I'm a great believer in Brand Loyalty. Being a collector, this was put to test during the pandemic, when alot of boutique staff became rude and unkind. This was the period that I realized just how special Grand Seiko is, the GS9 club sends a present every year - which in itself is such a kind gesture. It made me want to dig deeper into the catalogue and start focusing on GS more. I bought the SBGJ253 GMT, marvelous timepiece. Since then I've gone on to collect a 44GS Tribute and the Mt. Iwate. Truly a wonderful brand and spectacular movements. Love 'em!
This right here speaks volumes. i only recently got into watch collecting, just a few months before the pandemic hit everyone full-force, and Seiko is the brand that really sparked that love. I'm 7 watches in (no GS models yet) but my fandom for Seiko has only grown.' Now I'm really looking forward to making my first GS purchase to get a taste of that brand loyalty myself.
I find it utterly crazy and unacceptable how some luxury brands treat customers in general. I may be a student now and can't afford a super expensive piece, but I surely know where I won't buy for eg. my fist watch from my first real salary.
@@Nimadee I wish you all the very best in your studies. Choosing and buying your first watch is a very special experience. A watch marks an event in one's life. I remember every one of mine... Welcome to the hobby. 😊
My first ever watch was a Seiko. My father bought it for me when I was four years old in 1966. I’m 60 years old now and it still works perfectly. A couple of years ago my wife bought me a GS Spring Drive snowflake. I have may high end watches, but the snowflake is absolutely one of the best. I absolutely love it’s subtle refinement and mechanical perfection. It’s an absolute joy to wear. You know you have the right watch when you find yourself looking at it even when you don’t want to know what time it is.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing. there'se nothing original and japanese
In Peru, Seiko was the high end watch for the urban working class during the 70s and 80s. We did to our Seikos and Citizens the unthinkable, without giving them service (we didn't even know what service was.) And they kept working as usual, despite the abuse and carelesness. A particular Seiko belonged first to my older brother, then to another brother, and finally to me. Nothing less was expected. For us, it was an expensive watch, to be used in every single circumstance, day and night, forever.
The mere fact that Grand Seiko is Japanese should not have any bearing on choosing a good watch one iota. The Spring Drive movement is its own unique entity and very serious in approach towards craftsmanship and engineering. The finish of them is of a very high level. The more you research into Grand Seiko the more you appreciate them, understanding what they are all about. Having a Spring Drive in one's collection is very respectable and credible. There is so much that can be said about these!
I've purchased two luxury watches so far: both Grand Seikos. In the $5K - $10K pricepoint, it's genuinely difficult to find anything better. Whether it's movement, design, or finishing, Grand Seiko really does a fantastic job across the board. I would much rather wear a Grand Seiko over a Rolex.
My Oyster Perpetual cost more than double what I paid for my GS SBGR073. All you get for the Rolex over the GS is clout. I've never seen finishing to that standard, the GS is impeccable at every point. The movement isn't a spring drive, it's not even a high beat, just a modest 9S65. The movement finishing alone makes it worth it. When you look at the finishing on the case, the dial, the hands - you really think, what are you actually getting for a Rolex, apart from clout?
@@keithhilton1564 unfortunately not. A shame as it is still a lovely watch regardless of how better finished the GS is. It's a tool watch - but unfortunately I've become the thing I hate the most in watch collecting - the guy who keeps it locked up instead of letting it get used. If I could wear it without fear of getting my arm sliced off with a machete, I would.
We have to be honest with ourselves. The Rolex is an exquisite proven elite crafted watch. It is an icon of success when you have one. As much as I love my GS, the stopping power of a Roli is on a different strata vs GS. With a Rolex you are buying and extremely good watch, but you are also buying a statement. If it is all about what is under the hood, buy a Seiko which is 1/10th the price of a GS.
I love the way Rob emphasized and described the uniqueness of Japanese culture. There is a strive for perfection by most Japanese people in everything they do that's found nowhere else in the world. From martial arts, tea making, toilets, cars, knives, Cameras, etc. Seiko, and particularly Grand Seiko is the pinnacle of this endeavour, where as humble as the Japanese are, it's almost like they are rubbing our noses in our own crude inferiority. I have owned a few Rolex watches, and currently own a Datejust. While Rolex quality is a very high standard, GS has surpassed Rolex in every way at a fraction of the price.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing. there'se nothing original and japanese
As a GS (quartz) owner & fellow Yorkshireman, I loved this! Great guest & a credit to the brand. Honesty, integrity & a bit of humour thrown in. Things that can often be missing in this hobby of ours…great stuff Rob 👍🏻 One day I’ll add a SpringDrive I’m sure…
Don't feel bad about having a GS quartz, they're made insanely well and even have a high level of finishing on them. Wear it with pride, I have a blue snoflake spring drive and absolutely love it. Either way welcome to the GS club, its growing every single day!
