New Grand Seiko GMT SBGJ271

Text taken from GS press release on GS9 Club.

“From SBGA211 “Snowflake” to SBGY007 “Omiwatari,” many of Grand Seiko’s watches borrow inspiration from Japan’s notable winterscapes. Today, Grand Seiko continues this tradition with reference SBGJ271 “Yukigesho,” the newest addition to the brand’s Elegance Collection.

The pattern here was first introduced on reference SBGH269, which featured a red dial that captured the look of autumn leaves reflecting off lacquered wooden floors that are often found in traditional Japanese architecture. With SBGJ271, the dial does something similar, but replaces vibrant autumnal tones with white to conjure the appearance of snow-covered trees. It evokes “Yukigesho,” a poetic expression used to describe the dusting of snow. This clean, highly dynamic pattern is immediately eye-catching, and gives new dimension to this classic, quintessentially Grand Seiko design.

The hands and indexes are polished to a razor’s edge so that they catch the light and make the time legible even in semi-darkness. The GMT hand is finished in black, and it is paired with an easy-to-read 24-hour ring, allowing its wearer to quickly follow a second time zone. With its refined and understated look, paired with its user-friendly functionality, SBGJ271 makes for an excellent travel companion.

SBGJ271 utilizes a case design that has become a mainstay of Grand Seiko’s Elegance Collection and has been previously featured on models SBGJ217 and SBGJ219, as well as 2021’s expansion of the Japan Season Collection, SBGJ249 and SBGJ251. A modern reinterpretation of the first Grand Seiko design from 1960, the case measures 39.5mm in diameter and 13.9mm in thickness, the latter number accommodating a vintage-inspired box-shaped sapphire crystal that sits above the case. The mid-case is beautifully rounded, with Zaratsu-polished facets along the curved lugs. SBGJ271 comes paired with a stainless steel bracelet with a three-fold clasp.

The case back features a sapphire exhibition window, giving its wearer a view of the beautiful in-house movement within. SBGJ271 is equipped with Hi-Beat GMT Caliber 9S86. Running at 36,000 bph, 9S86 features a 55-hour power reserve and an accuracy rating of +5/-3 seconds a day. Using lightweight components made possible via MEMS, as well as the use of proprietary Spron alloys for the mainspring and hairspring, Grand Seiko’s high-frequency movements maintain a 55-hour power reserve while running at a beat rate of 36,000 bph.

SBGJ217 will be available at Grand Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners starting in March at the price of $7,100.”

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It's beautiful, but not for me! I don't think I'm an Elegance Collection guy. I remember when the SBGJ249 was released. Absolutely gorgeous!

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But, for some reason, when I went to the boutique and put it on my wrist, it just didn't do anything for me. I don't know why!

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Mr.Dee.Bater

It's beautiful, but not for me! I don't think I'm an Elegance Collection guy. I remember when the SBGJ249 was released. Absolutely gorgeous!

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But, for some reason, when I went to the boutique and put it on my wrist, it just didn't do anything for me. I don't know why!

Same. Not a fan of this particular handset/dial combo with the short GMT hand and the even hours inside the batons.

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That’s really niceI love Gs dials but haven’t yet found the ‘full package’ in their watches. This is getting close tho..

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The dial reminds me of the US exclusive bamboo dial version SBGJ259. So this will be the snow covered bamboo dial from the winter.

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Riverside

It's a shame GS have always those hands, don't like them at all.

BTW, the branding It's a disaster, how do they create a total different watch and keep the Seiko name on it ? 99,9% of people will not understand or pay 10k for a "Seiko".

Do you want a 63 year old company to rename?

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I loved that red wood floor pattern on the one from 2019 or 2020...can't remember. Nice to see it return, but the amount of new releases they have at this point is just becoming confusing and honestly it just makes one think..."ill wait for the next one, it's bound to be the perfect watch"

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Mr.Dee.Bater

It's beautiful, but not for me! I don't think I'm an Elegance Collection guy. I remember when the SBGJ249 was released. Absolutely gorgeous!

