Grand Seiko has once again like an absolutely incredible timepiece as not only does it draw inspiration from the Mishaka Pond in Japan, but also features the incredible Caliber 9R01 movement that has a power reserve of 8 days. While the movement itself is worth talking about, the dial perfectly encapsulates the essence of the Mishaka Pond.
The Caliber 9R01 movement features an incredible 8 day power reserve with an accuracy +0.5 seconds per day. While the movement in terms of appearance does not really stand out too much especially compared to other watches in this price range, Grand Seiko has definitely opted more towards functionality than design. The movement features 56 jewels and through the exhibition caseback of the movement there is a power indicator showing how many days of power left. It is a manual movement, so the wearer of the watch will have to manually wind the watch, just make sure to keep an eye on that power reserve indicator on the back of the watch. This movement has previously been featured on the SBGD205, SBGD201 and the SBGD202.
Before talking about the dial it is worth talking about the inspiration of that dial which is the Mishaka Pond. The pond is located in the Yatsugatake Chushin Quasi-National Park in Chino City. The main appeal for this pond being how drastically the scenery changes depending on the season and its reflection in that crystal clear water. During the summer it showcases the beautiful lush greenery, to a fiery red and yellow in autumn to finally pure white snow in winter. The Mishaka Pond is not far from the Micro Artist Studio who is responsible for making and presenting this beautiful watch to Grand Seiko. The dial features a green mother-of-pearl dial and has green garnet indexes for the hour markers. The base of the dial is 18K white gold and the case of the watch is made out of platinum with a case size of 43mm with a water resistance of 100m. Surrounding the dial is two rings of small expertly cut and set diamonds, and the crown of the watch also has a diamond. Finally the watch features a green crocodile leather strap with a three-fold platinum clasp.
The watch does sound incredible but there are a few things to keep in mind as it will definitely make it one of the least accessible watches produced by Grand Seiko to date. It is only limited to 15 pieces worldwide, therefore chances of seeing this watch in person is very slim, and finally the watch is priced at $185,000. The price is understandable due to the amount of work that has been put into the watch from the dial to the case and that movement, however seeing this watch in person is a luxury in itself. The watch is available in May 2021 at Grand Seiko Boutiques, provided that you are lucky enough to see this watch in person.
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