Side by side

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz WatchvsGrand Seiko SBGW281

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
CWCSBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
MSRP $666
SBGW281
Grand SeikoSBGW281
MSRP $4,900

At a glance

11 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40mm
SBGW28137.3mm
Power Reserve
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40h
SBGW28172h
Water Resistance
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch300m
SBGW28130m
MSRP
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch$666
SBGW281$4,900

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
40mm
37.3mm
Thickness
12mm
11.7mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
44.3mm
Lug Width
20mm
19mm
Water Resistance
300m
30m

Crystal & Dial

1 specs
Dial Color
CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
Black

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
Ronda 517
9S64
Type
Quartz
Manual
Power Reserve
40h
72h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$666
$4,900

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch

Owners widely praise the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch for its legible, uncluttered dial, excellent Super-LumiNova lume, and robust build quality, noting its comfortable 12mm thickness and durable PVD coating. The bezel action is described as having zero back play, and the fixed lugs are appreciated for easy strap changes. One owner reported the lume is readable throughout the night, while another flagged a faulty mechanism requiring replacement and poor retailer customer service. The £700 price is considered high by some compared to similar quartz divers, leading to questions about its value. Overall, owners rate the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch highly for its bombproof, toolish design and practical aesthetics.

Grand Seiko SBGW281

Grand Seiko SBGW281 owners and reviewers alike praise its classic 37mm size and timeless, no-bezel design, with enthusiasts calling these manual-wind models "perfect Grand Seikos" for their thin profile, accessible price, and dial symmetry. The champagne dial is noted for its evocative, melting snow aesthetic, complemented by a gold seconds hand and a box crystal. The winding action is described as exceptionally smooth with satisfying clicky feedback, and the lug-to-lug measurement is approximately 45mm. This timepiece is splash resistant and retails for US$4,800. On balance, enthusiasts and reviewers highly regard the Grand Seiko SBGW281 for its elegant proportions and refined dial presentation.

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