I write this article today for two reasons… 1. The Snowflake has been the No. 1 selling Grand Seiko out of the entire line up.  I have been privileged enough to own this piece now for a year and a half, and wanted to share my personal experience with this amazing timepiece. 2. I want to introduce a new very special Snowflake that will be coming exclusively to AZ Fine Time in the USA.

With the Snowflake being a part of my collection for sometime now, I feel it is only appropriate to sing it the praise it deserves.  This piece has become my everyday wear, and I almost never remove it from my wrist.  It has been through thick and thin (and sometimes I feel I abuse it), but still manages to be by far my favorite piece I own with no exceptions.  I currently own 19 watches, most have not seen my wrist in a long time.  There is nothing but pride when I wear my Snowflake, and for many good reasons.

We were 1st introduced to the Snowflake during our 1st Grand Seiko Roadshow back in 2010.  At the time, we had only seen pictures of the model and never had the watch hands on.  Master watchmaker from Shinshu Watch Studio, Junya Kamijo, was in store building a Grand Seiko Diver.  We noticed on his wrist the pure white dial and asked him to show off the beautiful timepiece.  He did not speak very much english, so he had another gentleman from Japan (Kosuke “Reggie” Kiryu) explain how the piece had acquired the nickname “Snowflake” at the factory.  The watches inspiration was, in fact, the winters of the Suwa Nagano region of Japan (where Shinshu watch studio was located).  The dial resembled the snow fall in Suwa.  Since it is in central Japan, with less humidity, the snowfall is light and airy and leaves snowdrift patterns as also seen in the alps surrounding.  The titanium case is to make it as light as a snowflake, and blue second hand and text is to give it the cold feel.  There was much pride in this piece and since one of the top Spring Drive watchmakers considered it his favorite, it was hard for the rest of us not to.  Ever since then, I had been drawn to this piece and decided it was a must to have in my collection.  Apparently, I was not the only one.

In my experience, my Snowflake has managed to maintain only gaining 1 second every seven weeks or so.  It has been this way since I purchased it well over a year ago.  There has been no change in its 72 hour power reserve, still maintaining perfectly.  The most incredible part as that there has been no love lost since I first purchased the piece.  I still find myself staring at its mesmerizing gliding of the second hand, as well as the beauty of the dial and finish on the case and bracelet.  The “honeymoon period” of this watch has not gone away, nor do I think it will.

As a brief overview of the watch itself, it is a 41mm proprietary Seiko alloy of titanium, that is not only lightweight, but also has an incredible finish allowed by this alloy.  The Zaratsu katana blade polishing technique is incredibly impressive and comes to a mirror finish.  It is highly unusual to see titanium in this quality of finish. The 9R65 Spring Drive movement utilized is truly unique and extremely high quality.  The uni-directional flow of Spring Drive is something incredibly unique, and something no one else in the industry has achieved.  At its new MSRP of only $6,300, it is truly an amazing value.

With the popularity of the Snowflake SBGA011, a new, very special Snowflake has emerged.  The Grand Seiko Spring Drive Snowflake Special has officially been announced, and will be delivering exclusively to Arizona Fine Time in the US towards the end of August.

Grand Seiko Snowflake Special 18kt Gold – SBGA089, SBGA090, SBGA092

Only one each of the SBGA089 18kt White Gold, SBGA090 18kt Yellow Gold, and SBGA092 18kt Rose Gold will be coming stateside, and AZFT is extremely proud to have all 3 exclusive.  These new 39mm case with black leather straps will have a very special attribute never before seen in the US market.  The Spring Drive 9R15 movement is an even higher accuracy rating than typical Spring Drive at only +/- 10 seconds a month deviation.  The quartz crystals utilized in the Tri-Synchro Regulator have been specially aged, tested and hand picked to ensure the highest quality.  Since there are very few of these crystals available, this model will be extremely limited availability.  To show the uniqueness of this piece, Seiko has an 18kt gold GS medallion on the rotor of the 9R15, which will be visible through the exhibition case back.

If you are interested in reserving one of the 18kt Snowflakes, highly recommend acting fast.  Due to the recent price decrease, these will be the least expensive 18kt gold pieces to ever hit the US market.  Please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 with any questions or check out AZ Fine Time to see more.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

For the 100th Anniversary in watchmaking for Seiko, one of the most unique case designs for the brand was brought back to life in limited edition form for 2013.  The 44GS, originally released in 1967 has been reintroduced looking identical to the original, but with the state of the art technology on the inside.  This gorgeous design will be implemented in the brand as 4 limited edition manual wind models, and 2 automatics.  These very special timepieces are scheduled to come in sometime in early August, but we couldn’t wait to share some of the details before their arrival.

The truest remake to the original is going to be the 4 manual wind variations utilizing the 9S64 caliber, which has a 72 hour power reserve due to its Spron 510 mainspring, the ultra-durable Spron 610 alloy (see demonstration HERE), and Grand Seiko standards of -3/+5 seconds a day deviation rate.  These models will be 38mm wide and 11.5mm thick with a deeply domed sapphire crystal.   The SBGW047 (far right) will be stainless steel and limited to 700 pieces for the world.  The SBGW046 (rose gold), SBGW044 (yellow gold) and SBGW043 (white gold) will be limited to only 70 pieces of each for the world, with only 1 of each shade coming to the US market.  We are proud to say, all 3 models in 18kt gold will be exclusively sold at AZ Fine Time in the US market.  MSRP for the steel at the newly lowered pricing is set at $5,150.  The white and rose gold will be $18,500 and the yellow gold $17,500.

Along with the manual wind variations will be 2 new automatics in the 44GS series.  The SBGR081 (silver dial) will have a blue accented second hand and total production count of 1,200 pieces for the world.  The SBGR083 (black dial) is going to have yellow gold accents and a total production count of only 700 pieces across the globe.  They both are 40mm wide, 13.4mm thick, and use the 9S65 self-winding caliber, which are made (along with the 9S64) completely in-house by Seiko at their Shizuku-Ishi Watch Studio in Morioka, Japan.

The entire design of these models stay true to the original in many ways.  While the manual wind variations retain more of the original design and are near exact, both keep true to the inspiration of the impressive 44GS design. All 6 variations will have closed case-backs with individual serial numbers.

