Unveiling the SBGH341 Sakura-Kakushi and SBGH343 Sakura-Wakaba

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Beyond the iconic 44GS, 1967 also saw Grand Seiko’s first automatic watch, the 62GS. With a rounder design and signature Zaratsu polishing, it lacked a bezel, giving it a spacious dial. Now a fan favourite, this design recently shrunk to 40mm in the popular “24 sekki” series. Today, Grand Seiko offers a mini version: a 38mm beauty inspired by cherry blossoms! – Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 62GS Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 Ref. SBGH341 “Sakura-Kakushi” and Ref. SBGH343 “Sakura-Wakaba”

While 1967 is often associated by Grand Seiko amateurs with the release of the iconic 44GS, this year also saw the introduction of Grand Seiko’s first-ever automatic timepiece: the 62GS. Also embodying the Grand Seiko Style, its design was more rounded than the 44GS, but still consisted of flat surfaces and sharp angles, a showcase of the Brand’s own Zaratsu polishing. The 62GS also introduced a bezel-free structure, the crystal being set directly on the case itself, thus opening widely on the dial.

Reinterpreted in 40mm since 2019, this design now features among the most popular ones of Grand Seiko, mostly represented by the “24 sekki” series (including SBGA413 “Shunbun”). Today, Grand Seiko expands the 62GS lineup, this time in a smaller 38mm diameter, inspired by cherry blossoms.

Both timepieces share a common case which design is directly inspired by the 1967 model, from the recognizable faceted lugs, and alternance of Zaratsu polished and hairline brushed surfaces, to the vintage-inspired box sapphire crystal set on the case in a bezel-free structure.

For the first time, the 62GS is presented in a 38mm variation, offering a middle-sized timepiece fitting both women and men, the higher wearability of these smaller proportions being enhanced by the use of the Brand’s proprietary lightweight alloy: High-Intensity Titanium.

True to Grand Seiko’s motto, the Nature of Time, these two models draw their inspiration from Japan’s natural phenomena and share a common theme: the “Sakura”, literally “cherry blossoms”, a Japan figure worldwide.

Of light pink shades, Grand Seiko SBGH341 recalls “Sakura-Kakushi”, a spectacle scarcely spotted for it evokes early cherry blossoms being hidden by late winter snows. The fragility and ephemerality of “Sakura-Kakushi” (“hidden cherry blossoms”) have inspired our skilled craftsmen and women to create this subtly pattern dial of delicate shades.

The second timepiece, Grand Seiko SBGH343, is clad in silver green hues inspired by “Sakura-Wakaba”, literally “cherry blossoms and young leaves”. This phenomenon is most likely to be spotted during the sekki (seasonal phase) “Seimei” when, in early April, flowers bloom and young leaves sprout all at once, and warm spring breeze and bright sunshine bring a “clear and bright” (“seimei”) atmosphere.

Grand Seiko SBGH341 "Sakura-Kakushi" & SBGH343 "Sakura-Wakaba"

Manufactured North of Japan by the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, these two timepieces enjoy a common movement, calibre 9S85 Hi-Beat 36000, delivering a 55 hours power reserve and ensuring a stable accuracy at wrist thanks to its high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour.

Grand Seiko SBGH341 “Sakura-Kakushi” and SBGH343 “Sakura-Wakaba” will be available from March 1st, from Grand Seiko Boutiques and authorized retailers worldwide.