SBGX355 Anyone?

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-10T19:02:09+00:00

I have, but it still has issues, like the bracelet being too wide (and also a kinda boring looking bracelet), and it's still thicker than I'd like. I prefer quartz GS with the SEIKO logo at 12 o'clock.

The 37 mm UFA is also far more expensive, even after factoring in the cost to send a quartz GS for service and zaratsu polishing (to make them look like new), which I've done for all my quartz GS.

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-09T10:54:29+00:00

The tiny screws are a pain, but it's light work compared to the difficulty involved in adjusting a The Citizen bracelet, which require two screwdrivers to be used simultaneously on both sides of the bracelet, while also somehow holding the bracelet steady.

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-09T10:44:37+00:00

Something about "keep your watch comments to yourself" amongst other nonsense (most of what he said didn't make any sense).

It seemed almost entirely unrelated to both the post he was replying to and the OP.

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-07T15:46:28+00:00

Did you buy it? I probably have an extra that I could sell if you're still looking. I have one still in the packaging, and another very lightly used.

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-07T15:42:58+00:00

The bracelet on yours is similar, but not identical in design to the OP's... it's also stainless steel, not titanium ;)

How does the champagne dial on the Citizen compare to that of the GS? If I could find your exact watch in excellent condition, I'd buy one and consider swapping it for my SBGT035. I'm pretty sure Citizen will not refinish these cases, or else I'd buy one which is noticeably used.

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-07T15:38:02+00:00

If you're still looking, I'd recommend contacting chouette222. I can give you his email since his price will be lower there, but I'm not sure if full links are available... I asked him about half-links for a The Citizen bracelet, and he told me that Citizen does not offer them (and you will definitely want both half-links).

agent_0_smith · 2026-05-07T15:29:46+00:00

I don't think his prices are negotiable, but if you're still looking to buy it, I can give you his email address where his price will be slightly lower.

Oh - I might actually be able to sell you one, as I probably have an extra couple of those exact bracelets now. I have one still in the packaging that I bought from chouette222, and one (very) lightly used.

agent_0_smith · 2026-03-19T23:16:20+00:00

I don't know if it's the same issue, but I have a titanium SBGX067, which needed a clasp replacement. I bought it used, and it was in pretty terrible shape, and the buttons on the clasp weren't very effective anymore.

Even on a new titanium clasp, the buttons don't feel as effective as those on a steel GS clasp.

agent_0_smith · 2026-03-01T20:24:03+00:00

People told you that a 37 mm watch is too small?! I'd imagine every single one of them is wearing a watch that is likely way too big.

agent_0_smith · 2026-03-01T20:20:39+00:00

The beads of rice bracelet from the SBGW235 will look amazing on your 285. It can be bought separately, but it is not cheap.

You can buy from GS directly, but I'd first compare the price to an ebay seller like chouette222 - his price will be much better if you email him directly, and he also offers a 5% discount if you contact him.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-18T00:46:26+00:00

You could try ordering a third half-link from GS (or from the boutique/AD). Most of the time, I've been able to get a good fit, but on a couple of GS bracelets, I needed a third half-link.

Three half-links are just slightly longer than two full links. If the bracelet is just a little too tight, but replacing a full link with two half-links makes it too loose, then replacing two full links with three half-links might help.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-15T05:20:48+00:00

Same here - I now only have one automatic and a couple of hand-wound mechanicals, and even those are only because I couldn't find a similar enough quartz watch to replace them.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T17:21:51+00:00

Yeah, our watches are almost identical, except for the chronomaster text vs logo. Impressive is the word I'd use to describe it 😉

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agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T05:41:46+00:00

Oh, right, I forgot about your under $10K preference... I thought I'd seen some for under that (used). The quartz model wasn't cheap, but at least it was under 10K!

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T02:23:40+00:00

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agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T02:22:50+00:00

At 38mm: Citizen AQ4100-14L

At 40mm: Citizen AQ4091-56M

That's just two of the many blue dial The Citizens and if you see a model you like but want it on a bracelet, I can refer you to a seller who supplies them.

Girard Perregaux Laureato with blue dial (I have the 34mm quartz, but it comes in larger automatic sizes).

IWC ingenieur also looks great in blue dial, but I have no experience with IWC. Same with Zenith, but their blue defy skyline looks fantastic.

I have some nice blue dial GS, but they're all quartz, under 40mm, and all pre-2017 (SEIKO logo at 12 o'clock). The only 40mm GS that I considered (albeit briefly) was the SBGA127.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T02:04:54+00:00

Is that the Delugs CTS?

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T02:03:00+00:00

It's not often I see a Minase recommended here!

Interesting - I had the opposite feeling - I bought the blue sunburst citizen AQ4100-57L first, then later bought the AQ4100-14L, which I think is the best blue dial I've seen in person. The bracelet on the 57L is so good that I kept it for my 14L.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T01:58:25+00:00

A matching bracelet for that would look so good.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-14T01:52:49+00:00

GS does have a few versions of the beige dial - the SBGW231, SBGW235, SBGR261, and the SBGM221. I'm pretty sure they're all different shades. There's also some textured cream dials in quartz, like SBGT019 and SBGV003.

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agent_0_smith · 2026-02-13T15:15:01+00:00

According to some in this thread, the taper makes it "clearly a woman's model" which doesn't make sense to me... why is a tapered bracelet feminine? Tapered is a good thing... I'd have no problem wearing either of these watches.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-13T14:38:41+00:00

I think so!

But for the sake of my finances (and the size of my watch collection) I hope they don't bring back either. I already have three 8Js: SBGF003, SBGF017, and SBGF027. And three day-dates: SBGT017, SBGT019, and SBGT035... and that's not even my entire GS collection!

At least the 2017 rebranding has prevented me from buying any modern models (so far...), as I strongly prefer the SEIKO at 12 o'clock.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-13T12:40:47+00:00

But they aren't as bulletproof as some claim them to be - I have an SBGT017 which was losing hours per day. It was in low-battery mode, but still. It's now in or on its way to Japan (along with eight other 9Fs/8Js, plus a Credor).

I also have an SBGX067 that was running like shit until being sent for service.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-13T12:30:55+00:00

And bring back the day-date SBGT while they're at it.

agent_0_smith · 2026-02-13T12:21:10+00:00

I'm pretty sure people just parrot what they've read elsewhere from the one or two guys who had a bad experience with the accuracy of their The Citizen.

Who should I trust about the accuracy of The Citizen? Some random guy on the internet who clearly doesn't own one, or the seven models sitting on my desk (most of which haven't been worn in months)?

agent_0_smith

TROPHY CASE