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But, for some reason, when I went to the boutique and put it on my wrist, it just didn't do anything for me. I don't know why!

I felt the same. went to WOS at Hudson yards and was totally disappointed...but it wasn't the case. It just felt a bit too glittery

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yankthemike

I loved that red wood floor pattern on the one from 2019 or 2020...can't remember. Nice to see it return, but the amount of new releases they have at this point is just becoming confusing and honestly it just makes one think..."ill wait for the next one, it's bound to be the perfect watch"

I think it can go one of two ways...

  • Before I bought my first GS, I kept waiting for the perfect one

  • Once I bought my first GS, I ended up buying every single subsequent release!

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yankthemike

I felt the same. went to WOS at Hudson yards and was totally disappointed...but it wasn't the case. It just felt a bit too glittery

What do you think of the SLGH005 White Birch?

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It's super glittery, just like the SBGJ249, but for some reason, I liked it! I don't know why?

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Mr.Dee.Bater

What do you think of the SLGH005 White Birch?

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It's super glittery, just like the SBGJ249, but for some reason, I liked it! I don't know why?

Well I prefer the pattern on the birch for sure, but given a choice I’d go night birch or the green. Though I have yet to see the green one “live”

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Mr.Dee.Bater

I think it can go one of two ways...

  • Before I bought my first GS, I kept waiting for the perfect one

  • Once I bought my first GS, I ended up buying every single subsequent release!

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Finally someone nailed the strategy! I know I’m running a little behind but I’m leaning towards the Soko as my first GS. For some reason I do want my first to be either spring or quartz and I’ve grown fonder of that bamboo green seconds hand. I’m also in love with the leather strap that one comes with. Also grey dial addiction here

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yankthemike

Finally someone nailed the strategy! I know I’m running a little behind but I’m leaning towards the Soko as my first GS. For some reason I do want my first to be either spring or quartz and I’ve grown fonder of that bamboo green seconds hand. I’m also in love with the leather strap that one comes with. Also grey dial addiction here

You should ask @Edge168n about his Soko!

I ended up an addict!

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yankthemike

Finally someone nailed the strategy! I know I’m running a little behind but I’m leaning towards the Soko as my first GS. For some reason I do want my first to be either spring or quartz and I’ve grown fonder of that bamboo green seconds hand. I’m also in love with the leather strap that one comes with. Also grey dial addiction here

By day

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By night

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Just a killer watch. Attaching what I sent @Ichibunz when I convinced him to get it 😉

On the SBGA429.  If I had to pick a one watch collection (with zero sentimental considerations). that's it.  It slots very neatly into that Aqua Terra, Datejust GADA watch territory beautifully and gives zero up to either in finishing, quality or beauty.  If the random number generator hadn't screwed me over with my JLC and had chosen the Soko, I'd be cruising.

Part of the reason I love it so much is just how brilliantly it fits into my life.  I end up going from school dropoff to work meetings to after school soccer then to a client dinner, I don't really have the luxury of switching between watches during the day often.  The SBGA429 is the watch that fits into all those weird choppy bits of my life the best.  If it gets muddy, it's got 100M WR and a screw down crown!  It fits underneath a shirt cuff or a jacket sleeve.  It doesn't draw attention when you're presenting to someone, but is always interesting enough to look at.   It wears like an on the thinner side sports watch rather than a dress watch if that makes sense.

The crocodile strap and deployant is extremely comfortable (though it wears best in the Seiko direction with the strap tail pointed towards you, rather than the Patek Phillipe direction with the tail pointed out).  The milled deployant is a touch chunky but is more comfortable than the Cartier or JLC deployants I also own.  I feel like the croc strap dresses it up a ton and the bracelet makes it sporty.

The bracelet is close to very good but there are a couple of things that make it annoying.  The links are thin (in a good way, reduces weight, increases delicacy)  and the clasp is well milled and well chamfered.  There are half links, but no micro adjusts, so if you're a perfect fit supremacist or tend to swell a ton, you might be unhappy.  The main complaint I have with the bracelet is that the screw pins are tiny (like inside the movement tiny) but you only have to deal with that problem once.

