2021 Grand Seiko Elegance Manually Wound SBGW231G
Ref: SBGW231G (9S64-00A0)

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Grand Seiko Box & Paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 19mm Grand Seiko crocodile strap with a signed buckle. The watch is from April 2021 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

The Watch

Here we have a 2021 Grand Seiko Elegance Manually Wound SBGW231G, bringing together the sophistication of a dress watch with the craftsmanship of true experts at Grand Seiko. The 37mm stainless steel case has perfect polishing, something we sometimes take for granted on a Grand  Seiko, it’s not until we have one on the wrist that we can truly appreciate the sheer brilliance of the Zaratsu polishers. A lug-to-lug length of 44mm and a thickness of 11.5mm gives the watch excellent wrist presence, the drilled lugs gently curve over your wrist for a comfortable fit, and on the right side, a signed crown. A stepped polished bezel holds a slightly domed box-shaped sapphire crystal with an AR coating on the inside, the cream dial has an outer minute track with applied steel batons precisely chamfered edges Zaratsu polished. As you rotate your wrist the dial magically plays with the light, steel dauphine hands that have been Zaratsu polished are complemented by a tapered sweeping seconds hand, an applied GS and precisely printed Grand Seiko at 12. On the reverse, a screw-down exhibition case with sapphire crystal showcases the movement, inside a manually wound Grand Seiko Cal. 9S64A, 24 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, and an impressive 72-hour power reserve, the movement has been adjusted to six positions and temperatures at the factory, finished with attractive Cotes de Geneve decoration, the movement has been developed with Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Technology where precise components are produced using advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The watch comes fitted on a 19mm Grand Seiko crocodile strap with a signed buckle and the watch comes with its Grand Seiko presentation box and paperwork.

Personal Note

The Brand

The first Grand Seiko debuted in Tokyo in 1960. The ref: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 therefore 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 a 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.