Grand Seiko Introduces a Trio of US Exclusive References Inspired by the Katana Blade

With their latest set of US exclusive releases, Grand Seiko turns their attention to the katana, a Japanese sword, crafted from steel, that has become a symbol of Japanese culture across the world. There is a real art to creating a katana blade, and with these new watches, Grand Seiko is drawing inspiration from that centuries old process in much the same way they’ve built a cottage industry around watches that pull in aesthetic inspiration from the changing seasons and the natural world. What really links the katana to these watches though, and it’s something absent from the nature inspired dial designs, is a focus on craft. A katana blade is formed by heating iron sand in a special furnace called a tatara, with the melted sand becoming the steel known as tamahagane, a traditional Japanese material. Layers of metal are stacked individually, one on top of the other, heated, forged, folded, and cooled with water until the core of the sword takes shape. Eventually the blade is polished, taking on the familiar edge you’d expect, in a process that is not too dissimilar from putting a mirror shine on a Grand Seiko case, at least in the sense that both are done by hand by highly skilled craftspeople. 

There are three releases in total in this mini collection inspired by the katana. The SBGA489, inspired by kawagane, the outer, sharp edge of a katana blade, has a black dial with a lightly stippled texture modeled after tamahagane steel. The SBGA491 features the same dial texture, but in green, and is inspired by shingane, the core of a katana blade. Both feature gold tone accents on the sweeping seconds hand and power reserve reserve indicator, as well as the Grand Seiko logo at 12:00. 

The third watch in the series, SBGA493, is a limited edition of 500 with a bright red dial and a dial pattern that Grand Seiko says “expresses the determination and fiery spirit” needed to craft a katana blade. The dial certainly evokes fire, and Grand Seiko fans might see similarities between this dial and the famous Mt. Iwate pattern, with a complex series of ridges emanating from the dial’s center. It’s tough to tell from photos if the patterns are actually the same, but in red it looks great, and will certainly make an impression on the wrist. 

All three models are built on the tried and true 44GS platform, maybe the most “Grand Seiko” of any Grand Seiko case shape, with its dramatic facets and impeccable Zaratsu polishing. The cases measure 40mm in diameter and 12.5mm thick, and each is mounted to a matching steel bracelet (the SBGA493 also includes a fabric strap). If the power reserve indicator on each dial didn’t give it away, all three references run on the same 9R65 Spring Drive caliber, with 72 hours of power reserve. This movement is rated by Grand Seiko to be accurate within one second per day, and an average of +/- 15 seconds per month. 

The retail price for the SBGA489 and SBGA491 is set at $5,600, and the SBGA493 will be priced at $6,000. The two non limited edition watches are expected in Grand Seiko Boutiques and select retailers this month, while the red dialed LE is due in early September. Grand Seiko