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BlueIn2Red · 8 January 2018, 07:23 PM

My last incoming for a while (I hope), and perhaps my favourite of my recent acquisitions (although it's close!). While I like "dressier" watches, I've never really fallen in love with one quite like I have this watch. I already own five Grand Seikos, and thought I was done (I've heard that before), but I didn't own a more traditional piece like this, nor did I have a manual wind GS (I wish they did them more often - my one real criticism of GS watches is that they tend to be quite thick, although they do wear better than you might think, and obviously the automatic rotor contributes to this thickness).

As many will know, the SBGW253 is a "recreation" of the very first GS from 1960, in a limited edition of 1960 pieces (so not very limited then!). I thought I'd missed out on this, with it being out for the best part of a year, but luckily (or unluckily if you're my wife) Jura watches had one left, and I was able to use one of their holiday sale codes to get a decent discount.

It's larger than the original, at 38mm, which normally I'd be a bit wary of, but actually I think it works really well, on my seven and a quarter inch wrist at least (and because it's not ultra thin, at 11mm, the proportions work well too). It's a lovely elegant piece, with fantastic visibility due to the bright white dial (which isn't as "creamy" as it looks in some of my pictures which were taken in warm evening sunlight) and highly polished hands and indices. Something about the Zaratsu polishing on this watch in particular is even more appealing than on my other GSs - the steel appears is exceptionally bright and "silvery", really popping in the light. I also feel it can be worn quite flexibly, having no problems wearing it with jeans - perhaps I'm just getting too old though!

The movement performs very well so far (+1 second per day), and winds very nicely (although I do find the crown a little small, or at least lacking in grip).

rolexjim · 8 January 2018, 08:32 PM

That is a stunning watch, one in which I almost sold my YM to acquire. While I'm glad I didn't, I would still love to add that piece to my collection.

You are a lucky man. Wear it in good health.

1William · 8 January 2018, 09:35 PM

Congratulations.

yannis · 8 January 2018, 09:51 PM

Fantastic! Elegant! Beautiful! Congrats!

Jay (Eire) · 8 January 2018, 09:53 PM

Andy, I love it. I'm also a big fan of GS (and Seiko generally) and would love to add this at some point. I've yet to see it in person in Steel, I've seen the precious metals but those are out of range.

ddaly12 · 9 January 2018, 12:06 AM

Such a beauty. Looks great on the wrist. I'm very jealous!!

Congrats.

brandrea · 9 January 2018, 12:10 AM

Such a great looking reference. Congratulations and thank you for sharing

SemperFi · 9 January 2018, 12:18 AM

Congratulations!

Wear it in excellent health.

GFONG · 9 January 2018, 01:11 AM

Well done. Congrats!

This is the watch I am looking for. The 38mm size is good for my small wrist. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a date.

yessir69 · 9 January 2018, 04:31 AM

That's a beauty. I have a Cocktail Time on the way - the old model that has been discontinued. My dad is "borrowing" my 007. Love me some Seiko.

tomchicago · 9 January 2018, 05:54 AM

gorgeous! congrats! wrist pix please.

themast · 9 January 2018, 06:07 AM

There is only one thing that I do not like about this watch. It is not mine!!!

Congratulations, I love it.

BlueIn2Red · 9 January 2018, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomchicago

gorgeous! congrats! wrist pix please.

Good point, forgot that ... just a dodgy phone pic though sorry.

EDIT - actually I didn’t forget! There’s a better quality one in the first post above.

twitch54 · 9 January 2018, 06:20 AM

incredibly handsome watch, congrats !

asiparks · 9 January 2018, 01:46 PM

hhhhhmmmm.....yeah. That's not too shabby at all.....

I'm starting to look at watches on leather bands, (instead of Natos or bracelets), I think I might be getting older too...
Congrats !

mps354 · 9 January 2018, 01:55 PM

Looks great, congrats!

GB-man · 9 January 2018, 01:57 PM

Congratulations!

wb55 · 10 January 2018, 10:43 AM

Stunning pics Andy. And just as I was getting over your SOTC the other day! I’ll add this as a favourite together with the AP and the BLRO!

ejvette · 10 January 2018, 10:45 AM

Simple but elegant

rodwillson · 10 January 2018, 11:21 AM

+1 congratulations!

Old Expat Beast · 10 January 2018, 01:09 PM

That's a great-looking watch. I'll be on the lookout for JDM GS and other Seikos when I'm in Japan next week.

