Grand Seiko SBGH271 Review: A Bamboo Forest in Early Summer

Ancient bamboo canopies, moss-covered stones, and emerald lake waters. It’s natural images like this that come to mind when I look at the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch. And it seems that’s what Grand Seiko intended when they created this model, with its rich green dial inspired by “rikka”, a season in Japan’s 24 “sekki”, which marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

First impressions suggest this is a watch that would be beautiful for evening occasions. I can just picture the deep green dial and the beautifully finished stainless steel case slipping conspicuously under a shirt cuff, asking for appreciation without demanding it. 

Its elegance quietly commands attention, offering a statement that is both subtle and sophisticated, perfect for those who recognize true artistry in timepieces. But with that said, how did it fare in the real world, living on my wrist for the last week?

History of the Grand Seiko 24 Sekki Collection

Grand Seiko has a reputation for capturing the beauty of Japan’s nature through its designs. It’s not a new philosophy for the watchmaker by any means, and yet it’s certainly not one anyone seems bored of yet. 

In 2019, the luxury watch brand launched its 24 Sekki Collection, a series of watches inspired by how Japanese individuals look at the year. Instead of just naming four seasons, they have 24 “sekki”, or little moments that capture all the subtle changes in nature throughout the year.

They don’t just say spring, summer, fall, and winter; they break it down even further, naming parts of the year, such as when the first flowers bloom or when the first leaves from trees fall to the ground. 

It’s a rather poetic way of keeping track of the seasons if you ask me. As you’ve probably guessed, each watch in the Grand Seiko 24 Sekki collection reflects one of these moments. One of my personal favorites is the “Shunbun” SBGA413 which has a beautiful pastel pink textured dial inspired by the spring equinox when Japan’s cherry blossom trees start to bloom. The “Taisetsu” SBGA415 is another model worth mentioning, bringing to life the colors and textures of the deep snows of winter.

What’s so special about this collection is that regardless of your nationality, you feel like you are wearing a piece of art that connects you to Japan’s nature. The watch I have had the pleasure of getting hands-on with this week, the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch, is a perfect example, this time bringing to life a very specific moment at the beginning of summer.

A Streamline Steel Case

It’s hard with a watch like this not to get distracted by the dial, but I’ll get onto that shortly. Instead, I want to start with the case because it’s equally impressive. Beautifully contoured, the case of the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 is inspired by the iconic 1967 62GS model from Grand Seiko, the brand’s first automatic timepiece. It’s part of the Heritage collection for that reason, bringing together this history with an undeniably modern presence.

But make no mistake, this isn’t just any sports watch case. The curves and edges are breathtaking, somehow managing to be sharp yet flowing. The combination of finishing plays with this unusual juxtaposition creates a striking visual experience. I’m not sure I’ll ever get bored of Grand Seiko’s standout Zaratsu polishing, which in this case, is applied to the lugs and sides. 

It’s the same level of finishing you’d find in top-tier Swiss watches, often referred to as “black polish”. Usually, this kind of finishing is for movement components like bridges and screws, so seeing it on a watch case is truly exceptional, especially since the process isn’t quick or easy. 

In fact, every polished component requires a single skilled artisan to hold the surface against a spinning tin place. It’s time-consuming, but the result is an outstanding mirror-like finish. The satin finish on the case sides complements the Zaratsu polish perfectly.

The Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch measures to 40mm in diameter, with a 47mm lug-to-lug distance and a thickness of 12.9mm. It’s a great set of dimensions for most wrist sizes, especially the height, which allows it to still wear nicely under tight sleeves. The dial is protected by a lovely box-shaped sapphire crystal, giving the watch a touch of vintage appeal. 

Flat sapphire is much cheaper for brands to use, so when you find cambered sapphire like this, it definitely adds to the watch’s luxury feel—both in value and look. The case back is also made of sapphire crystal, so you can see part of the 9S85 movement inside. I say “part of” because the Grand Seiko lion crest partially obscures the view, which is a bit of a shame.

An Early Summer-Inspired Dial

The dial of the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch is a stunning deep green, designed to replicate the intricate texture of the foliage. Like most Grand Seiko dials, it’s difficult to fully appreciate the detail in photos or videos—I really recommend seeing models like this in person so you can fully grasp that level of attention to detail involved. 

The best way I can describe the color is as British Racing Green, but with a slightly metallic sheen that reflects light in a way that subtly shifts the hue depending on the angle. The texture is subtle, too. 

Depending on how the light hits it, the dial can appear completely smooth at times, while at other moments, it reveals an intricate, raised pattern that reminds me of the rough surface of early summer leaves.

