Both are stunning. My advise would be to visit a GS AD and pick one.

 

Shunbun

 

I have owned a Snowflake and found it to be a much better watch in pictures - ultimately I moved on 2-3 months after purchasing. If you've seen the Shunbun and fell in love, I would not overcomplicate the process. There are no substitutes, get the watch that captures your imagination most.

 

There are no substitutes, get the watch that captures your imagination most.

This is what I would suggest as well.

Your watch, your money, YOUR decision. Get what you like best and enjoy it.

 

Do yourself a favor and look at both before deciding, less likely to have any what-ifs/doubts. I currently own both and like the shunbun more when it’s pink, but that isn’t as often as I’d like for it to be. I also love the blue seconds hand over the white dial of the snowflake.

 

You should drive the 2 hours and look at the Snowflake. It will be worth it for your peace of mind, regardless of which awesome GS you choose.

I have a Snowflake and absolutely love it; the Shunbun is not my thing, but these are purely personal preferences. There is no substitute for seeing them both.

 

Hot take! Neither, Skyflake

 

I was in looking at the shunbun the other week and saw this one as well. it really caught my eye. I prefer the shunbun case but really liked the blue texture of this one, and the blue was always there, not like the appearing and disappearing pink of the shunbun.

 

I had the Shunbun. I liked the watch, but the dial was never pink enough for me. The dial often looks silver and was very understated. I also did not love the PR meter in the dial, but I may be in the minority on that. The TI case and bracelet are very nice and I did love the light weight. In the end I ended up with this:

SBGH295. Hi beat auto and the dial is awesome. I would make the drive to the boutique, as there are a lot of GS to consider.

 

pic of me trying the amazing watch;
View attachment 16651984

CAVEAT: I am not a big fan of Grand Seiko.

I can easily see why someone ordered that and then backed out after they saw it. To my eyes it is overly busy and the design doesn't speak to me, particularly on the bracelet.

That said, this one is pure class, so I wouldn't limit yourself to considering just the Shunbun and Snowflake:

SBGH295. Hi beat auto and the dial is awesome. I would make the drive to the boutique, as there are a lot of GS to consider. View attachment 16652286

 

Shunbun it is!

 

IMO the case material is the biggest difference between the two. For me, after I tried on the Shunbun, I knew I would never enjoy that titanium case. I need the weight of stainless steel, so I started looking at other models.
If you tried on the Shunbun and liked it and didn't mind the light weight, buy it.

 

I believe snowflake is titanium as well.
But yeah I see the lightweight as an extra positive as I like it very much.

 

I much prefer the case design of the Shunbun.

 

When I first saw the Snowflake, I had high expectations, but I have say, I was underwhelmed. It didn't grab me. Maybe the texture was too subtle to grab me. Poor lighting in the boutique probably didn't help. But when I saw the Shunbun, I was immediately wowed. It stuck with me, so much so that six month later, I owned it, even though the price when I first saw it was unthinkable, and after tying on a dozen Grand Seikos in the meantime. The Snowflake also wears a bit bigger, and the Shunbun is already bigger than ideal.

Yes, the Snowflake is also titanium. I don't get thinking that titanium is too light. When I tried on the Shunbun, I thought, I can never go back to steel.

 

Snowflake for me, but try it on first as they wear big.

A visit to the AD is worth it as they are ££££.

 

Deleted

 

Personally I’d get the Shunbun but you must try them both on in case you prefer the Snowflake.

 

 

Well, I bought a Snowflake and ended up selling it for an SBGA415, so that is my expensive answer.

If you really want to know why, here is my detailed answer: Traded my Snow(flake) for Winter

one interesting revelation - the snowflake has texture on the Dial. The spring/winter have a smooth matte dial surface.
The snowflake texture is impressive, and ensures the dial is always pure white
The flat matte surface of winter/spring allow it to pickup colors around it and makes the dial color pretty dynamic.

 

I have both the Shunbun and Snowflake and enjoy wearing both . Even though they are both titanium, the wearing experience is different . The Snowflake is shinier and bigger ; the blue seconds hand against the textured dial grabs my attention always. The Shunbun has a more Matt finish and the dial is very dynamic - it’s “face” changes constantly with the light . It’s subtle pink is extraordinary - the right light will capture a gorgeous blush pink -which grabs my attention.
Both are amazing watches and you’d not regret either purchase .
Have fun with them and take the one that sings to you most!

 

You’ll find the snowflake to be a it large for your wrist


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I think we overcomplicate our lives, if you found the shunbun and loved it, thats the one. choice paralysis is real!

 

I think we overcomplicate our lives, if you found the shunbun and loved it, thats the one. choice paralysis is real!

Watch collecting is all about the complications [emoji3]


Having a great time….

 

I'd be wearing a Shunbun if not for the wedge cut out of the dial for PR. Wish they would update using the 9SA2 with PR on the back.

 

Snowflake. Had the shun bun and was underwhelmed pretty soon after purchase.

It's more so a grey/silver watch than pink which was disappointing. And I also would've preferred contrast with the hands - maybe the blue finish like on some other models.

 

I had both, and having had some time to reflect since then, if I had to re-buy just one it would be the Snowflake. The Shunbun's dial is certainly more mesmerizing, however, for me the Snowflake is a better daily wearer. The dial texture is more subdued, but equally interesting IMO, the caseback is far better san-lion, and the blued second hand is just lovely. Also, I have a 7.25" wrist and the case size of the Snowflake just looked better to me.

 

I wear Spring while my wife wears Snowflake. Both are beautiful and it really comes down to personal preference. Not only are the dial designs drastically different (one shiny and the other basically matte finish), case designs are night and day as well. Like all GS watches, they are must check out in person before purchasing. Photos don't tell the whole story.

 

I don't own either although I have considered them in person.

Shubun and its siblings have more visually refined indices and a more modern case shape, which together with the bezel-less design promise to be less of a scratch magnet.

Snowflake is larger in diameter. The snow white dial and blued seconds hand are arguably prettier than the seasons equivalents.

If I had to buy one, it would probably be Shunbun (or its sibling Winter).

Reasons I don't own either, while I have owned multiple other GS:

• I am not sure about the execution of the power reserve indicator. 1/4 of the time the hour or minute hands cover the prominent PR and that's visually cluttered to my eye. On a Spring Drive chrono that's more acceptable because there is so much more going on with the dial.
• No lume on a daily use watch doesn't make sense to me. I discovered this with my first GS, and rediscovered multiple times since. Thankfully that keeps me out of most GS models these days
• Texture on a dial can get tiresome over time and this is hard to predict without owning the watch. Less so with lacquer, enamel, or metallic sunburst.
• Snowflake looks a bit large and unrefined to my eye, compared to any 40mm 44GS case GS.
• Spring was until recently a hot model, no discounts etc, and I did not want to rush into a full priced new release.

I know this may be heresy on the GS forum: consider in person the Omega AquaTerra and Rolex Datejust in comparable case sizes. The level of refinement will surprise you. If you must have spring drive, check out the full range of GS before deciding.

 

Interesting post because it mirrors many of my issues. The PR indicator doesn't bother me. I think it is actually cool. The no-lume is a HUGE issue for me on a daily. Snowflake DOES look clunky for sure and the Heritage cases are much nicer. And agreed on full price...doesn't hold value well enough to dive in at those prices at full retail. And I DID buy the AT instead....although the Skyflake is tugging at me.