Gharddog03 · 11 January 2018, 07:25 PM

Awesome!

benlee · 11 January 2018, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyGarton

My last incoming for a while (I hope), and perhaps my favourite of my recent acquisitions (although it's close!). While I like "dressier" watches, I've never really fallen in love with one quite like I have this watch. I already own five Grand Seikos, and thought I was done (I've heard that before), but I didn't own a more traditional piece like this, nor did I have a manual wind GS (I wish they did them more often - my one real criticism of GS watches is that they tend to be quite thick, although they do wear better than you might think, and obviously the automatic rotor contributes to this thickness).

Congrats on the SBGW253. It's certainly one of the collectible GS.

Just curious, what is your other 5 GS?

joli160 · 14 January 2018, 03:22 AM

Really beautiful

jatco · 14 January 2018, 05:06 AM

A Classic, imo...
Love it..
Enjoy it..

Kamen · 14 January 2018, 06:30 AM

Awesome! I am currently looking to add a GS to the collection as well but the selection and prices where I am are quite...horrid.

jatco · 14 January 2018, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen

Awesome! I am currently looking to add a GS to the collection as well but the selection and prices where I am are quite...horrid.

I hear ya.. but haven't been looking around lately..
Looking at retirement (or semi..).. so another watch isn't on the horizon.
I have what I want......!

One Ping Only · 14 January 2018, 09:03 AM

Great watch, enjoy!

GradyPhilpott · 14 January 2018, 11:30 AM

mdtddd2007 · 18 January 2018, 11:39 AM

Beautiful...just simple! Congrats!

8 January 2018, 07:23 PM	#1
BlueIn2Red "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: UK Posts: 219	Incoming! Grand Seiko SBGW253 My last incoming for a while (I hope), and perhaps my favourite of my recent acquisitions (although it's close!). While I like "dressier" watches, I've never really fallen in love with one quite like I have this watch. I already own five Grand Seikos, and thought I was done (I've heard that before), but I didn't own a more traditional piece like this, nor did I have a manual wind GS (I wish they did them more often - my one real criticism of GS watches is that they tend to be quite thick, although they do wear better than you might think, and obviously the automatic rotor contributes to this thickness). As many will know, the SBGW253 is a "recreation" of the very first GS from 1960, in a limited edition of 1960 pieces (so not very limited then!). I thought I'd missed out on this, with it being out for the best part of a year, but luckily (or unluckily if you're my wife) Jura watches had one left, and I was able to use one of their holiday sale codes to get a decent discount. It's larger than the original, at 38mm, which normally I'd be a bit wary of, but actually I think it works really well, on my seven and a quarter inch wrist at least (and because it's not ultra thin, at 11mm, the proportions work well too). It's a lovely elegant piece, with fantastic visibility due to the bright white dial (which isn't as "creamy" as it looks in some of my pictures which were taken in warm evening sunlight) and highly polished hands and indices. Something about the Zaratsu polishing on this watch in particular is even more appealing than on my other GSs - the steel appears is exceptionally bright and "silvery", really popping in the light. I also feel it can be worn quite flexibly, having no problems wearing it with jeans - perhaps I'm just getting too old though! The movement performs very well so far (+1 second per day), and winds very nicely (although I do find the crown a little small, or at least lacking in grip).

8 January 2018, 08:32 PM	#2
rolexjim "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Jim Location: South Carolina US Watch: Tudor Black Bay 41 Posts: 440	That is a stunning watch, one in which I almost sold my YM to acquire. While I'm glad I didn't, I would still love to add that piece to my collection. You are a lucky man. Wear it in good health. __________________ Air King - Black Bay 58 - PAM 111

8 January 2018, 09:51 PM	#4
yannis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Yannis Location: Europe Watch: maniac Posts: 9,070	Fantastic! Elegant! Beautiful! Congrats! __________________ Rolex Submariner 116610LV \| Tudor 79220N DSSD MEMBERS - OWNERS CLUB

9 January 2018, 12:18 AM	#8
SemperFi "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Real Name: Angelo Location: Brooklyn, NY Watch: Rolex Submariner Posts: 42,164	Congratulations! Wear it in excellent health. __________________ Rolex Submariner Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Tudor Black Bay 58 Blue Tudor Ranger 79910 Nomos Club Datum 733 Nomos Metro 38 Stowa Flieger Classic 40 * Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons *

9 January 2018, 01:57 PM	#17
GB-man 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Watch: addiction issues Posts: 36,866	Congratulations! __________________

8 January 2018, 09:35 PM	#3
1William 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Carolina Watch: Rolex/Others Posts: 44,758	Congratulations.

