Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Nick Lehner

I was looking to add a GMT watch back into my collection and decided that the Grand Seiko SBGN003 would fit the bill perfectly. I wasn't travelling as much and had sold my Seiko Prospex LX Sky Spring Drive GMT. An upcoming trip sparked the desire to find a suitable replacement.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

The criteria included:
-"Traveller" GMT functionality
-Something that feels special, without being too expensive
-Moderate size and versatility
-Excellent legibility of the main time and second time zone, and in the dark..
-Rotating 24-hour bezel to allow tracking of other time zones while at home or during mid-travel.

While the SBGN003 is lacking the last item, I decided that it hit all of the other targets so well that it was the best choice. Any alternatives were lacking in other areas. I also love the 9F movement in my Grand Seiko SBGX341 and thought that a travel watch that I never have to set adds a nice layer of convenience.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 First Impressions

Besides the specs and features, another thing that drew me to the SBGN003 is its deep gloss black dial. While not as intricate as the dial on a birch or snowflake, it shows once again that Grand Seiko knows how to do dials. It's something that's difficult to show in photos. The interaction between the dial and sharp markers looks fantastic in person!

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

The orange GMT hand and text give it just enough pop!

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Wearing the Grand Seiko SBGN003

The SBGN003's dimensions are in the sweet spot for a lot of watch enthusiasts. Its 39mm diameter will fit almost anyone.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

It's only about 1mm thicker than the SBGX341, likely due to the GMT hand. At 12mm, it's very wearable for a sports watch.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

SBGN003 has actually been discontinued and replaced with SBGN027. The main difference that I can spot is a change of the GMT hand from orange/red to white. I find that the orange hand is easier to differentiate, giving the older model better legibility. Plus it looks cooler in my opinion!

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

As it is, it has excellent legibility. Black dial watches with silver markers and white lume tend to be good in this category. GS also does magic with the finishing of its hands and markers to help them stand out from the dial.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Great AR coating on the domed sapphire crystal is then the icing on the cake. The crystal is also distortion-free, giving great legibility even at sharp angles.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Switching to nighttime legibility, like the SBGX341, this is one of the few GS watches with lume on every hour marker. Seiko's Lumibrite is always great, but the application is pretty thin on SBGN003. Legibility in darkness is decent, but not as good as other Seikos. Larger lume plots on the quarters help to orient the watch in pure darkness. Lume is also present on the tip of the GMT hand.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT 

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Details

In the details is where Grand Seiko tends to stand out. If you're at all familiar with the brand, you've likely heard about the famous Zaratsu polishing used on GS cases. SBGN003 uses a lug shape and case finishing similar to Omega.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Unlike SBGX341, SBgn003 doesn't employ the Diashield coating. It might be slightly easier to get fine scratches, but this makes it even easier to admire the  polishing. I also feel slightly less worried about dinging the case edges as the bezel is sloped on this watch. I purchased it used, and it did arrive with one small ding, however.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko does make a spring drive GMT with similar styling and a ceramic bezel, but it was more than I wanted to spend at this time. Additionally, the date application is better on this model. It's at 3, rather than 4, and has an attractively finished metal frame around it.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko is also known for is its hands and indices. High polishing combined with sharp brushing at all of the right angles ensures great legibility and amazing "playing with light."
Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT
At this price range, you also finally get a signed crown. The crown on this model is larger, and at 3, is easier to operate than that of SBGX341, which is good as it will be used more on a GMT. It screws-down and helps provide 100m of water resistance.
The crown on this model is larger, and at 3, is easier to operate than that of SBGX341, which is good as it will be used more on a GMT. It screws-down and helps provide 100m of water resistance. 

The dial is also very clean. In the past few years, Seiko has removed the "Seiko/Grand Seiko" double branding on its watches. It also lacks the power reserve indicator typically seen on Spring Drive models and has minimal text. 