The case design of these pieces are incredibly intricate and well thought out.  The ideals in creating this design were to make a comfortable shape, that expresses the true beauty of craftsmanship while playing on light and shadow.  The aesthetic values of these pieces highlight Japanese tradition.  The term “Seiko Style” was derived from utilizing these Japanese styles that have been long implemented in their culture for years.  The traits of this style mostly utilize straight lines and flat surfaces, which play beautifully with light and shadow.  You may recognize some of these traits in fusuma (sliding doors), folding screens, fans and Shoji screens (paper sliding doors).

With this incredible design, the use of the immaculate Zaratsu katana blade polishing technique is highly visible.  The brilliant sparkle of Grand Seiko is something that can only be truly appreciated first hand and with the new 44GS variations, the wearer gets to experience more of it.  Thanks to the dominant flat surface of the case, the mirror finish truly shines.  The incredibly labor intensive process of Zaratsu is not only utilized on the case and bezel, but also on the hands and indexes allowing them to glimmer and reflect small amounts of light, making for easier legibility in the dark.

We truly look forward to receiving the new Grand Seiko 44GS Historical Collection models here at Arizona Fine Time.  Very few quantities will come to the US, and a vast amount of our allotments are already reserved by anxiously awaiting customers.  If you are interested in pre-ordering any of these models or have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Here is a video from Seiko showing some of the beauty behind the 44GS…

Thanks for reading!

One of the most iconic dive pieces from Seiko, which has strictly been sold in the Japanese market , is the Prospex Marine Master Professional ”Tuna Can”.  The nickname Tuna Can basically describes how the piece looks on the wrist.  Like a big can of tuna, which is only fitting for this dive piece.  I know, for many years, people have waited to see if the watch would ever be available with the unique Spring Drive movement.  Earlier this year, rumors started spreading and  now the hope of seeing the infamous Tuna Can with a Spring Drive movement has become a reality in a limited edition of only 300 pieces for the world.

The 1st time Seiko introduced the shrouded “Tuna” case design was in 1975.  The titanium shroud provided an airtight, watertight, corrosion and abrasion resistance with over 20 patents in the exterior alone.  This 600m divers piece became iconic and was one of the best dive tools on the market back then.  Today, with an even more elaborate case design, the new Spring Drive Tuna will make for one of the most accurate, mechanically driven 600m dive watches on the market.

There are many factors making this timepiece such an impressive dive tool.  Its DLC coated titanium structure that protects the watch from impact and shock and also ensures its security in extreme conditions.  The torque control unidirectional rotating bezel has excellent functionality, operating smooth but solid and can easily be grasped on the openings from 12:00-3:00 and 6:00-9:00, providing even more added security so the bezel does not move accidentally.  Another factor is the “L” shaped packing structure utilized to provide complete air and water tightness at one of the highest standards across the globe.  The polyurethane strap has a great level of elasticity, perfect for the varying change in water pressures.  Finally, the crown located at 4:00 to provide comfort to the wearer as well as keeping it safe from potentially catching on something.  Of course, the Lumibrite applied is incredibly strong, helping visibility in darkest of waters.

The new Seiko Prospex Tuna Can Limited Edition SBDB008 just had its official press release by Seiko Japan and is anticipated for delivery in the US sometime in early September (possibly earlier).  The large case size measures out at about 50mm wide, 16.2mm thick, and weighs in at 118g.  The SBDB008 utilizes the 5R65 Spring Drive movement, and (as I mentioned) will be limited to only 300 pieces for the world.  As we understand it, this may be one of the last Spring Drive models you will see outside of the Grand Seiko brand.  Unfortunately, the entire Prospex series is still not available outside of Japan.  This small taste, however, is the best piece you could ask for!

This piece has been wildly popular  at AZ Fine Time, and with small quantities coming in, is already near sold out.  If you were interested in owning this timepiece, we highly recommend putting in your pre-order to reserve before they are gone.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 and we will be happy to help.

Thanks for reading!

AZ Fine Time is proud to announce the 1st official landing of the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph SBGC003 to the US market!  For the last 2.5 years collectors have longed to own the, originally Japanese market only, black dialed chronograph and now the opportunity has arisen.  As a new part to the international collection, the SBGC003 is incredibly crafted (as with all Grand Seiko’s) and adds a new sportier style to the Spring Drive Chronograph line up.

As I mentioned, the SBGC003 was only sold on the Japanese Domestic Market until today.  This piece is one of the very first to appear as an official part of the US line up, with full 3 year manufacture warranty.  The first time we encountered this model was back during our Grand Seiko Roadshow in 2011.  At the time, the President of Seiko USA (Mr. Kenji Hagiwara) was wearing this timepiece on his wrist.  The overall curiosity with this model was elevated to a whole new level, and many started to ask when the US would have access to this model.

Now that the piece is in stock, we can do a full, thorough review and expose the true beauty behind this piece.  The matte black lacquer dial really adds a to the sport look of this piece versus the sunburst dial of the SBGC001.  While they are both incredible pieces, the black dial SBGC003 seems to appeal to a broader crowd.  The elegance of the SBGC001 makes for a great dressier chrono, while still having great sport function, but the black dial dresses down slightly more.  The beautiful SBGC005 in titanium also offers a black dial, but the yellow gold accents make for a more unique look, that may not be everyones preference.  The stainless steel case, bracelet, hands and indexes make for a more subtle and subdued piece that can remain more casual and neutral.

Of course, the SBGC003 offers essentially all the same outstanding traits of the other Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronographs.  The Zaratsu katana blade mirror finish on the case, bracelet, hands and indexes making the piece sparkle like a diamond.  The unique design of the chrono pushers, which surprisingly wear incredibly comfortable for their shape and size, which somehow manages not to dig into your wrist.  The ease of using the pushers is also a very nice trait.  The pushers have screw locks that actually push a cuff up to the top of the flared out pusher and lock it into place.  The system is incredibly unique and function wise feels amazing.  The solid feel of the chrono function is thanks to Seiko’s in house designed, developed, and manufactured 9R86 movement.

