10 Wallet-Friendly Grand Seiko Snowflake Alternatives
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The Grand Seiko Snowflake (SBGA211) is a modern classic in the luxury watch scene. With an awe-inspiring dial, akin to a snowy winter scene and the revolutionary spring drive movement, which provides a perfectly smooth second hand; it’s no wonder that this watch has received tremendous acclaim since release. Of course, these extreme levels of craftsmanship come at an equally high cost, that being northward of £4,000 for a used model at the time of writing.
Photo Credit: Surface Mag - The Grand Seiko Snowflake
While arguably a fair price considering the horological feats achieved, it still places the Grand Seiko Snowflake out of reach for many of us mere mortals.
If you love the look of this watch but aren’t willing to shell out that much money, you’re in the right place. I’ll be running you through several great alternatives that give you a comparable aesthetic for far less money.
Seiko SNKL41
The SNKL line of watches are among the best-looking affordable options out there. I recently featured the SNKL45 in a blog post comparing the most attractive Seiko 5 watches and its white counterpart, the SNKL41, makes for a great Snowflake substitute.
This model is slightly smaller, at just 37mm in diameter, so is better suited to slim or average wrists but features a very similar case shape, with the high polish bezel atop. For a staggeringly low retail price (when available), the SNKL41 offers an automatic movement, along with full steel construction and a mineral crystal watch glass. The applied indices and logo are not indicative of a budget watch and the dauphine handset and white colourway certainly draw comparisons to the snowflake.
The dial doesn’t feature the same textured finish though, this time with an enamel-like smooth surface instead. Other variances include the day-date window and the 4 o’clock position of the recessed crown. Despite this, it still looks fantastic in its own right and could be the best cheap option on this list.
Seiko SARB035
While more difficult to find, the now discontinued SARB035 is still attainable from some retailers. A fan-favourite, this watch was often considered the ‘baby Grand-Seiko’ due to the visible similarities to many Grand Seiko watches and a strong level of finishing. This watch features the most similarly designed case to the original Snowflake, with a swooping lug profile and a standard crown at the 3 o’clock position.
The raised chapter ring is one notable difference, as is the off-white dial tone. Nevertheless, the dial arrangement and handset are very similar, as is the style of bracelet and overall water performance (100m). With the 6R15 movement, providing a 50-hour power reserve, it’s a clear step above the budget Seiko 5 offerings, with their more basic movements.
Nevertheless, don’t pay scalper prices. I’ve seen some of these selling for close to £1000 in the UK, a price tag that the watch simply doesn’t live up to. Don’t be tempted to pay more than £600 at the very most, to avoid disappointment.
Seiko SARX055
The lovechild of the Snowflake and SARB035, the SARX055 falls somewhere in-between. Also known as the ‘Baby Grand Seiko Snowflake’, this is easily the closest you can get to the original Snowflake for a fraction of the price. Not only do you get a beautiful icicle-style dial that closely resembles its Grand Seiko forefather, but you also get a nearly identical case. Not only is it constructed of titanium, the same lightweight material as the original, but it wears virtually the same on-wrist too with comparable dimensions. The case shape is slightly more angular on the SARX, including a twisted set of lugs that look like some famous Omega models, though at a glance it’s difficult to tell the differences between the two, as each also shares the same basic bracelet design.
While it is part of the premium Presage range, the SARX doesn’t house the same spring drive movement, despite having a very similar handset to the Grand Seiko. It features the same 6R15 found in the SARB035 (also on this list), which has a fairly standard 21,600bph tick rate. As such, it’s much less expensive than the Snowflake, between £700 and £900 in the UK.
Orient ‘Golden Eye II’ FAG03001W
If you’re after an open-heart alternative to the Snowflake, then this Orient could just be it. The AG03001W (catchy name, huh!) is a classy budget mechanical watch, from another of Japan’s most trusted manufacturers. I’ve covered Orient on numerous occasions on this blog before and for over 70 years, they’ve been raising the bar for what is possible under £300. This watch is no exception.
With an in house 22-jewel Orient F6T movement, scratchproof sapphire crystal and a reasonable 5bar water resistance for around £200, it’s undeniably a great value piece. I’m unsure how this watch acquired its nickname of the ‘Golden Eye II’, however it’s likely either referring to the strong sunburst effect of the dial or the opening to the lower left, that showcases the balance wheel assembly. I recently did a full review of the blue variant of this watch, which also stands as a viable alternative to the popular, though rather large, Orient Bambino.
The level of finishing doesn’t compete with some of the higher-priced models on this list, though it does suit small wrists better, at just 38.5mm in diameter. Visually, this pale option is not far from the style of the Snowflake, sharing a comparable handset, case shape and colour scheme. Nevertheless, there are some obvious differences, including the numerals at 12 and 6, as well as the slimmer profiled shoulders.
Tissot Gentleman
One of the best-known Swiss watch brands, Tissot have an exemplary history dating back to the 19th Century. The new T-Classic Gentleman range provides timeless designs for a fair price. These watches are available with both quartz (for around £300) and mechanical (for just under £700) movements.
