I had an itch for a new watch for a while, you know how it is. So I started poking around, looking at this and that. Finally, I decided to go check out this Grand Seiko everyone’s been talking about, the SBGA211, also called the “Snowflake.”

I heard some buzz about the Spring Drive movement, apparently, it’s pretty accurate. They say it runs within plus or minus 15 seconds a month, some even claim just a second off per day, which is, you know, pretty darn good. And it times stuff up to 12 hours with the same accuracy, which is neat.
I hit up my local watch shop, the guy there showed me a different model, the SBGY013. Looked at it, wasn’t feeling it. The dial was more silver than I expected, not quite what I had in mind.
Then, the Snowflake. Man, that thing is something else. The dial, it really does look like fresh snow. And the size, it’s 41mm across and 12.5mm thick, sits well on the wrist, not too bulky. Feels similar to, say, a Rolex or one of those Omega Aqua Terra watches.
They made the case and bracelet out of some high-intensity titanium stuff. Supposedly, it’s tough and won’t scratch easily, also it won’t corrode. We’ll see about that, but it definitely feels solid and light at the same time.
It’s a Keeper
- The Look: The whole color scheme, with the markers and the blue second hand, it’s just very cool and easy on the eyes. Never had a problem telling the time, not that I expected to.
- Worth It?: Heard some folks asking if it’s a good investment. Well, from what I gather, you can probably sell it later on for a decent price, assuming you don’t beat it up too much. Titanium can get scratched, though, so keep that in mind.
All in all, I pulled the trigger and got the Snowflake. Wearing it every day, and I’m really digging it. It’s a solid piece, looks great, and that Spring Drive movement is just smooth and accurate as they say. No regrets here!