Grand Seiko has cleverly incorporated a sloped minutes track around the edge of the dial, with the minutes printed in white on a matching dark green backdrop. This makes it easy to read the time at a glance. The hour markers and hands are crafted from yellow gold, which contrasts beautifully with the green dial. There’s something special about the combination of yellow gold, and green, especially when paired with a steel case. The warmth of the gold feels reminiscent of sunrise or sunset, adding to the dial’s early summer inspiration.

The hardware on the dial, including the GS logo at 12 o’clock and the date window frame at 3 o’clock, is also finished in yellow gold, ensuring a cohesive look. Everything on this dial is meticulously finished by hand using diamond-tipped milling tools and then carefully placed by hand. The only parts printed onto the dial’s surface are the white printed “Grand Seiko” logo at 12 o’clock and the lettering in a deep yellow at 6 o’clock, confirming the automatic hi-beat movement inside.

A Hi-Beat Movement

Housed inside the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch is the Japanese watchmaker’s signature 9S85 automatic winding caliber. It’s an in-house movement made exclusively in Grand Seiko’s Shizukuishi Watch Studio in Iwate Prefecture with an insanely impressive frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour. 

That’s 10 beats per second, which is why the seconds hand sweeps so smoothly across the dial. It’s also the same rate of frequency of the Zenith El Primero, another beautiful hi-beat watch but one that’s often three to four thousand dollars more expensive.

The Caliber 9285 is adjusted to six positions to ensure a high level of accuracy – that’s one more than the chronometer standard of 5. It boasts an accuracy rating of -3 to +5, which again beats other chronometers rated to -4 to +6 seconds per day. It also runs off 37 jewels and promises a power reserve of 55 hours. As mentioned, when off the wrist, you can admire the beautifully decorated movement through the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch’s case back.

A Hand-Finished Bracelet

The Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 arrives on a solid three-row link stainless steel bracelet to match its case. It has solid end links and a wonderful alternating link alignment for a handsome finish. The finishing of the metal beautifully falls in line with the case, boasting hand-finished surfaces that are predominantly satinized with some polishing on each end of the middle link and on the outer links’ flanks.

There’s a single-fold deployment clasp finished just as beautifully as the rest of the bracelet. It’s polished and satin-finished and is detailed with the Grand Seiko logo in relief. It’s a twin trigger release system, so you can’t accidentally open it easily. 

Sadly, there are no micro adjustments incorporated into the bracelet (I’m still patiently waiting for Grand Seiko to start adding a micro-adjustment system into their bracelets), but instead, there are half links, so finding a comfortable fit isn’t too difficult.

The metal bracelet has a 21mm lug width which is a little awkward of a size, especially if you want to swap the strap out for something else. But it has drilled lugs, so when you are able to source a 21mm strap, swapping it around is a breeze.

On-Wrist Experience

If it were up to me, I would make this my go-to dress watch. It pairs beautifully with formal attire and slips perfectly under a shirt cuff. But at the same time, I have to remind myself not to let its refined appearance fool me; this watch is built to be tough since it’s a sports watch, after all. 

With its solid steel bracelet and 100-meter water resistance, it’s not something you need to baby. It would make an equally fantastic and undeniably handsome daily beater that can withstand the wear and tear of an average day.

The dimensions are spot on, with a 40mm diameter and a 47mm lug-to-lug distance, making it comfortable even on wrists as small as five-and-a-half inches. If your wrist is slightly smaller, you can easily swap out the bracelet for a leather strap using the watch’s strap-changing features. This not only makes it more wearable but also adds a touch of versatility. 

The solid end links add an extra 3mm to the lug-to-lug distance, giving it a bit more presence on larger wrists, especially those over 7.5 inches. While its sporty nature and thickness might not make it the quintessential dress watch for some of you, I believe it can still be worn in dressier settings with ease.

Price & Availability

It still amazes me how Grand Seiko can produce a watch with such high levels of finishing and movement manufacture for less than $7,000. To put it into perspective, you’re getting an in-house hi-beat movement, a beautifully hand-finished stainless steel case, a full metal bracelet, and a super intricate, textured dial for just $6,300 with the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 watch. And that’s if you buy it brand new at retail price. If you’re lucky, you might be able to find it on the second-hand market for a few thousand dollars cheaper.

Conclusion

After a week on my wrist, I’ve come to the quick and confident conclusion that the Grand Seiko Heritage “Rikka” SBGH271 is a stunning watch that truly justifies its price tag and earns its place in even the most avid watch collectors’ boxes. 

The finishing of the case is exceptional, a masterpiece of craftsmanship that I could admire for hours, and when with the mesmerizing green dial, which shifts in color and texture with every tilt of the wrist, this watch is an exquisite—and admittedly distracting—work of art. And now after reviewing this one, I’m eager to see the other models in the Grand Seiko 24 Sekki collection up close.