The GS quartz movement sounds quite impressive. I've seen several new GS Quartz watches at quite affordable prices (a bit under $2000 USD), so for those thinking of one of the $1000 plus Seikos, you might be able to move up to a Grand Seiko.
I absolutely love my SBGJ261. I wear it every day and can’t imagine dropping that kind of coin on pretty much any other brand. It is miles ahead of everything else I’ve seen at this price point. Very excited to see what they have in store for us next year!
I am so impressed by the heart behind the heritage. Lots of companies have been around for a long time, but to have this kind of devotion to beauty and perfection...and to hold onto that goal for so long, is truly admirable.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing with quartz movement lol. there'se nothing original and japanese
I love that you can actually BUY the dang watch, as well. No weird ritual, no proving you're a worthy customer. They have it, you got the cash, you own the watch!
I recently purchased my first ever Seiko. It's a Presage with an enamel dial. It's not my most expensive watch, but it's beautiful and I'm surprised it actually keeps good time. I wasn't keen on the black crocodile strap it came with so, I put it on a Hirsh Modena, Royal blue with white stitching. I attached the Seiko clasp to it. It's my preferred daily wearer. My next watch purchase will be a Grand Seiko GMT.
I have several of the Presage line. They produce some real beauties with incredible dial designs, and both their enamel and porcelain dials display real craftsmanship to do it right.
I wear my SBGJ253 on a Hirch Strap, it's so comfortable. I recently ordered a strap and clasp directly from GS, and it's definitely worth the value. Plus they include a separate warranty for the strap! If you join the GS9 club, you get a Service Rebate of around $ 800 USD for your timepiece.
@@gregfelix6979 I lived in Sydney for 16 years! Oh man oh man do I miss it. Nothing but love for Australians. Great country, great people. I have some of my best memories from my time in Australia. Much love!
I have one of the quartz models, and the accuracy is phenomenal - It's gained about a second over six months. That, plus a flat-out gorgeous dial - you can't ask for more in a watch, unless of course you get your jollies from having an elaborate, retro mechanical contraption hidden inside. I just want it to work well and look good, and I'm just as happy with technical wizardry as I am with the mechanical variety.
These videos, and this format of them, are fast becoming my favourite. This one was outstanding though - great to hear Rob so passionate about the brand, yet stay so honest and humble too. Well done, Sir! Thanks to this Chanel, I am now the proud owner of two 9F Grand Seiko watches, spring-drive for me next, definitely. Keep up the great videos and keep well :-)
I have the SBGA407 (skyflake) and it is incredible. I also own a few Rolexes, I’ve gotta say that when you remove the prestige of owning a Rolex, the Skyflake in particular the spring drive movement is superior to Rolex. I love both brands
I'm old enough to recall "Made in Japan" being derided. I've loved Japanese technology for decades whether knives, cars, cameras or watches. No one makes better denim than the Japanese.
My collection has evolved over the years. Now, Grand Seiko is the only brand that I have more than 1. That said, I think I’m the only one that doesn’t have a gripe about the bracelets. I truly believe that you get a lot more watch for the price with any of their models.
Rob is right that the brand *is* listening with regards to bracelets. They do still need some work, but I own a 2020 GS Shunbun and a 2022 Evo9 Chronograph GMT, and the difference in bracelet quality is staggering. More solidity, better comfort, more aesthetically consistent with the case. Is it perfect? No, but it's a noticeable improvement.
@@MrJnrc I tried finding a strap for mine for a while but just went back to bracelet. Even if it's not the best looker, it's so dang comfortable and I like that I can wear it in any weather conditions and in water (which I can't do with leather). It's easily my most comfortable watch, and I own a Rolex BLRO on Oyster.
Wow! Love to see all the GS appreciation in the comments section. I only buy and wear GS, so that should speak for itself but it’s hard to find good GS social circles so I’m loving the attention they have gotten here, not just with this video but overall. This has become one of my favorite TH-cam channels!
I used to collect & wear swiss watches, i had eight before buying my first Seiko.. Now i still have the swiss watches but i now have a lord marvel, two vintage king seiko chronometers, four vintage grand seiko & two modern GS & one is quartz. They are fantastic watches regardless of type. The show is great. Thank you..
