[WTS] Seiko SBCG001 Sportura. Serviced by Seiko Japan in April 2024. LE 1000 COPIES c. 2000. Cal. 9T82; 38 Jewels
[WTS] Seiko SBCG001 Sportura. Serviced by Seiko Japan in April 2024. LE 1000 COPIES c. 2000. Cal. 9T82; 38 Jewels
This early generation Sportura has some interesting history behind its various design and movement elements, so apologies if this post gets quite long. **The most important paragraph, The Condition, is near the bottom.** It discusses the most important thing to consider when buying a 9T82 is *when was the capacitor most recently replaced*. If the seller doesn't know the answer, don't buy it. **Model**: Seiko Sportura Kinetic aka SBCG001 aka 9T82-0A50 **Year**: July 2000 **Video:** Click [here to see a video of the watch](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6OmsTKq8D5/) ***The Design***: Designed by Shinji Sato (who first joined Seiko in 1983 and is still designing watches for them now!) the watch features no true main dial, opting instead for five sub-dials (all of which are sapphire crystals). Sato took inspiration from the highly accurate instruments found in the cockpit of aircrafts. It's often described as looking retro-futuristic, but to me there's something oddly neo-vintage about the design, as its dials have a pilot's watch simplicity and shape to them. However you want to label it, the need for a unique design was brought about by the truly unique movement... ***The Movement***: This 38 jewels movement was hand-finished and assembled by Grand Seiko level master watchmakers at the Shinshu Artisan Time Studio in Japan. A hybrid between electric and kinetic energy. Often referred to as a "third" chronograph because Seiko sees it as using the third movement/energy type. It generates power via a rotor, just like an automatic, but instead of the movement being stored in a wound spring, the energy gets stored in a rechargeable capacitor. As a result, you get the reliability of a quartz movement, with the longevity of an automatic (the capacitor needs to be replaced every ~15 years rather than every 1-2 years like the battery in a quartz watch). A fully charged 9T82 will last one month with no movement! ***Limited Edition***: If my understanding is correct, the first 1000 SBCG001 and the first 1000 SLQ001 ever produced were marked accordingly on their case backs. This one is marked 405/1000. Later iterations of both designs were unmarked, as they weren't part of a limited release schedule. I suspect Seiko didn't anticipate just how popular this experimental design was going to be when they initially scheduled only 1000 copies of each to be made! ***The History***: You might have noticed the similarity between this type of hybrid movement and Seiko's now more famous, fully automatic, "hybrid" movement; the Spring Drive. The two are certainly connected, at least temporarily, although I am not privy to the exact specifics. Seiko created the Spring Drive in the 80s but didn't commercialise it until 10 years or so after the release of the Kinetic movements. It's certainly fair to describe the Kinetic series as a commercial/wide-scale pre-cursor to the Spring Drive, although the exact creative/historical link between the two would need to be defined by Seiko themselves. ***Chronograph***: 1/10 second chronograph, alongside a 60 second chronograph and a 12 hour/30 minute chronograph. A lot going on, but that explains the four dials at least. I can’t demonstrate it over the internet, but the chrono-pushers on this feel fantastic. **The Condition**: It's hugely important to consider the inside of this watch rather than the outside. The capacitor is notoriously difficult to replace, as the entire watch needs to be taken apart to access it. Luckily for you, the watch was just fully serviced and given a fresh 15-year capacitor by none other than Seiko themselves (April 2024). In very good shape overall, but unpolished with some shallow marks visible from certain angles. There are marks visible on the brushed face of the watch, but they need to catch the light to be seen easily. The video is the best place to see them, as the light crosses the face several times. **Scope**: No box/papers. **Movement**: 38 Jewels Kinetic 9t82 **Case Width**: 41.5mm **Lug to lug:** 46.4mm **Case Thickness**: 13mm **Bracelet Length**: Original bracelet fits up to 18cm or 7 inches. Compatible with modern bracelet extenders if you need an extra inch. **Price**: Offered at **$2250** net to me plus shipping. Bank Wire, Wise.com (preferred as there are no fees for either of us), PayPal (if you have transaction history, and fees paid by you) or Shopify via my website (if you have transaction history, and fees paid by you) accepted. Not accepting trades. **Of note**: Nothing to report. [Album](https://imgur.com/a/UnehTmB) [Proof](https://imgur.com/a/cXfnFoJ)
The price of this watch is an outlier for this particular model and not included in the distribution. It may be miscategorized, incorrectly priced, or extremely unique.
Estimated Private Party Value $131 — $186
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