I’d describe these watches as a hybrid between the Grand Seikos and Rolex Oyster Perpetuals in terms of aesthetics. The white versions, with their gritty textured dials, do have a hint of Snowflake about them and the tight-fitting curved cases ensure a similarly slick aesthetic. They even feature the same high-shine chamfered edges down the flanks and a polished bezel to boot. Admittedly, the handset used here is slightly different, with an unusual mix between a traditional baton handset and the dauphine hands used by the other watches in this list.
As you might expect from the mid-range segment, these T-Classic models come with sapphire crystal and a solid 10bar water resistance rating; to ensure they won’t let you down. The default bracelets and packaging are known to be some of the better options out there too, so they could make for a good gift option.
Lorus RH921MX9
At the true budget end of the watch spectrum, Seiko sub-brand Lorus produces an extensive range of fashion-forward quartz wristwatches.
For around £50, the RH921MX9 gives the basic Snowflake look, for much less money. I’m sure the Lorus design team had that watch in mind when creating this budget beast, which houses a similarly toned white dial featuring a textured chevron pattern across the surface. It even boasts a similar case shape, albeit with slimmer lugs, along with a dauphine handset for a dressier look.
Considering the particularly low price-tag, it’s pleasing to see full stainless steel construction and a respectable 5ATM water resistance. Understandably, the finishing on this model is very simple and not nearly the standard of its luxury counterpart. The watch is also a bit tricky to hunt down due to the ongoing pandemic likely affecting production.
Nevertheless, if you can find one, it’s a great choice for those looking to save some money.
Lorus RH995HX9
Another strong offering from Lorus comes in the form of the RH995HX9. Not only does this also bear a strong visual resemblance to the Grand Seiko, but it’s even made of the same material too! Indeed, for a fraction of the price, this plucky Lorus is constructed of titanium. One of my favourite cheap watches of all time (blog post about it here) is a titanium Lorus and this one offers the same lightweight properties in a dressier package.
It carries over the same glass and aquatic performance from the previously mentioned Lorus, though this time the default bracelet is non-replaceable due to the fully integrated lug design. It does look slick though and I particularly like the white pinstripe dial on this model.
Citizen Chronomaster
The instant I laid eyes on this Citizen, I knew it had to make this list. The Japan-exclusive ‘Chronomaster’ AQ4020-54Y is a very special watch indeed. While the striking similarities to the Grand Seiko Snowflake are plain to see, at a macro level you can see that the dial has an even more unusual finish. This model is known to have what is described as a ‘Tosa Washi’ Japanese paper dial. Citizen has gone to great lengths to make this resemble the highly textured look of Tosa Washi paper; which to most Westerners looks something like a flat stretch of cotton.
There appears to be two versions of this watch available, both of which feature the special dial along with Duratect ‘super titanium’ case construction and 10 bar water resistance. The AQ4020-54Y is probably the most visually similar to the Grand Seiko Snowflake, with a copy and pasted handset along with it.
Grand Seiko SBGA125 ‘Blizzard’
What’s the best alternative to a Grand Seiko? How about another Grand Seiko?! Indeed, there lies an alternative to the Snowflake under the very same banner. If you like the SBGA211, but are looking for a comparable quality alternative, it’s worth considering its brother, the SBGA125; informally known as the ‘Blizzard’.
You can pick up this beauty new for a similar price to a pre-owned Snowflake and it comes in a smidge smaller, at just 40mm. This variant also got its nickname from the fabulous white dial. Rather than looking like an individual snowflake, the texture of the Blizzard resembles a delicate layer of powdered snow, with a subtle array of matte bumps coating the surface.
Outside of the more angular lugs, the watch is a parallel of the Snowflake, with a comparable dial arrangement, the same titanium construction and spring drive movement, alongside an identically crafted bracelet.
By opting for this model, you may end up saving yourself a notable chunk of change, whilst obtaining just as much watch.
Timex American Documents
An unusual watch that Timex claim is ‘made in America’, the 41mm American Documents watch is their attempt to break people’s budget perceptions of the brand.
Presented in a gorgeous wooden box, this collection is a step up from Timex, who have their roots set in cheap brass pieces. The stainless steel case is finished to a much higher standard, accompanied by the unusual inclusion of Gorilla Glass, usually found in the likes of mobile phones and other technology. This is the first time I’ve seen Gorilla Glass foray into wristwatches, so it will be interesting to see how this holds up versus mineral crystal in the long term.
The real selling point, or gimmick as some may see it, is that this watch is assembled in America. Timex market this as American-made, when that isn’t accurate. First up, the quartz movement powering the watch is Swiss and thus not made in the US. Despite this, the rest of the watch is reportedly manufactured in the states, incurring the increased manpower cost that comes with that. Therefore, it’s not the best value for money on a material level; though it does ensure that sweatshop labour is avoided at all points along the supply chain – an ethical principle I can get behind.
Visually, this is a very clean, minimalist watch with a neat subdial below the central stem and size very similar to the headline Grand Seiko. As a dress watch, it certainly looks the part; it’s up to you to decide where your preferences lie with this one. £400 for a standard quartz watch could easily be seen as an investment not worth making.