Another year, another anniversary. Just as Omega can?t seem to stop churning out endless variations on the Speedmaster, Grand Seiko is keen to celebrate anniversaries for just about every step the brand took in getting to where they are today (which is, by all accounts, one of the most written about, discussed, and worn watch brands in the world), frequently with limited edition watches marking the occasion. It turns out that 2022 is the twentieth anniversary of the first GMT watch, which seems almost impossible. Grand Seiko?s GMTs are favorites among collectors for their varied designs and sought after local-jumping-hour functionality, so it?s hard to believe that a complication that seems so foundational to the brand has only been around since the turn of the millennium. To celebrate the Grand Seiko GMT entering its third decade, the brand has released a limited edition with a souped up Spring Drive caliber and a clean, winter inspired design.
Spring Drive watches are made at Grand Seiko?s Shinshu Watch Studio, located in central Japan, and the SBGE275 has a dial design inspired by the region?s mountainous landscape in a winter setting. The dial is a crisp white and has a texture that looks similar to others used in recent Grand Seiko references, expressing the vague idea of everything from cherry blossoms to rock walls. Here, the swirling white wisps take on the character of snow capped mountains, with blue accents representing a clear, cloudless sky. Yes, it?s...