The 9R86 is intended to be the most reliable chronograph on the market and in all honesty, probably is.  This movement has 416 parts, 50 jewels, a power reserve of 72 hours and is made at Shinshu Watch Studio in Suwa, Japan.  Its features include 12 hour chronograph, date, power reserve display, and GMT. The accuracy of Spring Drive is incredible and that accuracy carries over to the chronograph measurements.  The use of a vertical clutch in the 9R86 has many benefits.  Not only is it a better system to ensure the gears line up properly with the use of the chrono, but it also allows for a smoother transition when starting the chronograph (no jump of the chrono sec hand),  and has less of an effect on accuracy while running the chrono.  Not only that, but the power reserve is not reduced by use of the chronograph.  In most watches, the power will run down faster, where in the 9R86, this does not happen.  Thanks to a special “chronograph seconds mid-wheel” the piece minimizes the loss of power while the energy is being used for the chronograph.  This 10 part gear wheel reduces the energy use by about 1/5th of what it would normally take.  As always, Seiko never ceases to amaze me with the technology incorporated in their timepieces.

The Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph SBGC003 will have an MSRP of $8,600.  This will not be the only new core model in the GS line up.  You can look forward to the SBGE011, SBGA083 and SBGA085.  Which will be in stock soon.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

See our video review below…

Thanks for reading!

Announced officially at this years Basel World Fair, the Seiko Astron GPS added 3 new styles for the US marekt.  The SAST015 is the 1st to deliver of the new models, and looks incredible live in the metal.  There are a few newly added attributes that contribute to a unique look to this model as compared to the rest of the line.

The biggest improvement on the new SAST015 is the new ceramic bezel, which now has the city codes engraved on it making it even more legible.  As we have mentioned in our previous posts on Astron, the ceramic bezel is not only used for its scratch resistance, but also enhances the reception of Seiko’s in-house developed antenna ring, which sits underneath the bezel.  If the watch used a titanium bezel, the metal would cause interference with reception, which makes the ceramic the perfect fit for the Astron.

Another distinct trait of this model is the new ceramic/titanium bracelet.  The center links are ceramic, with thin polished links surrounding the ceramic and brushed links outside of that.  The new use of ceramic in the Astron series looks gorgeous in person, and definitely adds an entirely new look to the design.   The flow of ceramic from the bezel to the bracelet is smooth and unique, which really grabs peoples attention.

The SAST015 has a red second and mode hand, adding the “pop” to the watch to make it even more appealing.  The subtle accents on the dial add a surprising amount of sportiness to the model,  and still mesh well with the rest of the piece. As with all the Astron models, the dial is a black solar panel, and deeply recessed, giving a full 3 dimensional depth to the dial.  The case sides on this model are also engraved, similar to the LE SAST001 from last year.

The feedback on the functionality of the Astron has been amazing to say the least.  With NO complaints, problems, or malfunctions reported by any of our customers, the new technology of the Astron has been essentially flawless.  The new technology Seiko developed in-house is incredibly impressive and proved to be a great travel companion.  I have now traveled with my own Astron GPS across the globe and have been able to receive successful reception with no issues whatsoever.

With over 100 patents in the movement alone, Seiko’s Astron GPS technology is truly unique.  The range of newly developed materials start with a new GPS receiver with 1/5th the power consumption of a standard chip.  There is also a smart sensor that recognizes bright sunlight and automatically connects to 1 GPS satellite to update the accuracy.  A new integrated circuit was also developed to use a back up battery to ensure no malfunction in charging.  And of course, the antenna ring that sits under the bezel allowing clear satellite reception.  These are only some of the attributes that make the 7X52 movement so impressive.

At $2,650 MSRP, the new SAST015 is a tremendous value. Also, the Astron’s are now available for order directly through our website.  You can now easily order the SAST015 by clicking HERE.  Of course, you can always contact us with any questions or to place the order by calling 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

One of the most anticipated Glycine novelties from this year was their new Airman 17 Sphair 3927.  We’re happy to say, the new styled GMT has landed at AZ Fine Time and this piece is by far more impressive then pictures can do justice.

The Airman series is celebrating their 60th birthday this year, and in turn, a slew of new Airman’s have been introduced for this tremendous occasion.  The newly delivered Sphair is a part of the revamped Airman 17 line up.  As some of you may know, the 17′s have changed in movement as well as the thickness, making for a thinner timepiece than its predecessors.  The movement has changed from a Valgranges A07.171, to the newly introduced  GL 293, which has 21 jewels, a 42 hour power reserve, 28,800 bph and incredible fit and finish using perlage, striping and blue screws.

The most appealing part of this piece is the rubberized bezel, crown and secondary crown which acts as a lock for the 24 hour bezel.  The rubber for the bezel not only makes for an easier grip on the bezel itself, but also helps add protection and shock absorption to its front side.  The rubber on both crowns also makes for an easy grip and easy adjustment when necessary.

The Sphair is available in 2 movement types, the GMT as featured in this reivew, or a purist.  The biggest difference between the two variations is that the GMT versions hour hand reads in 12 hour increments and the GMT hand will read in 24.  This allows the user to adjust the bezel making 3 timezones visible on the dial/bezel.  The purist version will not have the additional hand, and will only display 2 timezones, with the hour hand reading only in 24 hour increments.

The overall look of this piece is quite stunning.  The matte rubber works well with the black matte dial.  The burnt orange accents create a little extra “pop” which is a very nice touch.  The overall legibility is very good, especially considering all that is going on within the dial.

The case is mostly a high polished finish and measures out at 46mm wide and 10.75mm thick.  The old variations were 15mm thick, so the new movement has made a substantial difference.  This Glycine comes on a black calfskin leather strap with white contrast stitching, which certainly blends very well with the rest of the watch.

The Glycine Airman 17 Shpair 3927.196-LB9 retails for $2,950.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 and be sure to check us out on AZFineTime.com.

See our video review below…

Thanks for reading!

To celebrate 100 years of watchmaking and 20 years of the 9F Quartz Movement, the introduction of the new Grand Seiko SBGX103 Limited Edition has had precision infatuated collectors drooling.  We first saw this spectacular timepiece hands on at the Basel World Fair back in April and were very excited to see such a gorgeous commemorative piece.  As of last night, this piece is officially available at AZ Fine Time.  With many special attributes and characteristics, lets see what makes the SBGX103 such an impressive timepiece.

To start, the SBGX103 is the essentially the same movement  as the  standard 9F62, but the difference lies in the quartz crystal utilized.  Seiko actually grows, ages (for 90 days) and tests all quartz crystals found in Grand Seiko extensively for about 6 months.  This ensures a standard 9F62 to perform within a +/-10 second a year deviation rate.  On the SBGX103, an even more rare quartz crystal is used, that has been thoroughly tested and is guaranteed to perform within a +/-5 second a year deviation rate.  Because these crystals are so limited, this particular model is restricted to only 2,000 pieces for the world.

