In February 2012 I contacted Stefan, more known
as Molle Watch, for the first time regarding some advice concerning my first purchase
of a Grand Seiko. I had narrowed my search down to two models; the SBGR023 and the
SBGR053 – basically two identical watches when it comes to appearance but the
SBGR053, being the newer of them, had an upgraded movement (9S65 compared to the
9S55 in the SBGR023) and a sapphire case back. Molle let me pick his brain
about all the pros and cons about each model. He spoke highly of the Spring
Drives but I finally decided I was going to go for the SBGR023; mainly because
it was more affordable but also because I preferred the engraved lion instead
of the see through case back. Unfortunately the only one available that I could
find at the time was too expensive for me and the project was put on hold.
Later the same year in mid-May Molle picked up
our old conversation and offered me to buy his SBGR023. He gave me two offers I
simply couldn’t refuse. First he gave me an extremely good price but he also
invited me to his house to have a look at his watch collection. How could one
turn that down? So one warm spring evening I paid Molle a visit. We sat outside
in his garden and he showed me so much cool stuff. I went home with a beautiful
full set Grand Seiko SBGR023 and couldn’t be happier. It sure was a milestone
in my watch flipping history.
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| #133 - The Grand Seiko SBGR023 photographed on top of my modified SBBN007. |
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| I just loved that lion! |
This watch made me feel complete for almost the
entire summer. I even think it made me feel better than the Sea-Dweller did.
This felt so much more like a conscious and thought through choice of watch. It
felt like a watch for genuine nerds. To the non-enlightened ones it was just another
Seiko but among the true enthusiasts it was a Grand Seiko and a completely different story. I don’t think I have
spent as much time staring on my wrist as I did with this one.
Even though the SBGR023 was great I still
couldn’t get over the fact that it didn’t have a screw down crown. I know, it’s
not a dive watch in any way but I just couldn’t let that tiny detail escape my
mind. What the hell! Even my Datejust had a screw down crown. A watch that I
would be using every day needs to work in every single occasion. My desk in my
office is overlooking the ocean and what if I one day felt like taking a break
and go for a swim? I wouldn’t want to leave my watch lying on the dock just
because I’d be afraid it might take in water. I find push-pull crowns to be treacherous.
A screw down crown really is an
important feature for me.
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| A wrist shot in the sun taken on the 6th of June 2012 - The National Day of Sweden. |
There are so many beautiful Grand Seiko’s to
choose from and it’s extremely easy to become seduced by their looks and forget
about what it is that I don’t like about them. They’re simply too dressy. What
I need are tool watches that just look better after receiving some battle scars.
I was given new hope when Grand Seiko announced they were going to release a quartz
diver (the SBGX115 & 117) but unfortunately it was so ugly I almost couldn’t stand looking at it. I
promise to pick up another Grand Seiko as soon as they come up with something
that can take a beating without looking like shit.
© All pictures by a Watch
Flipper's Diary unless noted.