Grand Seiko is the brand of watch maker for me. The whole ethos speaks to me. Quiet class. Even the draw of AP as I am descended from the Piguet family, has not drawn me to them over GS (I am sure it will one day). Love the dials, love the history, love the culture.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing with quartz movement lol. there'se nothing original and japanese
11:40 I've seen this sequence so many times already, a reflection of a reflection on the *underside* of the second hand. And every time I see it my mind is blown again
The bracelets are very good, if a little unimaginative. The gripes that people typically have is on the lack of micro adjustment on the clasps (or the clunkiness and lack of elegance of the diver clasp that does have micro adjustment).
@@mplsmnpi leave the Seikos out of the conversation as they are lower priced and unfair to compare them. GS mostly use the same three bracelet designs (3 segment, 5 segment and 5 segment with polished intermediates) across all of their models, which is why I said they were unimaginative. However, they are very comfortable (with the intermediate links allowing flexibility for resizing), well finished and look as good as a Rolex Oyster bracelet. Where they disappoint is in the clasps which (mostly) don't have micro-adjustment and aren't particularly elegant.
I found that you can fine tune them without micro adjustments. They’re half links are liken 3/4 links so if you play with full and half links you get a few mm difference just like with micro adjustments. I love their claps which feel non existent, unlike the bulky longer clasps that are impossible to use at a desk.
Love my SBGJ227 Peacock GMT model! It reminds me of the 6 months I lived in Japan while deployed with the military there. Such great craftmanship! I also love my Japanese fountain pens! The world is such a big place; there is plenty of room for high end Swiss and Japanese watches! :D
The Sk007 rekindled my love for watches. A year before the pandemic I was in a position to finally buy a luxury watch, and I went with the sbga231. I'm that guy who commits to one watch that becomes "his". I have a one watch collection. I'm not afraid to do activities and I'll never sell it. Almost 5 years later and I still find myself mesmerized by the sweep at least once per day. I would have picked a Breitling Navitimer, but its water rating was a deal breaker and Rolex movement seemed last century compared to the spring drive.
I’m kind of a beginner watch collector and I was fascinated by some of the watch repair videos, I ended up buying a timegrapher to evaluate the condition of my 3 automatic Swiss made watches, and delving further into the subject of calibre’s, third party etc, I was further enlightened to the different types of calibre’s. Of course this led me straight to the Spring Drive, I was fascinated that I knew nothing about it. As an owner of 3 high end Rolex automatics, I appreciate the workmanship and precision of the 3055 and 3135 calibre’s. So I continued to study Seiko via Teddy Baldassarre and then it was just a matter of which one I was going to purchase. 😊 I haven’t even received it yet, but I’m very excited, I chose the SBGA 427, pure class, inside and out, I have no doubt in my mind that one Seiko will not be enough, thank you so much Seiko!
I think the GS’s are a work of art. Stunning dials, exceptional movements, but bracelets let them down and the point you loose half the value as soon as you walk out of the shop. I do have 2x seiko’s In my collection but no GS, yet!
I have seen variety overall in terms of pricing for certain GS in my research. I have some Seikos and dove into GS and honestly the prices on used seikos are about average depreciation for any luxury watch. I will also caveat that supply and demand rules apply to any watch so if you want additional insurance perhaps just get a more limited model.
I dislike the quartz tick but the GS version addresses all my concerns and is also hypnotic. The spring drive version is simply magical. My watches take the odd knock which I means I am too 'clumsy' to wear these high end and high value watches. Perhaps in another life.
From a collector’s perspective, GS brings a tremendous amount to the proverbial table. I appreciate the ingenuity and precision of the Spring Drive movement, the artisanal quality of their dials, and the refinement of their cases, specifically the new Evolution 9 cases. All of this delivered for a relative bargain, especially when compared to many of their Swiss counterparts. I agree with Andrew, however. If GS were to improve the quality of their bracelets to a level comparable to some of their market competitors (Glashutte Original, IWC, Tudor, Rolex, Blancpain, etc) while maintaining their price points, it would only serve to make an already comprehensively valuable product even more desirable.
I am a Seikoholic and collect vintage pieces going back to 1962, love the look of these Grand Seiko, but find the modern Seiko watches are not up to scratch with misaligned chapter rings and bezel inserts. These issues need to be resolved.
I think if Grand Seiko Japan listened to this interview, they'd be pretty chuffed with the way Rob conducted himself and answered those questions! He sounds like a god guy to head up GS UK !!
