Japan is filled with scenic locations, a place where the natural beauty of the different seasons can be seen woven into the everyday life of the communities. It makes perfect sense for Grand Seiko to use this natural beauty and integrate it into their timepieces. Using scenes of nature, seasons and even architecture has been a long-standing tradition of Grand-Seiko, and this is continued further with the latest release of the Hi-Beat GMT “Yukigesho” SBGJ271.
The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT “Yukigesho” SBGJ271 is supposed to represent the winter season in Japan, with the dial of the watch evoking emotions of cold winter days. The watch has been given the nickname “Yukigesho” which translates to “snow-makeup” or the poetic expression to describe the dusting of snow.
Based on the Elegance GMT SBGM221, this new SBGJ271 variant features the same 39.5mm stainless steel case, but now sits at 14.1mm thick, which can be quite large for a GMT dress watch. This watch has a box-shaped sapphire crystal and has an overall water resistance rating of 30 meters. The model is offered as standard in a 3-link stainless steel bracelet.
While the downside of this timepiece may be its thickness, it more than makes up for it with the attention to detail present on the dial and movement. The dial is designed to show the lacquered floors that one would find in a traditional Japanese home or Buddhist temple. The snow that is picked up from the nearby trees can then be reflected on the dark floors, making them shine as white as the snow itself, which is the image portrayed by Grand Seiko in this dial.
The sharp hour hands and GMT hand, along with the hour indices which can be seen throughout the elegance collection are retained in this watch too, giving the artistic dial a very modern and refined design. The hour hands and indices are beveled in design, which means that when rotating the watch under light, they give off a beautiful shine.
The engine behind this timepiece is as the name of the watch suggests Grand Seiko’s in-house Hi-beat GMT caliber 9S86 movement. The caliber 9S86 movement offers a dual time function with a 24-hour hand and quick correction function of time difference which adjusts to a calendar.
The Hi-beat name refers to the movement’s impressive 5hz (36,000 VpH) frequency. This movement operates at 10 beats/second. As a reference standard movements operate at 4hz (28,800 Vph) (8 beats/sec) or 3Hz (21,600 VpH) (6 beats/sec). The movement also delivers and decent power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Grand Seiko offers the Hi-Beat GMT “Yukigesho” SBGJ271 with an open case back, which allows the user to see the stunning decorations of the movement on display.
Grand Seiko’s latest permanent addition to the elegance collection stays true to tradition and historic design while evoking the emotions of the wearer to Japanese seasonal scenery. The all-new Hi-Beat GMT “Yukigesho” SBGJ271 will be available for purchase from boutiques/ retailers and Grand Seiko’s E-commerce from March 2023.
Reference: SBGJ271G
Specification:
- Case: 39.5mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Dial: White Textured Dial
- Crystal: Box Shaped Sapphire
- Water resistance: 30 Meters
- Movement: Calibre 9S86
- Power reserve: 55 Hours
- Bracelet: 3-Link Stainless Steel Bracelet With Folding Clasp
