Why I Bought This Grand Seiko SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate
Karina and RJ talk about the Grand Seiko SBGJ201, also known as the Mt. Iwate, due to the structure of the dial. A beautiful stainless steel 44GS case style Grand Seiko, with Hi-Beat GMT movement.
The Grand Seiko SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate was not his first choice, as the Snowflake (reference SBGA211) also made quite the impression. The Snowflake turned out to be one of the best-selling Grand Seiko models. In this video, we talk about what made me pick the Mt. Iwate over the Snowflake.
Grand Seiko SBGJ201
Grand Seiko’s reference SBGJ201 has a diameter of 40mm and a thickness of 14mm. The relative thickness is partly due to the GMT complication on the movement. Inside, is caliber 9S86, a Hi-Beat automatic movement that ticks at 36,000vph and offers a power reserve of 55 hours.
GMT Function
The GMT function is activated by unscrewing the crown and pulling it into the 1st position. This enables you to set the hour hand independently from the minute hand. This way, you select the local time zone you are in. When you pull the crown out to the 2nd position, you can set the time and the GMT hand will move along. This way, the GMT hand always indicates home time, while the hour hand shows the time in the local time zone. In the video, we briefly show how it works.
Finish and polishing
One of the major attractions of Grand Seiko watches is the level of finishing on the case, bracelet, dial, and hands. Grand Seiko knows how to produce a beautiful dial, with a special motif or structure. The white birch (SLGH005), Snowflake, and this Mt. Iwate are perfect examples. When it comes to the case, the Mt. Iwate has a 44GS style case, like those 1960s Grand Seiko models. Large flat surfaces with a mirror-blade polished finish, accomplished by using the Zaratsu technique. The hands and hour markers have razor-sharp edges and polished surfaces. This watch doesn’t have any Lumibrite or other type of luminous material on the dial, and quite frankly, it also doesn’t need it. With the smallest amount of light, the hands and hour markers will catch it and show you the time.
The Grand Seiko SBGJ201 is part of the Heritage Collection and retails for €6,500 in Europe. You can find more information on the official Grand Seiko website. Enjoy the video! More videos can be found on the Fratello YouTube channel.
