SBGA375, opinions?

[pearson1995]

Hi everyone,

I am yet to buy a grand seiko, been looking at the SBGA375 recently and feel it had everything that grand seiko does best: 44GS case, spring drive, beautiful dial etc.

Anyone held this in person or has any opinions on it? Thanks

[pearson1995]

Surprised to have no owners on here! If I ever enter the world of grand seiko, I think this is where I will start. On paper it seems perfect.

[dimag333]

agreed, I would probably spend the extra cash and get the fall even though its not spring

steve

[swish77]

Love some Grand Seikos, but not a fan of the spring drive needle/gauge on the dial, which creates a cluttered appearance, IMHO. The advantage of the spring-drive movement doesn't impress me enough to compensate for that.

Yes, it's a cool mechanical advancement in watch-making, but all Grand Seikos will be incredibly accurate, especially pure quartz models, so I don't need a "spring drive," and I certainly don't need it taking up a chunk of the dial with that little meter.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by swish77

Love some Grand Seikos, but not a fan of the spring drive needle/gauge on the dial, which creates a cluttered appearance, IMHO. The advantage of the spring-drive movement doesn't impress me enough to compensate for that.

Yes, it's a cool mechanical advancement in watch-making, but all Grand Seikos will be incredibly accurate, especially pure quartz models, so I don't need a "spring drive," and I certainly don't need it taking up a chunk of the dial with that little meter.

Well, with all due respect I disagree with your opinions...although they are valid for your own view on mechanical watches.
The spring drive caliber is a very important horological advancement. Being a hybrid , it has 80% of the components found in luxury mechanical watches .
The last 20% is Grand Seiko’s version of an escapement in a mechanical watch.
An article in Hodinkee pointed out that the definition (in the Oxford Dictionary)of an escapement is: a mechanism in a watch that alternately checks and releases the train by a fixed amount and transmits a periodic impulse from the spring to the balance wheel. Hodinkee feels, as do I, that Spring Drive fits this definition nicely.
With regards to the power reserve placement on the Spring Drives dial; that, like Rolex’s cyclops eye , is a matter of personal taste. To me, the power reserve placement represents an aspect of Japanese aesthetics- the principle of asymmetry /irregularity which is a trait found in nature .
While I have great regard for many Swiss manufacturers , Grand Seiko goes above and beyond the mere making of timepieces .
Their watches encompass their philosophies, aesthetics , and LOVE for their natural environment .
That’s what draws me into GS... they are so very interesting !

(PS- PADI, I fondly await your input !)

[stockae92]

The 44GS case polish alone is worth the ticket price :)

[DVR]

Love mine, it's stunning. The case is great and in combination with the beautiful dial it is a watch I love having in my collection.

Did a quick search and found this other owner:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=658901&
There are a several other owners, it's a popular GS.

My watch: