Side by side

Grand Seiko SBGH289vsVario 1918 Medic Brass

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

SBGH289
Grand SeikoSBGH289
MSRP $7,700
1918 Medic Brass
Vario1918 Medic Brass
MSRP $388

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBGH28943.8mm
1918 Medic Brass40mm
Power Reserve
SBGH28955h
1918 Medic Brass40h
Water Resistance
SBGH289200m
1918 Medic Brass100m
MSRP
SBGH289$7,700
1918 Medic Brass$388

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Diver
Field
Diameter
43.8mm
40mm
Thickness
14.7mm
10mm
Lug-to-Lug
51mm
48mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
200m
100m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed Sapphire
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
Black
White

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
9S85
Seiko NH38A
Power Reserve
55h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$7,700
$388

Follow this matchup

Get a note when Grand Seiko SBGH289 vs Vario 1918 Medic Brass gets more votes, a community discussion, or a price drop. No account needed.

What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

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

Grand Seiko SBGH289

The Grand Seiko SBGH289 is praised for its legible blue dial, strong Lumibrite, and the accurate Hi-Beat Caliber 9S85 movement. Reviewers note its bright initial lume glow, though its longevity is questioned compared to other models. The watch features Grand Seiko's Super-Hard Coating for scratch resistance and retails for €7,200. Overall, reviewers highlight the SBGH289's appealing aesthetics and robust movement as key strengths.

From video reviewers

Excellent finishing and smooth bezel action are notable features of the Grand Seiko SBGH289. A weakness of the watch is the relatively low lume brightness. Reviewers disagree on the watch's ideal lug width, with some considering 22mm a limitation for users who prefer a more standard 20mm or 21mm strap width, while others do not mention this as a concern.

Vario 1918 Medic Brass

Owners widely praise the Vario 1918 Medic Brass for its crisp enamel dial, easy-to-read numerals, and cathedral hands, noting the brass case develops an attractive patina over time. However, the soft brass scratches easily, and one owner found the lume to be poor. Accuracy varies, with one example running slow by about 10 seconds per day and another owner deeming the Miyota 82s5 movement just okay. On balance, owners rate the Vario 1918 Medic Brass highly for its unique dial and the evolving character of its brass case.

Keep exploring

More watches worth a look

Matched to the watches above on size, movement, style and price — microbrands first. Open any one to dig in.

Adjacent matchups

People also compared

Comparisons nearby in the catalog — alternatives to the watches above paired against the matchup.