Side by side

Grand Seiko SBGR299vsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

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

SBGR299
Grand SeikoSBGR299
MSRP $4,300
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

11 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBGR29942mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
SBGR29972h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
SBGR299100m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
SBGR299$4,300
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Diameter
42mm
38mm
Thickness
13.1mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
47.9mm
38mm
Lug Width
21mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
100m
50m

Crystal & Dial

1 specs
AR Coating
Yes
Inner

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
9S61
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
72h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$4,300
$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 SBGR299

Owners widely praise the Grand Seiko SBGR299 for its striking blue second hand, silver rhodium dial, no-date design, and the impressive 72-hour power reserve, noting its excellent value. The watch's high polish finishing is frequently described as outstanding, akin to a polished samurai sword. Some owners express concern over legibility due to silver hands on a silver dial, though this is not a universal sentiment. One owner reported accuracy of approximately -20 seconds per day, while another found the 42mm case size wearable. The pre-owned price is noted around $3,399.00. Overall, owners rate the Grand Seiko SBGR299 highly for its exceptional finishing and distinctive design elements 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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