Grand Seiko SBGA Owner Review : Versatile, harmonious and innovative

A Seiko fan for many years, it took me almost 10 years to take the plunge and buy a Grand Seiko. Of course, the price is not the same and so naturally it is not a purchase that you make in a hurry. But beyond the price, it took me a long time to understand that the quality was there. Through ignorance, I thought for a long time that GS was a UFO brand, reserved for a few watch geeks in need of exoticism. Like many, I considered the GS as certainly well made but without that catchy charm that makes us take out the credit card. And yet from the first try I understood that I was completely wrong! This GS is a fantastic watch whose perfection of details, a priori trivial, makes it a piece that truly brings together all the ingredients expected of a high-end watch production, and above all extremely attractive. • the very fine indexes reflect the light perfectly. • the polished/brushed hands that offer excellent readability, despite the little contrast a priori with the light dial, are quite impressive • the polished bezel, which also brings a touch of discreet shine, gives the watch a little chic side (and luminous, we come back to it) which contrasts with the sportiness of the brushed bracelet • the dial definitely not silver but truly champagne which offers a "sunshine" both discreet but present. (on the other hand I think that the qualifier of "silk texture" sometimes used is very exaggerated). This champagne shade is very chic. The perception of the watch changes completely compared to its little sister with the black dial (285) which gives a much sportier image • the simplicity of the power reserve, just printed, is very consistent with the general style of the watch • the case, one of the too rare in 39 at GS, is a perfect sport chic combination. Compact and homogeneous (thickness is not an issue), it is obviously perfectly finished (zaratsu) • finally the spring drive movement (mechanical movement driving a quartz regulator) is obviously fantastic for its exclusivity, its precision and this sliding second which is definitely fascinating. This SBGA283 is not a show off watch ... but it is a watch that is noticed and which has already earned me a few compliments because as always at GS the details make all the difference. In the end it is probably the best value for money in my collection! You will like it if: • you like high quality objects • you admire the reflections of your watch 20 times a day • you want to get off the beaten track You will not like it if: • you swear by Swiss watchmaking!