In a limited edition of only 50 pieces comes the new Grand Seiko Masterpiece Spring Drive Limited Edition SBGZ009 Micro Artist Studio featuring a fully engraved case in platinum measuring 38.5 mm in diameter. Made one by one and engraved by hand, this new watch takes its inspiration from the white birch trees that lie at the foot of the North Yatsugatake Mountains in the eastern part of Shinshu. This white birch forest has a unique look like that of the textured dial and the platinum case that express the natural beauty of this forest when it appears blanketed by freshly fallen snow during the height of winter.
The Grand Seiko Masterpiece Spring Drive Limited Edition SBGZ009 is the result of a meticulous set of processes performed entirely in-house. First polished to create a distortion-free mirror surface through the Zaratsu method, each case is then painstakingly hand engraved with long individual grooves by the skilled engravers of the Shinshu Watch Studio, which is in the same facility as the Micro Artist Studio. Each groove brings to life the sea of white birch trees in a pattern that seamlessly echoes a similar pattern found on the dial.
The dial features the celebrated Shinshu white birch pattern familiar to Grand Seiko fans, yet this masterpiece’s dial has a slightly different tone and a more metallic texture, causing it to shine subtly under light. The hour and minute hands, as well as each of the hand-applied diamond-cut markers, are made of 14K white gold to ensure a sharp and brilliant finish, while the minute track, the lettering and the mark at six o’clock are all carved into the dial. The seconds hand is tempered —but rather than to the customary blue, to a harmonious shade of grey.
The star mark at six o’clock denotes solid gold hour markers, a Grand Seiko tradition since the 1960s. The minute and seconds hands are shaped by hand to curve gently towards the minute track, ensuring high legibility.
Powered by the manual wound calibre Spring Drive 9R02, first presented in 2019, this movement provides an outstanding 84-hour power reserve thanks to the Dual Spring Barrel system in which two mainsprings are set in parallel within the single barrel, as well as the remarkable Torque Return System. Accurate to one second per day, the hand-assembled Spring Drive movement exemplifies the understated refinement and quality of Grand Seiko watchmaking. The movement’s barrel, for example, is decorated to echo the bellflower, the symbol of Shiojiri. And the two hand-finished bridges have high-polished edges that serve as a dramatic counterpoint to the fine hairline finishing of their other visible surfaces, demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship that is the hallmark of the Micro Artist Studio. An 18K gold plaque set on the lower bridge is engraved with the words “Micro Artist,” but if the owner wishes, this plaque can be customized.
On the wrist, the new Grand Seiko Masterpiece Spring Drive Limited Edition SBGZ009 wears true to its size and with stunning wrist presence. The watch is delivered on a very unique crocodile strap resembling the bark of a birch tree and equipped with a three-fold clasp with push button release. The Grand Seiko Masterpiece Spring Drive Limited Edition SBGZ009 is available in a limited edition of only 50 pieces and will be exclusively sold through Grand Seiko boutiques. In person, the watch is one of the most unique watches we’ve ever perused.
Sticker Price $79,000 USD. For more info on Grand Seiko click here.
