[F]Reunion with Grand Seiko Tough Quartz SBGX341

Sometimes the little chores in life can feel like hard work. I’m not just talking about lubricating the squeaky hinges on your front door. It also mentions taking your beloved watch to a watchmaker for some love and attention. I know what you’re talking about. Not only does my front door hinge sound like an acid Wicked Witch every time I leave or come home, but my watch is one of my absolute favorites. Despite this, I needed treatment to rejuvenate it. I’ve been refusing treatment on this watch for several months, but I managed to get the wheels going a while ago and brought it in for a new battery and some facelifts. And now, I have reunited with Grand Seiko Tough Quartz SBGX341. I came back reborn from my first watch hot spring session in a while.

I believe it was at the beginning of this summer that I noticed that my Grand Seiko Tough Quartz SBGX341 was not working. I bought this watch in October 2021 after seeing it in a photo taken by my colleague Gerard at the Fratello x Grand Seiko event at the brand’s Place Vendôme boutique. I bought the SBGX341 in part because of its muscular, angular 40 x 44 x 11.65 mm case, which looks like a futuristic take on the classic 44GS theme, but also because of its red and orange-tinged It was also because of the attractive white dial. The Zaratsu polishing on the bezel and the carefully finished razor-sharp hands and indexes are details that I fell in love with at first sight when I saw Gerard’s photo. The metal watch is even better than I imagined. Its crisp aesthetic is vibrant, and the case, bracelet, and clasp have a solid feel.

Reunited with Grand Seiko Tough Quartz SBGX341: Why was it abandoned for so long?

I’m not trying to make excuses for neglecting my favorite watch, but I read an interesting article on Very Well Health. I learned that procrastinating doesn’t mean you’re lazy. You may have more negative associations with the job and not want to feel that aversion. Full disclosure here: In my case, a little laziness was also involved. Additionally, there was the fact that Grand Seiko was not my only love of watches in life. I’m probably a polygamist when it comes to watches, just like you.

So my GS, which I hit a doorknob with the first week and got a nasty scratch on my wrist on the glossy diagonal side of the bezel, was sitting in my watch box like a lame duck. I witnessed my fellow watches go out and come back with smiles on their faces. As tough as SBGX341 is (and it’s not named Tough Quartz for nothing), it must have been traumatic.

Anyway, when I spoke with a local Seiko representative, I learned that the brand’s Schiedam facility in the Netherlands is fully equipped to repair Grand Seiko watches. At the service center, we perform movement maintenance, but we also perform important Zaratsu polishing. Truth be told, it was another two weeks before I took the scratched and lifeless GS out of the box and handed it over for a new power supply and cosmetic makeover. But when I did, I was already feeling a little better about myself and starting to feel less guilty about the watch.

My love for watches is rekindled

When I returned the SBGX341 from a watch hot spring (Japanese natural hot springs heated underground by volcanic activity and the ultimate stress reliever), it didn’t just feel “good.” Instead, I felt ecstatic. The watch looked very fresh and rejuvenated. I thought I might even be able to see the spring in my step. Yes, I’m talking about the precise beating of the quartz-powered central seconds hand. When it comes to accuracy, the inside of the case outperforms the caliber 9F61. This is the only 9F movement without a date display and has an estimated accuracy of ±10 seconds per year. It’s also magnetically resistant to 40,000 A/m, as indicated by the crisp white dial.

FYI, magnetic fields don’t just affect the movement of machines. It can also damage the quartz movement as it can interfere with the step motor. This can cause the movement to accelerate or stop completely. Inside the step motor is an important component with the confusing name of the rotor. It’s a permanent magnet with a pinion. To protect the rotor and step motor from magnetic influences, pure iron shields are placed in critical parts of the caliber.

The magic of that sweet dial and bezel

When I put the SBGX341 back on my wrist, my opinion about the matte white dial was confirmed. This watch has one of the best white dials I’ve ever seen. Look at the raised chapter ring with seconds track. There are two black 15-minute segments and two reddish-orange segments that match the color accents of the seconds hand and hit all the hash marks on the flange with great precision. It looks neat and functional.

The hands and indexes are similarly tight and sharp, and are finished to a comparable level of perfection. In the dark, the green and blue Lumibrite applied index lights up. The hour markers at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock glow green (as do the hour and minute hands), and the other hour markers glow blue.

new year’s resolutions

The Quartz Caliber 9F61 is expected to have a battery life of 3 years, so I plan to bring my new SBGX341 and book a beauty treatment in the summer of 2027. You can think of this as a long-term New Year’s resolution. The short term is to take your watch for repair or assistance as soon as you notice the need, without hesitation or procrastination.

I want to be a good example for others in this regard. I know I’m not the only one guilty of neglecting my watch. Let me tell you, getting your watch back from repair is a fun experience. I’m sure Grand Seiko hugged my left wrist when I returned to my favorite place. And that love is mutual.