8 January 2018, 09:53 PM	#5
Jay (Eire) 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: @jb.watching Location: NYC Posts: 1,469	Andy, I love it. I'm also a big fan of GS (and Seiko generally) and would love to add this at some point. I've yet to see it in person in Steel, I've seen the precious metals but those are out of range.

9 January 2018, 12:06 AM	#6
ddaly12 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Cranford Posts: 704	Such a beauty. Looks great on the wrist. I'm very jealous!! Congrats.

9 January 2018, 12:10 AM	#7
brandrea 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 73,713	Such a great looking reference. Congratulations and thank you for sharing

9 January 2018, 01:11 AM	#9
GFONG "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Galen Location: SG / HK Watch: Lange / Rolex Posts: 2,810	Well done. Congrats! This is the watch I am looking for. The 38mm size is good for my small wrist. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a date.

9 January 2018, 04:31 AM	#10
yessir69 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: Kevin Location: Tornado Alley Posts: 3,212	That's a beauty. I have a Cocktail Time on the way - the old model that has been discontinued. My dad is "borrowing" my 007. Love me some Seiko.

9 January 2018, 05:54 AM	#11
tomchicago Banned Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Watch: 16710BLRO, 214270. Posts: 2,717	gorgeous! congrats! wrist pix please.

9 January 2018, 06:07 AM	#12
themast "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: US Posts: 2,704	There is only one thing that I do not like about this watch. It is not mine!!! Congratulations, I love it.

9 January 2018, 06:20 AM	#14
twitch54 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Real Name: 'Bobby' Location: SE Pa Watch: 1888 Appleton Trac Posts: 982	incredibly handsome watch, congrats !

9 January 2018, 01:46 PM	#15
asiparks "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Portland, OR Watch: ing the Detectives Posts: 1,885	hhhhhmmmm.....yeah. That's not too shabby at all..... I'm starting to look at watches on leather bands, (instead of Natos or bracelets), I think I might be getting older too... Congrats !

9 January 2018, 01:55 PM	#16
mps354 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Real Name: Mike Location: CT Posts: 8,972	Looks great, congrats!

10 January 2018, 10:43 AM	#18
wb55 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: - Posts: 988	Stunning pics Andy. And just as I was getting over your SOTC the other day! I’ll add this as a favourite together with the AP and the BLRO!

10 January 2018, 10:45 AM	#19
ejvette 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Real Name: Ed Location: East Hampton NY Watch: me break clays.. Posts: 7,495	Simple but elegant __________________ Rolex•Omega•Breitling•Grand Seiko "The only difference between crazy and eccentric is the size of ones bank account" Anonymous * Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons *

10 January 2018, 11:21 AM	#20
rodwillson Banned Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 30	+1 congratulations!

10 January 2018, 01:09 PM	#21
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Hong Kong Watch: SEIKO Posts: 28,362	That's a great-looking watch. I'll be on the lookout for JDM GS and other Seikos when I'm in Japan next week.

11 January 2018, 07:25 PM	#22
Gharddog03 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Genaro Location: Fresno Ca. Watch: R O L E X Posts: 4,466	Awesome!

14 January 2018, 03:22 AM	#24
joli160 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NL Watch: Yachtmaster Posts: 14,355	Really beautiful __________________ Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711.

14 January 2018, 05:06 AM	#25
jatco 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Thomas Location: YVR Watch: 116233/79190 Posts: 47,882	A Classic, imo... Love it.. Enjoy it.. __________________ . . ' A Crown for every achievement '

14 January 2018, 06:30 AM	#26
Kamen "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 265	Awesome! I am currently looking to add a GS to the collection as well but the selection and prices where I am are quite...horrid.

14 January 2018, 09:03 AM	#28
One Ping Only "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Real Name: Ken Location: WI Watch: several Posts: 1,639	Great watch, enjoy! __________________ I have far too many expensive hobbies to even consider another one.

14 January 2018, 11:30 AM	#29
GradyPhilpott 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Mexico Watch: 116710 BLNR Posts: 34,347	__________________ JJ Inaugural TRF $50 Watch Challenge Winner

18 January 2018, 11:39 AM	#30
mdtddd2007 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.S Watch: Rolex, PP, AP, GS Posts: 5,657	Beautiful...just simple! Congrats!

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