My First Luxury Watch. Grand Seiko SBGX351. My Hunt Across Japan!
Just got back from my first trip to Japan, where I was hoping to pick up my first entry level luxury watch!
Before the trip, I had pretty much settled on Grand Seiko. I wanted something I could wear daily, that was versatile and required very little maintenance. The 9F quartz movement seemed like a perfect fit, so I was mainly looking at the SBGX263 and SBGX261.
Shortly before leaving, I came across the SBGX351, which is essentially the SBGX263 but with a blue seconds hand. I also learned it was a Japan-exclusive model, which made it even more appealing.
Over the next couple of weeks, I probably visited 20+ watch stores across Tokyo (including Nakano Broadway), Kyoto, and Osaka. I was checking out both new and pre-owned Grand Seikos and had a few other models on my list, but the 351 was definitely my first choice.
What I didn’t realize initially was that the SBGX351 was only sold through select authorized dealers in Japan, and very few actually had one in stock. After quite a bit of searching, I finally tracked one down at a store about 50 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.
The problem was that I wasn’t going to be back in Tokyo for another three days. Thankfully, the concierge at my hotel was willing to call the store for me and do a little sweet-talking. They managed to convince the store to hold it until I returned.
On the day before we left Japan, I made the trip out to pick it up. The staff were fantastic, incredibly friendly, and made the whole buying experience really enjoyable (despite the language barrier).
As for the watch, I absolutely love it. The champagne dial is even better in person and changes quite a bit depending on the lighting. Sometimes it’s a warm champagne colour, other times it looks almost silver. And the blue seconds hand is such a nice subtle touch.
Couldn’t be happier with my first Grand Seiko!