Grand Seiko watches have garnered a cult following thanks to their no frills designs, impeccable construction, cutting edge movements and somewhat under the radar status.

The present pink gold ref. SBGD202 impresses thanks to its large pink gold case with wide beveled lugs. The dial is equally impressive. At first glance it may look like a simple black glossy dial, however depending on the angle of light shining on it, flecks of gold will sparkle like stars in the night sky. This startling effect is obtained by a special process that combines both plating and painting.

The movement giving life to this gem of horological design is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Cal 9R01 with an 8 day power reserve (a power reserve indicator is ingeniously placed on the back). The Spring Drive movement is a hybrid of sorts invented by Seiko which features a standard mechanical gear train. However, instead of an escapement and balance wheel, one finds a “regulator” which contains a powerful magnet that rotates between two electromagnets, generating current to power a quartz timing package which, in turn controls (via the same electromagnets) how fast the regulator turns. The Spring Drive movement is Seiko’s synergistic solution to merging the beauty and complexity of a mechanical movement with the accuracy of quartz.

The Caliber 9R01 is further beautifully finished with its main plate cut to resemble the outline of Mount Fuji and rubies and screws in blue to evoke the twinkling lights of Suwa, the town nestling below the Grand Seiko Watch Japan Micro Artist Studio where the watch was conceived.