Tap the image to enlarge
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Sakura Wakaba 38mm Titanium
Ref. SBGH343G
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Grand Seiko's range
The SBGH343G is a modern reinterpretation of the 62GS, the original Grand Seiko automatic from 1967. That case architecture — no bezel, the dial running almost to the edge, the geometry disciplined and flat-fronted — is reproduced here with the alternating Zaratsu-polished and brushed surfaces that make the case read differently depending on which way the light crosses it. The name refers to wakaba, the pale new leaves that follow cherry blossom in late spring, and the dial earns the reference: a soft, textured silvery-green that shifts between warm and cool as the light changes, without calling attention to itself. Titanium at 38mm and 44.7mm lug to lug keeps the watch close to the wrist and genuinely light in a way that becomes apparent over a full day. The 9S85 at the centre beats at 36,000vph, a rate that smooths the seconds hand and contributes to the movement's reputation for sustained accuracy — it is built at the same level as Grand Seiko's finest mechanical calibres, with a 55-hour reserve. The hands and indices are left unlumed, which is consistent with what this watch is for: a dress piece drawn from dress-watch history, worn in the kind of light where the dial itself does the work.
- Reference
- SBGH343G
- Brand
- Grand Seiko
- Collection
- Heritage
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 12.9mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Green
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 9S85
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Titanium bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Three-fold clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 44.7mm
- Power reserve
- 55 hours
- Weight
- 98g
Learn more about Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko began in 1960 as Seiko's attempt to build a watch to the highest standard in the world, judged against Swiss chronometer criteria rather than Japanese ones. The first model met the Bureaux Officiels standard, and the ambition was explicit: not a good Japanese watch, but a better watch than the Swiss were making.
The 1967 Grammar of Design, laid down by Taro Tanaka, still governs the aesthetic. Flat surfaces and sharp facets rather than curves; hands and markers cut to catch light in defined planes; every surface either mirror-polished or perfectly flat, with no in-between. The polishing is done by hand on tin plates — Zaratsu — which produces distortion-free reflections and cannot be replicated by machine.
The precision case was made at observatory trials in the 1960s, where Grand Seiko movements placed among the leaders in Geneva and Neuchâtel before the competitions ended.
The house's distinctive technology is Spring Drive, introduced in 1999 after nearly three decades of development. A conventional mainspring drives the watch, but the escapement is replaced by an electromagnetic brake regulated by a quartz oscillator: mechanical power, quartz accuracy, and a seconds hand that sweeps without ticking at all.
Grand Seiko was separated into a standalone brand internationally in 2017, with dials frequently drawn from Japanese landscape — the Snowflake among the best known.
- 1960
- The first Grand Seiko is built to Swiss chronometer standards.
- 1967
- Taro Tanaka codifies the Grammar of Design.
- 1968
- The 61GS Hi-Beat reaches 36,000 vibrations per hour.
- 1999
- Spring Drive combines mechanical power with quartz regulation.
- 2017
- Established as an independent brand worldwide.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Grand Seiko Heritage range (9), Back in Stock (4,868), Automatic Watches (1,750), Green Dial Watches (445), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (369) and Titanium Watches (173).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 38mm suits most wrists
- 44.7mm lug-to-lug keeps the 38mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Sakura Wakaba alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | SBGH343G | FURY-BK-SS-R-S | M28503-0006 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,350 | £4,400 | £3,050 |
| Case size | 38mm | 40mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Titanium bracelet | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 55 hours | 65 hours | 38 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 55 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 44.7mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 38mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
More Grand Seiko watches like the Heritage Collection Sakura Wakaba
In stock, and close on style and price
