Not Your Father’s Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko SBGA029 photograph by Seiko
Kohei Sato posted a picture of the new Grand Seiko Diver on Timezone today. It’s a ground breaking announcement for the GS nameplate. Over the last couple of years, the look of many Grand Seikos has crossed over from the staid traditional dress style we are all familiar with into sport watch territory. With the release of this new GS diver, Seiko just leaped over that style line with a very un-Grand-Seiko-like watch.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the style. In fact, I think it looks like an old favorite kinetic diver of mine pictured below.
My initial thoughts about this new diver are that the case is almost identical to that of the 300M 8L35 Marinemaster with one unusual change; the center mounted crown! The hands follow the traditional Seiko dive style and I would imagine that the bezel could very well be ceramic.
Much to my dismay, I see the ever so ubiquitous Spring Drive power reserve gauge and the same seconds hand used on the 600M Spring Drive diver. I do like the gold accents which could be considered a homage to the original GS Diver, the 300M 6159.
I’d imagine this model will create a buzz in the collecting community. Obviously this is a direct competitor to the Rolex Submariner which, like it or not, is the iconic watch in the dive watch genre. However, I can already hear the critics shouting about the 200M water resistance rating and the prices of these new watches.
Perhaps this new Seiko could very well be considered one of the best “Desk Diver” watches in the world.
Basic Info:
- SBGA031 (Ti) & SBGA029
- 44mm Diameter 14mm Thickness
- 9R65 Spring Drive Movement
Approx. List Prices (based on value of yen) are a little over $6,000.00 for the SBGA029 and just over $7,000.00 for the Brightz titanium version.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Hey Pete,
Thanks for sharing this news, it’s very interesting. I guess after the Grand Seiko chronograph, the Grand Seiko diver shouldn’t be a big surprise. I wouldn’t turn one down if someone offered to give me one as a gift…
One thing I like about this design is Seiko used classic 200m-diver-type hands on it. Over the years, on watch forums, many have bemoaned these hands (while praising 6105/Marinemaster Automatic 300m-baton-type ones). Yeah — the signature Seiko big-ass-arrow minute hand!
Then there’s the second hand. Many think the luminous dot on the second hand of SKX007 is “on the wrong end,” and like the fly swatter-type one on 6105, or “correct” one on SKX173. Guess Seiko designers don’t agree with them, and like the look of the one on the SKX007. Sweet!
I like that my beloved “entry-level” Seiko SKX007 shares the same style hands as the Grand Seiko diver, and like that it will cause some to moan disapprovingly. Me and my bro’ Grand Seiko.
Regards,
Bryan
March 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I think the hands are great - that hour hand is a modern interpretation of the classic Cathedral hand and with its angular style matches the minute hand perfectly. I’m a bit surprised Seiko didn’t opt for angular hour markers as well.
Cheers, Greg
March 15th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I love the look. I bought a 600m spring drive last month, and I think it’s too thick. I was planning on swapping it for a SBGE001 GMT Spring Drive, but I may wait for this.