Introducing: The Absolutely Wonderful Grand Seiko SBGH368 “Sakura Kakushi”
In the great Grand Seiko tradition, the horological year starts early. We already covered the brand’s first releases of 2025 on January 31st, and Mike wrote about another on February 3rd. Now, less than two weeks into the month, Grand Seiko treats us to one more delight. Today, the brand announces the wonderful SBGH368 “Sakura Kakushi.” This release combines a rose gold 62GS-style case with an absolutely stunning dial. The resulting watch is one of this year’s early highlights. Let’s find out more.
Ask me about my favorite Grand Seiko model, and the first that comes to mind is the brilliant titanium SBGA413 “Shunbun” with its stunning pink dial. I love that watch for multiple reasons. It all starts with the beautifully sculpted case. The bezel-less 62GS case debuted in 1967, but it still feels as crisp and relevant as ever, especially in Grand Seiko’s lightweight and beautifully finished high-intensity titanium. On top of that, the darker hue of the alloy combines incredibly well with the gorgeous pink textured dial. It’s a dial inspired by what the Japanese call hana-ikada (花筏). That’s the phenomenon following the spring equinox, or shunbun (春分), when cherry blossom petals scattered by the wind cover the surface of a river. For me, that watch always comes to mind when thinking of Grand Seiko.
The story of the new Grand Seiko SBGH368 Sakura Kakushi
If you know why I love that SBGA413 Shunbun, it will come as no surprise that also adore this new SBGH368 Sakura Kakushi. Similar to the Shunbun, today’s release features a 62GS-style case. On top of that, the dial of the new SBGH368 is a play on the dial of the Shunbun. Let’s go over the details. The new Sakura Kakushi has a 38mm 18K rose gold case with a 12.9mm thickness (crystal included), a 44.7mm length, and a 100m water resistance rating. Compared to the 40mm SBGA413, it is slightly smaller. However, it certainly makes up for that in presence thanks to its rose gold construction.
The sharp, angular lines work incredibly well with this precious metal. Plus, thanks to a clever mix of brushed and Zaratsu-polished parts, the case gets even more visual brilliance. The dial only further enhances that effect. Its copper-pink tone represents spring in Japan’s Tohoku region, where a delicate layer of frosty snow covers the pink cherry blossom petals. Once again, Grand Seiko finds inspiration for the dial in Japanese nature with stunning results. The dial’s texture is similar to that of the SBGA413, and it looks stunning in combination with the case.
The clever combination of materials and colors
The dial features faceted rose gold applied hour markers and a date window at 3 o’clock with a rose gold frame. As you can see, Grand Seiko cleverly placed the minute track on the rehaut to create a clean overall look. On the dial’s top half, you will find a rose gold applied logo and the brand name printed in black. The lower half features the more practical text referring to the caliber that powers the watch. Lastly, hovering above the dial is a set of razor-sharp hour and minute hands and a super slim seconds hand.
The latter smoothly glides above the dial as a sign of the high-frequency movement powering the watch. Grand Seiko equips the SBGH368 with its Hi-Beat caliber 9S85. This automatic movement operates at 36,000vph, offers 55 hours of power reserve, and has an average accuracy of -3/+5 seconds per day. As the successor to the brand’s first high-frequency movements that debuted in 1968, it is the perfect caliber to power the watch as the 62GS was the first automatic Grand Seiko. The movement is visible through the case back’s sapphire window for some visual magic.
Final thoughts on the new Grand Seiko SBGH368 Sakura Kakushi
The new Grand Seiko SBGH368 Sakura Kakushi is fitted with a brown crocodile strap and rose gold folding clasp with a push-button release. The strap beautifully finishes off the classy looks of this stunning watch. The SBGH368 is a regular production model and will go on sale in April with a hefty price tag of £31,200. But what you get in return is a watch of incredible beauty. I immediately fell for the stunning looks of this new Grand Seiko SBGH368 Sakura Kakushi. It is the perfect addition to the 62GS lineup and a wonderful reminder for me to start keeping an eye out for the SBGA413. For me, the SBGH368 Sakura Kakushi is an early 2025 highlight, and while I won’t own it, I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing it on my wrist one day. My eyes, in combination with a big smile, will do all the talking.
