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<\/a>But the watch he spoke most passionately about was the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245<\/a> watch. He described it as one of the best GMT sports watches<\/a> on the market, being wearable, attractive, and well-priced for the list of specs that are included.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, of course, as any watch-obsessed writer would, I went out to find the watch for myself and tried it for a full week to see if it was really as good as he suggested. So here I am, reviewing the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m not sure how it happened, but the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch was one of those releases that flew under the radar for me. I don\u2019t know what other watches were being released at the same time, but it must have been something good for me to not have noticed a new GMT model from Grand Seiko. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The design was first launched in 2021, towards the end of the year, and joined the Japanese watch brand\u2019s<\/a> collection alongside an equally attractive olive green-dialed variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grand Seiko has never had a shortage of GMT models in their arsenal, but some of the most compact references were those with quartz movements. Now, don\u2019t get me wrong, I love quartz watches \u2013 especially those by Grand Seiko \u2013 but if budget allows, I will always choose a mechanical timepiece. I\u2019m a sucker for the craftsmanship and complexity that goes into a mechanical movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, the majority of Grand Seiko\u2019s mechanical GMTs were a little large in size, typically measuring around 44mm in diameter. But with the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch and its green-faced counterpart, you\u2019re getting both a mechanical movement and a compact set of case dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sports watches, GMT watches<\/a>, and sport GMT watches are typically large with statement dimensions to make an impact. This is fine if you have the wrist real estate to pull it off, but alas, with my five-and-a-half inch wrist, I\u2019ve always found shopping for a solid sports watch incredibly difficult. So, when I saw the dimensions of the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch, I was over the moon. Finally, a sports GMT model that I could wear!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its dimensions include a 40.5mm width and a lug-to-lug of 48.6mm. On my wrist, it sits really nicely. It gives off that oversized sports watch aesthetic \u2013 something I absolutely love \u2013 with the short, downward-turned lugs helping to keep the watch nice and close to the skin. It\u2019s a relatively thick watch, at 14.4mm tall, but it\u2019s what you\u2019d expect from a watch of this genre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, it\u2019s a sports watch, not a dress watch, and we\u2019ve got to take into account the prominent bezel, which gives the design so much of its personality, and the movement inside, which includes an extra layer of hardware for the GMT hand. That said, I can still imagine this watch sliding under the cuff of a dress shirt, as long as it\u2019s one that\u2019s not too tight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite this being one of Grand Seiko\u2019s entry-level mechanical sport GMT watches, the finishing of the stainless steel case is exceptional. It delivers the same high levels of attention to detail as some of their more expensive models. It has satin-brushed finishing on the lug hoods and bright polishing on the case flanks. A beautiful sharp bevel separates the lugs from the case sides to help add to the watch\u2019s sporty, streamlined architecture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This bevel, along with the case flanks, are brilliantly polished using Grand Seiko\u2019s Zaratsu polishing technique. Also known as black polish, this is a high-end finishing that requires talented artisans who have trained for three years to meticulously hand polish the steel by holding it against a spinning tin plate. It\u2019s a complex process, but one that delivers an exceptional mirror-like shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Giving the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch its tool-like personality is the bezel placed atop. Finished in matching stainless steel, the polished and satinized surface is handsomely etched with black-colored numerals for the 24-hour scale. If you still question this watch\u2019s sportiness, know that it also comes with a screw-down crown at 4 o\u2019clock and a closed case back offering a 200-meter water resistance<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every piece of shiny hardware seen on the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch\u2019s dial is hand-finished, like the case. These lovely little pieces of dial furniture are once again polished by hand using diamond-tipped milling tools to create this lustrous shine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The hardware isn\u2019t just singularly treated either but features brushing and polishing on the same component to create this wonderful visual effect of light play. For example, the hands at the center have beveled and polished edges and satinated centers, adding to their sharp and aggressive aesthetic. Similarly, the hour markers are faceted and boast their own combination of polishing and brushed finishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hardware, all of which is also placed entirely by hand, sits on a gorgeous sunburst blue dial<\/a> that plays with the lighting conditions depending on how you angle your wrist. One minute, the color is a rich navy blue; the next, it\u2019s almost jet black.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even in the dark, the dial impresses with a generous amount of Lumibrite (Grand Seiko\u2019s go-to luminous material) added to the hands and the four markers at each cardinal point. At night, these elements glow a rich green, providing you with effortless legibility no matter your surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The central GMT hand, finished in bright red for exceptional contrast, has its own arrow-shaped luminous tip. Its color pairs with the GMT text at 6 o\u2019clock, also printed in red sitting beside white lettering to denote its automatic movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Working with this complication is the sloped flange around the dial\u2019s center, which is printed with a second24-hourr scale and has a dual-toned backdrop to showcase the day hours in silver and the night hours in navy blue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only other features of the dial I\u2019m yet to mention include the applied GS logo at 12 o\u2019clock and the date window positioned at 4 o\u2019clock. I appreciate the integration of the date window where the 4 o\u2019clock hour marker should be, plus the nicely polished border. But would this dial look better without a date? Yes, I think so. Or at least let\u2019s incorporate a blue date wheel to allow it to blend into the dial design a little more subtly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, the case back of the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch is closed. It\u2019s a shame, as I always love to see the workings of a mechanical movement, but we do have to keep in mind that its closed nature helps to assist in its healthy 200-meter water resistance. The case back is nicely decorated, showcasing a lovely beaded border and the Grand Seiko lion logo at the center in relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The exact movement hiding behind this steel component is the Caliber 9S66 automatic winding movement. It\u2019s a movement made entirely in-house by Grand Seiko and regulated in their own facilities, promising an accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day. To receive this rating, the movement has been measured in six positions and placed under stress in artificially controlled environments for 12 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re promised a 72-hour power reserve<\/a>, so you can easily take this watch off on Friday and put it back on Monday morning without worrying about lost time. It also pivots on 35 jewels, has stop seconds, and, of course, the added date and GMT complications for improved functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is beautiful satin-brushed finishing across the top and conforming end links for a comfortable fit. I\u2019ve always liked the slight rolled bevel on these Grand Seiko bracelets. They have a lovely polished outer surface, giving the watch a contemporary look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The links are screw fixed and can be removed to achieve a more accurate fit. To help, there are several half links on either side, plus micro-adjustment holes on the stamped clasp. The twin push button release clasp is effortless to use and is nicely presented with the GS logo in relief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a 20mm space between the drilled lugs, so finding and changing out alternative straps for the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 watch is made easy. If you\u2019re like me and you have relatively small wrists<\/a>, note that this will wear even more compactly on a strap rather than a bracelet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 is a fantastic watch that wears surprisingly comfortably for its size. With a 40.5mm width, it\u2019s one of the most compact GMT sports watches out there, which is a huge plus for folks like me with smaller wrists\u2014I’m rocking a five-and-a-half-inch wrist, and even though it\u2019s a big watch, I love that oversized look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your wrists are around six inches or more, this watch will fit perfectly; any smaller, and you might find it feels a bit too large. Any bigger than eight inches, and you might find it too small.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen Was the Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGM245 Released?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Sporty but Compact Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Hand-Finished Dial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An In-House Movement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Straps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On-Wrist Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n