Other thoughts:

Zaratsu gets scratched.  The scratches show.  the mirror finish is still a mirror finish.  This doesn't really bug me that much but some people get really pissy about it.

The 19mm lug width is annoying for me (though if you're a JDM Seiko guy, you probably already have a strap collection that would work with it).  

It's like a freaking bargain.  $5K (and cheaper used) for an uber flexible, low headache, tanky spring drive with great fit and finish.  My girls have hurled this thing against the wall, the wooden floor....and it just keeps on going.

So, I'm a pretty big fan.

Definitely PM if you want more thoughts.

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Mr.Dee.Bater

What do you think of the SLGH005 White Birch?

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It's super glittery, just like the SBGJ249, but for some reason, I liked it! I don't know why?

The White birch is not glittery as the SBGJ249. The dial is more subtle white and doesn't have that shimmering blue hue as the GMT does. It feels highly reflective in person, especially under the shop lights.

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Got my glitter going today :

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And since it’s getting a bit springlike, be ready for saturation bombing of watch and Sakura photos when I get the chance. 😀

I love the birch sparkle as well, but secret watch account in recovery mode for a bit.

The new release looks interesting, but I’m going for popping colour for my next, I think

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I’m an official GS club member now, but didn’t get the email about this new one, odd. 🤷‍♂. Maybe it knows I’m a sneaky Canadian who is using a VPN to get into our special club.

Anyway, it’s fun to remind my wife that she’s got the high status of being married to an official GS club member 💪

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Riverside

Yes I do, and they did, but not enough, not only my opinion but opinion of many experts in this matters.

I want SEIKO in the name. In fact, I want them to go even further and re-brand as, "Grand Seiko... you know, that Japanese watch company that makes really cheap Japanese watches."

That way, it'll drive away all the muggles. The last thing I ever want in life is for my watches to become recognizable by the masses, the way Rolex has. If a muggle were to say to me, "Hey, nice watch, bro" this would be my reaction at having to interact with a dirty, unwashed muggle...

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TheHoroSexual

Bro, I love my SBGA413! I’ve started to wear it at least once every day. I just can’t seem to put her down for any significant length of time.

Fist bump 👊 !

I’m wearing it daily but it’s like we are still dating: I take off if anywhere near a keyboard and desk. Then back on wrist for walking about.

It’s crushing it on my Twixt accuracy check as well: 1 sec for the first month 💪😍🤘

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Fieldwalker

Fist bump 👊 !

I’m wearing it daily but it’s like we are still dating: I take off if anywhere near a keyboard and desk. Then back on wrist for walking about.

It’s crushing it on my Twixt accuracy check as well: 1 sec for the first month 💪😍🤘

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I’ve never been able to get one of my spring drives to go negative for a day. It’s always adding .2 to .3 I wonder how you do that?!

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Mr.Dee.Bater

I want SEIKO in the name. In fact, I want them to go even further and re-brand as, "Grand Seiko... you know, that Japanese watch company that makes really cheap Japanese watches."

That way, it'll drive away all the muggles. The last thing I ever want in life is for my watches to become recognizable by the masses, the way Rolex has. If a muggle were to say to me, "Hey, nice watch, bro" this would be my reaction at having to interact with a dirty, unwashed muggle...

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The Seiko name has the history and the provenance. So many firsts, historical wins, and patents. ‘Grand’ is just a very recent prefix.

The other catch: if we drop it , it’s now just a “Grand”. Or, a “Grand watch” 🤪

Don’t see it going anywhere. Also, it’s fun that only total horo-nerds recognize and wear GS. Much easier to spot each other IRL than with most other brands. 😎

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Mr.Dee.Bater

What do you think of the SLGH005 White Birch?

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It's super glittery, just like the SBGJ249, but for some reason, I liked it! I don't know why?

I love the silvery/glittery nature of the dial on the Hi-Beat White Birch SLGH005. I personally find the Spring Drive version a little bland in comparison. Just got mine back from service because it wasn’t properly regulated from the get-go. And in that time, I had honestly forgotten how well the new Evolution9 case sits on the wrist with its thinner case profile. I am super excited to see what they release at Watches and Wonders this year.

