GS 8 Days

[tom2517]

This review is long overdue (especially now seeing Ken has also ventured into GS), as I think I am the only one in this forum who has this watch, Grand Seiko 8 Days SBGD001 (now renamed to SBGD201 with GS logo on top). I bought it as soon as it came out in Taiwan but was told they already sold two, so I am not the only crazy one.

On to the watch. First of all this is a big watch (for a dress watch), it’s even bigger than the Rolex DD 2 which Rolex realized it was too big and came out with DD 40.

The entire case is mirror polished and has many angles, an impressive case if you don’t mind the size. GS likes to promote their special polished cases are distortion free, well, what does that mean? Below has an example.

The alligator or crocodile leather band it came with is very stiff and very thick, I would guess to compliment the size of case, and the buckle is a platinum deployant buckle.

The diamond dust dial is great to look it, frost finish with sparkles. When I had dinner with Stephen Forsey about a couple of months ago I was told the frost finish on GF are done with special wire brush, I am not so sure how GS does theirs. Online I found some info that said the dial was soft pressed, layer plated, hand painted, and burnished. Regardless of how it was done, it’s a special dial.

Many complained the movement is boring, that the bridge plate is way too big and GS should have shown more parts. GS’s reason was they needed the big plate to stabilize the movement, whatever the reason the plate dominant the movement. However it is still finished at the highest standard. For me I would put Seiko’s Micro Artist Studio (which made this watch) and GF as the top tier in terms of just finishing, nobody else does beveling and counter sink polishing like these two, except some indies. You really need a loupe to appreciate the watches coming out of the MAS, even the underside of the screws are mirror polished according to deployant.com. No watch at this price range has finishing like this (except its brother Credor Eichi II), even watches that cost multiple times more.

But in a way it made sense, Japanese watches have to offer more value. When Toyota created the Lexus division, the first car LS400’s goal was to offer Mercedes S class luxury but at E class pricing, otherwise why would anyone buy it?

Still, a GS at 50k+ it’s certainly for a few people only. I wouldn’t say I am a diehard GS fan as this is the only GS that I have. I would say I buy watches that I find interesting, as some might know I also have (god forbid) Bamford and Tempus Machina Rolexes, Hermes enamel watches, De Bethune and Urwerk 210 (though both DB28 and Urwerk are now gone). The quality of this watch is exceptional but I do wish it was smaller, sized like a DD 40 would have been perfect.