That occurs as we speak, with the SLGA013 and the SLGH009, that includes the 9RA2 and 9SA5 calibers, respectively. Each watches benefit from their motion’s advances in building to debut barely thinner however nonetheless instantly recognizable 44GS instances, right here in Grand Seiko’s “Ever Good Metal,” which they declare is extra corrosion resistant than common metal, and has a pointy white hue.
The brand new watches additionally debut a brand new dial design, that includes textured sample that Grand Seiko says is impressed by “the elliptical orbit of the celebs as they transfer throughout the heavens.” To be trustworthy, I’m unsure if I fairly see it – it’s definitely not as instantly recognizable as birch bark. This can be a extra impressionistic design selection, however as with all Grand Seiko with a textured dial, you don’t need to see what the model sees to get pleasure from it. It’s all the time powerful to inform within the first batch of pictures, however these dials seem to have a reasonably dramatic texture with etchings which can be on the deeper aspect. The Hello-Beat watch is rendered in a well-known shade of blue that Grand Seiko is eager to make use of on anniversary editions, whereas the Spring Drive model’s dial is darkish grey.
It’s price taking an in depth have a look at the measurements of those new instances, as a result of it’s the place the rubber meets the street on the next-gen calibers. Grand Seiko has saved the diameter at 40mm for each, which is typical of latest 44GS instances, however the thickness has been lowered to an extent that it’ll probably have a sensible influence on the carrying expertise for a lot of, significantly in terms of the Hello-Beat. The Spring Drive SLGA013 is available in at 12.1mm, whereas the Hello-Beat SLGH009 measures 11.7mm thick. As some extent of comparability, a time and date watch in a 44GS case utilizing the old-fashioned 9S85 Hello-Beat motion would are available in at round 13.3mm, whereas a comparable Spring Drive watch on this case type measures 12.5mm thick.
Being anniversary items, these watches are, unsurprisingly, restricted editions, with 550 of every reference being made. They’ll be out there in February at Grand Seiko boutiques and choose retailers, with the Hello-Beat SLGH009 retailing for $10,500, and the Spring Drive SLGA013 promoting for $9,500. Extra info will be discovered at Grand Seiko’s web site proper right here.