Description
About Grand Seiko SBGC238
Grand Seiko Sport Collection
Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Spring Drive Chronograph GMT
The lion mark was born together with the first Grand Seiko in 1960. It reflected the ambition of the Grand Seiko team to make a watch that was as precise, durable and beautiful as could be and revealed the intensity of their determination. They defined their goal as making the “king of watches”. So it was that the lion mark came to symbolize the inner strength of Grand Seiko and inspire its watchmakers to create the very best timepieces of which they were capable.
This new watch’s design takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese armor worn by samurai warlords during the Sengoku period, a time marked by civil wars and social upheaval in the late 15th to early 17th century. The timepiece expresses the unwavering spirit of the samurai and Grand Seiko’s continuous pursuit for the ultimate in watchmaking on its 60th anniversary.
The distinctive blue color of indigo dye, known as “Katsu-iro,” was favored and used by the Samurai for their armor and represented their bravery.
This “Katsu-iro” color is applied for the dial and together with the watch case reminiscent of a powerful lion, the timepiece expresses the martial warrior’s noble spirit.
The grooves of the Katsu-iro colored crocodile strap are applied rose gold to reflect the strength and dignity of the armor that has been used in battle over a long period of time.
The case, which embodies the intense strength and dignity of lions, is angled inwards to ensure a soft fit on the wrist. It reproduces the strength of the lion’s forelegs to grasp and not release prey, providing overwhelming wearability.
The lug of the case looking like a lion’s nail has a flat surface without distortion by Zaratsu polishing and hairline finish. It is a case design that gives a brave impression like a lion.
The dial has a pattern representing the mane of the lion, which is the proof of the king of the beasts. A second hand with glide motion unique to the Spring Drive slides gracefully on the lion’s mane.
The new timepiece carries the lion symbol in the form of an 18k gold insert in the oscillating weight, denoting the enhanced accuracy of the specially adjusted movement (+/-0.5 seconds a day).
As a proof of the limited edition, “Limited Edition” and the serial number are printed on the case back, with “60th Anniversary 1960-2020” on the crystal sapphire glass in rose gold.
*In an actual product, the case back direction might be different from the photograph.
Limited Edition of 100 pieces.
About Spring Drive
Spring Drive is Seiko’s exclusive movement that achieves an unprecedented level of accuracy (+/- 15 seconds per month on average, equivalent to +/- 1 second per day) by regulating a spring-driven watch with state-of-the-art electronic technology that functions without batteries or other external power source.
As in conventional mechanical watches, the sole power source of Spring Drive is a mainspring that can be wound by the motion of an oscillating weight or by winding the crown. And just as in mechanical watches, the mainspring drives a series of gears that rotate the hour, minute and second hands. A rotor, connected to the end of these gears, generate a small electrical charge that activates an electronic circuit and quartz oscillator.
The Tri-synchro regulator is a unique speed controller for Spring Drive that replaces the escapement, which is a mechanical speed control device used in almost all conventional mechanical watches. The Tri-synchro regulator moves the second hand in a smooth motion, without ticking and with extreme accuracy.
Some 80% of the components in a Spring Drive caliber are the same as those in a luxury mechanical watch. Spring Drive is a movement powered by a spring, just like a mechanical watch, with a different kind of regulator and combines the long-lasting autonomy of a mechanical watch with the precision that, until now, only electronic watches could provide.
To ensure reliable and accurate operation, all these parts need to be manufactured to the highest standards of precision, and assembling them requires superior craftsmanship.
The development of the Spring Drive movement caliber 9R was made possible because Seiko is one of the very few manufactures with expertise in both mechanical and quartz watches.
Since the first Grand Seiko Spring Drive in 2004, new movements have been created with even more complex mechanisms–including the GMT in 2005 and chronograph with GMT in 2007. Showing that with the Spring Drive caliber 9R, time never loses momentum.
Grand Seiko SBGC238 Concept :
The lion, the enduring emblem of Grand Seiko
The lion mark was born together with the first Grand Seiko in 1960. It reflected the ambition of the Grand Seiko team to make a watch that was as precise, durable and beautiful as could be and revealed the intensity of their determination. They defined their goal as making the “king of watches”. So it was that the lion mark came to symbolize the inner strength of Grand Seiko and inspire its watchmakers to create the very best timepieces of which they were capable.
