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Old 23 January 2023, 07:07 AM   #1
mjolnir2thor
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GS SBGY007 Omiwatari

Bought my first GS today and it is a beauty!

I do have a question... I have a 6 3/4" wrist and wear my watch on my left hand. When I put on the Omiwatari, I noticed that excess length from the strap was pointed inwards towards me versus away. Seems the buckle portion of the strap needed to be moved to the top of the watch head. When I made this modification, everything seem right in the world.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?
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Old 23 January 2023, 08:44 AM   #2
TimeAZ
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The Japanese convention is reverse to that which we are accustomed to in the western world. I believe part of that is the idea that the excess strap tucked towards you is less apparent to others and therefore the neater and 'more perfect' way to wear it. Personally, I like the buckle at the 12 o clock side and would flip it, as you did
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Old 23 January 2023, 09:11 AM   #3
Cru Jones
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Having the strap end pointing towards you is the classic/traditional/formal way (Japanese or Western). But rules are made to be broken. ;-)
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Old 23 January 2023, 09:35 AM   #4
mjolnir2thor
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Originally Posted by TimeAZ View Post
The Japanese convention is reverse to that which we are accustomed to in the western world. I believe part of that is the idea that the excess strap tucked towards you is less apparent to others and therefore the neater and 'more perfect' way to wear it. Personally, I like the buckle at the 12 o clock side and would flip it, as you did
That makes sense... at first I thought that perhaps it was oriented for wear on the right wrist because of the buckle position. Thanks for the response... good to know it wasn't just me!
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Old 23 January 2023, 09:36 AM   #5
mjolnir2thor
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Having the strap end pointing towards you is the classic/traditional/formal way (Japanese or Western). But rules are made to be broken. ;-)
Didn't know that... it just felt so strange that I changed it.
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Old 25 January 2023, 12:13 PM   #6
pmac1010
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I was speaking with a GS AD last week and we talked about this. He said it's done this way so that when a sales rep presents the watch to a customer, the dial is facing the customer. The pointed end of the strap is on the 12 o'clock side so that it doesn't point towards the customer, which is considered rude in Japanese culture.
I can't verify this is true, but he says this is what GS reps told him when he asked about it.
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Old 25 January 2023, 01:10 PM   #7
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As long as I have been collecting, I think that I've only seen vintage (1960s-1970s) Grand Seiko and King Seiko (and Seiko in general) Japanese print ads showing leather straps fitted the "regular" way.
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Old 25 January 2023, 02:25 PM   #8
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Heard this same explanation from my AD. The SBGY007 is a beauty, the dial is a model of simplicity, no power reserve gauge to disrupt the serenity; and the case is sleek.

It is high on my list, along with one or two other GS models, will pull the trigger this week.

Hope you enjoy
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Old 25 January 2023, 09:14 PM   #9
mjolnir2thor
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Originally Posted by pmac1010 View Post
I was speaking with a GS AD last week and we talked about this. He said it's done this way so that when a sales rep presents the watch to a customer, the dial is facing the customer. The pointed end of the strap is on the 12 o'clock side so that it doesn't point towards the customer, which is considered rude in Japanese culture.
I can't verify this is true, but he says this is what GS reps told him when he asked about it.
Interesting… given the Japanese culture it makes a lot of sense. This fact adds to the uniqueness of the watch for me but it was just so odd to wear it that way so I switched it around.

Thank you for responding to the post.
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Old 25 January 2023, 09:17 PM   #10
mjolnir2thor
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Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast View Post
As long as I have been collecting, I think that I've only seen vintage (1960s-1970s) Grand Seiko and King Seiko (and Seiko in general) Japanese print ads showing leather straps fitted the "regular" way.
I wonder if they were thinking about targeting the US market at that one point?
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Old 25 January 2023, 09:23 PM   #11
mjolnir2thor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack T View Post
Heard this same explanation from my AD. The SBGY007 is a beauty, the dial is a model of simplicity, no power reserve gauge to disrupt the serenity; and the case is sleek.

It is high on my list, along with one or two other GS models, will pull the trigger this week.

Hope you enjoy
I have a formal event coming up and was looking for a more formal non-sports watch to wear with a suit. I pretty much settled on a GS but had a heck of a time choosing between the SBGY007, SBGY013, and SBGK017 but in the end was captivated by the Omiwatari, on a leather strap, and the hint of blue on the dial.

Haven’t worn the watch yet but the event is coming up. Keeo us posted with a NWA
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Old 25 January 2023, 09:33 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjolnir2thor View Post
I wonder if they were thinking about targeting the US market at that one point?
No, Grand Seiko and King Seiko were only available for sale in Japan back then (with a couple of rare exceptions). Grand Seiko only went international in 2010.
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Old 25 January 2023, 09:55 PM   #13
mjolnir2thor
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No, Grand Seiko and King Seiko were only available for sale in Japan back then (with a couple of rare exceptions). Grand Seiko only went international in 2010.
Then that Ad is quiet a rarity!
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Old 25 January 2023, 11:16 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by mjolnir2thor View Post
Then that Ad is quiet a rarity!
If you do a Google image search for the term Vintage Grand Seiko advert you can find several with straps arranged the normal way like that one I posted earlier. In fact I've never seen a picture of a reverse strap arrangement, like you describe, in old print ads or vintage GS catalogs.

PS: If it's a deployant clasp, though, then it's normal for it to be the way you describe yours, and many Swiss watch brands have that setup, with the buckle on the six side.
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Old 28 January 2023, 09:51 AM   #15
mideastwatchguy
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I thought the same thing with mine! The omiwatari is such an awesome dial, congrats on the pickup
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Old 28 January 2023, 09:52 AM   #16
mjolnir2thor
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I thought the same thing with mine! The omiwatari is such an awesome dial, congrats on the pickup
Thanks brother!

Did you end up switching the strap around?
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Old 11 May 2023, 01:08 AM   #17
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I bough this watch in August 2021 and living in the tropics didn’t get much opportunity to wear it. I love the dial and the case, and really wished I had a purpose to wear it.

And that is something I did on a recent trip to Japan. I wore it everyday and everyday since returning. I have truly fallen in love with this watch.

So much so that I changed it today with my favorite Patek, 5212a. The only stainless Patek I own, but it remains my favorite in my collection of that brand.

I can’t believe that after wearing the 5212a for a day I find myself missing the dial and case of SBGY007. Never thought I’d ever say that over the Patek.

I’m now looking for a strap I can use for the GS to give it a more casual everyday look and feel to wear with smart shorts and polo shirts.

What a watch. Well done GS.


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Old 11 May 2023, 01:12 AM   #18
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As the post above, really torn which watch to wear tomorrow.


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Old 11 May 2023, 03:09 AM   #19
mongrelnomoad
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That’s a gorgeous choice to have to make!
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Old 14 May 2023, 02:41 PM   #20
Tanalasta
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I would say pick the watch that has superior finishing!

As for the strap ; I removed the OEM strap the day I purchased the watch so probably never realised which way it was. All the straps I’ve swapped on have been put on the traditional way


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Old 30 May 2023, 07:33 PM   #21
Henry14th
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I would say pick the watch that has superior finishing!

As for the strap ; I removed the OEM strap the day I purchased the watch so probably never realised which way it was. All the straps I’ve swapped on have been put on the traditional way


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What color strap did you go for? Looking to find a strap to make the watch more of a daily wearer.

Perhaps a mid-dark grey would work well?


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