The New Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS LE SBGW289

August 23, 2016

Japan is a place of great natural beauty. It is also a country with a fascinating culture, excellent cuisine, and a deep-rooted passion for watchmaking. Two of these elements come together within the walls of the Grand Seiko HQ in northern Japan. Excellence in watchmaking is the brand s primary purpose. But showcasing an expression of the countrys natural beauty through said watchmaking is just as important. Textured dials inspired by very specifically observed natural phenomena add a sort of quiet poetic beauty to Grand Seikos creations. And the new Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary LE (ref. SBGW289) is no exception. It celebrates the springtime blooming of the cherry blossoms - combined with a fresh dusting of late snow - with a lovely textured pale pink dial. This dial is housed within one of Grand Seikos most iconic cases, executed in perfect dimensions.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, youre probably familiar with the story. And even if you arent, you probably know the case shape well. It has since been featured in a number of modern Grand Seiko watches, including the famous SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate. What sets the new SBGW289 apart is its blushing dial. The subtle texture coupled with a light pink hue finds inspiration in the blooming of the cherry blossoms under a fresh dusting of spring snow. It s a phenomenon known as Sakura-kakushi that takes place in the northern region of Japan where Grand Seiko is based.Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition SBGW289This seasonally-appropriate clash of early spring and late winter seems rather appropriate this year. Even here in The Hague, we witnessed the phenomenon when a dusting of snow covered the still-in-bloom cherry trees. I dont know if you were lucky enough to see this happen where you are, but if youd like to live the experience vicariously through a brilliant watch with a lovely dial, the Grand Seiko SBGW289 is your best bet. It isnt all about the dial here, though. No sir! The SBGW289 actually presents a couple of very interesting and significant changes to the 44GS case. Slimmed-down and shrunken to fit Grand Seikos manual-winding caliber 9S64, the case of this model comes in at just 36.5mm. Lovers of vintage watches, rejoice!The SBGW289 is a refreshing and light breath of fresh spring air. After seeing a number of larger, sportier releases from Grand Seiko emerging from Watches And Wonders, this smaller, slimmer (11.6mm thick), rather elegant watch is a welcome change of pace. That s not to say that the sportier offerings are out of place. In fact, the new Evolution 9 GMT models were some of our favorites, and the impressive Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon certainly turned some heads. However, this addition to the Heritage Collection for the 55th anniversary of the 44GS is something that will appeal to all Grand Seiko collectors thanks to its classic looks and iconic design. Plus, a pale pink dial never looked so good!Final ThoughtsThe Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition SBGW289 will see a limited production of 1,200 pieces. It will be available starting in June of this year at boutiques and selected retailers worldwide. And though both the snow and cherry blossoms will be long gone by then, the watch will serve as a constant reminder of the ephemeral beauty of nature. With an approximate retail price of $5,400 in Europe, this is one thats bound to be gone in a flash, much like the Sakura-kakushi that inspires it. So dont blink! You might just miss it if you do.For more information on the SBGW289, Grand Seikos design, and a number of other excellent offerings, head on over to the Grand Seiko website. And as always, please share your thoughts on the watch in the comments section.Follow me on Instagram @ncgwatches