On Friday Grand Seiko unveiled the limited edition SBGA527. 40mm. Titanium. 100m water resistance. Spring Drive (9R65). Pre orders came with a custom painted case by a local artist. 25 units per Boutique with random drawings for serial numbers (i got 37 via Ala Moana Mall Boutique).
Serial numbers were random pulled 25 per Hawaiian boutique.
Some more info on the new release. This is directly from Grand Seiko and Ben Bridge (they own both Boutiques here)
Taitaniun. Spring drive. 50 units. Will come with a hand painted case by local artist.
Got into Honolulu just now in preparation for Fridays Grand Seiko event. A little rest before dinner. The Iwate is ready
Grand Seiko is doing an event in Honolulu on Friday, and I will be there.
Anyone have any questions for the team? Joe Kirk is scheduled to be there.
Anyone else from the Reddit community attending the August GS event?
Looking forward to meeting other folks on the Islands with an interest in Grand Seiko. Will be wearing my SLGH027 and brining my 1973 Ref.5645-7010
My colorful older, smaller, more wearable Air-King, awaiting takeoff in HNL. Still mad at Rolex for going us a rehash Explorer in one color, one face and one set of markers and a 18-24 month wait.
Quick but big! Woke me up from sleep!
hard to believe this watch is nearly as old as I am. It is super light; it keeps super accurate time. I am going to probably swap out the strap (which is a new darker brown pebbled leather strap)... but damn all in all what a fantastic piece of history. Will for sure be wearing it at the GS gathering in Honolulu later this year.
Small aging spot under the A in Automatic. 1973. So yeah 53 years old. I REALLY wanted a birth year watch, but this was as close I could get in the condition I wanted. Yes, the image is from Chrono24, but I still wanted to share.
But other than that, it great condition. Reference 5645-7010T Grand Seiko housing the 5645A.
I've been lucky enough to have a few dinners done by our fine Canoe House Chef over at the Mauna Lani including New Years dinners. She is an amazing chef. Now the world knows it. Rhoda Magbitang, of Canoe House took the Championship at Top Chef season 23. She was eliminated in Episode 5 and worked her way back to take it ALL.
With the following meal:
yeah, I know I said I was done with Rolex with the bullshit treatment, the fanbois and such, but couldn't pass this one up. It was more or less a grail watch for a long time. But since Rolex moved to the 40mm 126900 I just lost interest as it was just blah. Not the size change, but the face. It was just boring. The older 114200 Air-Kings just had that color dial that made them different. White, Silver (with sunburst or not), Blue (in three different types), Black, Green, Purple and Salmon. Smooth vs. fluted bezels, bars, roman numerals, Arabic numerals... They just offered more. But didn't really pay much attention to the used market until fairly recently.
Found this one, complete with papers and box, in fairly good shape. Will need to bring it in for a deep cleaning and a polish.
Sorry for the poor quality images.
Got one of my grails today.
Yep, I've been a pilot for nearly 35 years now. Started flying as a teenager, and the rest is history. Always wanted a Rolex Air-King. I'm not a huge fan of the newer ones 126900 or 116900. There was always something great about the older ones.
I also like the smooth bezel much more than the fluted or engine turned ones. Simple, for me is better.
The watch is used but keeps time well. I will be bringing it to my local AD to get a good tuneup, a deep cleaning and the case polished.
Rather happy with this one. Got into the first release of these, and it took a bit to deliver to me here in Hawaii. It's my first "microbrand" direct ship watch.
Movement: SoprodM100 based movement, which they call the V3250 (Swiss made)
Dimensions: 40mm with a 44mm lug to lug, 9.95mm thick (including crystal)
316L Stainless steel with satin finish, Canova Concept bracelet (VERY comfortable)
Fit and finish seem very good to me. Movement is right on the markers.
I haven't tested the lume yet (BGW9 Super-LumiNova)
I almost went with the Arsenale Meteorite, but that's a Miyota 9039 (not that there is anything wrong with that movement), but this face just caught me. It easily picks up on any light around it.
Ordered it in early April, shipped in late April. Delivered today via DHL from Italy direct.
I mean there are lies, there is "well to ME it is mint" and then there is this utter lie.
I have seen aircraft canopies that have been thru volcanic clouds with less damage...
Dont often wear it but of to Phoenix I go. Got the Miligauss on. My one and only Rolex.