**OVERVIEW** Since its founding in 1881, Seiko’s watchmakers have dedicated their efforts to producing some of the most durable, highly precise, and expertly finished watches in the world. An important milestone in that pursuit was realized in 1960 with the introduction of Grand Seiko and its first watch. The Grand Seiko “First”, as it’s aptly named, featured a 35mm gold-plated case with beveled lugs, diamond polished indices, and flat dauphine hands. Most notably, the hand-wound caliber 3180 inside was the very first chronometer-rated movement made in Japan, boasting an impressive accuracy of +12/-3 seconds per day. Seiko made certain to highlight this accomplishment by proudly displaying “Chronometer” below the Grand Seiko branding on the dial. In 2011, to celebrate its 130th anniversary, Seiko re-issued the Grand Seiko “First” in stainless steel with a limited production run of 1300 pieces. The new SBGW033 was a near copy of the original, sharing the same 35mm case, “S” marked crown, engraved lion medallion case back, and Grand Seiko branding at 12. The dial was also given a lovely cream color, presumably to add to the vintage aesthetic. Grand Seiko would go on to release subsequent versions, including one in 2017 with an upsized 38mm case and a stark white dial. However, the SBGW033 remains the most faithful re-issue of the original and in recent years has seen a tremendous spike in collectibility thanks to its modest proportions and relative scarcity. ​ **SPECIFICATIONS** **Brand:** Grand Seiko **Model:** 'First' 130th Anniversary LE **Reference:** SBGW033 **Year:** 2011 **Case Number:** 0954/1300 **Case Material:** Stainless steel **Diameter:** 35.8 mm **Lug Width:** 18 mm **Thickness:** 11.2 mm **Lug-to-Lug:** 43.4 mm **Dial:** Cream **Lume:** None **Crystal:** Sapphire **Movement:** Hand-wound **Caliber:** Grand Seiko 9S64 **Bracelet/Strap:** Grand Seiko black alligator strap with tang buckle *Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in* ​ **CONDITION** *EXCELLENT: Case has very light scratches or nicks. Lugs are thick, full, and well-defined. Dial and hands may have imperfections visible upon close inspection. Lume is fully intact and may show slight discoloration.* **Case:** The case is overall very clean with only a few hairlines and a couple faint nicks and scratches present, the most notable of which are on the crown and the lug at 1 o'clock. All of the lugs are nice and thick. The bevels are visible but show some softening at the edges, likely from a previous polish. The outer bezel is wonderfully preserved and essentially flawless. The caseback has some light scuffing and a couple small scratches from normal wear. The engravings remain sharp and deep and the lion medallion is beautifully detailed. **Dial, Hands, & Crystal:** The cream dial and polished handset are in perfect condition with no imperfections. The sapphire crystal is completely clean and scratch-free. **‍Bracelet/Strap:** The Grand Seiko black alligator strap is in unworn condition. There is no creasing, staining, or fraying present. The buckle shows normal signs of wear with no major imperfections. ​ **MOVEMENT** **Timing:** The watch has been measured with a timegrapher at six different positions. The average rate, amplitude, and beat error are within acceptable ranges. While resting face up, the rate is +3s/d. **Functions:** All functions including the crown-winding and time-setting are working as expected. **Service History:** The watch recently underwent a full service by Grand Seiko USA that was completed on 04/20/2023. ​ **WHAT'S INCLUDED** \- Grand Seiko 'First' 130th Anniversary LE on a black alligator strap. \- Boxes, instructions, movement inspection certificate, guarantee holder, and guarantee paper dated December 2011. \- Travel case and service record from a Grand Seiko authorized dealer dated April 2023. ​ Pictures: [https://imgur.com/a/o7fD7dT](https://imgur.com/a/o7fD7dT) Timestamp: [https://imgur.com/a/v3vHJ4L](https://imgur.com/a/v3vHJ4L) ​ **PRICE & DELIVERY** I'm asking **$8,100** net to me via bank transfer, Zelle, or PayPal + fees. The price includes expedited shipping via FedEx within the U.S. and internationally. Trades will not be accepted. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions and I'd be happy to answer them for you. I've sold numerous watches on the forums and can provide references at your request. I'm also available on Instagram as [tickingtimehomme](https://www.instagram.com/tickingtimehomme/). Thanks for looking!