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Fieldwalker

Fist bump 👊 !

I’m wearing it daily but it’s like we are still dating: I take off if anywhere near a keyboard and desk. Then back on wrist for walking about.

It’s crushing it on my Twixt accuracy check as well: 1 sec for the first month 💪😍🤘

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I’m the same way with all of my watches. There are certain jackets I won’t put on or I’ll take the watch off before putting on a coat or rolling down my sleeves. I’m constantly juggling different watches, depending on the days activities. 🙈😅😜😝 I love my Tudor Black Bay Ceramic and my black Porsche Design titanium watches because they’re perfect for daily beater duty. The GS’s are babied to the max. Cheers mate!

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TheHoroSexual

I’ve never been able to get one of my spring drives to go negative for a day. It’s always adding .2 to .3 I wonder how you do that?!

It could be that it isn't always kept at max on powermeter? That might slow it by 0.1? But I' not sure. Equally could be GS magic pixie dust that causes it to balance out the + with the odd - to keep closer to perfection. Or that I profess love and it reciprocates with next level accuracy?

My Prospex LX I bash about quite a bit ..and it keeps a pedestrian range of +0.0 to +0.2, but never negative. So it doesn't balance out quite as well. But it's a lowly 5R65 in a sad face closed caseback. Currently it's at +2 seconds in 15 days. I'm still super happy with it mind you!

Black Ti midnight ocean 300m spring drive divers are my bag, baby. 🤩

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C’mon guys @TheHoroSexual @Fieldwalker it can take a few scratches 😝

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Riverside

It's a shame GS have always those hands, don't like them at all.

BTW, the branding It's a disaster, how do they create a total different watch and keep the Seiko name on it ? 99,9% of people will not understand or pay 10k for a "Seiko".

Such a disaster, they could’ve beaten the Swiss with just the Seiko branding like before! but they’ve gone all fancy and confused the super experts by putting Grand in front of that prestigious name. Disastrous.

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M.addd

C’mon guys @TheHoroSexual @Fieldwalker it can take a few scratches 😝

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Mine is actually scratched up a fair bit! But it's mostly just lower portions of the bracelet and not on the clasp or case. Don't know how previous owner pulled that off. 🤯

I've got some other watches with clasps that look like they have been run over by a bulldozer and it seems to show worse there. But totally agree - my watch is no safe queen and gets daily wear!

Since desks seem to have omnipotent Thanos type power over watches I'm trying to spare Sakura chan from them for as long as possible 😉

Her vs. Him:

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Riverside

Experts won't get confused, but 99,9% of people when see 10k€ next to Seiko ,will.

What prestigious name ??

spoken like a true expert, i am sure every brand is taking notice

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Mr.Dee.Bater

What do you think of the SLGH005 White Birch?

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It's super glittery, just like the SBGJ249, but for some reason, I liked it! I don't know why?

These watches can be very "peculiar". Seeing them in person can be totally different compared to photos. My impression for the White Birch changed when I saw it in person the other way around (😮 -> 🙄)

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angelos

These watches can be very "peculiar". Seeing them in person can be totally different compared to photos. My impression for the White Birch changed when I saw it in person the other way around (😮 -> 🙄)

Yeah, totally agree! When it comes to GS, I've found that I have no idea how I'm actually going to feel about a watch until I've seen it in person, in sunlight, and on-wrist.

Meanwhile, my experience with Omega, Rolex, Breitling, etc., has been that specs and photos pretty much seem to tell the story for me. I mean, I know what I'm going to get!

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Mr.Dee.Bater

Yeah, totally agree! When it comes to GS, I've found that I have no idea how I'm actually going to feel about a watch until I've seen it in person, in sunlight, and on-wrist.

Meanwhile, my experience with Omega, Rolex, Breitling, etc., has been that specs and photos pretty much seem to tell the story for me. I mean, I know what I'm going to get!

I think Zaratsu is unmatched when it comes to light reflection, and all the fancy dials give a million different impressions, based on viewing angle, lighting and coffee you had that day.