Watch Of The Week: Grand Seiko’s New Caliber 9S 25th Anniversary Limited Editions

For this week’s Haute Time Watch of the Week — or watches of the week — we’re highlighting the brand new Grand Seiko Caliber 9S 25th Anniversary Limited Editions. In celebration of the Caliber 9S’ 25th anniversary, Grand Seiko unveiled two new timepieces that each sport the same case design and diameter as the very first watch that housed the 9S movement: the SBGH311 and the SBGR325.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Grand Seiko

An integral part of Grand Seiko’s design DNA, when Caliber 9S debuted in 1998, it was synonymous with Grand Seiko’s unwavering dedication to the pursuit of high accuracy and boundary-pushing technological advancements in watchmaking. Ushering a new era for the brand’s mechanical watchmaking, Caliber 9S set a new precedent.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Grand Seiko

Throughout the last two decades, the original Caliber 9S has evolved into a whole series of movements with different functions, featuring new alloys for both the main and balance springs and MEMS engineering, which allows critical components to be manufactured to a tolerance of one-thousandth of a millimeter. Ultimately, Caliber 9S became the platform on which Grand Seiko mechanical movements are built, leading to the creation of the revolutionary Caliber 9SA5 in 2020.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Grand Seiko

Adhering to the Grand Seiko design ethos, both new timepieces draw inspiration from nature — and, more specifically, sky elements over Mt. Iwate. The SBGH311 features a textured dial that portrays the density of the clouds through a sleek grey monochromatic look. Through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback, the Grand Seiko emblem is revealed, set into the titanium oscillating weight whose color, achieved by an anodic oxidation process, was exclusively designed to mimic the deep-blue sky above the sea of clouds that surround Mt. Iwate’s peak. Inside, the timepiece is equipped with the Hi-Beat 36000 automatic mechanical Caliber 9S85, hand-assembled by the skilled craftsmen and women of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, and has an accuracy rate of +5 ~ -3 seconds per day and delivers a power reserve of 55 hours.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Grand Seiko

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Grand Seiko

In contrast to the SBGH311, the SBGR325 radiates with a vibrant light blue dial representing the clear skies of Mt. Iwate. Yet similar to the SBGH311, this timepiece also features the seconds hand in a cobalt blue and the Grand Seiko logo in a gold color, commemorating the 9S movement. Furthermore, on the back, you can find the signature Grand Seiko blue color on the oscillating weight by the same anodic oxidation process as the former. Finally, the timepiece is powered by Caliber 9S65, which has a daily rate of +5 ~ -3 seconds per day and a 3-day power reserve.