This new watch’s design takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese armor worn by samurai warlords during the Sengoku period, a time marked by civil wars and social upheaval in the late 15th to early 17th century. The timepiece expresses the unwavering spirit of the samurai and Grand Seiko’s continuous pursuit for the ultimate in watchmaking on its 60th anniversary.
DESIGN
COLOR
The distinctive blue color of indigo dye, known as “Katsu-iro,” was favored and used by the Samurai for their armor and represented their bravery.
This “Katsu-iro” color is applied for the dial and together with the watch case reminiscent of a powerful lion, the timepiece expresses the martial warrior’s noble spirit.
The grooves of the Katsu-iro colored crocodile strap are applied rose gold to reflect the strength and dignity of the armor that has been used in battle over a long period of time.
CASE DESIGN
The case, which embodies the intense strength and dignity of lions, is angled inwards to ensure a soft fit on the wrist. It reproduces the strength of the lion’s forelegs to grasp and not release prey, providing overwhelming wearability. The lug of the case looking like a lion’s nail has a flat surface without distortion by Zaratsu polishing and hairline finish. It is a case design that gives a brave impression like a lion.
DIAL PATTERN
The dial has a pattern representing the mane of the lion, which is the proof of the king of the beasts. A second hand with glide motion unique to the Spring Drive slides gracefully on the lion’s mane.
CASE BACK
The new timepiece carries the lion symbol in the form of an 18k gold insert in the oscillating weight, denoting the enhanced accuracy of the specially adjusted movement (+/-0.5 seconds a day).
As a proof of the limited edition, “Limited Edition” and the serial number are printed on the case back, with “60th Anniversary 1960-2020” on the crystal sapphire glass in rose gold.
*In an actual product, the case back direction might be different from the photograph.
MOVEMENT
AUTOMATIC SPRING DRIVE 3-DAY
CHRONOGRAPH GMT
Caliber 9R96
Caliber 9R96 is specially adjusted Caliber 9R86, to deliver an even higher level of precision.
Caliber 9R86 is ±15 seconds a month (equivalent to ±1 second per day), whereas Caliber 9R96 is ±10 seconds a month (equivalent to ±0.5 seconds per day).
The difference between the two movements lies in the quartz crystal oscillator, which delivers accurate electrical signals.
All 9R Spring Drive use quartz crystal oscillator with stable accuracy. Among them, only quartz crystal oscillator, which exhibit particularly excellent performance, are selected and mounted on the Caliber 9R96.
The Grand Seiko lion in 18K gold graces the oscillating weight to symbolize the enhanced accuracy.
Grand Seiko SBGC238 Features :
- 24-hour hand (dual time display function)
- 50 jewels
- Calendar-linked time difference adjustment function
- Case back with lion emblem
- Chronograph with 30 minutes & 12 hours measures 12 hours in 1/5th of a second increments with instant fly back reset
- LIMITED EDITION on the case back
- Power reserve indicator display
- Screw case back
- Screw-down crown
- See-through case back
- Serial number engraved on the case back
- Stop second hand function
Grand Seiko SBGC238 History :
Prior to 1960, to challenge the status of Swiss watches and change the perception of Japanese watches, Daini Seikosha and Suwa began the discussion of a product line that can match the quality of Swiss watches under the suggestion of the parent company. At the time, Suwa Seikosha Co. was in charge of manufacturing men’s watches, so it was decided that Suwa would be producing the first Grand Seiko (GS).
The first Grand Seiko was released in 1960, it was based on Seiko’s previous high-end watch, CROWN. This Grand Seiko has a 25-jewel, manual-winding, 3180 caliber, and only 36,000 units were produced. This was also the first chronometer-grade watch manufactured in Japan, and it was based on Seiko’s own chronometer standard.
Design style
The design language of the Grand Seiko was set in 1967, with the creation of Grand Seiko 44GS. The 44GS set the ground for all future Grand Seiko with nine elements. These elements help improve the legibility of the watch under different situations, and create a sharp, crisp visual impression:
- Double width index at 12 o’clock
- Multi-faceted rectangular markers
- Highly polished bezel
- Highly polished planes and two-dimensional surface
- Half recessed crown
- Flat dial
- Multi-faceted hour and minute hands
- Curved side line
- Reverse slanted bezel wall and case side
- Dress style with simple but beautiful design
- Zaratsu polishing
source : wikipedia
