Grand Seiko Four Seasons USA Exclusive 'Shubun' Autumn

So far, we have had the opportunity only a few times to get our hands on the cult and most sought-after version of the brand – the famous “Snowflake”. Driven by the success of this iconic model, Grand Seiko decided to use a similar philosophy in two of the versions from the “Four Seasons” series, launched in 2019 and initially offered only in boutiques in North America. Today we have the pleasure of presenting to your attention what, in our opinion, is the most interesting representative of this series – “Shubun” Autumn. This model is perhaps the most interesting of all the watches in the series for several reasons – first, its dial truly reminds one of “the moonlit night sky during the autumn season”; second, it is the only one to use a golden seconds hand; and third, here the saying that “blue is always in fashion” can be used with full force. Superb finishing, unique detail, excellent quality – all of this radiates from every single part of this watch, while the fact that the samurai of Grand Seiko have fitted one of their most impressive Hi-Beat movements only adds to the “wow” effect. Someone “uninitiated” might wonder what is so special about this watch. We will try to bring some clarity to this question – this is truly a very well-constructed watch, with a unique dial, beautiful hands and unmistakable Grand Seiko craftsmanship. All of this places it among that elite group of watches which enthusiasts call “watches for careful looking” – because you need to take your time, as with every passing hour and minute you will like it more and more and will find new reasons for admiration. The incredible hour markers, insanely polished hands and, last but not least, the Zaratsu finishing of the entire case – all of this is truly from another world. The case itself has the factory index 62GS – the modern interpretation of the case of Grand Seiko’s first automatic watch, launched back in 1967. There is certainly nothing quite like it in this price segment, but the most unique element of this watch is, of course, the dial. The new “Autumn” is certainly one of the most appreciated and pursued models in the Four Seasons series. And this is mainly due to the dial, which is inspired by the autumn equinox and the moonlit night sky. The texture and shades create a sense of depth, movement and light, while the play between the dark blue tones and the golden seconds hand gives the model exceptional individuality. The brand does not use exactly this dial in any other model – and this further contributes to the uniqueness of the watch. The dial is not the only impressive thing – the hour markers and hands are finished with exceptional precision by highly skilled craftsmen, and the final result is a level of detail that is difficult to describe with words alone. All of this is possible mainly because of the relatively small volume of watches Grand Seiko supplies to the market, as well as because of the brand’s almost fanatical approach to finishing, symmetry and the play of light and shadow. In the design of this watch, the manufacturer has not tried to make it very different by adding unnecessary decorations, additions to the case, more crowns or disproportionate bezels – and it is precisely through this simplicity that the watch looks so thoroughbred. This is also where the biggest criticism from some “Seiko followers” comes from – according to them, this model is “too European”. For them this may be a minus, but in our view it is a huge advantage. The bracelet of the watch is in the so-called “Speedmaster style” – with three brushed links separated by polished connecting elements. And what truly distinguishes Grand Seiko from Seiko is the level of detail and the materials used for the dial, hands, markers and case. Such attention and precision in the execution of every marker, hand and inscription is rarely encountered even among the most established brands and models with centuries of tradition. Inside the watch beats the brand’s in-house calibre 9S85 – a Hi-Beat automatic movement operating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, with a power reserve of around 55 hours. This is one of those movements that best demonstrates Grand Seiko’s engineering philosophy – precision, stability, high frequency and a sense of mechanical refinement that fully matches the overall character of this exceptional watch.