Grand Seiko loves to draw inspiration from the natural landscape that surrounds its watchmaking studios, with perhaps the most famous Grand Seiko of the modern era, the SBGA211, enjoying the nickname “Snowflake” thanks to its powder-like dial. Now, the brand is back with another winter wonderland-inspired timepiece, the elegantly proportioned Grand Seiko SBGJ271 GMT.
Nicknamed Yukigesho, which translates to “book of snow”, the crisp white dialled watch combines everything enthusiasts love about Grand Seiko watches, from the perfectly polished hour markers and hands and the hi-beat automatic movement, to the eye-catching textured dial and thoroughly wearable case. Featuring a stainless steel construction that measures 39.5mm in diameter (and a somewhat hefty 14.1mm thick), its silvery white dial has been finished with a texture that’s not unlike classic Côte de Genève (or Tokyo stripes if they were applied in Japan) and serves as a strong contrast for the shorter black GMT hand for easy legibility.
While there’s a domed sapphire crystal covering the dial, the same material can be found in the caseback, offering a window to view the in-house automatic calibre 9S86, which ticks away at 36,000vph (that’s ten beats per second) and delivers a solid power reserve of 55 hours when fully wound. Grand Seiko is by no means rewriting the rule book with the SBGJ271 GMT, instead offering a watch that represents almost everything that distinguishes the Japanese watchmaker from its Swiss peers and arriving with an Australian RRP of $10,600.
