Last night, Grand Seiko unveiled the first Australian Exclusive Limited Edition timepiece, the SBGJ269. Grand Seiko held a gala dinner at the world-famous Bennelong restaurant, located inside the most iconic place in Australia, the Sydney Opera House. This function also served as a celebration of Grand Seiko’s first ever Boutique in Sydney, Australia.
This latest creation by Grand Seiko was inspired by the Pink Flannel Flower (Actinotus forsythii). This flower is a symbol of the Australian spirit of resilience. The flower itself is very rare and only blooms under rainfall in the season following bushfires. The very image of something beautiful being born after a disastrous event is a showcase of nature’s ability to overcome adversity.
The Grand Seiko SBGJ269 comes in a 39.5mm stainless steel case with distinctive features from the brand, such as edges that are sharp and angular, as well as the sides which are Zaratsu polished to a distortion-free finish. The watch comes with a matching stainless steel bracelet as standard. An additional grey crocodile leather strap is also offered, which offers the contrast to let the beautiful dial stand out.
The unique dial on this SBGJ269 portrays the stunning pinks of the blossoming flannel flower, while the red GMT hand reflects the colour of the flower buds just before they bloom. The pink finish on the dial has texture to it as well instead of a smooth finish, adding further aesthetic appeal to the timepiece.
Grand Seiko has used their Hi-Beat 36000 GMT calibre 9S86 movement for this timepiece. This automatic movement operates at a frequency of 5Hz (36 000 VpH) while giving a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. The beauty of this movement can be viewed through the open case back.
As an Australian first exclusive, the SBGJ269 is a beautiful timepiece telling the story of mother nature’s ferocity and resilience. This landmark timepiece is limited to 50 pieces and can be purchased from October 24th at the Australian Grand Seiko Boutiques and select Australian retail partners.
