DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles
Our Chief Technical Elf writes about her beloved Grand Seiko Spring Drive. The Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA011 has been written about everywhere, so we are not going to replicate with a full review, but one seen through the eyes of a collector, and what piqued her interest.
The Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA011 “Snowflake”
The Grand Seiko Spring Drive SGBA011 Snowflake.
There’s just so much to like about this watch. Its simplicity and complexities, its softness and toughness. It’s really difficult to find a good place to start talking about this watch. Unlike famous brands such as Rolex, Grand Seiko isn’t a brand that the mass market appreciates. It takes some research and observation to notice the technology and nuances that make a Grand Seiko what it is.
Zaratsu Polishing
Those hands are superb. When I first picked up a Grand Seiko at a Seiko boutique (Vivo City), I was thoroughly impressed by the dauphine hands. There is something about the shape and finish of the hands that captivates people and gain nods of approvals from perfectionists. In fact, I didn’t considered Grand Seiko to be a high-end watch back then (we discussed their brand image here) until I held a Grand Seiko in my own hands and took a good look at the finishing. This distortion-free mirror finish is achieved by Zaratsu technique, a polishing technique used traditionally in the polishing of fine japanese swords. More recently did I find out from the Editor that even the underside of the hands are polished. That’s how meticulous these watchmakers are. As with most finishing processes, there is absolutely no room for mistakes, or the entire component would have to be tossed out. Hence this process is entrusted only to the most experienced and skillful craftsman.
Distinct dauphine hands and its unmistakable mirror shine.
Another noticeable place that uses zaratsu is the inside of the bezel. The shine lasts forever, unlike the case, as it’s protected from daily wear and tear. Its flawless shine reflects the indices and hands, and also bounces light off at interesting angles to almost look like water bouncing around inside the watch. This is a design detail so simple and elegant, yet only achieved by the best artisans. The short video illustrates this:
The Zaratsu technique requires holding the part against a rotating tin disc. Before I forget, this is actually a titanium case, which is harder than stainless steel. This also means that polishing it is going to be extra tough. Difficult as it already is for a flat or mildly convex surface, imagine having to do this for a sharp convex profile such as the inside of a bezel. Any misses and the corners would be rounded off, or have a bezel that’s not perfectly circular to fit the dial and crystal.
Zaratsu polishing on the inside of the bezel, case and also bracelet links.
Other parts that use this technique includes the case, indices and the often overlooked bracelet detail. This piece has been through some awesome days with […]
The post Review: Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA011 “Snowflake” appeared first on DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles.
Article from: DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles, by Sharon Tan
Visit here for more on sports watches.
from Best Watches For Men http://ift.tt/2y5AUpE