Baselworld 2015 Highlight Grand Seiko 62 GS Limited Edition Watch Review
Tuesday - 23 June 2015
by Angus Davies, www.escapementmagazine.com
Everyone enjoys celebrating a birthday and Seiko proves to be no exception. This year, the Japanese brand celebrates 55 years of Grand Seiko, the high-end arm of the famous watchmaking company. Grand Seiko is synonymous with the no-compromise creation of fabulous watches. These timepieces are crafted to a high standard, suffused with Japanese artisanal craftsmanship and exhibit delightful details which distinguish them as special; very special.
In 1967, Grand Seiko released its first automatic wristwatch, the 62GS and this year the company has chosen to return to this historical timepiece with the release of eight references, four which faithfully capture the aesthetics of the original model and a further four, featuring modern-day Hi-Beat 36000 and Spring Drive movements.
It is the limited edition 62GS, reference SBGR095, which will prove highly appealing to purists. The watch is a faithful interpretation of the original timepiece and exhibits a lovely quotient of nostalgia which I personally find very endearing.
The stainless steel cases of all Grand Seiko watches are incredibly smooth, polished to an exacting standard and the 62GS proves to be no exception. Time-served artisans use traditional techniques, referred to as Zaratsu polishing, to finesse the case to a matchless standard. This protracted endeavour imbues the watch with a delightful tactility which is evident once the watch adorns the wrist.
The sapphire crystal is domed and coated with high quality anti-reflective treatment augmenting the legibility wonderfully.
The hour and minute hands are razor sharp, with clearly defined edges which sparkle brilliantly in ambient light. A slender central seconds hand circumnavigates the dial, pointing to the neat markings encircling the perimeter, enhancing ease of interpretation. The hour markers are faceted and applied, bestowing a comely depth to the face of the watch.
Grand Seiko has expended much effort refining the smallest of details. The date indication is framed with a metal aperture and the typeface of each numeral presented on the date disc has been optimised to ensure peerless legibility.
However, ‘beauty is more than skin deep’ and within the 37.6mm case, beats a self-winding movement, faithfully replicating the original timepiece. The 62GS is water resistant to 100 metres and has a magnetic resistance of 4,800 A/M.
With only 600 pieces available worldwide and a strong domestic demand in the country of origin, hesitation may well lead to disappointment. This is a design classic which will remain sought after by collectors for many years to come. With only a limited number of models likely to land on British shores, watch addicts should form an orderly queue now to avoid regrets.
Click here for further details - http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/collections/grand-seiko-watches/products/grand-seiko-watch-62gs-sbgh095-gsk-052
