The New Grand Seiko Heritage Hi-Beat “Icefall” 37mm SBGH347

While Grand Seiko is celebrating this year the 20th anniversary of its first Spring Drive calibre, the 9R released in 2004, there’s another series of movements that’s equally important, the 9S series, which is all about mechanical calibres. First presented in 1998 and still the cornerstone of the collection, the calibre 9S found its way into a watch of 37mm (see it below) with typical GS design language. This year, Grand Seike brings this exact design back once more, including the original proportions, with a stunning ice-blue dial and an Ever-Brilliant Steel case. Meet the Grand Seiko Heritage Hi-Beat Icefall SBGH347. 

Last year, for the 25th anniversary of the Grand Seiko 9S calibre and to honour the first GS watch fitted with the in-house 9S movement – created by Grand Seiko’s head of design Nobuhiro Kosugi in 1998 – the brand released a pair of limited editions, the SBGH311 and SBGR325. Both equipped with automatic, mechanical movements, these were housed in historically relevant cases of 37mm, just like the 1998 model. Now, in 2024, Grand Seiko brings the overall concept back but this time without being limited, and with a new dial that’s handsome enough to justify wanting this watch…

This GS Icefall SBGH347 is a faithful re-edition of a watch presented already a quarter of a century ago – proving that a good design doesn’t need to be updated to age well… Besides having all the classic features of a Grand Seiko watch, with large Zaratsu (distortion-free) polished facets, sharp angles and brushed surfaces, it’s the fact that GS respects the original proportions that must tickle our interest here. The case is compact, with a 37mm diameter and a 44.6mm lug-to-lug measurement. In short, it’s a real joy on the wrist. One comment, however, concerning the thickness of 13.3mm. While this wouldn’t be too much of an issue on a 41mm watch, the height feels rather noticeable here. Nothing dramatic, but known that there’s a bit of heft here.

For the occasion of this revival, the Icefall SBGH347 is made of Ever-Brilliant Steel, a stainless-steel alloy which is 1.7 times more corrosion-resistant than the classic 316L grade of steel found in most watches, and shines with whiter hues (it’s not 904L steel and GS remains unclear concerning the composition of this alloy). The watch features a dual-curved sapphire crystal on top, a screwed back with sapphire crystal, a push-pull crown and retains a comfortable 100m water-resistance.

Moving on to the dial, one of the brand’s specialities. And once again, the SBGH347 doesn’t disappoint. Inspired by the icefalls that can be seen on Mt. Iwate in winter, the watch features a new pattern – a deeply vertical brushed pattern – and an appealing ice blue colour. The rest of the dial is what you expect from Grand Seiko; greatly finished markers and hands, with polished top surfaces and large diamond-cut bevels, applied GS logo and framed date window at 3 o’clock.

Visible through the caseback is the well-known calibre 9S85, an automatic movement beating a high-frequency of 5Hz and offering a comfortable power reserve of 55 hours. Its accuracy is rated at +5/-3 seconds per day. The Icefall SBGH347 comes equipped with a classic 3-link Ever-Brilliant Steel bracelet, closed by a folding clasp with push button release (still no quick-change system and no micro-adjustment…)

Part of the permanent collection, the Grand Seiko Heritage Hi-Beat 37mm Icefall SBGH347 will be available as of October 1st, 2024 and will be priced at EUR 6,900. For more details, please visit grand-seiko.com.