Grand Seiko Heritage 37 as first luxury watch?

It’s close to a perfect watch. Finishing is incredible and definitely on par with more expensive GS models. I have an SBGN011, quartz champagne dial gmt in 40mm (same style and case). It gets worn more than any of my other watches. I’ve considered this model also but it means I wouldn’t need to buy anything else!

The finishing on Grand Seikos is fantastic and you would definitely be getting your moneys worth 👌Excellent choice

I have one ordered! The reviews on the 9f movement convinced me. ☺️

(Grand) Seiko stock pictures are infamous for making a disservice to their watches. Any of the good YouTubers that have reviewed this piece really make it shine, and talk greatly about it. May I suggest searching that reference in YouTube and watching a couple of well-edited well-lit reviews and make your mind from there.

It's just as nicely made as their mechanicals and spring drives. I have a similar watch, had it for a while, and I can recommend it.

I have had one for a bit more than one year and I still love it.

It is part of my "Reasonable Holy Trinity Collection"

https://www.watchcrunch.com/thiago/posts/partial-watch-collection-reasonable-holy-trinity-25459

To me, it is a perfect everyday watch. Loved it since day one and it is still one of my favourite watches.

Personally, I had an anticlimactic episode when I was on a hunt for an Explorer 1 (small, 36 mm). To me, that Rolex was the perfect watch, the principles of that watch were perfect but, when I tried it on my wrist with the intention of buying I felt nothing, if I held a tuna can on my wrist I could have a better impression. Anyway, after that disappointment disguised as a luxury purchase, I tried my SBGX261and then I fell in love immediately, it was like giving the Explorer 1 specification to the GS team and this watch is the result.... I couldn't recommend it more.

About the Longines Spirit 37, I can't say I like it. To me the 5 starts it display on the dial remember me those cheap hotels near train stations we have all around the world...

I love mine. It is all the quality you'd expect. You have to try it on though because one thing that surprised me is how the thinness changes the feel vs mechanical chunkyness.

Honestly though, go second hand. They're readily available for half the price and often in unworn condition.

Glad to hear the finishing wasn’t sacrificed even at the entry level. Haha that’s the downside with GADA watches, they make you question why you need anything else. Thankfully I’m not the brightest light bulb in the room so I’m pretty sure I can stumble along this watch hobby without much trouble 😂.

Right? I read a bunch of stuff and watched videos on the 9F movement, it’s not just like any other quartz. It’d completely inhouse at GS which is remarkable. I also appreciate it seems like it was built to last, I still use the same Casio calculator from high school. There’s just something to tech that is simple (relatively) and done well.

Looking forward to seeing your GS pics in the future!

I have seen a lot of videos on Youtube, it’s what changed my mind from “meh, kind of boring” to “it’s boring and it’s brilliant” haha. I’m planning to go to a boutique on the weekend to test it out :).

That’s great to hear! I find that too many reviews focus on the “unboxing” period rather than the “enjoying/wearing” phase which is the lionshare of our ownership experience. Glad you’re enjoying yours.

Hey Thiago, that is an awesome “Reasonable Holy Trinity Collection” you got there! I think our tastes are largely similar, I think the Cartier Tank is one of the best, most classy watches that don’t cost an arm and a leg (and then some). And the Tudor BB is always a crowd favorite.

The GS does have Rolex Explorer vibes in the sense they’re both extremely versatile and rather discreet. Very excited to see your positive experience with the piece.

Lol, now I can’t unsee that image 🥲. It doesn’t bother me as much but I think having no stars would probably make the dial look cleaner.

This was one of my considerations which made me choose the Bulova Hack Quartz vs Automatic even if the price was very similar. The auto was just too thick and it’s not very comfortable having a watch that juts out when you have 3 layers on during the winter XD.

I plan on trying it out this weekend (weather permitting), I’m excited!

I never really considered second hand bec I’m worried about potentially getting a frankenwatch, have you had any experience? I’m guessing eBay or Chrono?

I would argue that the finishing isn't as good as their higher end watches. I've had the exact watch OP is talking about and now have the SBGW231. The SBGW231 finishing is better in every aspect. Only a sample of two watches, but that's my experience. The watch OP listed is still very nice indeed, and punches above it's pricepoint.

I have had handled the 3 watches in the flesh. For me the GS is a dress - sport watch, while the Spirit its a sport - dressy watch if that makes any sense. The GS finishing is great but to me it felt a bit too dressy for daily wear (too many polished surfaces, no lume). But this depends on what do you wear. A suit, blazer or sport Jacket? The GS will be a better fit. Do you wear more business casual style, or uphill casual? The Longiness will compliment you more.

