Grand Seiko Heritage 44GS "Mount Iwate Autumn Duski" Limited Edition for Europe mechanical green dial steel bracelet 36.5 mm

A history of style

In 1967, Grand Seiko introduced the 44GS, a watch that would embody the design code known as the Grand Seiko style. This style consists of 9 distinct elements that govern the design of every detail of the watch, from the shape of the case to that of the 12 o'clock index to the flat surface of the dial. As Grand Seiko enthusiasts well know, the 44GS was designed to make watch design history. With its iconic case geometry, distortion-free finish and eye-catching dial, the 44GS was then - and remains to this day - exemplary of Grand Seiko's focused design language.

In 2013, Grand Seiko unveiled the modern interpretation of the 44GS style, adapting the founding 1967 model to contemporary sensibilities. Now, 55 years after its first appearance, the brand presents this SBGW303, a hand-wound limited edition model commemorating the 44GS design, in a reasonably sized case. All the elements of the Grand Seiko style are brought to the fore in this model, contributing to the "quality sparkle" that defines the brand. All case facets, hands and indexes are designed to reflect the slightest ray of light, creating infinite combinations of light and shadow that change with every movement. Zaratsu-polished and brushed surfaces complement each other perfectly. The dial's texture is as delicate as the flower that inspired it. It's this clean, clear and unique aesthetic that allows us to say, "This is a Grand Seiko."

Inspired by Mount Iwate

With a diameter of 36.5 mm, a thickness of 11.6 mm and a horn-to-horn length of 42.7 mm, the SBGW303's smaller case has all the features that made the historic model and the modern 44GS memorable and enduring, but with proportions closer to those of the 1967 original. This makes the timepiece compact and easy to wear.

Brand enthusiasts know that the Manufacture likes to draw inspiration from the Japanese environment, which offers a rich variety of landscapes both ephemeral and memorable. For this reference SBGW303 "Mount Iwate - Autumn Dusk", the Japanese designers decided to endow this limited edition with a captivating textured green dial, bearing the famous "Mount Iwate" motif! The dial's fine striations are inspired by the mountain-top view from the Shizukuishi Grand Seiko studio where this timepiece is manufactured; they evoke the craggy mountain panorama. Its iridescent reflections make it fascinating when it catches the light. For the record, its texture hints at the mountain seen from the sky, with its ridge lines. An iconic dial for an already mythical watch!

A model reserved for the European market

This 44GS watch is available in a limited edition of 400 pieces reserved exclusively for the European market. Numbered and engraved with the inscription "Limited Edition" are engraved on the caseback alongside the lion, emblem of Grand Seiko's strength since its launch in 1960.

The Grand Seiko Calibre 9S64

Behind its engraved caseback is the manufacture caliber 9S64. This is one of the lion brand's rare hand-wound mechanical movements. Offering a comfortable power reserve of around three days (72 hours) when fully wound, it aims to be stable and precise. As Grand Seiko's chronometric standards are more stringent than those of the COSC, the movement has been adjusted to 6 positions, guaranteeing a precision of -3 to +5 seconds per day, with a balance beating at 28,800 vibrations per minute.
The movement is hand-assembled by the Grand Seiko team. The movement is hand-assembled by the craftsmen of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, close to Mount Iwate! A daily inspiration for the Manufacture's watchmakers...

In brief

• An iconic watch design in a 36.5 mm-diameter case
• A Manufacture manual mechanical caliber
• A perfect finish and a beautiful textured dial!
• A limited edition of 400 available exclusively on the European market!