Picked up a little buddy for my first GS

[puma1552]

Bought an SBGW297 back in February at the Wako flagship in Tokyo. Decided I needed to pick up its counterpart, the SBGW299. I'll be back in Japan in August, but decided to pull the trigger here in the US for a few reasons:

1) USD is already weaker than in February.

2) Either needing to pay customs duty or roll the dice not declaring upon return.

3) I'm already a member of the Japanese GS9 club since I have a couple Japanese addresses, so getting one here allows me to also join the US GS9 club.

4) Got a 15% discount at an AD here (WoS wouldn't budge off 10%, the other dealer went to 15% on a special order as they didn't have the watch - was able to take delivery of it fresh from GS and out of the safe with all tags/stickers/plastic wrap intact).

5) Likelihood of GS Japan increasing prices in the Japanese market between now and August/September. US price increase is typically November, but Japanese market is usually at a different time I believe.

All said I paid $4,6XX for the SBGW197 in Japan, and $5,165 out the door for this one (MSRP is $5,600 on these, which would be right at $6k with tax). That still seems like a large spread, but right now today with the weaker dollar the watch in Japan is right at about $4,900, so the gap is already closing. Add in the other factors above and it may prove cheaper to get it here, or be basically a wash, so I just went for it.

[Top G]

Incredible dial! Congrats on the new pickup.

[Goatrope]

Very nice! I really prefer the white dial. Good price, too. Enjoy!

[puma1552]

Thanks. It's also interesting how the box/papers vary a bit between a Japan vs. US purchase.

Different:

1) Wako did not let me keep tags/stickers/plastic (I asked, she said they are required to keep them), US didn't care.
2) Warranty info booklet in Japan has multiple pages in multiple languages, US booklet looks the same on the outside but is just a single page in English when you open it.
3) Japan gave me an instruction manual, US did not (US GS site says after 4/1/23, they are gradually removing paper versions so this is normal).
4) Japan did not let me keep the little blue/white mesh pouch for the watch, US did.
5) Japan did not give me anything for the GS9 club, US gave me a business card with a QR code to join.
6) Japanese warranty card has a little more Japanese on it than English ("Reference Number", "Warranty Number", etc.).
7) Possibly unique to Wako, but I got a formal Grand Seiko Maintenance Support card valued at 25,000 yen in Japan; it is fully GS branded/official with all the GS logos and whatnot, but may be unique to Wako since GS owns Wako, or may be included at any boutique; not sure you'd get this buying at a department store AD in Japan.

Same:

1) Exterior box, watch roll/paper, black microfiber cloth
2) Being manual winders, both came with the same movement certification in both languages and the explanatory notes in both languages.
3) Neither let me keep the outer white box sleeve

Also I know GS gives you a six year warranty if you buy at a boutique or online in the US, but I can't find confirmation if the six year warranty applies for Japan boutiques; it it does, that's technically another difference since my US AD is not a boutique so I have the standard five year warranty for the new watch.

[1William]

Congratulations.

[eric68dejesus]

Both or so dang nice!! Good on you!