Grand Seiko SBGY013 Review: Behold the “White Omiwatari”

The Japanese are proud people who put that pride into everything they make. From cars to electronics, products from the Land of the Rising Sun tend to be reliable, long-lasting, and beautiful. 

This extends to watches as well, and Grand Seiko is at the head of the class. The brand has a long history of excellence in the art and science of horology. Indeed, any true watch aficionado should have a Grand Seiko or two in their collection.

Over the last several years, the brand has been releasing watches with smaller cases that are in line with the classics of the past. There are many watch lovers who seek out cases smaller than 40 mm. 

The SBGY collection has several of these heritage-inspired watches, and one of the most beautiful is the Grand Seiko SBGY013 Omiwatari. Let’s dive in and get a good look at what makes this timepiece so special. 

History

Grand Seiko has been making quality timepieces for more than 140 years. New collections, models, and innovations are always hitting the market as the brand strives to remain at the top of its game. 

In 2020, the SBGY005, the first watch in the collection, was given a limited release of 22 pieces. Grand Seiko followed up with the SBGY007 in 2021, and 2022 saw the introduction of the SBGY013. This is truly among the nicest in not only this collection but also all of the Grand Seiko catalog. 

A dressy watch with a bit of sporty flair, there is a lot to like about the Omiwatari.

Case

The stainless steel case features Grand Seiko’s trademark brushed and Zaratsu-polished surfaces that give it great depth as well as a gorgeous shine. The dimensions are on the smaller side, giving it a classic look. 

The 38.5 mm diameter, coupled with the 43.7 mm lug-to-lug, make it suitable for a wide range of wrist sizes. I tend to prefer cases in the 40-42 mm range on my 7.25-inch wrist, but the SBGY013 suits me well, especially when I want to dress things up a bit. If you are a bigger person with a wrist approaching 8 inches, you will likely find it a bit small.

The Omiwatari is thin enough to easily fit under a shirt sleeve at 10.2 mm. Even the lug width is smaller than the average 19 mm, which adds to the classy look. The crown sits at 3 o’clock and is large enough to make setting and winding easy but still small enough not to throw off the symmetry. The lack of crown guards adds to the clean line of the case.

The crystal is dual-curved scratch-resistant sapphire, and the anti-reflective coating ensures you can easily read the dial in any lighting conditions. The case back is a screw-down and exhibition. A sapphire crystal with the same anti-reflective coating lets you see the movement and show it to your horological friends. 

The water resistance is 30 meters, which will protect the watch in the rain but do not swim in it. 

Although it’s generally the dial that gets most of the focus, you may find yourself checking out the case from time to time. 

Dial

On to the dial, the face of a watch. Grand Seiko does everything well, but their dials take it up a few levels, and the SBGY013 is one of the very best. 

Nature takes a prime position in Japanese culture, and Grand Seiko tends to design its dials as a tribute to natural phenomena. 

Located near Grand Seiko’s works is the beautiful Lake Suwa. This pristine body of water freezes up in the winter, and a ridge of ice develops across the width of the lake. Legend has it the ridge is created by an ice goddess as she walks across the lake. The trail is called the “Omiwatari”, hence the name of this model.

The color is not just an ordinary white but rather a silvery white. When the light hits the dial, you see the same kind of sparkles visible on fresh snow. The texture gives the dial the look of a frozen pond covered by ice ridges. It’s a spectacular design, unlike any other dial I’ve ever seen. 

A dial this beautiful needs the right complementary components. No problem there. The stainless steel baton indices taper toward the center, and there is a double baton at 12 o’clock. As with all of Grand Seiko’s indices, they are precision cut and polished for a shine that complements both the case and the dial. 

The hands are polished stainless steel and narrow to a long point with a shorter point at the back end. The needle seconds hand is tempered blue steel and stands out against the dial as it completes each silky smooth sweep around the dial. 

The Grand Seiko logo is applied in stainless steel at 12 o’clock with the name in black underneath. The words Spring Drive sit at six. On the outer edge of the dial are the simple black ticks of the minute track. In addition to being very pleasant to look at, the dial is easy to read, as it should be on a dress watch. 

Movement

The watch is powered by yet another of Grand Seiko’s specialties. The in-house hand-wound caliber 9R31 Spring Drive 30-jewel movement is incredibly accurate at +/- 15 seconds per month. 

The dual spring barrel and the combination of mechanical and electronic quartz technology keep the seconds hand smoothly sweeping and provide a very generous 72-hour power reserve. 

Need to know how much power you have left and can’t find it on the dial? Have no fear. There is a power reserve indicator on the back of the movement, and thanks to the exhibition case back, you can clearly see it. 

The indicator and the Grand Seiko logo and name are displayed in blue, which stands out nicely against the stainless movement. Attention to detail is yet another Grand Seiko trademark. You won’t have to wind the watch too often but it’s so beautiful, you may want to.

Straps

The SBGY013 comes with a unique nine-link stainless steel bracelet. The links are alternately brushed and polished for a stunning look that fully complements the case. The bracelet closes with a three-fold clasp and push-button release. It’s secure yet comfortable and wraps nicely around the wrist.

There are no micro adjusters, but the links are only 0.7 mm long, so getting a good fit should not be difficult. The bracelet is elegant enough to be worn with a suit but still has enough sportiness to work with more casual attire. 

The drilled lugs make it easy to swap the bracelet out for a strap if you want to make it dressier. A leather or alligator strap looks great on the SBGY013, so you have options.

On-Wrist Experience

So, does this watch wear as good as it looks? With the smaller, thin case, curved lugs, and flexible bracelet, it sits very nicely on the wrist. It’s fairly light and very comfortable. It easily slides under a shirt cuff, and you might forget you are wearing it if not for the temptation to periodically look at this masterpiece.

As to how to style it, the possibilities are nearly endless. White is the ultimate neutral color, and you can wear this dial with suits, jackets, and shirts of any hue. It pairs well with polos, oxfords, or dress shirts with or without ties. 

Some guys will only wear a leather strap with a suit, but I think a nice bracelet looks just as good. Hell, I wear divers with suits, and the SBGY013 is more than dressy enough to hold up with your two or three-piece suits.

The simplicity of the dial makes it easy to read the time at a glance so as not to take your attention away from work or the event you are attending. I find myself sneaking extra peeks. It’s way too nice not to. 

Price & Availability

If you are considering purchasing the incredible SBGY013 Omiwatari, you can get one at a Grand Seiko boutique or from their website. It retails for $9,000. You get a lot for your money and a watch this nice for under 10 grand is a steal.

You can also get an SBGY013 from an authorized dealer, such as Exquisite Timepieces. You can stop by our Naples, FL, brick-and-mortar store to try one on or pick one up on our website. We offer free domestic shipping, and as an AD, we give you the Grand Seiko 5-year warranty. Our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff is ready to assist you in person or online. 

If you would like to save some money by going the preowned route, you can get a used SBGY013 for between $6,600 and $7,500. 

Conclusion

It can be hard to choose among the many watches available in the horological world. And that’s just the Grand Seiko catalog. If you are looking for a classy dress watch that’s reliable, accurate, stunningly beautiful, and a little sporty, you owe it to yourself to check out the Grand Seiko SBGY013 Omiwatari. It was inspired by a goddess. It’s simply heavenly.