The 44GS is powered by the hand wound Seiko caliber 9S64, a suitably high-end movement that beats at 28,000 vph, incorporates 24 jewels and has a power reserve in excess of 72 hours. While Seiko doesn’t bother with COSC, the 9S64 is regulated in six positions for 17 days before being installed in its case. 9xxx movements are among the best movements that Seiko produces and this specific hand wound caliber is a natural choice for a classic three-hander like the 44GS.

On wrist, I actually found the 44GS to wear smaller than its nearly 38 mm size would suggest. The wide case and squared-off lugs make the dial appear a bit smaller and this effect really completes its vintage wrist presence. Pricing starts at $6,000 for the steel model (SBGW047) and its production will be limited to just 700 units.  Buyers wanting gold can have their choice of the three colors for $24,000, but they may want to choose quickly as only 70 of each version will be made. I really like the 44GS, but like the rest of the GS family, Seiko’s best doesn’t come cheap. The 44GS, both old and new, exhibits a simple charm that belies its rather complex case shape and detail-driven construction. As much as we love the razor sharp designs of the modern Grand Seiko catalog, if GS is going to reference its heritage by reissuing a legacy model, they chose well with this lovely 44GS LE. grand-seiko.com