Not Quite a Grail, But a Long Time Coming, Grand Seiko Shosho
The SBGJ249 caught my attention the moment I tried on a non-functioning dummy unit, along with a White Birch, at a pre-launch event over a year ago. I kept dithering, watched Grand Seiko releases (none really grabbed me), looked at other brands, thought I had decided on one or two (like the BB58 bronze). I dithered on those, too. This was always on my mind. So, somehow last week things came to a head, and it arrived today. That seems to be how I make decisions. I muse, contemplate, hem, haw, obsess, until a desire becomes a compulsion, and then the deed is done. Funny thing, this watch has always been a bit of a sleeper, never getting much attention, until Teddy Baldassarre decided to make a video about it just as I decided to buy it. Will my quiet, under the radar watch suddenly become popular? I also have an SBGA413 Shunbun, so I have a Spring Drive and a Hi-Beat, a Spring and a Summer. @ChaseEagle would approve.
Was born. Bought watches. Will die.
Gorgeous!!!
Congrats on a beautiful piece. Wear it in good health.
Wow... juat wow 😍
Ahhhg! You own all my grail watches! I dream of getting a collection like that. So jelly.
Change title to “all grail baby!” plz.
Most definitely. Most definitely approve. Love it, wear it, an enjoy. Congrats!
Every Grand Seiko post like this is pushing me closer to buying the new SBGW283 in the near future. Wow this piece is a stunner.
Gorgeous dial, and just in time for summer!
Had the exact same experience for picking up my SBGA413 about a month ago. Congrats on the new piece!
What a unique dial man! Big congrats on the purchase! How was the experience of wearing it so far and how do you like the dial?
It wears great. Though the thickness on paper is over 14mm, I don't see it, or feel it. Though the diameter, dial size, and lug to lug of the watches are almost exactly the same, the 249 wears smaller, which for me is a good thing. Because of the slimmer lugs? I like that the dial is sharp and and clear, and clearly blue. The 413 sometimes fades to gray. I got a good fit on the bracelet, but resizing with those teeny tiny screws is an utter bear, and I managed to mark up the sides of one of the links, and lose one of the screws.
Congratulations, it is a beautiful piece.
Not a grail? If it was mine, it would be a grail.
Not a grail? If it was mine, it would be a grail.
I think “grail” is overused (even though I just used it). It’s not a grail because it doesn’t quite skirt unobtanium, it’s just in the ouch that hurts range. And it’s not THE watch I pined for since forever, it’s a watch I hemmed and hawed over, along with a number of others. After a long time, it rose to the top.
It wears great. Though the thickness on paper is over 14mm, I don't see it, or feel it. Though the diameter, dial size, and lug to lug of the watches are almost exactly the same, the 249 wears smaller, which for me is a good thing. Because of the slimmer lugs? I like that the dial is sharp and and clear, and clearly blue. The 413 sometimes fades to gray. I got a good fit on the bracelet, but resizing with those teeny tiny screws is an utter bear, and I managed to mark up the sides of one of the links, and lose one of the screws.
Totally agree. it doesn’t wear anything like the 14mm thickness From the specs. Mainly due to the domed crystal and bubble-like back.
How do you find the legibility in bright light??
I tried it on last year and put it down for that one specific reason…
How do you find the legibility in bright light??
I tried it on last year and put it down for that one specific reason…
It's just fine. Not a problem at all.