New Grand Seiko GS9 Club watch will likely feature 62GS case and symbolic Arabic "9" dial
Grand Seiko has announced a global design competition for a 2027 GS9 Club exclusive model - a format which was previously restricted to the Japanese domestic market. The upcoming release follows the 2025 launch of the SBGW319 and will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 62GS case design.
The upcoming project, slated for delivery in early 2027, will move the GS9 Club's collaborative design process to a global membership base. It will essentially replicate the structure of the 2024 project, where Japanese members voted on designs that eventually produced the SBGW319. According to discussions with Grand Seiko designers (courtesy of @plus9time on Instagram), the 2027 model will likely draw inspiration from three distinct design architectures: the 62GS (introduced in 1967), the slim SBGY series, and the modern Evolution 9 design.
Mechanical specs for the potential variants are still under deliberation, though designer Egashira-san confirmed that the Arabic "9" numeral, which is a homage to the GS9 Club logo - will be a mandatory dial element. Discussions have specifically centered around the popularity of the 9SA4, Grand Seiko’s first manual-winding 10-beat movement in 50 years, which brings an 80-hour power reserve and a visible "wagtail" click mechanism to the table. However, the brand also acknowledged the continued demand for high-precision 9F quartz movements in limited edition series. The final design will be selected through a member-wide vote later this year. Initial renders are expected to be shared following a formal project update in March.
Market reception (at least to the preliminary concepts) has been decent so far, and it is focused on multiple variations in pink, purple, green, and yellow. The SBGW319, which used the 44GS case and 9S64 caliber, was limited to 150 pieces only and retailed for approximately $7,000 on the secondary market. The production volume for the global 2027 model has not been finalized.
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