When I first started looking at Grand Seiko and their Spring Drive watches, it wasn’t the Snowflake that caught my attention, it was a large dive watch with the reference SBGA029. Even though I had seen many black dive watches before, this stuck in my head. I searched for every post with this watch that I could find on Instagram, I was obsessed. I said to myself that this was one of my grail watches. Time went by and my collection went in a different direction with other Grand Seikos, until GS launched their evolution 9 series with their new diver SLGA015 and it brought back the memories of the SBGA029. I started searching for it again but came across the newer model, the Grand Seiko Diver SBGA229, and went for it.

I got it and full of expectations I opened the box. There it was and it was all that I expected. A gorgeous looking dive watch that just sparkled.

It was sized for my 18cm wrist and then I got to the first letdown, the pin and collar bracelet system. I know, it’s very secure but I prefer screws. I got it on the wrist and loved the heft of the watch, it felt so great. The honeymoon began.

Now after owning the watch for a couple of months, how does it feel?

I still love the Grand Seiko SBGA229. It’s the watch I use most in my collection. Is it the perfect watch? No, it isn’t, it has some flaws, or should I say, room for improvement.

First of all, the Grand Seiko SBGA229 is a large watch and that is something that’s not going to suit everyone. Many have their sweet spot around 39-40mm. The size doesn’t bother me since I’m used to wearing big dive watches (Panerai and Tudor Pelagos) and I must say it wears smaller than the 44mm measurement would suggest. But with the weight (201g) and height (14mm) of it, many are going to think it’s too large.

Another thing is, the beautiful polished parts are making me “baby” it more than I do with my other dive watches and that’s a shame since dive watches are, in my eyes, tool watches. The polished parts don’t make me want to use it as a tool watch and maybe not fully enjoy it either. So maybe if the sides of the case had been brushed, it would have been better.

The last part that needs some improvement with the Grand Seiko Diver SBGA229 is the clasp. It’s bulky and the dive extension isn’t as refined as the one on my Pelagos for example. The on the fly extension is good theoretically but isn’t that good in reality. It makes the bracelet look weird and I haven’t used it when my wrist expands. I have sized it a little bit loose so there’s room for when the wrist gets swollen.

Otherwise, I think it’s a great watch. The finishing on the watch is top notch. The bezel action is smooth and accurate and the legibility is great with the brushed, broad hands with huge lumed surfaces. The lume is, as always from Seiko and Grand Seiko, very strong, long lasting and fast to recharge.

The 9R65 spring drive movement is as accurate as it has always been in my other Grand Seiko models. Mine is running +- 0/day.

With the spring drive movement comes also the debated power reserve scale on the dial. Many think that it ruins the dial but I think Grand Seiko has made it subtle. I don’t think it’s ruining the dial and I think it’s pretty neat to see the power reserve when you look at the dial.

So, to sum up this watch and my review.

If you are looking for a larger dive watch, with great movement & finishing and if you want a watch that’s not on every other person’s wrist, I think you should at least try out the Grand Seiko Diver SBGA229. It’s not a watch for everyone but for me it’s a keeper (for now at least).