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Grand Seiko SBGW231 vs A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Grand Seiko SBGW231 if you want superb finishing for the money. Buy the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin instead if you want German finishing.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Grand Seiko SBGW231
Buy

Grand Seiko SBGW231

Best for Best value dress

Typically $5,300–$5,900

Check Price on Amazon Paid link
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin
Buy

A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin

Best for German master

Typically $22,000–$26,000

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

FeatureGrand Seiko SBGW231A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin
VerdictBuyBuy
Typical price$5,300–$5,900$22,000–$26,000
Best forBest value dressGerman master
Key featureManual Elegance with zaratsu polishingThin Saxonia
Case37.3 mm steel37 mm gold
Movement9S64 manualL093.1 manual
Water resistance30 m30 m
Power reserve72 hours72 hours
Where to buyCheck Price Paid linkCheck Price Paid link

Main differences

Case

Grand Seiko SBGW231: 37.3 mm steel; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: 37 mm gold.

Movement

Grand Seiko SBGW231: 9S64 manual; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: L093.1 manual.

Water resistance

Grand Seiko SBGW231: 30 m; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: 30 m.

Power reserve

Grand Seiko SBGW231: 72 hours; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: 72 hours.

Why buy it

Grand Seiko SBGW231: manual Elegance with zaratsu polishing; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: thin Saxonia.

Made for

Grand Seiko SBGW231: best value dress; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: German master.

Usual price

Grand Seiko SBGW231: $5,300–$5,900; A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: $22,000–$26,000.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Grand Seiko SBGW231 if you

  • you want superb finishing for the money
  • value superb finishing
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Choose the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin if you

  • you want German finishing
  • value exceptional finishing
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If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best dress watches.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119

Patek Philippe · Dress watches

Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119

Buy it if you want the pinnacle dress watch.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Ultimate dress
Typical price
$33,000–$38,000

Pros

  • Exceptional

Cons

  • Very pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1

A. Lange & Söhne · Dress watches

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1

Buy it if you want the German icon.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
German icon
Typical price
$42,000–$48,000

Pros

  • Exceptional finishing

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Grand Seiko SBGW231 or A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: which should I buy?

Buy the Grand Seiko SBGW231 if you want superb finishing for the money. Buy the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin instead if you want German finishing.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Grand Seiko SBGW231 usually costs $5,300–$5,900 and the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin $22,000–$26,000. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Grand Seiko SBGW231 or A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin: the full reasoning

Grand Seiko SBGW231 or A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin? Both are strong dress watches, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Grand Seiko SBGW231 if you want superb finishing for the money, and buy the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin if you want German finishing. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Grand Seiko SBGW231 wins on manual Elegance with zaratsu polishing. The A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin answers with thin Saxonia. Case: 37.3 mm steel on the Grand Seiko SBGW231, 37 mm gold on the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin. Movement: 9S64 manual on the Grand Seiko SBGW231, L093.1 manual on the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin. Water resistance: 30 m on the Grand Seiko SBGW231, 30 m on the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin. Power reserve: 72 hours on the Grand Seiko SBGW231, 72 hours on the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin.

Reasons to buy the Grand Seiko SBGW231

Superb finishing, Value. What to accept: resale weaker. Usual price: $5,300–$5,900. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Grand Seiko SBGW231 review.

Reasons to buy the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin

Exceptional finishing. What to accept: pricey. Usual price: $22,000–$26,000. Our verdict: buy. Read the full A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best dress watches has every other piece with its own call. Thickness: a true dress watch is under about 10 mm and slips under a shirt cuff.

Also consider the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119 ($33,000–$38,000): hobnail bezel Calatrava. Buy it if you want the pinnacle dress watch.

Also consider the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 ($42,000–$48,000): off-center dial with outsize date. Buy it if you want the German icon.

Buyer tip

Grand Seiko, Longines and Nomos give the best dress-watch quality for the money; the great Swiss houses are about finishing and heritage.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.