Sunday Morning Showdown: Watches Inspired by Nature - Rolex Vs. Grand Seiko The Rolex Datejust 126200 features the Grand Seiko SBGA413. Which one gets your vote? replica watches price In this Sunday morning column, the two writers face off in an epic showdown. Strong opinions and hysterical exaggerations are welcome (so feel free to join the fun in the comments section below). Don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see ripped to shreds/passionate next week. We'll try to showcase as many of our readers' choices as possible. We have another head-to-head for you this week. focus? Watches from Rolex and Grand Seiko with dials inspired by nature. This week, we're taking a page from Grand Seiko's book (literally) to showcase watches inspired by nature. Of course, we featured the little-known Grand Seiko, but Rolex has also joined the floral feast with its new stainless steel Datejust reference 126200. In the east corner, Jorg supports the Grand Seiko SBGA413 "Shunbun", towards the equinox. Essentially, the dial of this timepiece reflects the petals of cherry blossoms falling into fresh water, forming a pink raft (flower raft). In the west corner, Ben is replicating the Rolex Datejust reference 126200 olive green palm pattern dial, similar to a Tommy Bahama shirt. What drives the natural inspiration and which watch conveys its concept more effectively? It's time for our writers to bicker. But first, let's talk about last week's results. Vintage or Modern Omega Speedmaster The debate between modern and retro has a long history. Of course, that's partly because goalposts that are considered "vintage" or "modern" have changed over time. In this day and age, you can think of a '60s Speedmaster as a relic of yesteryear. However, as Speedy is a time-tested innovative watchmaking history, its designs and principles live on in the modern world. The relevance and necessity of mechanical hand-wound fake watches for sale is waning, but the enthusiasm will only grow. In last week's Sunday morning showdown, Thomas battled for a retro Speedmaster and its never-ending lifespan. The Speedmaster was an important part of NASA's equipment during the space race, so it played a big role. Today, the Speedmaster is a testament to its achievements and a fine wrist accessory for the modern buyer. According to Robert-Jan, the progress Speedmaster has made over its 65-year history is best demonstrated in the latest product. For RJ, modern Speedmasters are for everyday activities, while vintage examples "belong in a museum," or at least somewhere they can be kept safely. It looks like our Fratelli side has a 70% vote share with RJ. That's not to say most people don't like the old-fashioned Speedy. But in terms of usability, price, and modification shortcomings, our readers prefer the modern Speedmaster. For today's battle, both options exist in the contemporary era. Therefore, characteristics such as style, provenance, quality and function are the main factors in the discussion. Now, let's get started. Rolex Datejust Reference. 126200 "Palm" So far, Jorg and I have covered two of Rolex's new arrivals for 2022 - the Air-King and Explorer II. But both models are updates on familiar designs. Not that this Datejust is a hit model that rocked the industry, but at least it offers unique style in a standard package. Of all the latest releases from the past few years, this Oystersteel Datejust is probably my favorite. But it took me a while to grow (adapted to the botanical pun). Palm leaves are an unusual subject and certainly not for everyone. However, with such a well-known and recognizable design, the log type is ripe (I warn you) for some polish. For many, it's an insult to be lumped in with the classics. Fortunately, this year's GMT-Master II "Destro" bore the brunt of negative feedback at Watches And Wonders. Since the journal type is outside the professional series, there is still room for growth. And bloom it, as this Datejust incorporates three shades of green in an interwoven palm pattern. Palm fronds are a nostalgia for some, a reflection of easy life in the tropics. When I look at the dial, I can almost feel the warm sand and sea breeze, rum in my hand. When it comes to natural inspiration, Grand Seiko does come to mind. But Rolex demonstrated its ability to reflect the natural world by referring to 126200. The workmanship is also exquisite, with the leafy texture offsetting the sunray brush of the main dial. There's even deep frosting around the date window magnified by the Cyclops lens. It's impressive how much fun Rolex can have with the Date-Date and Datejust without the shackles of its iconic sports best replica watches. Hentai Classic Surrounding the ornate palm dial is the tried-and-true Datejust platform – a 36mm Oyster case with a screw-down crown and 100m water resistance. Powering this piece is the manufacture Caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve. This movement is the beating