Better than the Overseas? The BEST blue on the market 

This is one that needs to be seen in person. I never gave it more than a cursory glance online but last week I was at the local AD and the salesman said he had a GS in the safe I might like. I was blown away by how it looks in person. I emailed my AD today to ask if he had one and it should be here Thursday.

I jumped on the waiting list for this watch when it was first released. It took about 2 months to arrive but boy was it worth the wait! I completely agree Bruce. The dial is the star of this one. As good as Bruce does in filming the watch, it still doesn't capture the depth and vibrance of the dial like you see it in person. Great choice to review this one Bruce. It's truly a stunner!

Wow. That’s beautiful. Absolutely love that shade of blue.

looks spectacular. Looking forward more to your new GS!

Absolutely gorgeous GS. Very impressive and that dial color WOW.

I think the Seiko SLA043 should at least get an honourable mention here. It has an astonishingly rich, vibrant and beautiful deep blue dial and the upgraded everbrilliant steel, GS level (almost) 8L35B movement. I have been wearing mine for over a year and it just keeps me smiling.

This piece is soooo beautiful! 😍

In the same GS family, the SBGH267 is still my blue grail. Waiting for the day they bring back that mesmerizing dial!

Agreed on all counts! And yeah, if GS can get thinner, beef up the bracelets a little, then they could 100% give anything on the market a run for the money. Evolution 9 is going that direction, very curious to see how things will continue to unfold.

That is stunning Grand Seiko easily produce the best dials at the price point. The colour's are always spot on.

Glad they didn't snip the tip off the end of the hour hand (so many great recent offerings spoiled for me). Agree with you about AR.

Looking good indeed! If you are waiting for that limited GS quartz with the 5-pointed star you're showing at the end of the vid: I got that one and it's a superb watch I can tell you!! Prices went higher then retail on that one.

I ❤ this watch overall but yea - that dial! Grand Seiko consistently have great dials, they have so many stunning ones compared to any other brand imo. Enjoyed this vid - witnessing you gradually falling in love with the watch. You have to buy it 👍

I just got my first GS as well. Mine came with a beautiful leather strap instead of the average ss bracelet. The watch is simply gorgeous.

Nope, I don't want A/R on the outside of the crystal! If it gets scratched you are up the proverbial without a paddle. That piece is just about perfect. A five day spring drive and titanium would make it perfect (for me anyway).

Absolutely beautiful watch. GS seems to relegate their most beautiful dials to the Hi-Beat. We've seen it with the Sho-Sho, we've seen it with the SBGJ 259 and we see it with the SBGJ 261. There are many others. I like the GS 44 case and I seriously considered this watch. I've owned a High beat in the past but always find myself wanting for the Spring drive. There are definitely some lookers with the 9R65 under the hood, but the dials don't compare to this one. For me however, sometimes function trumps form.

Nice review and a stunning dial! I guess the main difference between the quality of this and the overseas and especially the FP Journe (apart from the thickness of the movement you mention) is the movements’ finishing itself. The latter two put days/weeks of man-hours into hand finishing movements. Ps could the thinness and flexibility of the GS bracelet be for the sake of comfort rather than cutting corners? Surely GS could easily improve bracelet tolerances with all the high tech equipment they have at their disposal and their mastery of metal finishing?

Bruce, your absolutely right! It’s extremely much better than a VC overseas 4500v!

I love my GS Blue Peacock as well, missed the boat on the original green dial Peacock so I had to jump on this one

I wish GS would ditch the GMT movement in this watch as well as the SBGJ259 (bamboo green). I love them both but have no need for the complication, and would appreciate a thinner case. The bracelet isn't my favorite either.

My appreciation for Grand Seiko grew when I realized that it fulfills a similar underdog role to Seiko watches, but in a different price bracket: While Seiko grapples with mid-tier brands like Oris and Longines, Grand Seiko punches above its weight against giants like VC and F.P. Journe. GS isn't trying to tarnish Seiko; it's simply the big brother in a different fight.

That blue is 🔥 But I can not do gmt with that extra hand. In my opinion it ruins the dial. But great review

In my opinion the beat blue dials are De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius and Credor Eichi II Ruri.

Look at multiple H. Moser. Just one example is the Endeavour with different blue choices. Turning the question back to you, which of these Moser dials do you like the best? There are many to choose from.

I agree it gives the overseas some competition. I think that is tops for blue dials. In my collection, my Omega AT GMT Worldtimer has an impressive blue dial under macro, but apples to oranges I think.

Nice watch, I keep thinking my next purchase should be a Grand Seiko. However the Tourby Art Deco B is a reasonably priced traditional beautiful blue dialed watch.

Wow, I don't even need to go so high... Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner (either date or Memovox). What do I win? And of course, I'm biased (but who isn't)? Oh, BTW, I received the bracelet for my Polaris and it's fantastic. 🙂

I like the GO SeaQ sunburst blue as well, but this GS is very unique and eye catching. No doubt GS punches well above their price point as far as dial detail and color are concerned (although they are starting to get up there).

