Grand Seiko Spring Drive Stainless Steel SBGA211

Grand Seiko says the pattern draws on wind-carved snow on the Hotaka range, seen from its Shinshu Watch Studio, and that the texture comes from a silver-plating process rather than paint. Worn & Wound puts the titanium case and bracelet at about 30% lighter than the same watch would be in steel.

The 9R65 is a Spring Drive calibre: a mainspring drives it, a glide wheel braked electromagnetically against a quartz reference regulates it, and the seconds hand sweeps. Grand Seiko rates it at ±15 seconds a month (about ±1 second a day) with roughly 72 hours of reserve, shown on the dial. The case is 12.5 mm thick and 49 mm lug to lug, with a screw-down crown, and takes a 20 mm strap. The SBGA259 shares its case, dial and movement. The Snowflakes in gold, the white gold SBGA289 and the yellow and pink gold SBGA290 and SBGA292, come in a 39 mm case on a strap.