2017 Grand Seiko Quartz Diver SBGX115 on Bracelet
Ref: SBGX115 (9F61-0AF0)

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko box, swing tag & Grand Seiko paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 22mm brushed stainless steel Grand Seiko signed bracelet with its Grand Seiko signed clasp, all spare links included. The watch is from April 2017 and is sold in worn condition, with light wear that can be seen. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

The Watch

Here we have a 2017 Grand Seiko Quartz Diver SBGX115 with a 43mm impressively sculptured stainless steel case with exquisitely Zaratsu polished and brushed surfaces that curve over your wrist toward the drilled lugs, and a lug-to-lug of 48.5mm and a case thickness of 12.5mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side, we have a signed screw-down crown with deep knurling protected by crown guards. The unidirectional bezel has a black insert with deeply engraved 60-minute dive numerals in white holding a sapphire crystal AR coated above a striking white dial. An outer minute chapter ring precisely executed surrounds applied disc and baton indexes infilled with LumiBrite, diamond cut hands matte finished are infilled with LumiBrite and complemented by a lollipop counterbalance second hand, at 12 o’clock we have the applied “Seiko” and at 6 o’clock “Grand Seiko Divers 200m”. On the reverse a screw-down case back with the Grand Seiko medallion in high relief in the centre, inside a Quartz Grand Seiko Cal. 9F61 a top-tiered Quartz movement, Seiko grows its own quartz crystals and using a higher torque allows them to use these heavier GS hands, keeping their brand aesthetic intact. The watch comes fitted on its original 22mm brushed stainless steel Grand Seiko signed bracelet with its Grand Seiko signed clasp, all spare links included, and the watch comes with its Grand Seiko presentation box, swing tag and paperwork.

Personal Note

The Brand

The first Grand Seiko debuted in Tokyo in 1960, the reference 3180 was made by Suwa Seikosha. Rather than sending its 25 Jewels Chronometer movement to the Swiss to be tested, Seiko decided to do the testing themselves, the European Chronometer Official Association believed that a chronometer-rated watch had to be independently tested to be awarded that designation. Seiko watches were not independently tested, so they could not be chronometers. The ECOA did what irritated watchmakers do; they wrote a stern letter to Seiko requesting that the designation of Chronometer on Grand and King Seiko watches stop, Seiko obliged and ceased using "Chronometer" on their watches. In response, the Japanese Chronometer Authorization Association was started in 1968 as an independent group to test timepieces to chronometer standards, the Association was short-lived: due to the rise of quartz watches, it closed in 1983. Today Grand Seiko movements are tested over 17 days in 6 positions compared to COSC testing over 15 days in 5 positions. In 1985 Suwa Seikosha became Seiko Epson Corporation, and in 2017 Seiko announced that Grand Seiko would become an independent brand.