The Mesmerizing Night Sky of Shinshu Inspires Latest Grand Seiko Elegance
The Shinshu region is a stunning area in Japan that boasts astonishing sights to behold, and it is also famous for being the home ground to the Grand Seiko Spring Drive. The Shinshu Watch Studio, located within the Seiko Epsom Facility in the picturesque town of Shiojiri in Nagano Prefecture, has views of the Jonen and Hotaka mountain ranges. It is no wonder that the brand’s visionary designers have always looked to their natural surroundings to draw inspiration for their beautiful timepieces that pay tribute to the “nature of time”.
The Grand Seiko SBGY017 Beautiful Starry Sky in Shinshu is no exception. Eyes were turned toward the glittery sky that blanketing the facility after sunset for this latest incarnation. Limited to only 160 pieces, each timepiece has serial numbers engraved on the case back, which clearly reveals the movement running the watch. The hand-winding Spring Drive Caliber 9R31 with a power reserve of 72 hours and, like all Grand Seiko timepieces, is impressively accurate (in this case, to ±1 second per day / ±15 seconds per month).
The dial is a mesmerizing deep blue shade, with a swirling guilloche pattern mimicking the Shinshu night sky, that at times almost looks like it is moving through patterns and colours of its own. The silver baton hour markers and minute track mirror the stars that stud the night sky, complemented by the watch’s hour and minute hands. Standing out on the dial is the GS logo, which is rendered in gold, matched by the sweeping gold second hand. Both add sophistication to the simple beauty of the watch, much like the moon gracing the still-clear night with its signature hue and illumination. The 9R31 manual Spring Drive movement with 30 jewels is visible through the display case back. 5 rotations of the crown is all it takes to fully wind this movement for 72 hours of power, with the power reserve indication discretely showing on the back of the watch.
The watch is finished with a blue crocodile leather strap carefully crafted with yellow stitching, a three-fold clasp, and a push-button release that complements the dial perfectly. This new Spring Drive creation is a regional release, limited to 160 pieces.
Discover the latest Grand Seiko SBGY017 Beautiful Starry Sky in Shinshu at Watches of Switzerland boutiques in Singapore today.
