Another watch from Grand Seiko taking inspiration from nature to develop another beautiful dial, this time from Lake Suwa in Japan. The dial of the watch takes inspiration from Lake Suwa and how in winter it freezes over and creates a natural phenomenon described as Omiwatari or known as God’s Crossing. Grand Seiko as always with their dial design did not disappoint and a lot of people will definitely would want to acquire this watch.
Lake Suwa is famous for this phenomenon of Omiwatari which is where the Shinto gods walked over the ice. More specifically the guardian god of Suwa, Takeminikata-no-kami leaving his sanctuary to meet his wife the goddess Yasakatome joining the opposite bank by walking on frozen water. The lake itself has been featured in many anime and movies in Japan, and now the Lake has inspired Grand Seiko to create this beautiful dial which symbolises the phenomenon of Omiwatari. The dial is set to capture the colour, feel and texture of the snow-covered ice on Lake Suwa. Paired with the beautiful signature blue second hand this dial is nothing but stunning to look at. Even better news for a lot of people is that this is not a limited edition watch, therefore everyone has the chance to have a look at or purchase this watch.
The watch is made out of stainless steel with a case diameter of 38.5mm and has dual-curved sapphire crystal on the dial to give an elegant dome look to the watch. The front of the case is mirror polished while the outer side of the case has this brushed look. Even though the dial colour is stated as blue, it is very subtle and changes according to the lighting and surrounding environment. Changing from icy white to an icy blue similar to how Lake Suwa is seen during winter, further showing the incredible achievement in dial design and craftsmanship of Grand Seiko. The movement is the Calibre 9R31 which has a power reserve of 72 hours and has an accuracy rating of +1 second per day/ +15 seconds per month on average. Which can be seen through the exhibition case back of the watch, which showcases the 30 jewels, a power reserve display as well a lion emblem. It comes paired with a black crocodile leather strap with blue stitching on the sides and a three-fold clasp with a push button release.
As mentioned earlier fans of Grand Seiko should rejoice as this is not a limited edition watch, meaning everyone should have the chance to see this watch in person. It is an incredible dress watch that also could be worn on any occasion really, just be careful near water as it is only rated for 30m water resistance, which is only suited for light splashes. This watch is priced at $8,300 and will be available starting in July 2021, but can be pre-ordered through Grand Seiko Boutiques as well as their online store.
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