Overview
Since its founding in 1881, Seiko’s watchmakers have dedicated their efforts to producing some of the most durable, highly precise, and expertly finished watches in the world. An important milestone in that pursuit was realized in 1960 with the introduction of Grand Seiko and its first watch. The Grand Seiko “First”, as it’s aptly named, featured a 35mm gold-plated case with beveled lugs, diamond polished indices, and flat dauphine hands. Most notably, the hand-wound caliber 3180 inside was the very first chronometer-rated movement made in Japan, boasting an impressive accuracy of +12/-3 seconds per day. Seiko made certain to highlight this accomplishment by proudly displaying “Chronometer” below the Grand Seiko branding on the dial.
In 2011, to celebrate its 130th anniversary, Seiko re-issued the Grand Seiko “First” in stainless steel with a limited production run of 1300 pieces. The new SBGW033 was a near copy of the original, sharing the same 35mm case, “S” marked crown, engraved lion medallion case back, and Grand Seiko branding at 12. The dial was also given a lovely cream color, presumably to add to the vintage aesthetic. Grand Seiko would go on to release subsequent versions, including one in 2017 with an upsized 38mm case and a stark white dial. However, the SBGW033 remains the most faithful re-issue of the original and in recent years has seen a tremendous spike in collectibility thanks to its modest proportions and relative scarcity.
Specifications
Brand:
Grand Seiko
Model:
'First' 130th Anniversary LE
Reference:
SBGW033
Year:
2011
Case Number:
0954/1300
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
35.8 mm
Lug Width:
18 mm
Thickness:
11.2 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
43.4 mm
Dial:
Cream
Lume:
None
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Hand-wound
Caliber:
Grand Seiko 9S64
Bracelet/Strap:
Grand Seiko black alligator strap with tang buckle
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The case is overall very clean with only a few hairlines and a couple faint nicks and scratches present, the most notable of which are on the crown and the lug at 1 o'clock. All of the lugs are nice and thick. The bevels are visible but show some softening at the edges, likely from a previous polish. The outer bezel is wonderfully preserved and essentially flawless. The caseback has some light scuffing and a couple small scratches from normal wear. The engravings remain sharp and deep and the lion medallion is beautifully detailed.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The cream dial and polished handset are in perfect condition with no imperfections. The sapphire crystal is completely clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The Grand Seiko black alligator strap is in unworn condition. There is no creasing, staining, or fraying present. The buckle shows normal signs of wear with no major imperfections.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown-winding and time-setting are working as expected.
Service History: The watch recently underwent a full service by Grand Seiko USA that was completed on 04/20/2023.
