
2018 Grand Seiko Caliber 9S 20th Anniversary 'Whirlpool' LE
A Hi-Beat with a dazzling blue dial, an impeccably finished case, and the Grand Seiko 9S85 automatic movement.
Overview
In 1968, Seiko launched their first 36,000 vph automatic movement–the caliber 61GS. This was an important achievement in a decade that saw Grand Seiko rapidly develop several highly-regarded mechanical movements. Soon after, the Quartz Crisis hit the watch industry and the brand instead poured their efforts into developing some of the most accurate quartz movements in the world. It wasn’t until 1998 that Grand Seiko would return to their mechanical roots and launch a new automatic movement–the caliber 9S.
Both the 61GS and the 9S represent the manufacturer’s dedication to creating the very finest mechanical calibers in the world. To celebrate their anniversaries in 2018, Grand Seiko released 3 limited edition watches: a platinum SBGH265, a yellow gold SBGH266, and a stainless steel SBGH267. All three shared the same caliber 9S85 movement, a newly designed 39.5mm case, and a radial mosaic dial. However, it was the SBGH267 that stood out, not only for its affordability, but for being the only one with a colored dial and a specially made anodized titanium rotor. The result is an incredibly beautiful watch that has become one of the most iconic Grand Seikos of this decade and is often simply referred to as the “Whirlpool”.
Specifications
Brand:
Grand Seiko
Model:
Caliber 9S 20th Anniversary 'Whirlpool' LE
Reference:
SBGH267
Year:
2018
Case Number:
0223/1500
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
39 mm
Lug Width:
19 mm
Thickness:
13.0 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
47.0 mm
Dial:
Blue
Lume:
None
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Automatic
Caliber:
Grand Seiko 9S85
Bracelet/Strap:
Grand Seiko stainless steel bracelet
Max Wrist Size:
8in (16 links)
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.1 in
Condition
Case: The case shows hardly any signs of wear with only a few hairlines and a couple micro nicks visible on close inspection. The faceted lugs are thick and sharp with excellent definition between brushed and polished surfaces. The caseback is consistent with the rest of the watch and contains a few minor hairlines. The serial number and model engravings are sharp and deep.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The blue mosaic dial and brushed sword hands are in pristine condition with no imperfections. The front and rear sapphire crystals are clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The fully-linked Grand Seiko stainless steel bracelet shows no stretching and practically no signs of wear with only a couple hairlines and micro scuffs present. The GS stamp at the clasp remains sharp and detailed.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown winding, time setting, and quickset date are working as expected.
Service History: Unknown.
What's Included

What's Included
Watch
Grand Seiko Caliber 9S 20th Anniversary 'Whirlpool' LE on a stainless steel bracelet.
Box/Papers
Boxes, instructions, inspection certificate, GS9 Club booklet, watch notes, customer card, and guarantee dated April 2018.
Extras
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Authenticity Guarantee
Each watch is thoroughly evaluated and guaranteed to be authentic unless explicitly stated otherwise. Prior to any sale, we are happy to provide additional photos or videos of the watch, movement, and accessories at your request. Once you receive the watch, we allow a 72-hour inspection period during which you may return the watch for a full refund if it is misrepresented.
We spend a considerable amount of time researching any watch we plan to source. This includes cross-checking the visual details, case numbers, and movements using examples sold by other reputable dealers and buying guides published by subject matter experts. We set very high standards and will not consider any watch with questionable parts or inconsistencies that cannot be verified elsewhere.
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Condition Grades
We use the following rubric to assign each watch a condition grade that best represents its external appearance.
Timegrapher Readings
These readings were taken on a Weishi No. 1000 timegrapher approximately one hour after fully winding the watch.

























