zelin0802 / November 25, 2024

Inspired by “Sakura-gakure” – Spring cherry blossoms gently embellished by snowflakes

Japan is a place of natural beauty. It’s also a country of fascinating culture, delicious cuisine, and a deep-rooted passion for watchmaking. Two of these elements come together at Grand Seiko’s headquarters in northern Japan. Watchmaking excellence is the brand’s primary goal. But showcasing a country’s natural beauty through said watchmaking is just as important. Textured dials are inspired by very specific natural phenomena, adding a quiet, poetic beauty to Grand Seiko’s creations. The new Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary LE (reference SBGW289) is no exception. It celebrates the blooming cherry blossoms and newly fallen late snow in spring with a lovely textured pale pink dial. This dial is perfectly sized within one of Grand Seiko’s most iconic cases.

Just over half a century ago, Grand Seiko introduced the 44GS, which established the design principles that every Grand Seiko watch should follow. If you know the brand, you may be familiar with the story. Even if you don’t, you may be familiar with the shape of the case. It has appeared in many modern Grand Seiko watches since then, including the famous SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate. What makes the new SBGW289 different is its blush dial. The subtle texture combined with the pale pink hue is inspired by the cherry blossoms that bloom under the spring snow. This phenomenon is called the Sakura Hermit and occurs in the northern region of Japan where Grand Seiko is headquartered.

Grand Seiko Heritage Series 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition SBGW289
This contrast of early spring and late winter, which corresponds to the season, seems very appropriate this year. Even in The Hague, we witnessed this phenomenon, with a thin layer of snow covering the cherry trees that were still in bloom. I don’t know if you’ve been lucky enough to see this phenomenon in your local area, but if you want to live out that experience with a great watch that has a beautiful dial, the Grand Seiko SBGW289 is your best bet. It’s not just about the dial, though. No sir! The SBGW289 actually makes some very interesting and significant changes to the 44GS case. The case of this high quality fake watches has been streamlined and shrunk to fit Grand Seiko’s manual-winding caliber 9S64, which is just 36.5mm thick. Vintage watch lovers, rejoice!

The SBGW289 is a fresh, light breath of spring. After seeing a lot of larger, sportier watches from Grand Seiko here at Watches And Wonders, this smaller, slimmer (11.6mm thick), and rather elegant watch is a welcome change. That’s not to say that sportier offerings are out of place. In fact, the new Evolution 9 GMT model is one of our favorites, and the impressive Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon really turned some heads. However, this watch, which joins the Heritage Collection to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the 44GS, will appeal to all Grand Seiko collectors with its classic look and iconic design. Plus, the pale pink dial has never looked so good!

Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition SBGW289. Although both the snow and the cherry blossoms will be long gone by then, this watch will serve as a constant reminder of the ephemeral beauty of nature. This watch is like the cherry blossom hermit that inspired it. So don’t blink! If you blink, you might miss it. replica Patek Philippe watches