“Snow on the Blue Lake? Smoke on the water?”
I’ll admit that I didn’t see this one coming. While we’ve had limited edition releases before (read Grand Seiko SBGW255), the fact that Thong Sia has unveiled yet another one exclusively for this region shows that this corner of the world does carry a fair bit of weight when it comes to purchasing power. Part of the brand’s Heritage Collection, you’re looking at the new Grand Seiko SBGH287 ‘Snow on the Blue Lake’ limited edition model.
I’m sorry. It just had to be done…
“Anyway, back to the watch…”
Just how limited is the SBGH287 ‘Smoke on the Water’ ‘Snow on the Blue Lake’? Just 140 pieces. Plus, it’s a regional exclusive so only Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia will get it. As with almost every Grand Seiko these days, the magic lies in the execution of the dial.
This time, the dial is “inspired by Hachimandai, in Iwate prefecture, which is renowned for its beautiful scenery during the winter. From waterfalls of ice, the hyobaku, to the frost covered trees, known as juhyo, the new stainless-steel timepiece features a beautiful light blue dial that captures the intense azure sky that lowers on the glittering snow of the Hachimandai.”
In short, it’s a lovely shade of blue, ladies and gents.
“What about tech specs?”
The Grand Seiko SBGH287 ‘Snow on the Blue Lake’ comes powered by the brand’s rather familiar 9S85 calibre. The 37-jeweled automatic movement beats at a rate of 5 Hz and has a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Naturally, hand-winding and hacking capabilities are present. While water resistance isn’t explicitly stated, I reckon it’s capped at 100 m considering its non-limited cousins like the SBGH279 have that official rating.
As for measurements, the stainless steel case (which comes with drilled lugs, by the way) spans 40 mm across. Lug to lug width is 46.2 mm while the thickness is 13.3 mm. Flip the watch around and you’re greeted with a marked sapphire caseback. A blue crocodile leather strap with contrasting stitching and a push-button clasp rounds things off with the SBGH287.
“Last but not least…”
How much? The Grand Seiko SBGH287 ‘Snow on the Blue Lake’ retails for RM26,500. Once again, it’s a regional (Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei & Singapore) exclusive model limited to only 140 pieces.