The 9F62 movement itself is incredibly impressive.  Seiko’s technology and technique used to make the 9F the ultimate quartz movement vary on many levels.  One of the reasons the 9F is so accurate is that it is thermo-compensated.  As I mentioned, the quartz crystal utilized has to be thoroughly aged and tested to make for superior accuracy, but the real precision falls on compensating for temperature deviations.  All 9F Quartz detect internal temperature variations 540 times a day and fine tune the oscillation to compensate for these variations.  Each quartz crystals characteristics are programmed to the watches integrated circuit, ensuring its high precision on each individual timepiece, despite the way the quartz crystals react to temperature variants.

Some other incredible feats of the 9F are its twin pulse control motor, its backlash auto-adjust mechanism, and its super-sealed cabin.  The twin pulse control motor provides the extra torque necessary to move the larger and heavy second hand used in GS.  By sending two signals per second, the watch is provided the extra torque needed without effecting the battery life.  The backlash auto-adjust mechanism controls the vibration of the second hand by using a hairspring (yes, the same one found in a mechanical watch).  This allows for the perfect second hand alignment without the vibration throwing it off.   Finally, its super-sealed cabin protects the rotor and gear train and increases the life of the lubricants used, making for a 50 year service life.  The watches battery does need to be changed every three years, but since it is on the outside of the movement, it can be done easily without allowing any dust or debris to enter the movement.

With the SBGX103, there are many attributes to the dial that while subtle, add for tremendous detail in tribute to its anniversary.  The white dial seems to almost have the “snowflake” texture to the background, which is hardly noticeable without looking close.  This would make sense though as it is also made at Shinshu watch studio where the Snowflake SBGA011 is made.  On top of that is an embossed pattern resembling “XX”, (Roman Numerals for 20) to indicate the 20 year anniversary.  You will also notice the small Grand Seiko lions spread the across the dial. All of which are facing West, except for the lone lion at the 20 minute indicator, also paying tribute to the 20 year anniversary.  The final icing on the cake is the 5 pointed star located above the 6:00, to signify its +/- 5 second a year accuracy rating.

Along with the other special attributes, the SBGX103 also has an 18k gold medallion on the center of the case back with engravings of both the serial number and “Caliber 9F 20th Anniversary Since 1993″.  The bracelet on this piece also differs from the standard quartz, using the Zaratsu blade polishing technique on the in-between links of its 5 piece construction.  The overall fit and finish of this piece is exquisite on the 37mm stainless steel case.

With such limited availability in the US, it is certain to sell out fast.  The MSRP is set at $3,450 and is now available for order at AZ Fine Time.  Of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

For the 9F 20th Anniversary, we have 20 pictures for you to check out…

As a new part of the Signature Collection by Citizen, the Grand Touring is the latest addition to the lineup using an automatic movement.  With the tremendous success of the Grand Classic line, it is not surprising that Citizen introduced more variety in design using their Miyota 9010 movement, which is made exclusive for the Signature lineup.  With high praise, the affordable self-winding movement now has a case and bracelet design as compared to the Grand Classic.

The 44m stainless steel case and bracelet on the NB0070-57E is built solid and somewhat beefy.  The finish is beautifully done and well executed consisting of mostly brushed on the case, with 2 stripes of high polish running up the bracelet.  Despite its size, it actually wears very comfortably and even though the crown protector looks large, it doesn’t dig into the wrist.  The crown protector has a unique system where part of the crown protector actually comes out with the crown.  This system makes for an easy grab of the crown when necessary.

The dial on this Grand Touring is very unique.  The applied numerals are very 3 dimensional and sharp in design.  The hands are quite large, making for great legibility.     I was truly impressed when seeing the watch for the first time hands on.  It has a ton of individual character.  Even the second hand of the watch has a unique design, especially at the tail end.  The black dial of the piece is protected by a deeply domed sapphire crystal with dual sided anti-reflective coating.

The Grand Touring collection is going to be available in three styles, all the same case design.  The other styles will come on leather straps.  The NB0070-07E will be the same as the NB0070-57E ,but with a brown leather strap. The NB0075-11F will have a black coated case with brown leather strap and rose gold plated hands and indexes.  While all three variations have not been released yet, they are scheduled to arrive by this fall.

As I had mentioned previously, the movement utilized is the automatic 9010, manufactured by Miyota (which is a part of Citizen Watch Co.) exclusively for the Signature Collection.  The unidirectional winding, 24 jewel movement has proven to be a workhorse over the last year of being available.  Its rotor turns with great momentum and fluid motion, which is truly impressive.  Easily rivaling its Swiss counterparts, the 9010 has proven to be a very high quality movement, for an excellent price point.

There is luminescence on all three hands of this timepiece as well as eight of the indexes.  The watch also has a water resistance of 200 meters and is going to have an MSRP of $1,195.  Another tremendous quality for the money piece for Citizen to add to their roster.

As always, if you have any questions or wish to pre-order the  Citizen Signature Grand Touring Automatic NB0070-57E (or the other 2 variations), please call us at 1-800-486-3996.  Also, don’t forget to check us on AZFineTime.com.

See our video review below…

Thanks for reading!

Seiko has been very early on delivery this year with new items already landing that debuted at Basel Fair.  With the onslaught of new additions, today we just received our first shipment of the Seiko Astron GPS Solar SAST025 and man is it gorgeous!

The SAST025 has a 47mm stainless steel case with black hard coating.  The city codes are engraved on its multi-purpose ceramic bezel (as with all the new models) and this beauty has illuminating orange accents.  The orange makes for a distinct timepiece, that really grabs attention.  From all the feedback we’ve heard so far today, this model is sure to be favored by many Astron lovers.

The technology on this model, of course, is exactly the same as its predecessors, utilizing GPS technology to actually pinpoint your current location and update the hands all at the push of a button.  Seiko developed a vast majority of the tech in this piece in-house, in order to use its power efficiently.  Since GPS is a big drain on power in most cases, these developments in technology were essential to make this piece possible.  Some of the portions made are a new GPS receiver chip with 1/5th the power consumption of a standard GPS receiver, an antenna ring under the ceramic bezel allowing easy reception, and a new IC, allowing the watch to use a backup battery to help keep the main battery from losing its power reserve over time.

