Seiko SBGT 039 Review

[artec]

Sorry not to provide what you were after. Now I can't include the 039 because it's all wrapped up, ready to go back to Katsu for exchange. The misalignment of the day/date didn't cure itself as I had hoped so I e-mailed Katsu. He said he had another 039 coming in a few days and if it was OK we could do an exchange. I wrapped it up, ready to go back as soon as I get the word from him.... and to prevent myself from wearing it any more!

As far as staring at the watches through a loupe and looking for the characteristics you mention, I don't think I'm qualified to do that. I don't think I could get any more out of "louping" them than you or I or anyone else can get out of the enlarged photos. But for the sake of my own curiosity, I'll have a go at comparing the Chronomaster and the CITIZEN, though you've got one of each of them, too.

[Catalin]

...
I don't understand why only the Chronomaster carries the lumibrite: it is so useful, especially in the lack of light, that it's a shame it is not in the other 2 watches.

I don't understand why Seiko still lacks the perpetual calendar: a very useful feature that doesn't need so much work to be done.
...
I'd like so much a day indicator on the Citizens, like on the GS: once more, not a big complication to be added.

Someone says that the gothic font used for the Grand Seiko logo is obsolete. Anyway it is also distinctive and in my opinion changing it wouldn't be a good idea.

The lume is probably considered to be 'less dressy' and to eventually be subject to aging (but really, really good versions in a well-closed watch should IMHO last close to 50 years anyway).

Obviously we feel the same on day/date and the perpetual calendar

And I also find the gothic font distinctive and part of the GS legacy - so no problem with that.

[South Pender]

As far as staring at the watches through a loupe and looking for the characteristics you mention, I don't think I'm qualified to do that. I don't think I could get any more out of "louping" them than you or I or anyone else can get out of the enlarged photos. But for the sake of my own curiosity, I'll have a go at comparing the Chronomaster and the CITIZEN, though you've got one of each of them, too.

Well, you may be right, but I've found that with a 10X loupe I can make out fairly molecular dialwork features that don't show up in pictures--particularly on the higher-end GSs where such features are present. Also, I've been able to make out finer details regarding faceting of hands and markers than I've seen in pictures. But you're right in noting that a well-taken, greatly-enlarged picture reveals a great deal too.

Let me put a final more general question to you: Do you feel that the Seiko 039 exceeds in overall aesthetic quality either (or both) of your two Citizen models. And, do you feel that one Citizen surpasses the other in overall aesthetic quality?

[dicioccio]

Catalin, almost all Rolex have luminous markers so I think (in my very personal opinion) that the lack of lumibrite is not to make a watch more or less "dressy". There are other characteristics that made a watch "dressy", for example a leather bracelet or a white dial.

I am surprised to hear from artec that he sent back the GS 039 because of a misalignment. Since there are such a few GS manufactured and since they cost a lot, I thought the quality control was almost perfect...

From this, I'd like to introduce a very personal consideration. These watches are wonderful but I often think if it's worth to spend so much money for them, especially now that the overall quality has risen a lot. With 1/5 to 1/10 of their price is now possible to buy solid and reliable watches with very similar characteristics. Of course, you'll loose their extreme accuracy (but since the introduction of the RC technology, who really cares ?) and you'll loose the exclusivity given by these time pieces. But in the end do they really deserves such a big economic effort ?

Some time ago I've asked artec to help me to find a solution for the purchase of an HEQ / HAQ. But as time goes on I think this is an impossible task. In this thread artec shows to us 3 wonderful watches and he himself says that he has no favourite. So, for those like me that have a limited budget (let's say 3K) it is a nonsense to focus all the economic resources on a single watch.

Last thing: as far as I read about HAQ, I think they could never be really affordable because it's not only a matter of technology (that is putting a TC circuitry) but it depends also on the quality of the crystal, on the pre-aging and on calibration (this last very expensive because all manual...).

Thanks again artec for sharing us your watches ! ^_^

[everose]

Congrats!
What a stunning piece this 130th Anniversary model is.

It looks like a sophisticated,finishing,tour d force,befitting a benchmark model from Grand Seiko.

The dial texture looks immaculate and the seven link bracelet highlights the attention to detailing.
I like how the "GS" logo appears to match the blued sec hand but the "Grand Seiko" text looks to be a much darker shade of blue.Superb.



I read that the ("S" logo) pattern on the dial is from Seikosha and i believe (not sure!) that it was first used in their wall clocks.

Image from google....





Also here is a link i browsed of a very early Japanese tv advertisement using the "S" logo..........

78K0R/Japan oldest CM noon Miterew



I am sorry to learn of your day/date wheel alignment issue but i am sure Higuchi will rectify this problem swiftly.

[artec]

Artec's new gem is probably going back to Japan, either for exchange or for repair by Father Seiko. If you look at the day and date in the first picture, the date is noticeably higher in the frame. I sent Katsu a photo and asked him what to do. He said he was expecting another one any minute and if it was OK, we'd do an exchange. It came and he e-mailed that it was the same as mine and that he had called Seiko. That was this morning, so "To be continued"!
It's very odd that two, apparently at random, should suffer from the same disease.... the 037 I had before was fine, perfect alignment all the time.
I shall be very interested to see what Seiko does.

[Catalin]

Artec's new gem is probably going back to Japan, either for exchange or for repair by Father Seiko. If you look at the day and date in the first picture, the date is noticeably higher in the frame. I sent Katsu a photo and asked him what to do. He said he was expecting another one any minute and if it was OK, we'd do an exchange. It came and he e-mailed that it was the same as mine and that he had called Seiko. That was this morning, so "To be continued"!
It's very odd that two, apparently at random, should suffer from the same disease.... the 037 I had before was fine, perfect alignment all the time.
I shall be very interested to see what Seiko does.

Interesting ... I can't say just from the pictures but you should also take a look at:

Grand Seiko 130th Anniversary Edition - SBGT039

[artec]

The day and date look OK in the only photo that shows them straight on, so I feel optimistic that Mr Seiko will know what's going on and either have other examples he can provide or an easy fix. Time will show!

[nurt]

Excellent review. I have to say that out of the three watches I prefer the Seiko, but I'm biased since I own the same model.
As for misalignment, there is some depending on the day of the week. I just cycled through each day and I also have a problem when it's Monday.

[Precise]

No offense intended. But I think mirror finish hands or dial marks are a mistake. They often disappear when reflecting colors that are close to the dial color. This is true with white dials and dark dials and is evident in the review photos. It is especially problematic when most of the plane of the mirror surface parallels the face, as in this watch.

Again, I don't want to offend. But I think this problem deserves our attention.

Alan