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Grand Seiko Titanium Spring Drive SBGA125
This SBGA125 is part of the larger 62GS collection, a group of limited editions released 2015 to honor the very first Grand Seiko automatic watch, the 62GS.
The case design is a reincarnation of the 62GS, with beautifully faceted lugs and Zaratsu polishing on their proprietary titanium alloy known as high-intensity or Bright titanium. It has a silvery white dial with a granite type texture, similar to one of the 50th Anniversary Grand Seiko models from 5 years ago.The dial is classic GS through and through. Those mirror polished dauphine hands, the blued seconds, the textured dial--this is a prototypical Grand Seiko. It has been granted the nickname “Blizzard” by various watch forums, the texture is not like a "popcorn ceiling" at all which is sort of the impression you get from stock photography. As one can see here, it's a series of thousands of little bumps that have some slight reflectivity to them from different angles, making it almost sparkle. It's subtle--it's not shiny, but up close, it's appreciable. Meanwhile, there is nothing quite like those mirror polished facets. GS hands really look like they have some mass to them, like they're big, solid things, not folded tin. The seconds’ hand, too, is typical to GS and is brilliantly heat blued.
The fact that it is a titanium, spring drive 9R65 powered watch of medium size immediately invites comparison to the legendary SBGA011 “Snowflake”. Perhaps it was because of this inevitable comparison between the SBGA125 dial as something of a snow flurry, as contrasted with the SBGA011 snowflake's snow drifts.
The SBGA125 houses Seiko infamous 9R65 spring drive, rated for + or 1 second per day and with 72 hours of power reserve. Spring Drive, the tri-synchro regulator is the interface between the mechanical aspects of the movement, which is the vast majority, and the tiny subset of electronic components. This quasi-magical device basically takes a high-end mechanical movement but uses a quartz subsystem control the speed. Unlike in a quartz watch, however, the electronics provide no propulsion, they are not even capable of it. Instead, the electronic components provide resistance. The most obvious benefit is accuracy, one can have a watch with a beautiful movement, powered by the motion of your wrist or the winding of a crown, that has the accuracy of one very high quality quartz. But less obvious is the fact that spring drive movements are silent, and that's because they don't tick. Consequently, the spring drive has, without exception, the smoothest moving seconds hand in the world.
Last thing to note is that these bracelets, like other titanium Grand Seiko (as well as steel GS divers) use friction pins instead of screws. This is probably because titanium is softer than steel and it can be pretty easy to strip the thread when adjusting the bracelet. This is no.803 of a limited production of 1,000 pieces. #bkckwatches #grandseiko #SBGA125 #wristshot
Congrats! I love mine
The dial keeps this watch so very interesting for an otherwise conservative design.
I am also testing out some strap options which I think show off the angular lugs better. Will share soon.
Anyways, again congrats!!!
That's a very nice looking watch - especially those daring lugs
they look very sharp in your photo - are they really?
Cazalea
Regarding the titanium issue
Regarding GS titanium bracelets, you said:
"Last thing to note is that these bracelets, like other titanium Grand Seiko use friction pins instead of screws. This is probably because titanium is softer than steel and it can be pretty easy to strip the thread when adjusting the bracelet."
I think it might be best to leave that question for Seiko to answer, and I will try to pose it and get an answer for us.
I worked for some time in the aerospace industry fabricating titanium components.
Titanium is lighter, springier and much harder to form than steel, much more expensive to produce and work, and by no means "soft" or "weak". Its hardness is comparable to some stainless steels used in watch cases. Here's the data:
Density / weight (water=1.0)
Aluminum=2.70
Titanium=4.54;
Stainless Steel=7.7 to 8.0;
Silver =10.5;
Tantalum=16.6
Gold=18.88
Platinum=21.45.
Hardness (MOHS talc=1, diamond=10)
Aluminum=2 to 2.9
Gold (pure)=2.5 to 3
Silver (pure)=2.5 to 4
Platinum (pure)=4.3
Titanium=5 to 6
Stainless Steel=5 to 8.5
Platinum (950)=6.5
Hardness (Brinnell)
Aluminum=23-44
Silver=30-90
Tantalum=55-123
Silver (925)=65-125
Platinum=79-169
Gold (750)=211-323
Titanium=200
Stainless Steel=160-400
Hardness (Vickers)
Titanium 200-340
Stainless Steel 140-180
Yield Strength (1000 psi) Higher indicates stronger
Titanium=75-120
Stainless Steel=30-165
Tensile Strength (1000 psi) Higher indicates stronger
Titanium 85-127
Stainless Steel=70-220
Being a bit of a titanium nut (aren't we all?) and having a bunch of the stuff laying around the house (doesn't everybody?) I just want to make sure we give it a fair shake!
Cheers,
Cazalea
Thank you very much for the details.....
and I learn something useful and interesting today. And interesting enough, all Grand Seiko and Seiko titanium watches use friction pins instead of screws.