While design hallmarks have come and gone, few say “Grand Seiko” quite like the iconic Snowflake dial, first introduced in 2005. Inspired by the frosty Hotaka mountain range in the brand’s home prefecture, Nagano, light plays across the fine texture to emphasize the slight variations in depth on the surface of the dial. The result is nothing short of stunning, and helped shape Grand Seiko and their philosophy of the “Nature of Time”.
So how do you build on an icon? You introduce tasteful variations. Easier said than done, of course, but Grand Seiko has done it successfully before, by introducing the Skyflake dial, a light blue version of the Snowflake. And now, we have two new Snowflake and Skyflake models to showcase the evolution of the icon: the SBGX359 and SBGX361, in a compact 33mm case, making them the smallest in the Grand Seiko 9F line yet. Even more impressive is the 9.1mm thickness, which is only possible thanks to the Caliber 9F51 quartz movement, which is the first new movement in the 9F line since 2020, and allows for an accuracy of ± 10 seconds a year. In natural Grand Seiko fashion, each movement is hand-assembled by watchmakers at the Shinshu Watch Studio at the brand’s Shiojiri facility and feature three-month aged quartz crystals and a manual regulation switch for accuracy fine-tuning during servicing. All of that is to say that this is not a basic quartz movement; it’s a Grand Seiko quartz movement, which is sure to excel in both function and beauty.
But what of those dials? Well, Grand Seiko says that they are inspired, as per tradition, by the wind-carved alpine snow that blankets the Hotaka range in winter. To create the iconic Snowflake and Skyflake texture, watchmakers combine silver-plating, clear coating, and finishing on the dial, rather than a flat application of white (or blue) paint. The tempered blue hands of the dial create a subtle contrast, but don’t draw attention away from the texture, while the silver indices match the stainless steel case’s hue and the Grand Seiko logo below the 12 o’clock position. The design itself is deceptively simple, and the small size of the case makes it almost appear fragile, as though it’s made of the ice it mimics. But don’t be fooled: the SBGX359 and SBGX361 are still up to Grand Seiko standards of robust quality, with a screw-down case back that allows for 100 meters of water resistance and magnetic resistance up to 4,800 A/m.
Ultimately, the SBGX359 and SBGX361 are not so much a bold new path for Grand Seiko, but a further refinement of an iconic design ethos and dial texture. The smaller and thinner size, paired with the Caliber 9F51 quartz movement, will make them more accessible to more enthusiasts, while maintaining that sense of hand-crafted luxury that the brand is known for.
The Grand Seiko SBGX359 and SBGX361will be available as continuous-production models starting in April 2026, and will be retail for $3,200 at Grand Seiko boutiques and retail partners. Grand Seiko
Elodie Townsend
2026-02-16 15:00:00