Having just opened its first boutique in Singapore, Grand Seiko has now announced a limited edition especially for the store. The Elegance Collection Singapore Boutique Exclusive SBGW315 is essentially a new take on the “First” cal. 3180 remake. Instead of traditional colours and materials, the SBGW315 renders the familiar design in titanium with a patterned, powder blue dial.

Initial thoughts

Grand Seiko releases a lot of limited editions – a Spring Drive pair was just announced two weeks ago – but the SBGW315 unexpectedly manages to be different. For one, the base model of the edition is infrequently iterated. The last variant of the “First” remake I can think of was from early 2023 when Grand Seiko unveiled a version with a maki-e lacquer dial.

Additionally, past “First” limited editions were more traditional in colour, with plain dials in either silver, cream, or dark colours like black or blue.

The SBGW315, on the other hand, combines the aesthetics of the “First” with a decidedly contemporary powder blue dial finished with a radial feathered pattern. While the colour and pattern are hardly novel, they give this watch a distinctive look.

Even amongst the numerous Grand Seiko limited editions, the SBGW315 stands out. And it will continue to be uncommon as long as Grand Seiko doesn’t roll out more version of the model in additional colours – which is an overly optimistic assumption given the brand’s inclination towards such watches.

A new(ish) look

The basics of SBGW315 are well known, since it is largely identical to earlier models. The case has good, vintage-inspired proportions and measures 38 mm wide and 10.9 mm high. Unusually for a vintage remake, it is in titanium. Specifically, the case is made of “Brilliant Hard Titanium”, Seiko’s proprietary titanium alloy that is harder and can be polished to a finer mirrored finish than the typical titanium alloys used for watches.

Visible through the back is the cal. 9S64, Grand Seiko’s hand-wind calibre with a 72-hour power reserve. The sapphire back is printed with the Grand Seiko emblem and “Limited Edition”, both of which are unnecessary as the case is already engraved with the edition number, and also obscure the view of the movement.

More novel is the dial, which is finished with the same radial “Mount Iwate” motif found on the Tentagraph SLGC001. The SBGW315 is perhaps the first “First” remake – no pun intended – with a patterned dial.

Like practically every other Grand Seiko, the colour of the dial is inspired by the natural landscape around Grand Seiko’s workshops. The pale blue is meant to evoke the blue sky in winter around Mount Iwate, a peak that sits nears Seiko’s facility in Shizukuishi, a town in the province named after the mountain.

Key facts and price

Grand Seiko Elegance Collection Singapore Boutique Exclusive
Ref. SBGW315

Diameter: 38 mm
Height: 10.9 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Cal. 9S64
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Winding: Manual wind
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Crocodile strap with folding clasp, additional strap in foil-stamped calfskin

Limited edition: 88 pieces
Availability: Now at Grand Seiko boutique Singapore
Price: 12,800 Singapore dollars including GST

For more, visit grand-seiko.com.