In the cold of winter, the surface of Nagano’s Lake Suwa freezes over. In some years, long ridges appear in the ice that reach from shore to shore. According to local tradition, these are the Omiwatari, or “pathways of the gods.” Thermal springs below the surface are what cause the rapturous cracking of ice, but as the legend goes, Shinto deities traversing the frozen surface to visit one another give rise to the phenomenon.
Not far from Lake Suwa, Grand Seiko makes dials that honor the legend of the Omiwatari. The second watch to feature such a dial is the SBGY013, whose white texture mimics the undulations of the frozen lake blanketed with snow. The minute hand, heat-blued seconds hand, and indexes are all gently bent downward, following the curvature of the dial and the sapphire crystal.
The elegant 38.5mm Dress Series case used for SBGY013 required an adaptation of the Zaratsu polishing technique for curved surfaces so that its sloping lugs could achieve an immaculate, distortion-free shine.
Under that dial is the manually wound 9R31 Spring Drive caliber with three days of power reserve, itself a stride toward horological legend. 9R31 features a dual mainspring structure seen in the Masterpiece caliber 9R02 and enables the Omiwatari to have a wrist-hugging thickness of only 10.2mm. Whereas the initial, blue-dialed version of the Omiwatari came on a crocodile strap, this version comes on a nine-link stainless steel bracelet.
Free 2-3 Day Shipping
2-Week Returns & Exchanges
Exclusive 6-Year Warranty
Customer Support
Free shipping is 2-3 business days via Fed Ex Signature Required. Orders placed before 2 pm ET are generally processed and shipped on the same business day, and orders placed after 2 pm ship the following business day. Orders are processed Monday – Friday, and orders placed on Holidays will be processed the following business day. Next Day Service can be purchased for $50 and includes Saturday Delivery when applicable. Please see TERMS for more.
Products may be returned to Grand Seiko Boutique Online within 14 days of the delivery date. Option for a return and refund or exchange is possible when the watch is returned in new, unworn condition, with all original contents included in the package. Upon receiving your return, Grand Seiko will verify the condition of the watch. If there are any missing items, damage, or wear found, you may be subject to fees accordingly. Please be sure to remove any jewelry or other watches before trying on the watch to avoid damage. Please do not size the watch if you return it as it will not be considered new. Please contact the Grand Seiko Boutique Online team HERE to initiate a return. Please see the TERMS for more.
Warranty – All Grand Seiko watches come with a 5-year international warranty. Grand Seiko Boutiques and Grand Seiko Boutique Online provide an additional 1-year warranty at no additional charge for a total of 6 years coverage under the limited warranty. Please see the TERMS for more.
Email, Phone, and Live chat info:
Scheduled hours of operation are Mon-Fri 9am-6pm. However, Grand Seiko Boutique teams may be able to assist at other times depending on availability.
Email: boutique.online@grand-seiko.us.com
Phone: 888-300-8463