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Bracelet

Grand Seiko receives a lot of flack for its bracelets from watch hobbyists, but I would like to provide a counterpoint. Compared to a Tudor or Rolex bracelet, this one certainly does not have the feeling of solid build quality, largely due to the thickness, and tolerances between the links.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

The clasp also does not have a trick tool-less micro-adjust or even any micro-adjust at all. Two half-links are provided instead, installed by captive pins with a removable screw on either side. Luckily the bracelet fit me as it arrived to me, but I'd imagine that some people might find themselves in between links.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

What it does have over other bracelets, however, is finishing and comfort. The edges of the links feature a bright mirror polish.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Additionally, it is much lighter and thinner than other bracelets, and being non-adjustable makes the clasp much thinner and more compact.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT 

I personally find myself fiddling with micro adjusts too often when I have them and I prefer a bracelet that is more comfortable on its own without adjustment. I feel that if you are able to get it sized well for your wrist, this is going to be a better wearing experience.

As you'd expect, I've removed the bracelet anyway and will be wearing this watch on a number of StrapHabit 19mm straps. My current favorite is a PSL Sailcloth Colorway strap.

Here is a list of some of the straps that would fit and we think look great with this watch. At the end of the article you'll also find photos of some of our favorite combinations.
-Deployant Rubber
-Tropical Rubber
-Premium Sailcloth and Sailcloth Colorway Collection
-Smooth Rubber
-Epsom Leather
Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT 

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Movement

SBGN003 is powered by Grand Seiko's caliber 9F86. From the same family as the movement in my SBGX341, it adds a date function, and traveller's GMT. This allows the 12-hour hand to be jumped forwards or back in 1-hour increments, as well as the date, when traveling. This jump is very sharp and crisp. Better than other more expensive GMTs I've handled. An additional hand rotates every 24 hours, allowing wearers to track the time at home.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

The date has an instant change at midnight, which I'm told is a difficult feat for a quartz movement. Seiko rates this movement's accuracy to an astonishing +/- 10s per year. 

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

I went into more detail describing the merits of the 9F in the SBGX341 review. If you're interested, I recommend reading that article. If you'd like to learn even more about the 9F series, Grand Seiko's website is a great resource.

Conclusion

The Grand Seiko SBGN003 will fit the bill almost perfectly for my upcoming trip. It feels very special on the wrist, and the finishing is above about anything for the price. I consider its quartz movement to be an asset.

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

I wish that it had a rotating bezel and better lume, but I'll get over it. I foresee myself wearing this watch often!

Specifications:

Name: Grand Seiko Quartz GMT
Reference Number: SBGN003
Price: $3,200 (Discontinued)
Diameter: 39mm
Height: 46mm
Thickness: 12.2mm
Lug Width: 19mm
Weight: 149g
Movement: Caliber 9F86
Jewels: 9
Accuracy: +/- 10s/year

Battery Life: 3 Years
Water Resistance: 100m
Crystal: Domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Crown:  Screw-down
Bezel: Fixed, 24hr, stainless steel
Bracelet: Stainless steel w/ two-button clasp

 

Shop Other 19mm Straps for the Grand Seiko Tough Quartz Anti-Magnetic SGBX341: 

Tropical FKM Rubber


Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Smooth FKM Rubber


Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Premium Sailcloth


Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Premium Sailcloth Colorway Collection


Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Full Grain Epsom Style Leather:

 

 


.Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Grand Seiko SBGN003 Watch Review - The 9F GMT

Back to blog

2 comments

Thank you for your comment, Roland. I compared SBGN003 to 027 because both have black dials.

The current model SBGN029 that you referred to has a blue dial. I felt that it should be considered the replacement for SBGN005 which also had a blue dial and a red GMT hand.

Nick

Your statement “SBGN003 has actually been discontinued and replaced with SBGN027. The main difference that I can spot is a change of the GMT hand from orange/red to white.” is not entirely correct… as the 003 has been replaced by the 029.

The GMT hand on the 029 is now red, rather than orange on the 003.
Yes, the GMT hand on the 027 is the same colour as the other hands.

Roland

Leave a comment