Grand Seiko GMT Watch Review On The Wrist

After attending the Govberg Watches Grand Seiko event back in April, I’ve become more interested in the brand, its history and the current models.

With an upcoming trip to London, Govberg Watches extended me the opportunity to have the Grand Seiko GMT on the wrist for a week. As a result, while back in London I decided to take a trip down the river Thames to the Royal Observatory, the home of the prime meridian

[longitude zero] where Greenwich Mean Time, also know as GMT, is set.

Below you’ll see the technical specs on the watch and my thoughts about it on the wrist.

Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36,000 SBGJ001

Technical Specifications Of The Watch

Below are some details about the watch in question:

Reference number: SBGJ001
Movement Caliber Number: 9S86 this was developed in 2014, and has a high 36,000 beats per hour movement [thus the watch name] which maintains great accuracy as a result
- Note: this is an automatic movement [as can be seen via the rotor from the exhibition case back]
Case Diameter: 39 – 40mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Thickness: 14mm
Movement Jewels: 37
Power Reserve: 55 hours
Magnetic Resistance: 60 gauss
Water Resistance: 10 bar [features a screw down crown]
Metal bracelet with three-fold clasp
Sapphire crystal front and back
Weight: 159 grams

Features I Liked

There are a number of features I like about the watch, including the:

Exhibition case back
Faceted case side
Punctured lugs, giving the watch a vintage vibe and ease of changing strap / bracelet
24 hour GMT track is clean and easy to use
Ease of setting the watch

Above I’ve included two additional pictures of my favorite features of the watch: the faceted case side that hit the light brilliantly and the exhibition case back. Not mentioning the obvious well-balanced face, that can be seen many times below.

Retail Price

The watch retails in the USA for $6,000.

It’s currently for sale for $4,450 on Govberg’s website here.

Watch On The Wrist

Having had the watch on the wrist for a full week, I was able to wear it in many situations, from my day trip down to Greenwich to a night out in London’s West End for a musical. Throughout each situation, the watch’s casual yet dressy appearance, proved to be a good fit for any occasion.

At The Royal Observatory – Greenwich London

Any watch fan should make it a bucket list item to go to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich London once in their lives, especially if you frequently travel / are into GMT watches.

Below I can be seen 100% geeking out holding three GMT watches while straddling the prime meridian line, being in both the eastern and western hemispheres simultaneously.

Below you can see the watch resting on the prime meridian line, with the longitude of 00.00. This is the internationally recognized start of the 24 global time zones, each one being 15 degrees of longitude apart (360 / 24 = 15 degrees).

Shots from around the observatory.

Looking back to the National Maritime Museum, Thames River and O2 events space.

Around London

I thoroughly enjoyed wearing the watch for a week, taking many shots on my travels around the city. Below you can see sights including: The Tower of London, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Westminster, Camden Market and more…

Final Thoughts On The Grand Seiko GMT

I really enjoyed the watch on the wrist, as it has great looks and is especially versatile. It looks great in both casual clothes, as seen in the pictures throughout this article, and also with a suit that I wore while in London. Furthermore, I do appreciate an exhibition case back to see the heart of the mechanical movement.

However, as I personally own the Rolex GMT Master II “Batman” and Patek Philippe 5034, I would not buy this watch. The Rolex is a much more sporty watch, and the Patek is more dressy. If, however, you’re looking for a watch that’s versatile then the Grand Seiko GMT SBGJ001 is great choice, and is more affordable being $3,000 less than the Rolex, and much more so than the Patek.

Overall great watch, and great experience on the wrist. Once again many thanks to Govberg Watches for allowing me to review this piece on the wrist.

About the Author: Paul Anthony

Paul Anthony is the founder and creative director at Bespoke Unit. He has had a life long affair with design, watches, fragrance and clothing. Originally from England, he now lives in the USA splitting time between NYC & Philly. Favoring "British Style", but has an overall eclectic taste.