2019 Grand Seiko Sports Limited Edition SBGN007 Green
Ref: SBGN007 (9F86-0AC0)

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko Box & Paperwork. The watch comes paired on its original stainless steel Grand Seiko signed bracelet with its Grand Seiko signed clasp, all spare links included. The watch is from August 2019 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see, a full case & bracelet refurb can be provided at an additional cost. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

The Watch

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, in 2017 Seiko announced that Grand Seiko would become an independent brand.

Here we have a 2019 Grand Seiko Sports SBGN007 Limited Edition of 1200 pieces, celebrating the 25th Anniversary first Grand Seiko 9F quartz GMT model. The impressively sculptured 40mm stainless steel case exquisitely polished and brushed surfaces curve over your wrist toward the drilled lugs, and a lug-to-lug of 46.5mm and a case thickness of 12.1mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a signed screw-down crown sitting slightly recessed, and a smooth bezel holds a dual-domed sapphire crystal above a green dial that has a stunning repeating embossed "GS & 9F" textured pattern. Applied chamfered-edges batons and trapezoid indexes mark the hours that play with the light as you rotate your wrist, at 3 o’clock a framed date window, and outer 24-hour numerals are precisely applied to the dial. Elegant dauphine hands are Zaratsu polished with razor edges, a golden arrow hand indicates the 24-hour position, and at 12 o’clock we have the Grand Seiko motif and at 6 o’clock “GMT” and the gold 5-point star which symbolises the high precision rate of the quartz movement. On the reverse is a screw-down case back with the serial number engraved into it and a deeply embossed medallion in the centre, inside a Quartz Grand Seiko Cal. 9F86 is a top-tiered Quartz movement. Seiko grows their 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 20mm stainless steel bracelet expertly brushed and polished with a push-button hidden signed clasp and also comes with the Grand Seiko presentation box and papers.

Personal Note

Dials are what Grand Seiko do well and truly go above and beyond any brand in their price bracket, anyone who has handled a Grand Seiko and louped a dial will know exactly what I am talking about. If you haven't, now is the time to book an appointment and see this incredible watch and our other Grand Seiko's in the metal and see for yourself.