Another interesting part of Astron GPS is its ability to update for leap seconds adjustment.  Basically, the atomic clock is adjusted twice a year to line up perfectly with UTC.  The adjustment in the watch occurs twice a year, once after June 1st and once after December 1st, and will only occur when you attempt to connect to the satellites by holding down the lower right button for six seconds.  Your second hand will not point to the exact hour marker, which helps identify it is in leap second adjustment.  This can take around 10-18 minutes to complete, but sometimes is faster.  This helps allow the watch to maintain its 1 second every 100,000 years deviation rate.

The silicone strap is incredibly soft and comfortable and adds a nice sportiness to the watch.  This new silicone developed by Seiko is incredibly durable, and is near tear resistant.  Along with the strap, the watch comes with a black coated 3 fold deployment clasp making for easy adjustment and added security.  On top of that, the watch uses Lumibrite, Seiko’s in-house made luminescence, in orange and green to give a beautiful glow.

The new Seiko Astron SAST025 is now available for order HERE or by calling us at 1-800-486-3996.  The MSRP is only $1,850, which is really an amazing value for all the technology that comes along with it.

See our video review below..

Thanks for reading!

The latest piece to deliver from Seiko is their new Grand Seiko 44GS Historical Collection Automatic Limited Edition SBGR081.  The 44GS was originally introduced in 1967 and paid tribute to Japanese design influence utilizing flat surfaces to play off of light and shadow.  There will be 6 introductions this year under the 44GS series, and the first to land is the SBGR081.

The SBGR081 has a flat silver sunburst dial with blued second hand and incredibly detailed hands and indexes.  The difference in design of the dial as compared to other GS models lies in the hands and indexes.

The indexes on this model are slightly broader and most noticeably  at the 12:00.  The hands are slimmer than others and also have more of an angle than you will find on other GS models, with a central brushed finish and mirror finish on the sides.  The Zaratsu katana blade finish is  utilized to make for an incredible sparkle adding legibility and a design  that is truly unique to Grand Seiko.

The case design on this piece is truly special.  The 40mm stainless steel case uses a broad flat surface on the sides, exposing more of the beautiful Zaratsu finish.  You can notice the sharp angles utilized on the case along with brushed and mirror finish, making this piece truly stunning.  The influence of this timepiece comes from traditional Japanese aesthetics, using flat surfaces and straight lines giving to really make great use of the light and shadow aspect.  The lines and slight curves on this case really make for an impressive piece on the wrist, that can be gazed upon from all angles, never losing appreciation for its unique characteristics.  The simplistic but highly detailed design is what became know as “Seiko Style”.

For the SBGR081, Seiko uses their in-house designed, developed and manufactured 9S65.  The 9S65 has a 72 hour power reserve (off only one barrel), 28,800 bph, and uses MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems) to manufacture some of the most vital components in the watch.  MEMS is a manufacturing technique that Seiko mastered in its semi-conductor division and uses etching to create shapes and designs that could not be produced in a conventional manufacturing process.  This technique along with the Spron alloys, used for mainspring and hairspring, give the watchmakers the tools to build one of the most impressive pieces in the industry.  The perfect fusion of technology and craftsmanship allows all Grand Seiko pieces to pass a more extensive testing process than Swiss certified chronometer.

With only 1,200 pieces of the SBGR081 being produced, it is sure to be a collectors item and sell out very quickly.  The 44GS automatic will also be available in a black dial variation (SBGR083), that will have only 700 pieces produced.  Be sure to stay tuned to our blog to see our full review tomorrow.

The MSRP of the Grand Seiko 44GS Historical Collection Automatic SBGR081 is $4,600.  We are extremely proud to now have these in stock at AZ Fine Time, and will certainly miss them when they are gone.

If you have any questions, or wish to order one of these beauties for yourself, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

Along with our delivery yesterday of the the Grand Seiko 44GS Automatic SBGR081, we received its black dialed counterpart, SBGR083.  This piece only differs in dial color and that the watch has yellow gold accents for the second hand and GS logo.  The design on the 40mm stainless steel case is exactly the same, which is truly impressive and inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics.

The original 44GS that came out in 1967 not only paid close attention to precision mechanics, but also to beauty of design.  As I mentioned in the review for the 081, these pieces utilize flat surfaces and straight lines to play off of light and shadow.  The broad flat surfaces expose more of the beautiful Zaratsu finish, which give a pure mirror reflection with no distortion.  The design is elegant and is made to fit beautifully to the wrist.

The bracelet also has design elements to ensure comfort and beauty, with a perfect shape and thickness and each link individually hand polished.  The dual curved AR coated sapphire crystal along with the diamond cut / Zaratsu finished hands and indexes also make for incredible legibility, on top of its gorgeous look.  All design elements on Grand Seiko are incredibly well thought out.

Another impressive attribute to this piece is its in-house manufactures 9S65 mechanical automatic movement.  The watch not only has a 72 hour power reserve, due to Seiko’s Spron 510 mainspring, but also a higher durability hairspring, which is the Spron 610.  This along with MEMS manufacturing of parts enables Seiko to put the watch through an incredibly strict testing period.

The Grand Seiko standard was developed to rival certified chronometer grade.  Its current standard was developed in 1998 and is tested in 6 positions (instead of 5), 2 temperatures (instead of 1), 17 days (instead of 15), and has a -3/+5 second a day deviation rating (instead of -4/+6).  To make all this possible, there are several steps to ensure its quality.  The movement is assembled, then tested for over 300 hours.  The movement is then fine tuned, and goes though another 400 hours of inspection.  The watch is then fully assembled, and goes through its final inspection stage.  This totals up for over 1,000 hours of testing to certify a Grand Seiko timepiece.

The Grand Seiko 44GS Historical Collection SBGR083 is not only a gorgeous watch, but an incredibly built timepiece.  At a MSRP of $4,600, it is also an incredible value.  Only 700 pieces were made for the world and will not be around long.

