Back on the Bracelet
I finally decided to put the GS SBGA493 back on the bracelet. It's been on the kimono silk and leather strap for a long time. Ultimately I decided I prefer the bracelet. The strap is beautiful, and each one appears to have a unique pattern to the dye, but the dye is wearing off at the buckle, and I think the watch looks a bit awkward on a strap with those bulky lugs. Unlike many watch collectors, I like this bracelet. It makes me angry that GS included both a bracelet and a strap with this watch without providing the owner with quick release pins (like Bulova did with my Jet Star) to easily swap between the two.
Watch nut (obviously), cycling nut, walking and hiking nut, science nut (B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics), hi-fi nut, music nut, car nut, computer nut (have worked in IT since 1993), video game nut (...
The bracelet gets too much hate. I also put my GS back on the bracelet and it fits fine.
I agree on the bracelet. Mine, on the SBGA373 is fine - apart from the occasions when I'm in Doha in 40C; then it gets a little tight, but that heat will cause you problems with any bracelet lacking easy microadjust.
The key is getting the fit just right. My AD, Joe Lim at GS in Mid Valley Kuala Lumpur, took the trouble to fit mine once, and told me to come back if it needed readjusting. I did, and it's sorted. The customer service by GS in Malaysia is superb. They even threw a great event for all GS owners a few months ago.