Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Grand Seiko SBGJ273 Yuka-Momiji Hi-Beat GMT
GS' handsome high-frequency GMT watch gets a splendid red textured dial inspired by lacquered wooden floors.
As we’ve said on multiple occasions, many of Grand Seiko‘s watches are inspired by Japanese art, culture and nature. One of the most striking themes ever seen on the dial of a GS watch surely is the red, striated texture found on the SBGH269 Autumn edition. Unique, bold and particularly attractive, this vibrant textured dial was only reserved for a limited edition watch… until now, as Grand Seiko introduces the SBGJ273 Yuka-Momiji Hi-Beat GMT, a new take on the classic traveller’s model found in the Elegance collection.
At first sight, the new SBGJ273 Yuka-Momiji is a watch with many well-known features. Its case is the same as the praised cream-coloured GMT reference SBGM221, a watch that has been around for many years and is since one of the brand’s bestsellers. This means a relatively compact case of 39.5mm, with a height of 14mm – not the thinnest, in all fairness. The curved profile echoes a sharp, angled bezel finished with distortion-free polished surfaces (Zaratsu) as well as nicely executed lugs with a twist. The top is home to a box-shaped sapphire crystal and the back features a see-through crystal. Water-resistance is rated at 30m, which has long been one of the model’s flaws.
The dial of this Grand Seiko SBGJ273 Yuka-Momiji is the pièce de resistance. Textured, brightly coloured and extremely detailed, it pays tribute to autumn and its rich tones. With its red striated dial, this watch calls to mind the way lacquered wooden floors in a traditional Japanese building reflect the leaves of outside maple trees, expressing Yuka Momiji. The red colour and the vertical texture are complemented by the brand’s beautifully finished hands and applied markers, and gold-coloured accents are found on the GMT mention and additional 24h hand – which is, as always with GS, a proper flyer/traveller GMT function.
Under the sapphire back is the brand’s Calibre 9S86. Produced in-house, this automatic movement not only provides great practicality with its dual-time function but also refinement and precision, with a solid 55h power reserve and a fast-beating 36,000vph escapement. Accuracy is rated at +5 to –3 seconds per day. The decoration is done in a typical GS way, with large stripes.
Worn on a 3-link stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp, the Grand Seiko SBGJ273 Yuka-Momiji Hi-Beat GMT will be available in September 2023 from Grand Seiko boutiques and selected retailers worldwide, and is part of the permanent collection. It is priced at EUR 7,600. For more details, please visit www.grand-seiko.com.
