Appreciation of a quartz watch movement or any other “information-indicating technology” is best done via devices which are flawless in their ability to convey the information. This, for me, is why I love precision quartz movements like the 9F (and alternatively why so many people dislike imperfect quartz movements). Grand Seiko Quartz is utterly effortless is making the ticking hand on the dial not seem cheap as the seconds hand solidly and precisely stops exactly where it should on each second marker not too much to the right or to the left of the mark. The reliable accuracy is the second part of the equation which, in addition to the hand-assembly, makes this family of Seiko quartz movements an easy exception to the rule that “quartz is boring.”
Like other retro-sporty watches, Seiko decided to brush most of the steel bracelet links, but giving them a finely polished edge. The push-button folding deployant clasp is simple but streamlined and very effective. Given the modest proportions and 155 gram weight of the watch, it is both useful on the wrist and also very comfortable. I will say that while there are many comfortable large watches, many bigger timepiece cases are much less comfortable than they would be if they were smaller.
Differences between most Grand Seiko dress watches are subtle unless you know what you are looking for. I can easily see a novice to the world of Grand Seiko watches feel intimidated by the sheer visual similarity of many of their designs which are for the most part inspired by the designs Seiko began with in the 1960s for the Grand Seiko sub-brand.
With that said, veterans of Grand Seiko and other high-end Japanese watches will easily be able to identify the minor details which make this watch standout including the raised peripheral bezel in silver for the seconds markers as well as the fact that the hands and four of the hour markers are given luminant.
As a “Magnetic Resistant” watch the Grand Seiko SBGX093 case is resistant to 40,000 A/m and it is further water-resistant to 100 meters with a screw-down crown. As far as I know, you won’t find a Grand Seiko watch (dressy or otherwise) with less than 100 meters of water resistance. Resistance to magnetism is something more important in mechanical watches, but it matters in quartz movements as well to a degree. Try putting this quartz watch in an MRI machine and see it not be phased (if you quite literally have nothing better to do with your time and money). Again, there is a mechanical version of this watch if you want a more “authentic” Japanese Milgauss experience.
No doubt my deep appreciation of the Grand Seiko SBGX093 is the result of layers of acquired taste and deeper understanding of the world of watches. People like me are out there, but are admittedly less common among the watch-lover elite. With that said, in Japan I found that perhaps 80% or more of the Grand Seiko watches being sold were quartz, and moreover, most of them were in this dressier-style case as opposed to Grand Seiko’s sport watch family. That means that at least in Japan there are enough people who share my passion for niche timepieces like this that in their own way check off so many boxes important to people interested in fine horology.
Retail price in Japan for the Grand Seiko Quartz SBGX093 watch is 330,000 yen, which is currently just under US$3,000. Street price in Japan is less, but this is still a pricey timepiece to not have a mechanical movement. With that said, it is more or less entry-level priced in the world of Grand Seiko. Again, this black-dialed SBGX093’s companion model is the silver-dialed SBGX091 which is also a lovely model. grand-seiko.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Grand Seiko
>Model: Quartz SBGX089, SBGX091, SBGX093 (as tested)
>Price: 330,000 yen
>Size: 38.8mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Lover of very well-made quartz watches in clean, slightly sporty watches. In other words, most Grand Seiko fans.
>Best characteristic of watch: Beautiful design which beautifully highlights all the talents not just of Grand Seiko, but good Japanese watches overall. Comfortable, legible, and also fashionably useful.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Still a difficult concept for many watch lovers to wrap their minds around – but nevertheless a solid value for the price. If I could add anything it would be a 10-year battery.
