The Yellow Gold Grand Seiko 62GS Sakura-Wakaba SBGH376

Grand Seiko is renowned for its nature-inspired, handcrafted dials that capture Japan’s seasonal landscapes. The annual flowering of the cherry blossom heralds the arrival of spring and inspires profound reverence in Japan as a symbol of life’s fleeting beauty and renewal. Grand Seiko captures the evanescent beauty of the cherry blossom for a lifetime on the dial of the new Heritage 62GS model. Following in the footsteps of the 2025 rose gold SBGH368 reference, the dial of the 38mm yellow gold case depicts a specific moment in the cherry blossom’s blooming known as Sakura-Wakaba.

The watch pays homage to Seiko’s first automatic watch, released in 1967. Known as the 62GS and abiding by Taro Tanaka’s “Grammar of Design”, the original 36.5mm watch was defined by its sharp-edged case with flat, Zaratsu-polished surfaces, pronounced, faceted lugs, a crown at 4 o’clock, applied indices and sword-shaped hands. The one thing it didn’t have was a bezel. The bezel-free structure, with the crystal sitting directly on the case, afforded a wide dial opening. Revived in 2015 as part of Seiko’s Historical Collection and now a regular member of the Heritage family since 2019, modern 62GS models cater to a wide range of wrist sizes with 30mm, 38mm and 40mm case sizes.

The new 18k yellow gold 38mm reference with a thickness of 12.9mm and 100m water-resistance, displays the wide, flat, sharply faceted surfaces of the 62GS, decorated with alternating Zaratsu-polished areas and hairline brushing. While the angles are sharp, the case middle displays its characteristic sweeping profile, revealing the gleaming, mirror-polished surface of the gold and contrasting brushed lower flanks. Like the 1967 model, the box-shaped sapphire crystal is set directly on the case, allowing light to enter and illuminate the dial. However, unlike its ancestor, the screw-down crown is now placed at 3 o’clock.

The dial depicts a precise moment in the cherry blossom’s blooming cycle. Known in Japan as Sakura-Wakaba, it refers to the fleeting moment when white cherry blossoms and fresh green leaves appear together. Portrayed in golden and light green tones, the delicate crisscrossing texture illuminates the dial with a delicate golden aura.

The large faceted and applied indices, the applied GS logo at noon, the frame of the date window and the razor-sharp hour and minute hands are golden and polished to stand out against the vernal scenery of the dial.

The watch is powered by Grand Seiko’s in-house Hi-Beat automatic calibre 9S85. Beating at a high frequency of 36,000vph (10 beats/sec) for greater accuracy, the reported accuracy is +5 to -3 sec/day. Fitted with Grand Seiko’s new-generation Spron alloy hairspring, which offers three times the resistance to impacts and magnetism of former versions, the movement also benefits from MEMS semiconductor manufacturing technology employed to make lightweight parts with extreme precision and tolerances of one millionth of a millimetre, used here for the escape wheel and pallet fork.

The SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba” is paired with a classic brown crocodile leather strap and an 18k yellow gold pin buckle. It is a regular production model and will be available from July 2026 at Grand Seiko Boutiques for a retail price of EUR 33,500. More information at grand-seiko.com.