Grand Seiko - Spring Drive GMT “Mt. Hotaka Peaks” SBGE295

The new Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT “Mt. Hotaka Peaks” SBGE295 has been inspired by the vast Hotaka mountain range. Price €6,600 / US$ 6,200

The latest Spring Drive GMT model from Grand Seiko has been inspired by the vast Hotaka mountain range that can be admired from Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio, where all the Spring Drive timepieces are produced.

In particular, the Spring Drive GMT “Mt. Hotaka Peaks” SBGE295 features a dial that is characterised by verdant tones and a dynamic texture that evokes the summertime vegetation that blankets the mountain’s peaks. 

The SBGE295 has a stainless-steel case and measures 44 mm in diameter, 14.7 mm in thickness, and 50.8 mm in length. Grand Seiko’s signature Zaratsu finish, with alternating mirror-polished and hairline surfaces along different parts of the case, highlights the design. The downturned lugs and the offset crown at 4 o’clock contribute to making the watch appear smaller than its dimensions would otherwise suggest.

The rotating, bi-directional bezel has a scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire overlay. Underneath the overlay is an application of Grand Seiko’s Lumibrite compound, where all the white portions on the bezel glow in dark conditions. 

The dial’s large indexes and hands also feature Lumibrite, enhancing readability in any light conditions. A 24-hour chapter ring frames the dial and can be used together with the GMT hand and the 24-hour bezel track to display a total of three time zones. 

The SBGE295 runs on Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive Caliber 9R66. The movement has a 72-hour power reserve when fully wound, and there is a visible power reserve indicator next to the 8 o’clock index on the dial. Its average accuracy is ±1 second per day / ±15 seconds per month. 

The Spring Drive calibre generates electrical power from the unwinding of the mainspring allowing the watch to be entirely autonomous, with no need for a battery. The electrical power generated by the glide wheel is then used to activate a quartz oscillator vibrating at 32,768 Hz. Electromagnetic power is also used to control the speed at which the spring unwinds acting as a brake.

Water resistant up to 20 bar (200 metres / 660 feet) and offering magnetic resistance of 4,800 A/m, the new Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT “Mt. Hotaka Peaks” SBGE295 has a suggested retail price of Euro 6,600 / US$ 6,200. grand-seiko.com