The current stainless-steel Sjöö Sandström Royal Capital is a slim, 40 mm dress watch with a date, a Vaucher Manufacture 5400 micro-rotor movement, and a manufacturer-stated 48-hour power reserve. The important caveat for anyone reading the older hands-on coverage: the steel watch reviewed in 2017 was a no-date model with a different movement reference and a thinner reported case. Those earlier impressions are useful context, not a review of the current configuration.
Which Royal Capital is this review about?
This review centers on the current stainless-steel Royal Capital listed by Sjöö Sandström, in blue- or black-dial configurations with matching alligator straps. The brand dates the collection’s first launch to 2014; its December 2023 announcement described the updated steel watch with a date and the SSG8 movement. The current product page is the better reference for its present specifications and displayed price.
The widely cited hands-on article by Robert-Jan Broer at Fratello appeared on June 14, 2017 and concerned an earlier steel Royal Capital without a date. Broer wrote that he had worn and tried that example extensively. His observations about wear, finishing and movement behavior belong to that earlier watch; they are not first-hand findings about the current SSG8 date model.
What are the current steel model’s dimensions and specifications?
According to the manufacturer’s current product page, the steel Royal Capital measures 40 mm across, 44 mm lug-to-lug and 8.1 mm thick, with a 20 mm lug width. It is rated to 10 ATM and has a sapphire crystal caseback. The blue and black versions are listed with matching alligator straps. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements.
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| Specification | Current steel Royal Capital |
|---|---|
| Case material and dial | Stainless steel; blue or black dial |
| Case diameter | 40 mm |
| Lug-to-lug | 44 mm |
| Thickness | 8.1 mm |
| Lug width | 20 mm |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM |
| Movement | Vaucher Manufacture 5400, caliber SSG8, automatic micro rotor |
| Power reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds and date |
| Caseback | See-through sapphire crystal |
| Strap | Matching alligator strap; the manufacturer specifies a curved fitting |
All listed specifications in this table are from the current manufacturer product page. The brand’s movement details also give a 2.6 mm movement height, tungsten micro rotor, 29 jewels, 146 components and a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour). The page describes the watch as date-equipped, although its short movement-indications summary lists hours, minutes and small seconds without mentioning the date.
How does the current watch compare with the 2017 hands-on model?
The difference is more than a minor specification update: the movement reference and date status changed, and the published thickness differs. Treating the two as the same configuration would make the older review’s measurements and movement comments misleading.
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- WATER-RESISTANT: these men's wrist watches are water-resistant down to 50 meters
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| Earlier steel watch reviewed in 2017 | Current steel date model | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | No date | Date-equipped, per the manufacturer’s current release information |
| Movement reference | Vaucher Cal. 5401 / SSG9, as identified in the 2017 review | Vaucher Manufacture 5400 / SSG8, per the current manufacturer page |
| Case diameter | 40 mm, reported by Broer | 40 mm, manufacturer specification |
| Thickness | 7.8 mm, reported for Broer’s example | 8.1 mm, manufacturer specification |
| Power reserve | 48 hours, as identified in the 2017 review | 48 hours, manufacturer specification |
| Water resistance | not stated in the 2017 review | 10 ATM, manufacturer specification |
The earlier-model column reflects Broer’s 2017 review; current-model specifications come from Sjöö Sandström’s current listing. The difference between 7.8 mm and 8.1 mm is not necessarily a contradiction: the figures describe different configurations and sources.
What did the 2017 hands-on reviewer think of wearing it?
Broer described his earlier 40 mm steel example as slim and comfortable beneath a cuff, while still workable with casual clothes. He liked its restrained dress-watch character without finding it limited to formal wear. That is a useful indication of the earlier watch’s proportions, but the current model is listed as 0.3 mm thicker, and fit will also depend on wrist shape, strap adjustment and how a wearer likes a watch to sit.
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On the earlier dial, Broer praised the brushed surface and bezel, with polished hands and indices providing contrast. He also liked the layered small-seconds display at six o’clock. Those are observations from his no-date watch; while they help explain the design language, they should not be mistaken for a new inspection of the current dial or its date display.
What is distinctive about the movement?
The current steel model uses the Vaucher Manufacture 5400, identified by Sjöö Sandström as caliber SSG8. It is an automatic micro-rotor movement with a stated 48-hour reserve. Its small seconds preserve the watch’s traditional dress-watch layout, while the date adds a practical calendar display absent from the 2017 review model.
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- Comfortable And Durable: The watch mirror of this watch is made of high hardness mineral glass, which is anti-scratch and wear-resistant, and the excellent scratch-resistant performance protects the appearance of your watch from being easily damaged. Stainless steel has strong corrosion resistance, it is not easy to rust and be corroded in humid environments or contact with sweat, etc., and can maintain a good appearance for a long time. It gives people a feeling of delicacy
- Daily Use: The case is screw-in waterproof crown, waterproof up to 50M, suitable for low water pressure environment in daily life, hand washing, face washing, etc., but not suitable for bathing and swimming. (Note: Please do not touch hot water to prevent the watch from entering water vapor. Please tighten the crown when touching water)
- Package and after-sale: a BENYAR original automatic mechanical watch, a manual, a warranty card. If you have any problems, please contact us through Amazon, we will provide you with satisfactory solutions
Broer praised the thinness and finishing of the Vaucher micro-rotor movement in his earlier watch, which he identified as Cal. 5401 / SSG9. He also reported a particular winding-direction behavior and occasional swooshing or wobbling sensation. These are his impressions of that earlier movement, not evidence of how the current SSG8 performs or feels on the wrist.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What strap and clasp details matter?
The current listing pairs each dial color with a matching alligator strap and specifies a curved fitting. Broer liked the alligator strap and folding clasp on his earlier watch. The current page’s strap information does not establish that any generic 20 mm replacement strap will fit correctly: lug width alone does not confirm compatibility with a curved fitting, and the current clasp arrangement should be checked against the exact watch before buying an alternative.
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How much does the steel Royal Capital cost, and how limited is it?
The current product page displays 82,300 SEK for both steel dial versions. This is the brand’s displayed Swedish direct price, not a USD conversion or a claim about global retail or secondary-market prices. Sjöö Sandström says on its current page that 50 steel pieces are manufactured annually; this is the manufacturer’s production claim, not independently audited output. Its December 2023 announcement also gave an 82,300 SEK price and stated annual production of 50 pieces.
A separate historical variant should not be confused with today’s steel model. In a March 2018 announcement, Sjöö Sandström presented an 18-karat 5N pink-gold date version: 40 mm by 8.1 mm, 10 ATM, on a 20 mm genuine alligator strap. The brand stated that each execution was limited to 30 pieces and listed an RRP of 168,800 SEK / €16,800. Those historical, gold-specific figures do not describe the current steel watch.
Who should consider the Royal Capital?
The current Royal Capital makes most sense for someone seeking a restrained, relatively thin automatic dress watch that can also be worn less formally, with a date and a visible micro-rotor movement. Its 40 mm diameter and 44 mm lug-to-lug are useful starting points for judging fit, but the best comparison is with a watch already comfortable on your wrist. If you are drawn specifically to the no-date configuration described by Broer, remember that his article covers a different movement reference and an earlier example, not the current steel listing.
At the displayed Swedish price, the Royal Capital is a considered purchase rather than an anonymous spec-sheet choice. Its appeal rests on the slim profile, Scandinavian design, Vaucher micro-rotor architecture and limited annual production claim; whether those qualities justify the asking price depends on your preference for the design, movement and brand. The available hands-on impressions support discussion of the earlier watch, but do not establish independent current-model testing.
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