HANDS-ON: The Grand Seiko SBGN019 and SBGN021 are “go-anywhere, do anything” watches
Nick KenyonGrand Seiko are loved for lots of different reasons from the Spring Drive movement to Zaratsu polishing and the impressive value that they offer collectors and enthusiasts. They are also the brand that comes to mind when you think of quality quartz watchmaking and this year Grand Seiko are celebrating the 140th anniversary of the founding of the company with the new quartz GMT collection that includes the Grand Seiko SBGN019 and SBGN021 that we explore below.
The case
The 40mm stainless-steel case is classic Grand Seiko, with short, boxy lugs that make the watch wear slightly smaller than 40mm might suggest. At just over 13mm thick, it isn’t designed to be in the running for an ultra-thin watchmaking award, but is comfortable on the wrist and offers that little bit of heft you want in a sports watch. The case sides and the tops of the lugs are either brushed or Zaratsu polished, the contrast between the two articulating the razor-sharp case lines.
With a 46.7mm lug to lug measurement, the watch will sit nicely on most wrist sizes thanks to the end-links of the bracelet tapering down swiftly from the case. A new feature in this collection is the lusciously polished fixed ceramic bezel, which communicates a 24-hour scale that is perfect for the GMT function of both of these watches.
The case features a screw-down solid caseback, a common feature of references within this collection from Grand Seiko, which also guarantees it to a more than decent 200m of water resistance. That puts this collection in the category of more serious sports watches, as several other members of this collection in the past have only had 100m water resistance and no screw-down crown.
The dial
When I first saw this dial, the first watch that came to mind in comparison was the Grand Seiko SBGY003, a Spring Drive powered dress watch, but one that shares the same sort of exaggerated sunburst finishing. Despite the prominence of the radial lines that explode outward from the centre of the dial, it isn’t overbearing, requiring the light to hit it just right before you can see it clearly.
The hands and hour markers are both filled with decent dollops of lume, which is exactly what you’d want from sporty watches like this. At 4 o’clock you find the date window, lined up with the crown that screws down into the case until almost concealed.
The movement
Powering both the Grand Seiko SBGN019 and SBGN021 is the well respected 9F86, the high-accuracy quartz movement from the brand that offers GMT functionality. Rather than the typical accuracy of around +/-15 seconds per month, the 9F86 is accurate to a truly impressive +/-10 seconds per year, making it one of the more accurate movements in the world.
The bracelet
As with many Grand Seiko sports watches, the bracelets have been designed with strength and a robustly utilitarian function in mind. All three links are given a no-nonsense vertical brushing along their length, which also emphasises the perfect polish of the lugs. The bracelet is closed with a classic folding Grand Seiko clasp that is released with the push of a twin-button.
The verdict
All considered both the Grand Seiko SBGN019 and SBGN021 offer a strong technical proposition as a go anywhere, do anything sports watch. The combination of the highly accurate quartz movement, 200m of water resistance, the GMT functionality and the ceramic bezel, all paired with the level of finishing we know and love from the brand, makes these watches more than worthy of your consideration. If you have a hang-up about high-end quartz watchmaking, or are looking for a sports watch with a slimmer case profile, then perhaps this won’t be for you, but in most other respects these two references offer a lot on paper and on the wrist.
Grand Seiko SBGN019 and SBGN021 price and availability:
The Grand Seiko SBGN019 and SBGN021 are both $6795 and are not limited in production numbers. The will be available from June 2021, but are open for preorder now. For more details, visit Grand Seiko right here.
Made in partnership with Grand Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.