GRAND SEIKO EARLIER THIS YEAR DEBUTED TWO NEW U . S . SPECIAL EDITION watches designed to celebrate the end of Autumn ( or sōko in Japanese ). The 39mm steel watches , each powered by Seiko ’ s hybrid Spring Drive caliber , feature a bamboo-themed dial with a vertical textured pattern , a green seconds hand and a green power reserve hand .
Grand Seiko adds the watches to its Heritage Collection . Both watches utilize the same textured dial , meant to recall stalks of bamboo within Japan ’ s famed Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto , particularly as seen at the end of Autumn during the first frost .
Grand Seiko ’ s incredibly skilled artisans have once again created beautifully rendered dials . In addition to the unusual texture throughout each dial , the markers and the hands are skillfully facetted , adding eye-catching depth to an already inspired design .
One model features a dark grey dial ( SBGA429 ), representing shadow , while the second model offers a brighter silver color ( SBGA427 ), representing light .
The green seconds hand and power reserve hand are brighter green on the darker dial , enhancing their contrast while also underscoring the natural theme of both these Soko U . S . special editions .
Grand Seiko will deliver each watch with a steel bracelet and a crocodile leather strap .
HAND-ADJUSTED Inside , Seiko fits its Spring Drive 9R65 Caliber , made at the watchmaker ’ s Shinshu Watch Studio . Spring Drive , as a reminder , is Seiko ’ s own highly accurate ( to one second per day ) spring-driven movement with an electromagnetic regulator that functions with only a mechanical mainspring driving a gear train .
64 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2021