The Grand Seiko SBGN023 is a quartz GMT limited edition that Grand Seiko announced on May 10, 2021 to mark the 140th anniversary of Seiko’s founding. It is limited to 2,021 pieces, uses the Caliber 9F86 quartz movement with independent hour-hand adjustment, and was sold at launch with a European recommended retail price of €5,350 and a Japanese price of ¥605,000 including tax. The figures below come from the 2021 launch documentation. They describe the watch as it was introduced, not its current price or availability.
What makes the SBGN023 different
Within Grand Seiko’s Sport collection, the SBGN023 is the anniversary version of a quartz GMT design. Grand Seiko released it alongside two non-limited GMT models, the SBGN019 and SBGN021, which use red and blue accents. The SBGN023 is the one with gold-colour details on the dial, and it is the only one of the three presented as a limited edition. Its identity rests on three features: the anniversary dial treatment, the 2,021-piece production limit, and a caseback with a numbered serial and an 18k yellow-gold lion emblem.
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Movement: Caliber 9F86
The SBGN023 runs on Caliber 9F86, a quartz GMT movement. Grand Seiko describes it as the 9F calibre with GMT functionality added. The features it lists are:
- Independent hour-hand adjustment. The hour hand can be moved without changing the minutes or seconds, so the wearer can set a second time zone while the timekeeping precision of the watch is preserved.
- Instant date change. The date changes at midnight without the slow drift between dates found in some quartz designs.
- High-torque stepping motor and protective shield construction. These are listed as the movement’s drive and protection features.
Grand Seiko’s May 10, 2021 release describes the hour hand this way: “The hour hand is independently adjustable so that the precision is maintained even when adjusting the time to a second time zone.” It states the accuracy specification as “±10 seconds per year (at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C).” Both are manufacturer statements. The release does not present them as results from independent testing, and this article does not add any.
#1 Best Overall
- See-through case back
- Date display
- Screw-down crown
- 40mm Diameter
- Weight 178.0 g
Setting the second time zone
Because the hour hand is independent, the usual workflow is to move only the hour hand to the reference time zone while the minutes and seconds keep running. The release does not publish the crown positions or step-by-step procedure for this, so consult the instruction booklet supplied with the watch before adjusting it.
Case, dimensions and specifications
The table below lists the values in Grand Seiko’s 2021 materials. Where the European and Japanese releases differ, both figures are shown with their source.
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Case and bracelet | Stainless steel | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021 (European release) |
| Bezel | Ceramic, supports reading the 24-hour GMT scale | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021 |
| Crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021 |
| Diameter | 40.0 mm | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021; Seiko Watch Corporation, Japanese release, 2021 |
| Thickness | 13.1 mm (European release); 13.7 mm (Japanese release) | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021; Seiko Watch Corporation, 2021 |
| Water resistance | 20 bar | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021 |
| Magnetic resistance | 16,000 A/m | Grand Seiko, May 10, 2021 |
| Battery life | Approximately three years | Seiko Watch Corporation, 2021 |
The thickness difference is the one figure that cannot be resolved from the sources. The 2021 materials do not explain it, so a reader who needs an exact measurement for a strap, case or sizing decision should check the figure against a physical example or the current official specification before relying on either value.
Rank #2
- Three-fold clasp with push button release
- Dual-curved sapphire crystal
- Power reserve display on the back
- Power resrve Approx. 72 hours(3 days)
Dial, GMT hand and caseback
The dial carries gold-colour details. The GMT hand points to the two-tone day/night ring around the dial, which shows which half of the 24-hour cycle the reference time falls in. The ceramic bezel is marked for reading the 24-hour GMT format. The caseback is engraved with an individual serial number and carries an 18k yellow-gold lion emblem, which Grand Seiko presents as part of the anniversary identity.
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The SBGN023 is the only one of the three anniversary-era GMT references described as a limited edition, with a stated production quantity of 2,021 pieces. The table compares what the 2021 release states for each model. Where a value is not in the materials, the cell says so.
| Reference | Status at launch | Dial and accent treatment | Launch price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBGN023 | Limited edition, 2,021 pieces | Gold-colour anniversary details | €5,350 (Europe); ¥605,000 including tax (Japan) |
| SBGN019 | Non-limited addition to the main collection | Red accents | Not stated in the 2021 materials reviewed |
| SBGN021 | Non-limited addition to the main collection | Blue accents | Not stated in the 2021 materials reviewed |
Launch prices and what they do not tell you
The launch figures are the recommended retail price of €5,350 in the European announcement and ¥605,000 including tax in the Japanese announcement, both dated May 2021. They show what Grand Seiko asked when the watch was introduced. They do not show what the watch sells for now. Secondary-market prices depend on condition, completeness of the box and papers, the serial number, and current demand, and none of those were verified for this article.
Rank #3
- 24-hour hand (dual time display function)
- Power Reserve Approx. 55 hours
- See-through case back
Buying a SBGN023 today
Because the watch is a limited edition from 2021, verify the following before treating any listing as a current option:
- Current availability. Check whether an authorised Grand Seiko retailer or a reputable pre-owned specialist currently lists the reference. The 2021 materials do not establish stock levels.
- Current price. Compare listings for the same reference, condition and inclusions. Do not use the 2021 launch price as a valuation.
- Serial number and caseback. Confirm that the piece is an SBGN023 and that its caseback matches the anniversary description above.
- Dimensions. If case thickness matters for fit, reconcile the 13.1 mm and 13.7 mm figures before ordering.
- Documentation. Ask for the warranty status and the original papers, which affect both service and resale.
For a broader GMT comparison, the features worth comparing across references are movement type (quartz or mechanical), how the local-hour adjustment works, case dimensions, water resistance, legibility of the GMT scale, and the service arrangements available in your market. The 2021 materials make no claim that the SBGN023 outperforms other GMT watches, and this article does not make one.
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- Grand Seiko, “A Grand Seiko quartz GMT watch celebrates the 140th anniversary of the company’s foundation,” May 10, 2021.
- Grand Seiko, official SBGN023 “Seiko 140th anniversary limited edition” model page.
- Seiko Watch Corporation, Japanese-language SBGN023 announcement, May 10, 2021.
These sources are dated. Current availability, condition-specific value and present-day prices are outside their scope.
The Bottom Line
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The SBGN023 is a documented 2021 anniversary GMT with a clear spec sheet: Caliber 9F86, 40 mm stainless steel, 20 bar water resistance and a 2,021-piece limit. Treat its launch price as history and its current value as something to establish through live listings.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