Please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 with any questions or if you wish to add one to your collection.  Don’t forget to see all the other new introductions from Seiko on AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

As a very special limited edition tribute to IndyCar racer Tony Kanaan, Luminox debuted the new Luminox Tony Kanaan Valjoux Limited Edition A.1188 at Basel Fair 2013.  For the 1st time, this series will feature a Valjoux 7750 movement and will be limited to only 311 pieces for the world, 11 of which (I believe) went to Kanaan and his team.  Coincidentally, with the debut of this limited edition, Tony Kanaan won (his first) 1st place spot in the Indy 500 this year, making the watch even more of a collectors item.

This new model has a 44mm PVD coated stainless steel, asymmetrical , 3 layer design case.  The unusual shape actually fits quite comfirtabley to the wrist and looks truly impressive.  The bezel on this model is a stationary ceramic that has a nice gloss, and matches well to it domed and anti-reflective coated sapphire  crystal.  The case sides also have carbon fiber inlay which goes great with the racing theme of the watch.

The dial is really striking, with a vertically embossed texture that adds tremendous detail.  The dial displays the actual seconds, hours, minutes, chronograph hours, minutes and seconds, as well as day and date.  The indexes for this model are in a unique shape, with the 11:00 displaying the actual number 11, which is Kanaan’s car number.

The color scheme for this piece is green and yellow, which are Kanaan’s colors, and contribute a lot of character to make the watch really pop.  The black calf leather strap has dual contrast stitching in green and yellow with a 2 tang buckle design.  The strap also has a green underside and is very soft and comfortable to wear.

The use of a Valjoux 7750 is a first for the TK series.  The movement has established the reputation as a workhorse and is frequently used in many of the high-end Swiss brands today.  The decoration is very well done using a high polish on most components with heavy perlage on the rotor.  The sapphire crystal exposing the movement also features an image of Kanaan’s race car, autograph and the Luminox logo.

As with all Luminox watches, the ever popular tritium gas tubes are used on all of the indexes, as well as the hour and minute hand.  These tubes are activated in the dark, and can provide continuous luminescence for 25 years.

The MSRP on the Luminox Tony Kanaan Valjoux Limited Edition A.1188 is $3,000.  While it is in a higher price range compared to most Luminox, it still proves to be an outstanding value for a 7750 limited edition.  If you wish to order the Tony Kanaan LE, you can order HERE.  Otherwise, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 with any questions.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

For the 100th Anniversary of watchmaking for Seiko, they have introduced a series of Limited Edition automatics, in one of their most iconic series, the “Monster”.  The first in our review is SRP455 which is the closest to the actual monster everyone knows and loves.  Recently, Seiko made some upgraded Monster’s using their 4R36 movement, and the SRP455 is no exception.

The use of the upgraded 4R36 is beneficial in several ways.  First and foremost, this model will have a hack (stop seconds) and manual wind feature, which you did not have in the infamous “Orange Monster”.  The 4R36 has 24 jewels, 21,600 bph, and displays centralized time day and date.

The bezel on this piece is a dark metallic blue plating that looks truly impressive in person.  There is also yellow gold plating for the hands and 4:00 crown and a blue polyurethane strap.  These colors signify the theme of the 100th Anniversary of Watchmaking for Seiko.  The overall flow and color scheme mesh together perfectly.

The dial on the SRP455 is a metallic gradient blue in a sunburst pattern with dark blue (almost black) chapter ring.  The indexes on this piece are monstrous and heavily coated in lume.  The sharp, shark tooth style indexes compliment the large hour and minute hand very well, and bring tremendous luminous aspects to the watch in the dark.

The stainless steel case measures out just slightly over 43mm and as with all mosters, has a great case side design that is shaped to match the sides of the bezel.  The attention to detail on such an inexpensive watch is really impressive.

The new Seiko Monster SRP455 Superior Limited Edition is set to retail at $495.  I have to say that you cannot beat the price for such a unique and quality limited edition.

Thanks for reading!

Please click HERE to purchase.

See our video review below…

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Along with yesterdays delivery of the SRP455, came a new style of Seiko that up until now, has yet to officially see the US market.  The Seiko Superior Limited Edition SRP453 or “Baby Tuna” is now in stock at AZ Fine Time.

The SRP453 has a slightly larger case size as compared to the 455 at roughly 46mm.  Part of the reason for this is its shrouded case design.  The nickname “baby tuna” was acquired due to its similar case design to the infamous “tuna can”. This smaller variation has a composite blue shroud with an opening from 12:00-3:00 and 6:00-9:00 to allow easy grasp on its unidirectional bezel.  The bezel on this piece is also blue, but has a metallic finish that look quite impressive in person.

The gradient blue sunburst dial works very well with the rest of the watch giving a nice variety of blue.  The large hands on this piece  are accented with yellow gold, as well as its 4:00 crown, adding to the color scheme of this years big anniversary.  Seiko is celebrating their 100th year of watchmaking, and the new superior automatics are a great affordable addition to this years limited edition lineup.

Along with the SRP455, this model uses the 4R36 movement with self-winding, manual wind option, and hack feature.  This movement has a rate of 21,600 bph, 24 jewels and has over a 41 hour power reserve. This is definitely an upgrade for Seiko Diver Automatic fans and has already proven to be an excellent value.

The Seiko Superior Limited Edition Automatic SRP453 is only $550 and can be ordered HERE.  Of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

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We are very proud to announce the arrival of the newest brand to the AZ Fine Time roster, JeanRichard.  With an incredible selection of beautiful timepieces, we wanted to start with one of their finest.  The 1681 series pays tribute to famous historical watchmaker Daniel JeanRichard, and the year he made his first timepiece.

Daniel JeanRichard found his love for watchmaking when he was given a broken English watch by a merchant.  In repairing the piece, he became intrigued, studying the piece and later went on to manufacture his own.  In 1681, he finished his very 1st timepiece, which was also the first for his region.  In later years, he founded his atelier and even invented machinery and tools to manufacture his timepieces.  Today, the JeanRichard brand pays tribute to his start within the 1681 series.

The JeanRichard 1681 60320-11-651-QD60 has a 46mm cushion shaped case with round bezel and utilizes both satin and high polished attributes to give incredible detail.  You will notice there are two polished inserts on the case side that are attached to a middle case with satin finish.   The quality of finish and design are very elegant and makes for a beautiful dress piece.  The case itself actually involves a 70 step process to manufacture and build.  All the labor that goes into this piece truly reflects when you see it first hand.

The dial on this model is a black lacquer that looks very deep, and makes for perfect contrast with its rhodium coated numerals and indexes.  The dial  is protected with sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.  All of these attributes flow very well together and only add to the feeling of quality.

