Comments:
SBGH013 vs. SBGW253
Thinking about adding to my Grand Seiko collection. I have the opportunity to purchase either of these two watches, or both. The SBGW253 is likely the more historical piece, modeled after the First Grand Seiko. What are your thoughts, and in your opinion, the pluses and minuses, of both of these pieces? Thanks.
Less is more
At this point in my life I am striving for simplicity, I would therefore go time only.
Except for the Dauphine Hands these seem completely different to me.
The "no nonsense" numerals, date and multiple lines of text implies Sport Watch whereas the cleaner dial with pared down and refined text suggests Dress Watch. The thinner bezel and smaller crown also give a finer appearance in the bottom picture again. My two cents worth.
Thanks Greg. All good points!
I’m actually trying to rationalize buying the watch pictured on the bottom, as I already committed to the acquire the watch on top last week, which was just serviced at Grand Seiko and offered to me at an unbelievably fair price. And lo and behold, the bottom one, which I have been eyeing for a while, really since Emmanuel made that fantastic post a month or two ago about the First Grand Seiko and all of the reissues of the First Grand Seiko in the last 20 or so years, just became available to me today at a very fair price. I love the historical aspects of the SBGW253, going back to around 1960, and don’t want to pass it up, even though this will be my third Grand Seiko in the last two months (and I need another Grand Seiko like I need a hole in the head)! So tomorrow, I’ll almost certainly add the 253 to the herd! Thanks for your comments, Greg!
You did the Purist thing…
And bought both 😂👍🏻👏🏻
The hi-beat movement is a nice one and worth having IMHO but then I am biased 😉 And the reissue of the first is a wonderfully elegant piece 👌🏻
The hi-beat movement is a nice one and worth having IMHO but then I am biased 😉 And the reissue of the first is a wonderfully elegant piece 👌🏻
The first one will become a collector, as it has the 2 "brands" Seiko & GS on the dial. Afterwards, they removed the "Seiko" brand on dials, which makes it a historical piece. Other than that, it is purely personal, aesthetics, date window, caliber...
up to you ! 
Life is full of choices! Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference (Robert Frost)
Handset on both is wonderful
Hi
Always liked this handset on GS.
Both are great - from what I can remember the second is manual, so worth considering if you prefer autos.
Overall for the cleanliness of the dial I'd probably go for the second, but honestly both look to be great choices.
Cheers
JML
Always liked this handset on GS.
Both are great - from what I can remember the second is manual, so worth considering if you prefer autos.
Overall for the cleanliness of the dial I'd probably go for the second, but honestly both look to be great choices.
Cheers
JML
Tough call. Even though I am not a fan of date windows, I find the dial of the first watch more interesting — color of the dial and numerals. That would probably be my choice.
Both great looking GS watches. If I had to choose I would take the 253 for a cleaner neater look. Simplicity is my idea of a great watch in most cases.
My thoughts exactly, PMH. If the 253 had come to me first, I likely wouldn’t have gone for the 013.
,
I am leaning toward the 253, history and purity.
I have the earlier re-issue , SBGW033, smaller at 36mm.
Always an interesting issue
Rarity vs. aesthetics. If you can afford both,
why not. Since you said "you were made an
offer you couldn't refuse" (that would be a good
line in a movie!" if you decided to sell it, you
might make a few bucks. I'm a big fan of GS.
One of the best value for the money in watch world.
For myself, most likely the sbgw253.
You quoted from what is likely my favorite movie of all time!
Another favorite line of mine toward the end of the movie: Don Corleone: “Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could have outfought Santino. But I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along.”
Both Have their Charms
Less formal? - I'm not a fan of date windows but the Numerals, Dial Color, and Hands!
More formal - No Date all dates and every dates
The Grand Seiko First would be my choice if it had the Special Dial logo.
As SBGW253 doesn't have it, I would choose the other one and look for another reedition of the First Grand Seiko featuring the Special Dial logo: www.watchprosite.com
Best, Emmanuel
Agree with you, Emmanuel. The logo makes the watch the purist of the pure First Grand Seiko!