Grand Seiko SBGH341 Review: Cherry Blossoms Covered in Snow

What do you think of when you combine Japan’s reverence of nature with its unique culture, technical proficiency, and pride? What comes to my mind is Grand Seiko. Accurate, reliable, beautiful timepieces are works of art, and they are incredible pieces of mechanical engineering. 

The brand’s catalog is filled with an array of incredible watches. You could build a pretty nice collection just with Grand Seikos. The watchmaker has a long and distinguished history and has released references that are modern tributes to timepieces of the past.

One of the most recent and most beautiful is the SBGH341 Sakura-Kakushi. Pink dials may or may not be your thing. It’s a color that is not in my palette for most things I wear. But the SBGH341 got my attention, and I could see myself wearing it in a regular rotation. Let’s take a good look at yet another GS masterpiece. 

History

Grand Seiko has 140+ years of watchmaking experience in the bank. That’s a long time to do anything, and a company that lasts that long is definitely doing something right. One of the brand’s great triumphs was the 1967 release of the 62GS, the first automatic watch in the catalog. 

The case featured Grand Seiko’s now signature Zaratsu polished and brushed surfaces. It is such an iconic timepiece that Grand Seiko paid tribute to it by releasing several watches over the years as homage to the 62GS. Most of them were 40 mm cases, which is more in line with current popular sizes.

In 2023, Grand Seiko went back to the smaller case sizes with the release of 38 mm 62GS tributes, one of which is the SBGH341. This reflects the desire many watch aficionados have for smaller cases more in line with the classics of the past.

Case

In addition to the smaller size, the SBGH341 case has several other features that make it special. The material used is high-intensity titanium rather than stainless steel. This makes the watch significantly lighter than a stainless steel model. 

The beauty of it is that Grand Seiko can use the same Zaratsu polishing and brushing methods to create a titanium case that is just as stunning as one in steel.  The 38 mm size and polishing give it elegance, but the titanium adds a bit of ruggedness. This is something you might see James Bond wear.

The lug-to-lug distance is small at 44.7 mm, meaning this is a good watch for smaller wrists. If you have a big wrist, it’s probably too small for you. I will say that it looks just fine on my average 7.25-inch wrist.

The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is box-shaped, which gives the watch a thickness of 12.9 mm, the same as that of the 40 mm watches. This might seem a bit on the chunky side for a dress watch, but the box shape gives it a vintage and classy look that more than makes up for it. 

The exhibition case back is also a sapphire crystal and gives a nice peek at the movement that looks almost as good as it functions. 

The crown sits at 3 o’clock, and there are no crown guards, which adds to the smaller and cleaner appearance of the case. It’s a screw-down crown which is always nice, and the SBGH341 has a water resistance of 100 meters. You won’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain, but keep in mind that it’s not a diver. 

Dial

The first thing that attracts most people to a watch is the dial. In my opinion, dials are what put the “Grand” in Grand Seiko. The colors, textures, and attention to detail are legendary in horological circles, and you can add the SBGH341 to that long list.

In Japan, nature is loved, respected, and revered. The sakura, or cherry blossoms, are among the nation’s favorite plants, and festivals are held each year as the pink leaves blossom. The Sakura-Kakushi is named after the cherry blossoms, and the dial color and texture are designed to mimic the sakura leaves that are lightly covered in snow in the early spring. Sounds like quite a challenge, but Grand Seiko pulled it off nicely. 

Of course, with a dial, the color is only one part of the appeal. Texture can turn a decent-looking watch into an awesome piece of wrist candy. To get the snow-on-sakura effect, Grand Seiko created a dial that looks like the delicate pink brush strokes of Japanese watercolors on fine linen. The SBGH341 looks like something you would see in an art museum.

The elements of the dial are a silver color, precision cut by experts with a diamond edge. The Zaratsu polishing is applied to the baton indices, hands, and the frame around the 3 o’clock date window. The silver nicely complements the pink dial without overpowering it. 

The same silver color is used for the Grand Seiko logo at 12 o’clock with the brand name in black underneath. The numeral on the date complication is a simple black font, but the white background has the same linen texture as the dial. These are the kinds of details that put Grand Seiko ahead of so much of the competition.

Simple black ticks mark the minutes around the outer edge of the dial with slightly larger squares at three, six, nine, and 12. Subtle and elegant, yet easy to see.

