Grand Seiko SBGA375 Review
Several watches with the spring drive model of the Grand Seiko heritage collection exist, but the Grand Seiko SBGA375 is one of the watches at the center of the collection. Recently released in the year 2018, the SBGA375 spots a classy sporty look that was inspired by the 44GS case design of the late 1960s.
Grand Seiko’s attention to detail and the value-added functionality of the Grand Seiko SBGA375 makes it a rare breed of a watch. Originally designed for men, this watch is the type that you can wear for any occasion – it doesn’t matter if you are wearing it to a casual outing or for official reason. It is just perfect for all your wristwatch needs.
Grand Seiko SBGA375 Exterior
As usual, Grand Seiko pays attention to their choice of design material when the SBGA375 was being constructed. The round-edged casing is made out of stainless steel with a brushed finish done in the Zaratsu style. The casing is about 40mm in diameter, and about 12.5mm in thickness. The combination of this measurement produces a casing thing that sits perfectly on the wrist, and that is big enough to house the beautiful dial. Attached to the casing on both sides is a bracelet of about 197mm in perimeter.
The stainless-steel strap has a brushed finish in the Zaratsu style just like the casing, and it comes with a three-fold clasp that can be released by the push button designed with it for easy strapping and unstrapping. The dial-in the casing is protected by dual-curved sapphire glass which is coated with anti-reflective coats on its inner surface.
Finally, the back of the case is designed in a screw-down manner with lion emblem, the crown is screwed down to prevent easy damage of the inner mechanism, and the watch weighs a total of 148.0g.
Grand Seiko SBGA375 Movement
The Grand Seiko SBGA375 is equipped with the automatic spring drive, 9R65 caliber system. Although the spring drive system was designed in 1999, the 9R caliber system was launched in 2003. The winding system of the 9R65 is automatic, but it had the manual capacity, and it has 30 jewels. One of the characteristics of the 9R65 system is its amazing power reserve. Grand Seiko upgraded this system from the existing 48 hours power reserve to a staggering 72 hours power reserve that can run consecutively for three days.
Furthermore, the complexity of the 9R65 system enables it to have better accuracy than the previous model of the spring drive movement system. The 9R65 system of the Grand Seiko SBGA375 is rated to have an accuracy of ±1 second per day or ±15 seconds per month.
Grand Seiko SBGA375 Functions
Although Grand Seiko prides itself on the beauty of their designs, their watches are also known to have some awesome features that make them just beyond aesthetic fashion items. This statement is true for the SBGA375 because it has some great functions aside from its beautiful design.
One of the major functions of the Grand Seiko SBGA375 is its power reserve. With 72 hours of reserve time, the watch can run consecutively for three days without any interruption in any of its functions. Furthermore, the added function of this watch is its magnetic resistance. Most of the moving part of a watch is made of a material that is susceptible to the force generated by a magnet. The Grand Seiko SBGA375 is however not like those watches. Its magnetic resistance helps it to keep working with little or no hindrance even when it is worn close to a magnetic field.
Aside from its stop second-hand function which is another added value of this watch, the watch is also water resistant with a rating of 10 bar. This literally means that it is safe to wear this watch close to water or any liquid to the depth of 100meters. This eradicates the fear of watch damage due to rainfall or water splash. However, it is important to note that it is not advisable to allow your watch to come in contact with corrosive liquids, neither should you leave it in water for too long.
Other functions of the Grand Seiko SBGA375 are its date display design and its power reserve display function.
Grand Seiko SBGA375 Display
Following the principle of most Grand Seiko watches, the SBGA375 doesn’t disappoint in its display at all. Its dial which was inspired by the beauty of the Skies in Japan is midnight blue in color. It is handcrafted and finished with an exquisite sun-brushed finish. A date window sits at the 3:00 position and the GS signature of Grand Seiko sits right below the 12:00 mark. Arabic numerals are replaced by handcrafted and polished indexes which are bold for easy visibility, and the three hands for hour, minute and seconds are all hand polished.
On the dial is a small but visible quarter of a circle, that is calibrated to show the depletion of the power reserve of the watch. Finally, the back case is designed with a see-through window, and this displays the beautiful 30 jewels,9R65 caliber movement mechanism.
Grand Seiko SBGA375 Price
You can get the Grand Seiko SBGA375 at a price of: $5,600
