IS THE SBGA211 STILL THE BEST GRAND SEIKO?
The Iconic Snowflake Spring driven beauty has been the flagship model for Grand Seiko since 2005! The question in 2023 is…., is there a better Grand Seiko today that can take its place as the number 1 GS icon! ? A lot of people have mentioned the silver birch! Although the dimensions overall maybe better, I’m not sure it has the delicate beauty of this watch, a true natural looking formation on that dial. It really is a thing of beauty! I’m still not sure if Titanium watches though y’know!;)
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MADWATCHCOLLECTOR
I love Watches, all sports with a round ball! Tennis coach by day! The Mad Watch Collector on the weekends!;)
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Last active: 22 hrs ago
Too early to say the Omiwatari as it is fairly recent but it does not mark a particular point in time, I reckon.
Both Snowflake, SBGA011 and 211 have the whole package and offer excellent value for the price. The White Birch and the SBGA413 are fantastic too but they are not as discreet and versatile as the Snowflake.
The hands with that dial just look out of this world
I'm with you on Titanium watches, they're almost too light for me. At that point I'd rather wear resin. I think what Sinn offers with tegimented steel is the best middleground.
To your original question, my go to expert on GS is @HotWatchChick69 . He has many and will have a more hands-on opinion than most.
From my less experienced point of view...it seems the snowflake still holds the crown for most recognized GS watch. It has all the things and subtleties that made GS famous(ish). For my money however, I think no-date dress watches are where GS can really beat out everyone else, hands down. Like the SBGY013:
That to me is a future contender for the snowflake if they just push it a bit more instead of focusing on sports watches as much as they do currently.
I think the whirlpool would be my pick for another GS icon, although it's much more expensive.
For sure it’s the Omiwatari..
Wish it was 36/7 mm with a brushed case front.
It’s interesting that you bring up this question. I just recently became inducted into The Cult of Grand Seiko and I have to say that in my opinion, the modern day classics from the brand would have to be one of the new Evolution9 series in the SLGH005 White Birch Hi-Beat with its more silvery dial (compared to the SLGA009 Spring Drive) or the SBGE285 Spring Drive GMT “Mist Flake”. I know that both these watches are in a price point above that of the Snowflake but they feature GS’s new Grammar of Design elements with stunning dials to boot. The “Mist Flake” dial is similar to the Snowflake but with some added lume and slightly larger Zaratzu finished indices to catch even more light. And another contender(s) is the pair of SBGA413 & SBGA415 with their pink and light grey textured dials that remind you of the Cherry blossoms & the deep winter snows that cover the mountains in Taisetsu. And that 62GS case is just so beautiful. It’s not too thick and so light and comfortable in Titanium. I love how it doesn’t have a bezel either. Just a nice domed sapphire crystal. Perfection in my book. 👌🏼🥰
Oh and I happen to own three of em! 🌸❄🤍
There are watches that just stand out and are the unofficial mascot of a brand. Certainly the brand has other watches that are probably better specs or design, but certain designs just last.
Ex:
Rolex- Submariner Blk dial/blk ceramic
Cartier- Tank Louis
Omega- Speedmaster Moonwatch
Patek- 5711
AP- Royal Oak(let's be honest, it's their only watch)
I think for Grand Seiko, this mascot is without a doubt the SBGA011/211.
I believe my GS White Birch Spring Drive is the best!!! 💪💪🔥👌
Gained 1 second in 5 weeks.......Amazing piece!
As others have said, I think it's a representative model for Grand Seiko. I don't think it's the "flagship" model. The new Evolution 9 models seem to be the "flagship" models that GS is trying to push.
As for me, I own a Snowflake, and I love it. I love the dial. I love the lightness of the titanium watch. Love it!
Then I needed something with more color. =)
Most iconic, or best Grand Seiko? You asked two different questions. I'd say The Snowflake is still the most iconic. It's the watch that put Grand Seiko on the map. If someone knows the first thing about Grand Seiko, they know the Snowflake. At ADs that don't stock Grand Seiko, I've had salespeople look at my Shunbun and ask, "Is that a Snowflake?" But best Grand Seiko? I'd say no. Design is a matter of taste, but to my mind they've come out with a lot of more interesting models since. I passed on the Snowflake in favor of the Shunbun. They've also come out with improved, more advanced tech, like more accurate Spring Drive with longer power reserve, or the dual impulse escapement, etc. Most iconic≠best watch. Will another watch unseat the Snowflake as the brand icon? Only time will tell, but so far, no. There may be contenders out there, but I think it will be hard for another watch to represent the brand in the same way. When the Snowflake came out, Grand Seiko was unknown, and the Snowflake came as something shockingly new and unique. But now that Grand Seiko is much better known, along with their myriad dials and designs, I think it's unlikely that any one watch will grab the world's attention in the same way.
I'm with you on Titanium watches, they're almost too light for me. At that point I'd rather wear resin. I think what Sinn offers with tegimented steel is the best middleground.
To your original question, my go to expert on GS is @HotWatchChick69 . He has many and will have a more hands-on opinion than most.
From my less experienced point of view...it seems the snowflake still holds the crown for most recognized GS watch. It has all the things and subtleties that made GS famous(ish). For my money however, I think no-date dress watches are where GS can really beat out everyone else, hands down. Like the SBGY013:
That to me is a future contender for the snowflake if they just push it a bit more instead of focusing on sports watches as much as they do currently.
That is a beautiful watch!