Honestly try to see them both in the flesh if you can.

As for the Sinn, its on another league. Much less refined and you can't really compare it to the other 2. It's also the more casual option and the one that will go the most unnoticed. The others two carry a certain luxury flare, that doesn't exist on the Sinn. I would skip it if you have the funds for one of the 2 other options.

Do it already lol! You won't be disappointed!

Hey Brent, that’s a great looking Cartier Santos 🔥. The Santos (and the Tank) are one of the few dress watches I really like, I remember seeing them when I was young and thinking that square design was so cool.

That said, based on where I am in my life right now, I’d prefer a sports watch for my first luxury watch - but ideally, a sports watch that can be dressed up if needed. I feel the GS and even the Sinn fit those criteria. The BB 36 would also be a good fit but at 2x the cost of the prior 2, it’s hard to justify.

Hey James, I agree with you that HAQ (honestly, even an off-the-shelf quartz) movement lends itself to being GADA bec of the convenience of not having to constantly check and set the time. This has been a large reason why I don’t have any automatics in my collection.

Glad to hear you’re enjoying your SBGX261 and it’s keeping perfect time. Like you, I love quartz and that’s why when I came across it I was like “oh, this might be the perfect luxury watch for me”. How has your experience vis a vis scratches that Rumi mentioned?

Hey Camilo, I get what you mean. I agree with you that both the GS and the Spirit are GADA candidates but do so from different leanings: dressy vs sporty. I tend to be more dressed down, so my collection features a lot of sports and field watches. I think the GS fits my collection more but maybe the Spirit fits my style more. I have to check it out in the shop to see how both looks.

Yeah, the relative price differential isn’t a main consideration. What attracted me to the Sinn is it’s incredible legibility. Thanks for sharing your experience with me!

Excited to see how it fits, so hopefully soon, that’s a great looking GS GMT you got there 🔥

Ok, I'm biased being a self-confessed GS fanboy, but you can't go wrong with this entry level GS. Superb quality and amazing value. I have the SBGX259 and love it.

Hey Peter, awesome looking watch and collection you got there my friend 🍻. Glad to hear even the entry level GS has superb quality :). May I ask have you had to baby your GS given their high polish or are they rather resilient and any scratches simply add character to the watch?

I’d say I’m careful, but don’t baby them. I think I’ve got over scratches some time ago, just adds to their character and always comes with a story!

I was considering this watch and my Tudor 1926. The GS spoke to me with it’s looks as a person who loves the Japan culture, but Tudor won this as it’s a more luxurious branding for me. Plus I know that service of Tudor is just around the corner from me and the GS needs to be sent to Germany to replace the batteries :/

Hey Aleksander,

The Tudor 1926 is an amazing (underrated) piece. It’s now fully in dress watch territory with the 7-link bracelet. Your white and gold along with the opaline versions are my favorite. That waffle pattern is very elegant. Congrats on your beautiful timepiece!

I’m curious, why would you need to send it out to have the batteries changed? From what I understand, there’s nothing special about changing batteries in the 9F as what makes it unique is behind a sealed enclosure to prevent tampering with.

I don’t know any good watchmaker in zlolamd who would do it, so from my experience it seems to be a problem :(

Oh I forgot about this.

I haven’t been bothered by scratches, but I do think you have to decide what you want with the watch. To me, it’s a GADA, and you treat a GADA would how you’d treat an Explorer or similar. Would you worry about every scratch on an Explorer? I hope not.

Now it’s not a beater; you wouldn’t prefer it over a Gshock on a day you know you would be, I don’t know, digging gravel. But if you happened to have it on, you’d live with it.

Go look at some heavily used modern (last 30 years, 14270 and after) Explorers and imagine that wear pattern on an SBGX. (They really are structurally similar too, brushed top, polished sides). Would you be ok with it looking like that? If so, it’s a good candidate for a GADA. If no, maybe you need more than one watch for the role.

Here is what mine looks like after a year of GADA wear. I have a desk job and most I’d bang it up on would be the occasional travel, but mostly just bezel scratches, a case scratch or two.

Hey James, I never really thought about it but you’re right the Explorer and the GS 37 are structurally similar. Yes, I wouldn’t mind having scratches on a GADA watch bec that’s what they’re made for.

I appreciate you sharing photos of your GS with me. Any scratches it has it’s barely noticeable and only adds character to your watch 🍻.