Side by side

Serica Ref. 5303 Diving ChronometervsGrand Seiko SBGH281

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer
SericaRef. 5303 Diving Chronometer
MSRP $1,768
SBGH281
Grand SeikoSBGH281
MSRP $6,300

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer39mm
SBGH28140mm
Power Reserve
Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer42h
SBGH28155h
Water Resistance
Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer300m
SBGH281100m
MSRP
Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer$1,768
SBGH281$6,300

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
39mm
40mm
Thickness
12.2mm
13.3mm
Lug-to-Lug
46.5mm
46.2mm
Lug Width
20mm
19mm
Water Resistance
300m
100m

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
Dial Color
Enamel Black
Black
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
M100 COSC
9S85
Power Reserve
42h
55h
Complications
COSC
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,768
$6,300

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Serica Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer

Owners widely praise the Serica Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer for its excellent wearability, definitive style, and smooth, confident bezel action. The dual scale on the bezel is noted as surprisingly useful, and the crown action, winding, and hacking are reported to work perfectly. One owner describes the Serica 5303-3 as gorgeous and unique, though another notes the crown can appear comically large. On balance, owners rate the Serica Ref. 5303 Diving Chronometer highly for its blend of unique design and robust functionality.

Grand Seiko SBGH281

The Grand Seiko SBGH281 is lauded for its 44GS-style case, which exemplifies the brand's "Grammar of Design" with its sharp facets and broad case band, and its Hi-Beat 36000vph Caliber 9S85 movement, noted for an ultra-smooth second hand. Reviewers highlight the exceptional finishing, including Zaratsu polishing and hand-polished markers, as offering significant value at its €6,200 price point. The watch features an accuracy rating of +5/–3 seconds per day, a 55-hour power reserve, and 100-meter water resistance, all executed to Grand Seiko's high standards, and is limited to 1,500 pieces. Overall, reviewers rate the Grand Seiko SBGH281 highly for its iconic case design and superb finishing at its price.

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