The 44GS, the watch released in 1967 that was the first to fully embody the Grand Seiko Style, has evolved into a modern model with contemporary practicality. The SBGW297 is a manually wound mechanical model that features the smallest case diameter of the 44GS lineup at 36.5 mm. The watch is designed for ease of wear with its moderate size and comfortable bracelet. The thin, compact case and multifaceted, diamond-cut indexes sparkle beautifully and harmonize with the refined white dial, enhancing legibility. Protecting the dial, a box glass imparts a warmth to the design, further connecting the watch to its mid-century predecessor.
The year 1967 saw the release of the 44GS, the watch in which the Grand Seiko Style design language was fully realized. By modernizing the interpretation while seeking to re-create the design elements as much as possible, we have arrived at the evolved 44GS design. This model has inherited a design befitting Grand Seiko in all aspects, from the hands and dial to the case, taking the form of a watch that displays Japanese aesthetics in a modern fashion.
The Grand Seiko Style that took shape in the 44GS finds inspiration in the straight lines and flat surfaces that can be observed in certain traditional Japanese objects, including paper sliding doors, folding screens, and folding fans, and this was the direction that was chosen for this watch’s dial as well. Its radiating pattern is created from a series of flat surfaces reminiscent of a folding fan, harmonizing with the 44GS case in a design that points to the roots of the Grand Seiko Style. A vivid, thermally blued steel seconds hand marks time against the patterned white dial.
