Description
About Grand Seiko SBGM255
Grand Seiko Automatic Mechanical GMT Elegance Collection
A classic mechanical GMT, the “Snowdrop” expresses the gleam of snow melting in spring sunshine
As winter’s cold gives way to the warmth of spring, melting snow forms droplets that glisten under bright sunshine. The SBGM255 “Snowdrop” captures the beauty of this richly symbolic seasonal moment. Thanks to its modern geometric spiral pattern, the dial changes in appearance based on the angle of the light, just as melting snow refracts rays of spring sunshine. The intricate pattern imparts a refined sense of structure, a fitting complement to the Zaratsu-polished case and the high precision of the Caliber 9S66 GMT movement. Prized for its accuracy, beauty, and reliability, this movement enables the wearer to track two time zones simultaneously. The tempered blue GMT hand can be set to one’s home time or any time zone of one’s choosing. The local hour can be changed in one-hour increments when the crown is extended to the first click position, making time zone adjustments simple and intuitive. The power reserve is approximately three days.
Grand Seiko SBGM255 Features
Expressing a poignant moment of changing seasons
As spring awakens from winter’s slumber, the power of the seasons is vividly felt in Shizukuishi, the home of Grand Seiko mechanical watchmaking. The watch’s dial evokes the time of year when winter snow melts and the droplets gleam beautifully in spring’s warm sunshine. Against this patterned white dial, a GMT hand tempered to a beautiful shade of blue tells the time in 24 time zones and endows the design with a vivid three-dimensional presence.
Sophisticated and graceful design
Before the Grand Seiko Style was established, the very first Grand Seiko watch was born in 1960. Its spirit lives on in the case design of this model, which blends classic elegance with modern refinement. The watch’s round form presents a gentle silhouette from every angle. Though seemingly simple, the lugs feature an intricate slope that widens toward the tip, accentuating the distortion-free mirror surface and delicate ridgelines created through Zaratsu polishing. The brilliant shine of the case, created by our craftspeople, adds a touch of tension to the classic aesthetic, resulting in a sophisticated and graceful design.
- 35 jewels
- 24-hour hand (dual time display function)
- Calendar-linked time difference adjustment function
- Date display
- See-through case back
Grand Seiko SBGM255 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