The strap on this model is a black pin ostrich with white contrast stitching.  The clasp is a very well constructed dual push button deployment and is branded with the JeanRichard logo.

For such an elegantly constructed timepiece, it is only appropriate to have a very impressive movement.  The 1681 series features the JR1000 movement, which is manufactured and built in-house by JeanRichard at their factory La Chaux-De-Fonds.  The JR1000 was in development for 4 years before finally being put to use.  The movement displays time with central seconds and date, has 27 jewels, 28,800 bph and a minimum of  48 hour power reserve.  The uni-directional winding rotor spins freely and effortlessly with a complete fluid motion.  The decoration of this movement is beautifully done, utilizing striping, perlage and an impressive vertically engraved rotor.

The JeanRichard 1681 Central Seconds Steel 60320-11-651-QD60 retails for $6,000 and is now in stock at AZFineTime.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

In celebration of receiving our newest brand, we continue on with our reviews of the JeanRichard brand.  Today we introduce the Terrascope, which obtains its inspiration from the Earth and our urge to explore its terrain.  The theme behind the Terrascope, as well as the rest of the “scope” series, is exploration, utilizing different elements to divide each category.

The JeanRichard Terrascope 60500-11-401-11A has a elaborately constructed 44mm stainless steel cushion shaped case.  The round bezel is finished in a vertical satin with a smooth high polish lateral surface.  The bezel sits atop a satin center case with two lateral inserts finished mostly in the satin, but also has great detail in high polish as well.  There are 14 different processes just to finish the case sides alone, making for the incredibly intricate case design.  Along with a screw down case back and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, the design element has proven to be very well though out and executed involving over 70 steps to complete the case.

The bracelet for this model is also uniquely designed.  Also utilizing a vertical satin polish on the majority of the bracelet, the small amounts of high polish between the links give great detail.  The construction is solid, and obviously very well built.  The bracelet is topped off with a dual push button butterfly deployment clasp.

The dial on this piece is one of its most charismatic attributes.  Using a beautiful blue lacquer, the piece can easily draw attention across the room.  With such a unique and vibrant color, this piece has easily been one of the most popular styles here in our retail store.  The dials applied indexes and hands are rhodium coated and  ”U” shaped (indexes), alternating a brushed and polished finish, adding to the legibility and also enhance the luminous material.

The luminous compound on the Terrascope is very bright and heavily applied.  It glows effortlessly and makes for incredible legibility at night.  With lume on the hour, minute and second hand, as well as each index, the time can easily be determined in the darkest setting.

The movement utilized is the JR60 self-winding caliber with 26 jewels, 28,800 bph and a minimal of 38 hour power reserve.  The movement starts as a Selitta base SW300-1, which is then modified and assembled at JR’s atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

The MSRP on this model is $3,500.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.  Don’t forget to check out more of the JeanRichard brand HERE.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

In continuation with our blog introduction of our latest brand, JeanRichard, we highlight their air/aviation inspired Aeroscope.  The Aeroscope is the one series in the JR brand that features an automatic chronograph movement, while staying managing to stay in theme with the rest of the series.

The JeanRichard Aeroscope series is encased in a 44mm wide and 12.67mm thick titanium case.  The elaborate case design as found in the rest of the JR line stays true in the titanium case version, using a round bezel and cushion shape with center case and 2 inserts on the case sides.  What is even more interesting in this particular model, is the DLC finish used on the center case and bezel.  The case side inserts are in a natural titanium finish with both vertical sating and high polished attributes.  The attention to detail in the case design is tremendous.

The dial design is well played out and is beautifully done with a black vertical sating finish, matching well with the case and bezel.  The orange accents for the skeleton hands, numerals on the bezel and the combination of indexes and numerals on the dial make for an easily legible and very attractive sport model.  The layout for the chronograph is also well executed with a central seconds, 30 minute counter at 9:00 and 12 hour counter at 6:00.  The sub-dial at 3:00 will be for your continuos seconds counter and the date display is between 4-5:00.

The pushers for the chronograph are very functional as well as comfortable. The low profile design refrains from digging into your wrist and are still easy to operate.  They utilize bumpers surrounding the pushers that are made of a carbon fibre composite which provide security, but also has a great feel.  The functionality of the chronograph as a whole is very smooth and precise.  It is obvious when using that it is well built.

Accompanied by a orange rubber strap, this model has a great amount of eye catching factors.  The strap is ribbed with a faint embossing of the JR logo on each side.  The deployment clasp for the strap is also impressive, using a dual push button release and 2 pin insert for the holes in the rubber.  There are also many other strap options including black leather with orange or white stitching, black rubber or a titanium bracelet (with or without the black coating).

The movement utilized is the JR66 which is a self-winding mechanical chronograph.  For this particular movement the base also starts as a Sellita SW300-1, but of course modified at their factory, and then adds a Dubois Dépraz chronograph module to compose the JR66.  If you are not familiar with Dubois Dépraz, they are known for their high-end (and high quality) complication modules.  They are utilized in many of the upper echelon brands ranging from Patek, AP, Richard Mille, JLC, Breitling, Omega and many more.

The orange on the hands and indexes of this model is luminous.  While it does not give off a strong bright lume like the Terrascope, it does give off a nice subtle yellow glow, that is still  legible in the dark.  It was difficult to capture in the image, but is definitely there.

The MSRP for the JeanRichard Aeroscope Chronograph Black Dial 60650-21J613-FK3A is $5,400.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.  See more of the JeanRichard brand HERE.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

Inspired by exploration of the sea, the JeanRichard Aquascope concludes our series of introductory posts about our newest line.  The Aquascope 300m Diver is  another great option from the JR lineup, taking the elements found with rest of the brand and putting the functional twist necessary for an elegant but sporty dive piece.

The dial on this model is their vertical satin black finish with a depth and detail to it that contributes a ton of character and can easily keep the wearer staring.  The applied indexes, large hands and red arrow tipped second hand also pay a nice compliment to the dial, allowing for not only great legibility, but also a cool design that is simplistic but detailed.

As with all JeanRichards, the elaborate and beautifully finished case is very impressive.  With the Aquascope 60400-11A602-FK6A, you have a 46mm wide, 12.6mm thick stainless steel case with black DLC coating on its inner case and stainless steel inserts on the outside of its cushion shape.  The bezel is stainless steel and has a smooth operating uni-directional 120 click ratcheting bezel.  The Aquascope’s are mostly a vertical satin finish on the case, but also have a very high quality polished finish that add an incredible amount of detail.

