To celebrate 110 years of expert watchmaking, Seiko announced the release of its latest, limited edition watch to join the Elegance Collection. Designed to recreate the original Grand Seiko timepiece from 1960, the new Grand Seiko 110th Anniversary Limited Edition SBGW295 features traditional Japanese design techniques paired with functional timekeeping suitable for everyday wear.
The 38mm SBGW295 watch stands apart from others with its rare, traditional Japanese styling. The watch face features Urushi lacquer, which is challenging to find due to its complicated manufacturing process. Skilled artisans create the special lacquer for the timepiece by blending pure gold powder with black lacquer. For accurate authenticity, Seiko sourced domestic Japanese lacquer, which dries quickly, making the process of creating a smooth and glossy finish incredibly difficult. Artisans then blend iron into the black lacquer mix, ensuring the finish remains dark, smooth, and lustrous for years. The indices, hands, and text are decorated with 24k gold, providing a nice contrast on the black face.
The Grand Seiko 110th Anniversary Limited Edition SBGW295 features dual-curved sapphire dials paired with Brilliant Hard Titanium, delivering a modern style with added durability. Titanium is twice as durable as standard stainless steel, making this watch suitable for everyday wear. The timepiece has a manual movement, featuring a Caliber 9S64, with a 3-day power reserve. The leather strap uses a traditional hyoroiori weave, created with the same process for making samurai armor. The limited edition Seiko SBGW295 will be available in only 500 pieces beginning in February 2023. The watch is priced at $13,800 and can be purchased online from the Seiko website.
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