Write Ups — Grand Seiko

Value Prop: SBGH037 Grand Seiko Hi-Beat

Value Prop: SBGH037 Grand Seiko Hi-Beat

The names Grand Seiko and Hi-Beat harmonize together better than Lennon and McCartney. But not all are created equal. This SBGH037 hails from a (currently) largely-unsung stretch of the Japanese manufacture’s history, what I like to call the double-signed era. This nascent stage I define as after the birth of the modern Grand Seiko reference system, but before dials became signed with Grand Seiko alone at 12 in the SBGR305. This was pre-watch-instagram, but post what we traditionally call neo-vintage. It is a timeframe many enthusiasts gloss over, but that really should not be the case. For...


1 of 140 SBGW275 Grand Seiko 'Genbi Valley Iwai'

1 of 140 SBGW275 Grand Seiko 'Genbi Valley Iwai'

This is a watch which, I think it’s fair to say, we’d all been hoping for for some time. Grand Seiko’s SBGW line is mainly comprised of elegant three-handers. Their restraint and simplicity is the line’s strength. However, up until last year, the only dials available were whites, blues, and black. None of the outrageous texturized finishes or outrageous seasonal narratives GS has now become synonymous with. That all changed last year.

Grand Seiko are fond of region-specific releases; they cater well to enthusiast markets world-round. America has been a huge and relatively untapped resource...