Movement

The watch is powered by Grand Seiko’s in-house caliber 9S85 Hi-Beat automatic 37-jewel movement. With a frequency of 36,000 vph, the movement is accurate at +5 to -3 seconds/day, which is a bit better than COSC standards. 

The power reserve is a respectable 55 hours, which is enough to get you through the weekend and back on Monday morning. One of the nice features of the Hi-Beat movement is the silky smooth sweep of the second hand. Just another example of Grand Seiko’s attention to detail. 

Thanks to the exhibition case back, you can see the movement looks as good as it functions. Alternating polished and brushed surfaces creates a stripe pattern, and the Grand Seiko name and movement specs are engraved in gold.

Straps

The SBGH341 comes on a titanium three-link bracelet to match the case. The surfaces are brushed with the exception of the polished sides of the center links. This adds some contrast and interest to what is already a very nice bracelet. 

The bracelet sits comfortably around the wrist, but the push pins and lack of micro adjustments make it tricky to size. There are half links that help. The lug width is a pretty standard 20 mm, and the lugs are drilled, making it a snap to switch out the stock bracelet for another option. Just make sure not to draw attention away from the gorgeous dial.

On-Wrist Experience

When it comes to wearing the SBGH341, the first thing you’ll notice is how light it is. If you’ve never worn a titanium watch, you might be surprised at how different it feels to stainless steel or precious metals. You feel the difference as soon as you pick it up.

Once you get the bracelet properly adjusted, it wraps nicely around the wrist and feels secure yet comfortable. I can honestly say it feels as good as any of the favorites in my collection. 

The 38 mm case is smaller than most watches out there today. 

For people with smaller wrists, that’s a nice feature. I typically prefer cases in the 40-42 mm range, but the SBGH341 suits me just fine. If your wrist approaches 8 inches, you will likely find this watch a bit too small for your taste.

As to styling the watch, it’s dressy. You’re not going to be wearing it with shorts and a T-shirt hanging around the beach. Because of the titanium adding a bit of ruggedness, you’re not locked into suits either.

The SBGH341 works well with a suit, blazer, or sport jacket with or without a tie. Pairing it with chinos or a nice pair of dark wash jeans with a button-up shirt is a look I particularly enjoy. There is definitely some versatility, and depending on how you typically dress, this could be an everyday watch. It’s a bit thick for a dress watch but will still slide under a shirt sleeve.

On to the color. If you are anything like me, you’re wondering, what colors can I wear with a pink watch? Fortunately, this is not the over-the-top hot pink dial that every microbrand seems to have in their catalog. It’s a soft pink, and the texture helps tone it down. It adds a pop of color in a subtle and elegant way.

I typically wear neutral-color suits and jackets; greys, black, and navy blue. The SBGH341 looks great with any of these colors. It’s subtle enough to add a nice contrast to lighter blue shirts or even some greens. 

Because of it’s subdued nature, it will work with reds as well and looks especially nice with burgundy. I wouldn’t wear it with earth tones like browns or tans. It just doesn’t look right to me. But your style may be different.

Dressing better than the next guy often comes down to details and that means accessories such as watches. I find that wearing a stunning watch like this one gives me an extra boost of confidence in knowing that I am putting out the appearance of a guy who knows how to make an impression. 

Price & Availability

If you’ve read this far, there is a good chance you are interested in trying on an SBGH341 and perhaps making a purchase. The watch is available in Grand Seiko boutiques or from their website. 

You can also pick one up from a Grand Seiko authorized dealer, such as Exquisite Timepieces. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by our Naples, FL, store to try on an SBGH341 and chat with our friendly and helpful staff. You can also order one from our website. We offer free domestic shipping, and as an AD, we offer Grand Seiko’s 5-year warranty.

As to the price, it doesn’t cost as much as you may think. The SBGH341 retails for $7300. You get a lot of value for under 10 grand. 

If you want to go the preowned route, you can pick up one of these beauties for between $5,500 and $7,000.

Conclusion

Grand Seiko is a brand that honors its history as it innovates its watches. Nowhere is this more evident than with the SBGH341 Sakura-Kakushi. An elegant watch with a bit of sporty flair, the textured pink dial and smaller titanium case may be just what you’re looking for. Versatile, reliable, accurate, and beautiful. What more could a watch lover ask?