This model features a ribbed rubber strap with JR logo faintly embossed on each side.  There is also a dual push button deployment clasp for a secure and sturdy wear.

The movement utilized for JR’s Aquascope Diver is their JR60.  The JR60 has 26 jewels, 28,800 bph and a minimal of 38 hour power reserve.  The self-winding movement has a smooth manual wind feature, hack and date display between 4:00-5:00.

The luminova on this piece is quite impressive being used on every index as well as all three hands.  It is obvious it is heavily applied as the watch glows tremendously well in the dark.

With a ton of great attributes, the JeanRichard Aquascope Diver Black Dial 60400-11A602-FK6A retails for $3,200.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.  Don’t forget to check out more of the JeanRichard collection on AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

One of the most exciting introductions from Seiko this year is their commemorative replica of a vintage Grand Seiko design from 1967, the 44GS.  The 44GS Historical Collection SBGW047 was introduced as a very special limited edition to celebrate 100 years of watchmaking for Seiko.  The SBGW047 is the stainless steel version which is an exact replica of the original 44GS from 1967, with the exception of the internals which utilize Seiko’s latest technology for a manually wound caliber.

As with the original 44GS, this limited edition is encased in a 37.9mm wide and 11.5mm thick body.  Back in 1967, the 44GS was one of the 1st Grand Seiko’s to focus on exterior design, using traditional Japanese aesthetics to contribute to its construction.  The use of flat surfaces and straight lines allow the case to play with light and shadow, and with the broad flat surfaces of the case sides finished in the mirror like Zaratsu polishing technique, it does exactly that.  The majority of the case is finished with Zaratsu, but another great detail is the small amount of vertical brushed finish above the 12:00 and below the 6:00.

Aside from its beautiful finish is its element of design that has become known as “Seiko Style”.  The flat surfaces are not only found on the case, but also the dial, hands and indexes.  The dial is a slight off white tone with a very subtle silver attribute that really only becomes noticeable in the light.  The hands of the 44GS have a thin flat surface in a brushed finish that is complimented by sharp angles on the sides finished in Zaratsu which add to the legibility.  The indexes have broader flat surface than most others in the line up along with a double wide index at 12:00.  The indexes are diamond cut at multiple angles and also finished in Zaratsu, giving them the gorgeous sparkle that is most comparable to a diamond.  The deeply domed sapphire crystal shows no distortion and uses Seiko’s proprietary clear coating that eliminates glare.

The movement found inside the SBGW047 is Seiko’s completely in house manufactured 9S64 caliber.  Because the 44GS from 1967 originally housed a manual hand wind movement, Seiko felt it was only appropriate to use their latest variation of hand winding caliber to keep the nostalgia from its initial vintage piece.

The 9S64 has many modern attributes that put it in a class of its own.  One of the most intriguing attributes is the use of their in-house developed and manufactured Spron 510 mainspring alloy.  This alloy allows this manual wind caliber to run for 72 hours from a full wind, all off of only one spring.  The other benefits of the alloy are that it is extraordinarily durable and maintains a longer life without losing strength.  Spron is also more shock resistant, resilient and provides more torque than other mainsprings.

The case back is closed and looks identical to the original model.  It has the Grand Seiko medallion in the center, and will be engraved with each individual serial number out of the 700 pieces they produced for the world.  The US market received a very small amount in comparison to how many were produced for the global market.  Needless to say, this piece will only be gracing the wrists of a lucky handful of customers across the country.

The SBGW047 retails for $5,150.  As always, if you have any questions please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or inquire by email on the AZ Fine Time site.  Stay tuned for our reviews of the extremely rare 18k variations of this piece, the SBGW043, SBGW044 and SBGW047 over the next few days.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

In celebration of the arrival of the new Grand Seiko 44GS Manual Wind Limited Editions, we present one of the rarest LE’s to come out this year, the SBGW044.  The SBGW044 is identical to the SBGW047 (stainless steel model) we reviewed yesterday, but with a beautiful 18kt yellow gold case.

The first variation of the 44GS debuted in 1967 and was the founding of what is known today as “Seiko Style”.  Seiko Style is a very specific design element that takes traditional Japanese aesthetics and implements them to the watches design in numerous ways.  The basic Seiko Style includes attributes like multifaceted-cut hands and indexes, an elegantly curved side line of the case, and super mirror polished surfaces.

The super mirror polish utilized is known as Zaratsu.  This painstaking art form is a hand finish that originally derived from the katana blade.  This 3 stage process provides a a distortion free finish that is quickly becoming known as one of the finest in the watch industry.  There are only a small amount of highly experienced craftsmen capable of applying this finish to Grand Seiko.

To compliment the beauty of the exterior, and remain reminiscent of the original from 1967, Seiko uses their in house manufactured 9S64 caliber.  In yesterdays review, I discussed the Spron 510 mainspring which provides the piece a 72 hour power reserve of only one barrel.  Today, I would like to discuss the Spron 610 alloy, which is utilized for the hairspring.

The Spron 610 alloy is also manufactured in house by Seiko and is essentially made of the same materials as the 510.  The hairspring is one of the most sensitive parts in any mechanical watch.  The goal of the Spron 610 was to make a hairspring that was more durable, more shock resistant, longer lasting, and a less effected by temperature fluctuation, and Seiko did exactly that.  The resilience of the 610 alloy is incredible and has already proven it can take a beating (no pun intended) and still perform like new after numerous years of use.

With such an elegant retro design and an incredible fit and finish the 44GS in 18k yellow gold is truly exquisite.  This incredibly rare model is limited to only 70 pieces for the entire world only one of which came to the US.  We are proud to say, this model (as well as the other 2 versions of 18k gold) are exclusively sold at AZ Fine Time in the US market.

The MSRP on the Grand Seiko 44GS Historical Collection Manual Wind SBGW044 is $17,500.  Considering the case is solid 18k gold, and the movement has one of the most strict accuracy ratings in the world, this 44GS is actually very reasonably priced and well worth every penny.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 and check us out on AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!  Stay tuned for our review tomorrow on the 18k Pink Gold 44GS, SBGW046.

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…