Dear Bruce Agree with you completely. What is your opinion on the SBGY009 ? Many thanks Nizar

My best blue dial is the panerai blu mare. Maybe doesn’t compete on finishing but the colour in sunlight is exquisite.

I love the ending!!! 😂

My SBGW279 (Oruri blue song bird) says hello - it is a simpler textured dial but the blue is magical. The GMT show here is incredible as well. Thank you.

Special mention to the blue DJ41 and Aqua Terra. I would lean more towards to the blue AT in comparison to the blue GS. That being said, I still have the Snowflake on my short list :)

Hey Bruce why are all the comments about investing and not this watch lol?

The omega seamster pro electric blue is my choice for best attainable blue dial 💯

My favourite blue dials are the 3rd gen Monster and the Orient Ray II 😅

Bulgari octo finissimo, and JLC polaris have awesome blue dials. Also, I picked up a op41 Rolex from a boutique in blue after only a 3 week wait... really nice blue on that. My gs omiwatari has a nice subtle blue that is very casual.

I was very very very impressed of the blue enamel dial of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Eternity Edition... 😍 It seems like you could swim in it... deep blue...

Damn, ohh damn, Grand Seiko is kicking some serious ass, ohh my God, people can blab all they want about GS being a Seiko, GS is on another level and the heat is immerse!!! Ask Rolex!!

Torn on which Grand Seiko I want to get. Do you like this one better than the Bamboo dial? As far as great blue dials under 30k. I love the GS Lake Suwa blue dial and the HP Moser blue fume dial. Both are under 15k.

Nice watch .. people can’t keep up with what gs are doing too many models coming and going . It’s a pity because I think they could really be powerful at the price point .

What reference is that GS on the video? Can't find it Thanks

The omega Globe master, very underrated, beautiful watch

In terms of the dial...maybe Piaget Polo S but GS has more complexity. I think we'd have to go up to 5711 to surpass it, and on that one forget about anywhere near retail for a while...

The Breitling 40 GMT or a number of other Breitlings have great blue dials and the clearest crystals in the watch game.

I'd say Seiko own blue in terms of Pantone, but the VCO is the finest blue dial on the market. It's depth and opacity are sublime. Just a shame about the rest of the watch! An honourable mention for the Omega Globemaster.

I’ve held that blue peacock GS and IMO the SGLA007 “Minamo” is still the best blue dial in the GS catalog, the SGBA469 comes in close but it has as much indigo as it has blue . Big GS fan

favorite shade of Blue: Omega Planet ocean

Beautiful blue dial indeed. But best blue dial "on the market"? It's orders of magnitude behind the Patek 5178G-012 as far as blue dials go. But yeah, it wins in the affordable category. Great vid, as always.

Czapek Abyss is stunning! But the dial on this GS is still nice.

How about IWC Big Pilot 43 blue!

Great watch and great dial - But no where near the VC Blue (a bit bias as I own the VC). Love Grand Seiko and have gone into GS boutique a couple of times seriously looking to buy one - and each I come away with nothing. Just something about them that doesn't resonate with me. Not sure what it is, but in person they they just aren't as good. But each their own - and I still love the history etc of GS.

It's good looking but the blue is a bit too vibrant for my taste.

Killer watch. But color is so subjective. For me, I prefer the blue of the SLA063 at around 3k. Also prefer the blue of the Oris Cervo Volante at around 2k! This is not even my favorite grand Seiko dial… But I’ve got to give it to you on that VC blue!

What a beautiful Japanese 👍

8:06 the links on that bracelet appears to be unbalanced.

Is it just me, or was the 3 on the VC date wheel looking terrible?!

While that is a beautiful watch… I think the nicest blue dial is on the H Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds

Grand seiko has 2 or 3 other blue watches I like more like the lake suwa or whirlpool or superman

I think the FPJ is the nicest blue out there, but Sinn’s 556b is next

I came to say the Overseas. If you still had it, you could compare side-by-side. Whoever has your old Overseas is probably loving it.

why this watch hasnt gone up in value? looking for prices now and it is even below retail in the secondary market, while the original green peacock is still holding it's value a lot better, why is that? this is more limited than the original

I have the GS SBGJ261 and it is a stunning blue dial to say the least. My only critique of this watch is when I have to change the date. It does NOT have a quick date just, so I have to wind the crown until only the hour hand moves twice around the dial to change the date. ANNOYING.

Don't say BS my friend ! I like GS too...

Nomos 42” Blue Club Sport Neomatic.

Indigo not blue.

Hints of purple, McMahon is out.

Bvlgari octo

Voting for the Blue on the Seiko Sharp Edged.

There is no question GS makes a nice watch. Very nice actually. But they are boring. Why don’t they hire a designer from Parmigiani or Bovet to draw them some dial designs and a Rolex designer to draw them some bracelets then out engineer the Swiss watchmakers. Play to your strengths admit your weaknesses and move to the next level. IWC makes a nicer blue dial. See the Le Petite Prince perpetual calendar chronograph. Nicer and much more interesting in my humble opinion.

Good,not Better than the Overseas

It’s a scratch magnet unfortunately!

Uhm yeah. That’s not better than the overseas.

IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar IW503605