Rolex Submariner vs Grand Seiko SBGA229 | Watchfinder & Co.

So, you want a Rolex Submariner. You’ve got your £6,550, and you’re out the door on the way to the shop—but when you get there, you’re told there’s a waiting list. Yet out of the corner of your eye, you see something else, the Grand Seiko Sport SBGA229. Here’s the dilemma: do you stick, and wait for the Submariner, or twist and buy the Grand Seiko instead?

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Rolex Submariner 116610LN
Grand Seiko Sport SBGA229

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[s]

The smooth sweeping seconds hand of the GS is mind blowing.

[pauljones]

What struck me about the Grand Seiko is the seamless movement of the second hand. Simply amazing.

[logan]

the immaculate sweep from the spring drive shown from 2:54 to 3:06 is just amazing! what a great shot!

[Furby]

Honestly, when I see a Rolex it’s nice. But when I see a GS it’s a different level of appreciation. Allows me to feel connected because this is another person who knows watches

[chrisrichardson]

I like grand seiko but by aesthetics alone, the Rolex is better looking here to me. But that spring drive is just a thing of beauty.

[NoahBB]

As someone who has both an ND Sub and a GS, it's inarguable that the GS is of higher quality. From the finishing, to the accuracy, to the power reserve, the GS wins. However, I can say that the Sub feels more solid on the wrist (especially the clasp and bracelet), it's easily recognized (important to some people who spend this much on a watch) and it trades for more than you pay. For those reasons I'm interesting in acquiring BOTH more Rolex and GS in the future. They are completely different animals and quite frankly they don't compete for the same buyers.

[charlesmiller]

I bought the SBGA229 (Limited Edition) five years ago, because seeing in person its not even close. The Rolex in comparison is crude and unfinished, like something I imagine a Grand Seiko trainee might turn in- just before getting kicked out of the program. The details you pointed out are only the beginning. Look close at the date window: the inside edge is a mirror polish- you can see the date reflected in it!

The case lugs and bracelet links are polished and satin, but the line between the two is not on the edge where it would be easy but just beyond where it looks much better but must be near impossible to do to such a degree of perfection. You knock the bracelet, which on the Rolex does look more substantial- except that it looks like an ordinary bracelet while the GS so seamlessly blends into the case its as if its all one piece. Even after 5 years the fit is so perfect looking at it right now I'm hard pressed to say what is bracelet and what is case.

You didn't even mention the power reserve, something that seems superfluous- until you actually have it and then realize how useful it is to know. In 5 years it still has a full three days power reserve. No winder here, and it can still sit in a case for a three day weekend no problem. Accuracy is more like .5 sec/day, and plenty are reportedly one second per week.

The Rolex second hand looks smooth mostly because of its stubby short length. Even so, notice Rolex shortens it to not even reach as far as the marks on the dial? Lame. The second marks on the GS aren't even on the flat part of the dial, but on the upwards sloping ring around it- and the second hand extends all the way to the very edge, accentuating its hypnotically ultra-smooth gliding movement.

The lume after 5 years is so great its glow is clearly visible even in demanding situations like when going into a parking garage where your eyes haven't adjusted to the darkness yet. Oh, and its no ordinary greenish glow either but a beautiful hue, you captured really well in the video. 7:42 Yes it looks that good in real life! 

This is all how it looks. There's something about the finish, the fit, that makes it even feel special. Rolex clasp could be any other clasp. Fasten the GS, feel its silky smoothness, its a whole other world. Like the bezel, oily smooth yet precise, feels and sounds almost too good to be true. Rolex? Take away the extra clicks and it could be my Omega. I could go on and on. In the years since it has been worn many times into jewelry stores and every time makes me feel like everything else is costume jewelry.

But really, the reason I bought mine was even better than all of that. It was simply that when I took it off my wrist to hand it back and walked out of the store without it I felt this terrible sense of loss. Well, no more. Wear it just about every day. For five years. Resale? Right. Like I would ever sell it.

[titohe]

I actually went with the Grand Seiko. I had the same dilemma at the jewelry store but when I put both watches under a magnifying glass it was obvious the attention to detail the Grand Seiko had over the Rolex. It's hard to put it into words but go to a jewelry store and look at both watches under a magnifying glass and you'll see for yourself. Another plus for the Grand Seiko that sold me was how the entire watch is made in house! The Rolex is a great watch but the Grand Seiko is the better watch in the technology and attention to detail aspects.

[supertallflapjackstack]

If the grand seiko was 40mm it would be the one to get

[ThespankedoneRidesReviews]

Wow seeing the famous spring drive sweep makes the Rolex look lumpy.

[joelhenderson]

Dock the Rolex for that hideous cyclops. If you need to check the date while down at 300 m, you been down too long!

[zalsentzer]

In a nutshell: Rolex makes a superior bracelet, Grand Seiko makes a superior watch. Sounds about right... Both are stunning and robust. I'll take either one, but I like the under-the-radar coolness of the GS a little more.

[wincrasher]

as a watch that will give you pleasure and satisfaction, you can't go wrong with the unbelievable precision and quality of the Grand Seiko.

[Bambi]

I went for the SBGA031. The Rolex just seemed too small for my wrist and the GS feels perfect. BTW, my GS is running at 0.2 seconds a day. Simply stunning watch.

[chinchinche]

It's a good day when watchfinder releases a new video.

[devinpowers]

That Grand Seiko is sexy, yes that sub is legendary but the high markup for just a date window compared to what you get with a Grand Seiko. I'll just walk out with a Grand Seiko.

[arturgarncarz]

Having 10 k to spend and having to sign up for a dumb waiting list... There are better watches for better money than Rolex.

[karlmadsen]

As an owner of a GMT Master II, I would go for the SBGA229 in a heartbeat.

[MidAtlanticTV]

A third option would be the SBGA231 - the titanium makes it super comfortable on wrist.

[didox]

The the seconed hand on the GS is just amazing this is art