way (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, at least), and for Grand Seiko, that can only mean one thing – the season of falling cherry blossom petals. This is an opportunity to infuse the colours and textures of this natural phenomenon into another one of its many nature-inspired timepieces. Following on from the Japanese watchmaker’s launch of 38mm 62GS watches last year, two new steel models have been launched alongside a new non-limited 38mm rose gold model – the first precious metal 62GS since 2015. Evidently, Grand Seiko has been paying close attention to its audience, expanding its Goldilocks offerings in conjunction with the general demand for smaller wristwatches. Now, for the first time, GS uses a 30mm size to capture the springtime landscape surrounding the brand’s Studio Shizukuishi, where its mechanical watches are made.
Without falling back on the common formula of throwing diamonds at a design to make a watch appeal to young female Gen Z collectors, Grand Seiko has avoided any gendered language this time: keeping the design of these STGK031 and STGK033 models simple and pared back. Both stainless steel models nurture a thinner height of 10.5mm and mark the smallest and slimmest of the series yet. Honouring the robustness of their 62GS ancestors, both models uphold a water resistance of 100 metres and foster the familiar bezel-free profile, affording a wider dial opening.
The curved flanks and sharp edges of the 62GS are all present in these two new compact models, enhanced by distortion-free Zaratsu polishing – a Grand Seiko hallmark. Each model is also topped with a boxed sapphire crystal to capture two fleeting moments of spring – one being the Sakura-Kakushi phenomenon, where the blushing pink petals of cherry blossom can be seen from underneath a blanket of freshly fallen snow, and the other capturing the hazy moonlit sky illuminating the delicate Sakura petals on a spring night.
There is nothing slack or haphazard about the execution of the case and its bevels. The linear polished angles are strategically planned by the experts at Grand Seiko, contributing to the intricate geometries of the popular 62GS, and the distortion-free polishing is perfected in areas that interact with light and shadow beautifully. Indeed, the combination of these light-grabbing satin surfaces and the shadows cast by the mirror polishing elements is nothing short of remarkable, allowing the nuances of the cherry blossom in both dials to stand out with conviction despite their subtle colouring.
Grand Seiko’s inspiration for dial designs never seems to cease. Yet, somehow, whenever the watchmaker decides to recycle the concept of the Sakura dial (the national flower of Japan), we get a completely different take each time. The SBGA413 Shunbun and the Spring Drive-equipped SBGY026 Hana-Ikada share dials akin to the fallen cherry blossom petal – yet the STGK031 doesn’t carry the tonal volume you may expect from a pink dial watch. Similar to models in the past, the dial bears subtle pink hues that, when caught under certain lights, can be considered almost silver. The watch will lend itself to practically every eventuality thanks to these neutral colours.
In that same vein, the STGK033 is equally versatile, evoking moonlit-drenched petals in a colour similar to the brand’s iconic Birch and Snowflake dials. Grand Seiko combines these interchangeable pink and silvery colours with a complex dial layering process by which the metal plating, the moulding, and the coating methods build up a three-dimensional effect, yielding a texture that stands tall underneath the sapphire glass. Both models feature stick hour markers, sword-shaped central hour and minute hands, a recessed minute track, a date window at 3 o’clock, and the Grand Seiko name under 12 in crisp black. The difference between the two is very subtle – blink and you’ll miss it – as both feature the same texture, with the STGK033 appearing more dominantly pink.
Both of these new models from the Heritage Collection are powered by the Calibre 9S27, Grand Seiko’s smallest automatic movement. Its slight proportions sit at a depth of 4.49mm inside the case, promising an accuracy of between +8 to -3 seconds each day. Tying in the cherry blossom theme, the movement, which provides a 50-hour power reserve once fully wound, also features an escapement wheel crafted into the shape of a five-petal flower.
Grand Seiko may not be the go-to brand for a slim case, but these two more compact 30mm models are the thinnest in the brand’s catalogue, and ideal for the young female collector looking to add a sports-come-dress watch to their collection. GS equips the watches with a matching stainless steel bracelet with brushed and Zaratsu-polished links, a triple folding clasp, and a push-button release mechanism.
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 62GS STGK031 and STGK033 pricing and availability
The Grand Seiko STGK031 & STGK033 are currently available for pre-order and will be available from April 2025, with despatch projected for April/May 2025. Price: US$6,400, A$9,600
| Brand | Grand Seiko |
| Model | Heritage Collection 62GS Mechanical 30mm |
| Reference Number | STGK031 STGK033 |
| Case Dimensions | 30mm (D) x 10.5mm (T) x 36.2mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Cherry blossom pink |
| Bracelet | Case-matching bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 9S27, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 50 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | From April 2025 |
| Price | US$6,400 A$9,600 |