Introducing: The Bluer And Greener Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 62GS Sekki Watches
The reinterpreted Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 62GS Sekki watches show bluer and greener dials than ever before. These 40mm watches also come in the brand’s Ever-Brilliant Steel for the first time. “GS” calls it a superalloy because it has a whiter sheen and greater corrosion resistance than conventional stainless steel. Both €8,000 watches also feature the automatic Hi-Beat 36000 9S85 caliber with a new hairspring and mainspring made of Grand Seiko’s proprietary Spron alloy.
The first self-winding Grand Seiko stems from 1967. The 62GS is a landmark in Japanese watchmaking history, not just because of the movement. The case, showing a mirrored, multi-sided design, a wide dial opening due to an absent bezel, and the signature Zaratsu polishing, also contributed to the watch’s star status. In 2019, GS introduced the Heritage Collection with four references adopting the classic 62GS design codes. The central theme since the reintroduction is the 24 Japanese seasonal phases, the so-called sekki (節気).
Introducing the revamped Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 62GS Sekki watches — Rikka and Shūbun
Grand Seiko introduces a new reinterpretation of the Rikka and Shūbun models, now upgraded with the brand’s Ever Brilliant Steel. After Zaratsu polishing, this alloy shines whiter than regular 316L steel. The sharp lines of the 62GS come across even better because of the high polishing and the contrasting hairline-brushed surfaces. The edgy 62GS never looked sharper. The sekki-themed Rikka and Shūbun watch colors are also new, although “renewed” is a better word. The Rikka SBGH351 now shows a brighter green dial than its predecessor, the SBGH271. Similarly, the Shūbun SBGH353 displays a deeper blue than the SBGH273 it replaces.
While the evolution of these dials is subtle, that’s what we always expect from Grand Seiko. The Rikka shows the change from spring to summer when the land looks lush and green. The pattern of the dial mimics the wind-blown leaves over the land. To keep things fresh, the watch shows steel-colored hour markers and hour and minute hands.
The blue dial of the Shūbun expresses the moonlit sky and clouds, and the golden accents of the logo and seconds hand recall the Moon’s soft, yellowish light.
Hi-Beat and MEMS inside
Beneath the blue and green dials beats the same caliber, the Hi-Beat 36000 9S85. This 5Hz automatic movement debuted in 2009 as the successor to the brand’s first high-frequency movements that debuted in 1968. Since then, the beat rate has remained, but the accuracy and power reserve have increased. The calibers in the new 62GS Sekki watches feature escapements that benefit from the precision engineering of MEMS technology (Micro-ElectroMechanical System). This means that these critical movement components are lighter and have an optimized shape, which helps maintain an optimal level of lubrication for years to come. Timekeeping precision is -3 to +5 seconds per day, and the hairspring inside the caliber 9S85 is made from propriety Spron 610. There’s more Spron to be found inside the caliber. The mainspring is made from Spron 530, leading to 6% more power than its precursor and providing a power reserve of 55 hours.
What do you think? Does the new steel alloy, intensified colors, and updated movement please you enough to consider purchasing the revamped Rikka or Shūbun? Please let me know in the comments.
