Following the strong reception of the exclusive limited-edition model SBGW319, released in 2024, the GS9 Club—the membership organization for Grand Seiko owners—began working on the second instalment of the GS9 Club Exclusive Model Project in the spring of 2025. The model is scheduled for release in early spring 2027, and it will be available exclusively to GS9 Club members. This time, however, eligibility extends not only to members in Japan but to GS9 Club members worldwide.

The project members are Kohei Egashira, who is in charge of product planning for Grand Seiko, and Natsuki Ando, editor-in-chief of the GS9 Club Japan website, both returning from the previous project, along with Shinichiro Kubo, newly joining as Grand Seiko’s product designer. We are sharing the roughly yearlong process, from the project’s start to its completion, in this special three-part article series.

In the second instalment, we reviewed the digital renderings of the candidate model, created and refined by a three-person team in Japan, and exchanged ideas with U.S.-based Grand Seiko members Joseph Kirk (Joe) and Jonathan Bues (Jon).

The design team created prototype models from three refined renderings. They then re-examined the models’ details and decided to combine the Minatonezu dial, with its elegant and chic design, with two strap colours: chocolate brown and light grey. This was the birth of a timepiece worthy of Grand Seiko enthusiasts around the world.

In this final instalment, we look at the unparalleled appeal of the finalized model, including its dial, case, and strap, and the unique characteristics that define this GS9 Club exclusive creation.

Part 1, “A lively debate to determine the one watch that Grand Seiko owners around the world would truly want to have!” can be found here.（Finally! The Global GS9 Club Exclusive Model Project Starts – GS9 Club | Grand Seiko : GS9 Club | Grand Seiko）

Part 2, “Taking global watch industry trends into account, the team adds a sense of exclusivity through details like the dial colour, the colour of the numeral 9, and the minute track,” can be found here.（Finally! The Global GS9 Club Exclusive Model Project Starts – GS9 Club | Grand Seiko : GS9 Club | Grand Seiko）

The traditional Edo period colour Minatonezu. A solid finish.  A dial that embodies a new challenge being taken on by Grand Seiko.

Grand Seiko Product Planner Kohei Egashira discusses this new timepiece.

“With this wristwatch, we’ve taken on the challenge of a new aesthetic design never before seen from Grand Seiko. That’s the true essence of the GS9 Club Exclusive Model. All of the developers of this timepiece, not just those involved in design and planning but also those handling its development and manufacturing, understood its significance and dedicated themselves to creating a special and distinctive model.”

This spirit is clearly reflected in the colour and texture of the dial, which serves as the “face” of the watch.

Egashira continues, “For the dial, we used an all-new color prepared especially for this model. We chose Minatonezu, which is part of the Shijūhatcha Hyakunezumi palette of traditional Japanese dye colours developed during the Edo period.”

During the late Edo period, a period of high refinement in Japan’s urban culture, the Shogunate issued sumptuary laws forbidding luxury. This led to the development of new colours that, while not as flashy as those that had been worn before, were just as chic. Shinichiro Kubo, who worked on the watch’s design, explains, “The use of nuanced colours has become a global trend, and Minatonezu is one such nuanced colour. It has a fresh and intellectual feel, and the interplay of light and shadow that Grand Seiko values so much stands out against Minatonezu.”

“Edo period society had a highly developed recycling ecosystem, something rarely seen elsewhere in the world. There was a deeply ingrained spirit of cherishing and taking care of one’s possessions. That’s why Minatonezu, a colour of which townspeople were so fond, wasn’t a deep colour, like freshly dyed cloth, but instead a softer, gentler colour, like dye that had faded with washing. We reproduced that feel in the dial.”

Grand Seiko is renowned around the world for its delicately patterned dials inspired by natural scenery, but for this watch, the designers intentionally eschewed the use of a pattern in order to bring out the feel of the colour to its fullest. A thick, clear coating was applied to the matte-finished colour and given a mirror finish for an enamel-like texture that feels solid but has a sense of depth and lustre.

“Creating this intricate colouring, which has never been done before, required exceptional craftsmanship,” says Kubo. “Opaque paint wouldn’t bring out the colour’s feeling of depth, so we used a transparent colour. Through numerous attempts, we were able to create a colour with an even more wonderful finish than we’d been hoping for. Because we used a transparent color, lighting conditions affect the appearance of the colour itself, which I think creates some fun nuance.”

On top of the refined and modern Minatonezu-coloured dial are three gold-coloured elements: a GS logo, the Arabic numeral “9,” and the seconds hand. They are quiet, warm accents―refined flourishes, like lamps in a traditional Japanese home.