It's gotta be a Ti watch (bikes for me & tennis for you - we need it light!)... but the only one it can be is the Cherry Blossom - it's what we all know Japan is famous for!
Some glamour shots to convince you:
Also, the Cherry blossom is the only GS I own.
In all seriousness tho' - I think you're right, gotta be snowflake.
The snowflake was epic when it was released, made the company world famous among collectors, and holds it's own today after almost 20 years.
I’m biased, but the new 9SA5 movement, combined with the 44GS case won me over. My SLGH009 is my favorite watch, and I love that they now have the SLGH013 as a non-LE in their lineup.
GS Snowflake is still the Icon of GS. But the best? No longer. There are newer iterations to Grammar of Design (GOD for short) in the Evo 9 series that will one day, replace the the Snowflake as the icon. I’d hazard a guess it will be the White Birch.
But you dont need the best GS to be better than the town, you just need any GS 🤪
Has GS made better watches? Almost certainly for My tastes and priorities. I tend to be partial to things in their elegance collection. But the snowflake has become an icon. I don't think that there's anything in grand seiko's lineup that is so good that it has overtaken it. And looking at the dial of that watch, you could do much worse for your brand icon.
Silver birch for me. Just feels like a step forward in design and look vs the Snowflake. Although I have to say I have neither, with my GS skew to GMT Sports but I don’t see these as iconic…the black birch is probably my idea of perfection- and has the ti angle too - but the price point goes way over for me…
It’s interesting that you bring up this question. I just recently became inducted into The Cult of Grand Seiko and I have to say that in my opinion, the modern day classics from the brand would have to be one of the new Evolution9 series in the SLGH005 White Birch Hi-Beat with its more silvery dial (compared to the SLGA009 Spring Drive) or the SBGE285 Spring Drive GMT “Mist Flake”. I know that both these watches are in a price point above that of the Snowflake but they feature GS’s new Grammar of Design elements with stunning dials to boot. The “Mist Flake” dial is similar to the Snowflake but with some added lume and slightly larger Zaratzu finished indices to catch even more light. And another contender(s) is the pair of SBGA413 & SBGA415 with their pink and light grey textured dials that remind you of the Cherry blossoms & the deep winter snows that cover the mountains in Taisetsu. And that 62GS case is just so beautiful. It’s not too thick and so light and comfortable in Titanium. I love how it doesn’t have a bezel either. Just a nice domed sapphire crystal. Perfection in my book. 👌🏼🥰
Oh and I happen to own three of em! 🌸❄🤍
Whew! Gorgeous collection of GS stunners!
The Snowflake is the GOAT of GS IMO. The Snowflake launched it all for the world - not just Japan. Spring Drive, Titanium, Zaratsu finish and a dial that Grand Seiko has been building off of ever since. IMO GS is so hooked on selling textured dials it's gone too far. I'm not going to be amazed at every textured dial that screams a nature haiku at me. The Snowflake dial just hit something timeless and unique. If anything, Grand Seiko please build the Snowflake II! Let's drop some GS lume on the dail, maybe stick the power reserve on the back and less contrast Zaratsu on the bracelet (Evolution 9 does a better bracelet finish) somehow figureout how to use screws with a Titanium bracelet & give use a quality clasp. That's the Snowflake II that I would love to own. For now, no GS dial or metal & case finish beats the Snowflake
What other watch has this fit and finish in Titanium, 100m water resistance, screw-down crown, textured dial, cool crystal, and accurate timekeeping like no other mass manufactured watch?
The snowflake, while beautiful, doesn't really do much for me. I'm more into the cherry blossom! That's one I'd really love to own one day even though I don't dress for dress watches...
I hope I'll be the owner of one coming October! 🙏🏻
It’s interesting that you bring up this question. I just recently became inducted into The Cult of Grand Seiko and I have to say that in my opinion, the modern day classics from the brand would have to be one of the new Evolution9 series in the SLGH005 White Birch Hi-Beat with its more silvery dial (compared to the SLGA009 Spring Drive) or the SBGE285 Spring Drive GMT “Mist Flake”. I know that both these watches are in a price point above that of the Snowflake but they feature GS’s new Grammar of Design elements with stunning dials to boot. The “Mist Flake” dial is similar to the Snowflake but with some added lume and slightly larger Zaratzu finished indices to catch even more light. And another contender(s) is the pair of SBGA413 & SBGA415 with their pink and light grey textured dials that remind you of the Cherry blossoms & the deep winter snows that cover the mountains in Taisetsu. And that 62GS case is just so beautiful. It’s not too thick and so light and comfortable in Titanium. I love how it doesn’t have a bezel either. Just a nice domed sapphire crystal. Perfection in my book. 👌🏼🥰
Oh and I happen to own three of em! 🌸❄🤍
Dam a helpful post and pictures along with it. Who are you? lol. Any ways if you had to pick which is your favorite between the white birch and the spring Shunbun?
Dam a helpful post and pictures along with it. Who are you? lol. Any ways if you had to pick which is your favorite between the white birch and the spring Shunbun?
Hahaha. There’s a new GS that’s received a bunch of wrist time lately and it’s my SLGA019 Lake Suwa. I can’t seem to put it down. But if I had to pick between the white birch and shunbun it would be the white birch. The overall package in the SLGH005 with its 9SA5 movement and silvery textured dial really makes it a stunning watch to explore with a loupe. The sapphire case back also shows off a gorgeous movement that is one of the best in the price category.