heart of many models in the Rolex catalog. But the Datejust feels especially at home, the brand’s first watch with a date window, introduced in 1945. The Datejust pedigree is strong, but despite the sleek dial, the core elements remain. For this showdown, I opted for a sleek bezel configuration with an oyster bracelet. The watch also offers a fluted bezel and a Jubilee bracelet. You can mix and match these configurations, but the 36mm case is still there. The 36mm model is the only way to get this dial - at least for now. The popularity of this model remains to be seen, but I could see Rolex expanding to other case diameters. However, as RJ discovered at Day-Date, the 36mm size seems to be the sweet spot for these classic models. Due to the small size of the dial, the palm leaf pattern was not as popular. But with the more restrained Oyster bracelet and steel domed bezel, the dial still takes center stage, reducing distractions. It's time for Jorg to yearn for the Grand Seiko SBGA413 "Shunbun". This Titanium Spring Drive GS with Cherry Blossom Dial struck his heart, but does it sing for you? Be sure to vote later. Grand Seiko SBGA413 "Shunbun" The replica Grand Seiko watches SBGA413 has a story, not just an incredible dial. In 2011, I took a road trip along the East Coast of the United States. Six weeks later, a friend and I were driving from Miami to Chicago. We even went to Toronto, Canada. This is the trip of a lifetime! One of the absolute highlights was our visit to Washington D.C. While visiting all the different monuments, my buddy Adrian and I discovered the cherry trees planted around the Tidal Basin. Yukio Ozaki, the former mayor of Tokyo, gifted them to the city in 1912. It has to be said that witnessing the cherry blossoms fall is a magical experience. We didn't intend to see it, but when we happened to be there on April 10, 2011, we were amazed by its beauty. We decided to sit for a while on a park bench under a tree. This is the perfect place to see the stunning trees and fascinate Japanese tourists. They were in awe of seeing a familiar phenomenon so far from home. It's amazing to see the special memory on the dial come to life. As you can see, Ben, it means more to me than just a really nice dial. It provides the SBGA413 with a personal correlation that the log type cannot surpass. From the US to the rest of the world SBGA413 is part of a series of four special editions released to commemorate Japan's Twenty-Four Passes, periods that mark nature's changing seasons. Originally, the series was only released in the US in 2019. However, Grand Seiko decided to release the same collection globally last year. The story of the dial is inspired by the Japanese spring, when pink cherry blossoms fall on the water and become "flower rafts" or "flower rafts". Having witnessed this phenomenon firsthand, I can say that Grand Seiko has done an excellent job of making the dials. Color, texture and level of detail are all excellent. While pink may be a divisive dial color, this dial has a magical touch. Depending on the amount of light, the dial changes color frequently. In low light, the dial is soft and blends in with the color of the titanium case and bracelet. However, once the dial is in sunlight, it lights up in a beautiful pink. It's noticeably brighter, but never too bright.Jacob & Co. Astronomia solar Best of all, the texture creates great depth and detail, keeping you always on the lookout for your watch. In my opinion, this dial is on the same level as the Snowflake and White Birch dials. The added personal memory makes it my favorite Grand Seiko dial. Why titanium is perfect for SBGA413 But there's more to this watch than just a dial, let's take a look at the specs of the SBGA413. It comes with a 40mm titanium case inspired by the incredible Grand Seiko 62GS design. At 12.8mm tall and with a lug-to-lug length of 47mm, it's perfect for everyday wear. The stunning case design has no bezel, leaving room to maximize the impact of the dial. I love the case sculpture, it's comfortable on the wrist. This is also the result of Grand Seiko's decision to use titanium for watches. It makes the watch lighter than a stainless steel watch, so it's perfect to wear. While I'm not a fan of all titanium watches, the SBGA413 works really well. In addition to saving weight, the tone of the dial complements the titanium work perfectly. The titanium finish is also stunning. Inside the case, Grand Seiko equipped the SBGA413 with the Spring Drive 9R65 movement. It has 30 jewels, a 72-hour power reserve and a date and power reserve complication. As with most Spring Drive watches, the power reserve indicator fits perfectly into the stunning dial. Fine-tuning the clasp would be nice, as would a full brushed finish on the bracelet. But they are little things for me because I don't need them to make this watch perfect. For me, it already is. The dial and its personal story ensure this.replica Franck Muller watches