As Egashira explains, “Minatonezu has a solid feel that links Japanese tradition with modern ambiance. It’s the perfect colour for the first global GS9 Club Exclusive Model. With this model, you can feel the distinctive character of Grand Seiko along with a sense of freshness. We’re very proud of just how appealing this dial has turned out.”

A slender dress design that presents a new face for Grand Seiko, combining softness with a sense of tension

The new wristwatch’s case is a slender dress watch case that has earned accolades around the world through its use in models such as the SBGY007, part of the Elegance Collection, known by the affectionate moniker “Omiwatari.” Natsuki Ando, editor-in-chief of the GS9 Club Japanese website, is also a long-time wearer of an Omiwatari.

“It’s thin and exceptionally usable, but at the same time its details are bold. I think this dress design should be seen as the face of the new generation of Grand Seiko.”

While the watch’s overall tone is one of softness, the sharp ridgelines along the sides and the polished lugs that blend with them also provide a feeling of crisp tension. To create this tone, a new approach was used, especially for the lugs, by applying Zaratsu polishing on their curved surfaces. This is a feature not found in other Grand Seiko design series.

In harmony with the curved lugs, the watch employs a special dome-shaped sapphire crystal that effectively leverages the refractive indices of light. The dual-curved sapphire crystal gives the flat dial a rounded appearance, like a classic domed dial. The lugs’ shape, and that of the sapphire crystal, give the impression of energy welling up from within, expanding them like taut spheres.

“This case design, which combines softness and tension, is a perfect fit for the color tone of the dial and stainless steel,” says Egashira. “It is modern yet warm and nostalgic, and imparts a feeling of affability as a wristwatch.”

The new GS9 Club Exclusive Model is equipped with the manual-winding Spring Drive Caliber 9R31. It resonates with the modern trends of vintage styles and dress watches, and the small case diameter of 38.5 mm and thin profile of 10.2 mm make it exceptionally easy for both men and women to wear.

The GS9 Club’s identity is expressed through the Arabic numeral “9”

The 9 o’clock position gleams with a gold-coloured Arabic numeral “9,” following in the footsteps of the previous model. Of course, this is only featured on the GS9 Club Exclusive Model. The iconic “9,” which sprang from the GS9 Club’s logo style, quietly emphasizes the model’s proud identity.

Attention should also be paid to the strap, which is both eco-friendly and safe, certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG).

“We went with supple, high-quality calf skin, intentionally choosing leather with a rich texture,” says Ando. “We also eliminated stitching so that it could be used as a dress watch, a style which is enjoying a great deal of popularity. We considered the harmony between the strap colour and the dial and selected a strap design that gave the watch a sense of newness.”

Two straps are included: one in chocolate brown, a complementary colour that accentuates the Minatonezu colour, and one in light grey, a colour favoured during the Edo period. The straps can be switched out to enjoy the distinct feel created by each.

“With this GS9 Club exclusive model, we wanted to express a distinctively Japanese smartness for those in the know,” says Kubo. “The texture shares something in common with zen, or with wabi-sabi. I am confident that this model will enthral those with a deep knowledge of Japanese culture, whether they come from here in Japan or overseas, and with a sharp eye, seeking out a timepiece that is fresh and a little different.”

Recommendations from wristwatch journalists around the globe

Web producer and writer for wristwatch media outlet HODINKEE Japan

Masaharu Wada

“This watch represents Grand Seiko’s spirit of continuously taking on new challenges. The solid feel of the dial color is truly distinctive! The seconds hand, a symbol of the spring drive, is a yellow gold color, which is certain to make watching the smooth glide of the seconds hand even more of a pleasure. The tone of the strap, with its pronounced leather texture, is also excellent. It’s subtle, but has a strong presence. It can be worn when dressing up or when dressing down, making it a dress watch truly matched to today’s times.”

Founder of wristwatch specialty e-commerce site TeddyBaldassarre.com

Teddy Baldassarre

“The light blue-grey dial colour is beautiful, and the yellow gold-coloured accents of the logo and seconds hand stand out. The “9” of the 9 o’clock position is cool and has a bold presence. The colours, including those of the straps, harmonize well. When you put the watch on your wrist, it really makes a distinct impression. Another thing I like about it is that the thin dress case is a great fit for any wrist. Presenting this unique watch as a GS9 Club exclusive model shows the sheer power of Grand Seiko.”

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photography = Hiroki Watanabe  text = Akiko Inamo

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