Grand Seiko SBGW297 and Grand Seiko SBGW299: A finely diversified selection

Posted by lifata on October 19th, 2023

The two new models Grand Seiko SBGW297 and Grand Seiko SBGW299 are reminiscent of the early 44GS models. The dial design is particularly interesting, as its shape is based on traditional Japanese fans. This is what the two new midsize watches from the Heritage 44GS collection offer.

If you take a look at the two new models Grand Seiko SBGW297 and Grand Seiko SBGW299, you can make it easy for yourself and say that they are elegant steel watches with fan-shaped dials in white and blue colors. However, if you look at it this way you would miss out on the most interesting aspect of the best replica watches, namely the special cultural significance of subjects in Japan and the emphasis on traditional design elements for many of the Grand Seiko watches.

Japanese subjects

For many centuries, fans were a widely used tool in Japan to provide some cooling during the hot and humid summer months. Initially, the fans, called uchiwa, introduced from China in the 6th century, had a solid surface. However, folding compartments, known as Ogi or Sensu in Japanese, quickly developed from this and became an everyday aid. Elaborately crafted, decorated and painted fans gained further significance as a means of expression in ceremonies, dances and in Kabuki and Noh theater. The number and shape of folding fans was correspondingly diverse.

There were compartments with bamboo slats or sticks made of cypress wood, but tortoiseshell or ivory were also used. The covering of the compartments, which could be made of silk, paper or fine leather, was just as varied. The painting was often just as elaborate and in Japan there was an official profession of a fan painter who elaborately painted the fan surface, which consisted of several thin, laminated layers of paper, for ceremonies and festivals.

Nowadays, the common “Kamisen” fans, i.e. paper-covered wooden fans, are of little practical importance. As a design feature, however, fan-shaped surfaces continue to have great cultural significance in Japan.

The design element of the fan comes into its own on the bright blue dial surface of the Grand Seiko SBGW299. The watch's characteristic, angular, wavy surface creates a lively play of light and shadow, creating a strong contrast to the simple 36.5 mm large and 11.6 mm high unisex steel case. Thanks to the screwed steel base and screwed crown, it offers the wearer water resistance of up to 10 bar or around 100 meters of water depth.

Grand Seiko SBGW297

The Grand Seiko Heritage 44GS model SBGW297 is even simpler. Its equally radiant, fan-like dial appears under a laterally raised sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating in a subtle white. Faceted indices are applied to the wavy dial, with the 12 being highlighted by a doubling of the indices for easier orientation. The time is displayed by the sword-shaped hour and minute hands, with the steel blued central seconds of the white SBGW297 presented in a strong blue.

If you now look at the shape of the case with its sloping sides and the shape of the hands and indices, you can see that Grand Seiko has also retained the characteristic design features of the former Grand Seiko 44 in these models and that the new fake watches uk can clearly be assigned to the GS44 line. This high level of recognition also applies to the Grand Seiko SBGW303 model with its green dial, which is manufactured exclusively for the European market.

On the other hand, the technology is modern, as both watches are powered by the 9S64 caliber, which has been well described at Uhrenkosmos. The hand-wound movement manufactured by the Seiko Group with its 24 jewels works at a frequency of 28,800 half-oscillations or 4 Hz and offers its wearer a running time of up to 72 hours - which means that the watch can easily be put away for a day or two. without any adjustment being necessary. Thanks to the good fine adjustment of the clock, this does not come at the expense of accuracy. According to Grand Seiko, this is a good deviation of -3 to +5 seconds per day.

The watches are also very comfortable to wear thanks to the high-quality processing of the steel surfaces of the case and the 3-link steel bracelet with steel folding clasp with push-button closure.