As I always say, I like Grand Seiko very much, especially after visiting its factory in Japan. Compared with the factories of some Swiss watch manufacturers, I can affirm that Grand Seiko is one of the most treasurable watch brands. The 44GS that I bought a few years ago is still one of my favourites now. Someone asks me why I have to spend thousands of dollars on a Seiko? You would know the answer if you are a connoisseur of timepieces. Otherwise, you will never understand even after reading the whole passage.
This year is a monumental year for Grand Seiko, as it would become an independent brand renamed as “GS Grand Seiko”, separated from its parent Seiko, which means the words “Seiko GS” will not appear on the dials anymore. Apart from its name, all of its operations will also be independent, just like the relationship between Toyota and Lexus. Get it?
Grand Seiko, as an independent brand, specially launches several timepieces this year. One of the highlights is Black Ceramic Collection, a sports watch with Spring Drive movement. Impervious to scratches and lightweight, its case is made of an innovative combination of zirconia ceramic and high-intensity titanium, ensuring a sense of comfort when doing sports. The Black Ceramic Collection has a diameter of 46.4mm with three editions available:
SBGC219, the 10th Anniversary Spring Drive Chronograph GMT Limited Edition is designed with stylish blue dial, pink gold hands and index markers, precise tachymeter on Bezel and Caliber 9R96 Spring Drive movement. A Grand Seiko lion emblem in18k rose gold is also carved on the caseback. Other functional features include chronograph, calendar, power reserve indicator and GMT function, with power reserve of approximately 72 hours. The accuracy is ±10 seconds per month. Limited edition of 500 pieces.
Another two regular editions are white dial model SBGC221 and black dial model SBGC223 respectively. The black bezels of both models feature a 24-hour mark, constructed with 9R86 Spring Drive automatic movements and the same functions as those of SBGC219. Though their movements are a basic model, the accuracy is not bad at all — ±1 second per day.
經常掛在口邊，我很喜歡Grand Seiko，尤其是當我參觀過精工的日本錶廠，跟一些瑞士錶廠比較，就令我更加肯定，Grand Seiko是最值得收藏的腕錶品牌之一。幾年前買過一隻44GS，到現在還是我最心愛的腕錶之一。有人問我，為什麼要花幾萬元去買一隻精工，懂錶的便會知道原因，不懂的，我寫一萬字去解釋，你也不會明白。
今年是Grand Seiko值得紀念的一年，因為精工決定把Grand Seiko獨立起來，以後不會再在Grand Seiko的腕錶上看到「Seiko GS」，而是把GS Grand Seiko作為一個獨立品牌。不單只是名字，連所有運作都會獨立起來，就好像Toyota和Lexus，你懂嗎？
品牌今年就以Grand Seiko為獨立品牌，推出了多款腕錶，其中一款是採用Spring Drive機芯的運動型系列Black Ceramic Collection。以高強度鈦金屬和氧化鋯陶瓷來製造錶殼和鏈帶，防刮花之餘，重量亦十分輕，戴起來做運動就更加舒適。錶殼直徑46.4毫米，有三個不同版本。其中一款是慶祝Spring Drive計時腕錶GMT十週年紀念的限量版SBGC219，藍色錶盤襯玫瑰金指針和時標，錶圈上印有測速計刻度。搭載9R96 Spring Drive自動機芯，擺陀上鑲有18k玫瑰金Grand Seiko金獅標記。備計時、日曆、動力儲備顯示和GMT功能，動力儲備約72小時，準確度高達每月誤差±10秒。限量500枚。
另外兩個基本非限量款式分別是白色錶盤的SBGC221和黑色錶盤的SBGC223，黑色錶圈上印有24小時刻度。兩者均搭載9R86 Spring Drive自動機芯，功能跟SBGC219相同。雖然機芯是基本型號，但準確度一點都不失禮，每日誤差只有±1秒。
