To celebrate 25 years of their venerable 9F quartz movement, Grand Seiko has just announced three new handsome GMT models. Grand Seiko has adapted the movement for two time zones, and they?ve dubbed it the 9F86. The 9F86 is accurate to within +10/-10 seconds per year, but Grand Seiko is also offering up a limited edition of 800 pieces (SBGN001) that will stay within +5/-5 seconds per year. The 9F86 allows independent hour hand adjustment, making these three new models ?true GMTs.?
SBGN005, SBGN001, and SBGN003.
These 39-millimeter watches are only marginally thicker than their standard three-hand counterparts, which took no small amount of engineering on Grand Seiko?s part. They?ve redesigned the main plate, the gear train, and the connection between the four hands and their individual, concentric axes. As a result, the case is only 12.1 millimeters thick. Impressive.
The fixed 24-hour chamfered bezel is reminiscent of Rolex?s famous Explorer II GMT, but looks entirely at home, even familiar, on the Grand Seiko. AM/PM indication is found on the two-tone rehaut, which is refreshingly subtle compared to many GMT?s that overstate the case. While there?s no denying the sporty looks of these GMTs, they are pretty mellow, and with 100-meters of water resistance, we might have to dub them Dressy Tool Watches, or DTWs. Ilya and I had originally disqualified quartz movements in our DTW description, but his recent acquisition of a 9F equipped three-hander ref. SBGX061 has bo...