Side by side

Grand Seiko SBGJ237vsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

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

SBGJ237
Grand SeikoSBGJ237
MSRP $7,600
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBGJ23744.2mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
SBGJ23755h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
SBGJ237200m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
SBGJ237$7,600
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
GMT
Dress
Diameter
44.2mm
38mm
Thickness
14.4mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
50.6mm
38mm
Lug Width
21mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
200m
50m

Crystal & Dial

1 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
9S86
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
55h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$7,600
$888

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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.

Grand Seiko SBGJ237

Grand Seiko SBGJ237 owners and reviewers praise its impeccable finishing, Hi-Beat 36,000vph movement, and functional GMT complication. The watch is noted for its good value at €7,000, featuring a stainless steel bracelet with alternating brushed and polished surfaces, and a sapphire bezel with a day/night indicator. Reviewers highlight the lovely lume and the bezel's vintage-inspired, asymmetric color split, which uses LumiBrite for low-light legibility. The 9S86 Hi-Beat movement offers impressive accuracy of -5 to +3 seconds per day and a 55-hour power reserve. The SBGJ237 boasts 200-meter water resistance. However, the 44.2mm case size, measuring 14.4mm thick, may require slightly larger wrists, and its elevated crystal and less prominent bezel contribute to a thickness that might feel less substantial in person. Overall, owners and reviewers highly regard the Grand Seiko SBGJ237 for its combination of finishing, movement technology, and GMT functionality at its price point.

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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