I have a Grand Seiko SBGA 283G spring drive, I can honestly that this is the best watch I have ever owned. I have Rolex and Omega in my collection as well but they do not come close. to the fit and finish of the GS plus the accuracy of spring drive.🙂
I am a total newbie in the watch world, never having owned a "real watch" and being priced out of many watches. I am planning to start with a seiko when I can afford it and I think if I ever can afford one a grand seiko will be one of my first luxury watches
I love Seiko when I was young and have so many that I lost count. Then I found GS and love the spring drive. I bought my first spring drive GMT in Hong Kong GS boutique when i was in business trip there. It was my last day for the trip. As I trusted the quality from GS. I didn't check the watch in details. When I back in UK and enjoyed the details of the watch, found that the hands not aligned at all. I emailed the Hong Kong GS boutique, they didn't bother to reply my email. So, I went to the London GS boutique and discussed the issue with them, they admitted the watch was no good and offered me the repair. I am not happy having a new watch to be repaired. Eventually, the manager contacted the head office in Japan. Then, they offered an exchange. Long story short, I am happy with the help by the manager but with too much trouble to deal with the issue. I like GS but with that experience, I spent half an hour to check the watch before I pay for it for my second GS. I still love my GS and plan to get another one soon and must be with thorough checking.
GS' Achilles heel is the bracelets. If they figure out something unique like Royal Oaks bracelet or Daydates bracelet, it's gonna put a lot of points to the company. I personally enjoy my 2 GSs and I put a strap to the one because it looks better.
When it comes to badging "Seiko/Grand Seiko", if you consider it to be akin to how General Motors puts a little "GM" badge on their cars (Corvette included), then you won't like Seiko in this regard. Cheapness, poor quality, design by committee are certainly GM traits, but for Seiko, it appears to be the exact opposite. Mr Brook brought up excellent points in terms of being proud of their heritage, their successes, and unique traits that set Seiko apart from other brands.
Years back, I remember first looking at GS. The AD showed me a Snowflake, talked a little about the Spring Drive, and I knew I’d be buying a Spring Drive for my first GS. And when I saw the Cherry Blossom, that was it. Took it home. Fantastic. As for Rob’s answer regarding bracelets, GS is slow to fix their bracelet issues, and that’s disappointing. I do think GS could do much better. The Swiss, in general, have them beat. Take for example my Cherry Blossom bracelet, the finishing is great. But no micro adjustment? Every watch I own, I’m usually 2 links each side, and one micro-adjustment to get a good fit. The Cherry Blossom, I got really lucky. 2 links each side was perfect. But if it hadn’t fit, I would have had to try a half link, which likely would have been too loose. And if that didn’t work, I would have walked away, irritated, disappointed. I really, really appreciate Tudor’s T-clasp. You would think GS would invest more resources to get perfect fit every time, plus some adjustability throughout the day.
i bought my first grand seiko a few months ago, a 9f quartz gmt, its a beautiful watch, its rated +/- 10 seconds a year but after 3 months its barely off by one second.
Andrew asked the questions/objections about Grand Seiko that were on top of everyone's minds, and Rob Brook addressed each one well. It was great to hear that Grand Seiko is aware of the poor perception of the bracelet, but I am surprised it has been over a year with no "next gen" bracelet rolled out yet. I own a GS Heritage and absolutely love it!
What’s the mantainance like for these watches ? I read that the servicing of the Spring Drive needs to be done every 4 years.. and that it costs 1000$.. not including the shipping cost to Japan.. which is quite a bit.. Would appreciate your thoughts on that..
My first Seiko was a gold colored quartz dress watch my wife bought for me 40 yrs ago. Quite expensive for us at the time. Still works well. A sks009 rekindled my love for watches. I have monsters, turtles, samurai, shoguns, sumo, Willard, sarx, and a special black lacquer dial presage. Recently bought a red dial king Seiko. Stunner! Love the brand. I own a sbga429, sbga413, and a quartz sbgp017. All amazing watches! Some day I will buy another. Can't beat the quality and accuracy.
I love the Grand Seiko offerings, but recently while weighing Grand Seiko against Omega, I decided to go Omega. As much as I very much want a Spring Drive based watch. If the brand recommended maintenance intervals are adhered to, then the current model Omega Co-Axial watches are significantly cheaper to maintain than similar Grand Seiko models. Grand Seiko has recommended 2-4 years service intervals, between Hi-Beat and Spring Drive movements respectively, whereas Omega has recommended 7-8 years service interval for their newer Co-Axial movements. With Grand Seiko I need to have the watch sent back to Japan and it can take 2-3 months to get it back, whereas Omega can be serviced locally for me via local Omega service centres. I've heard anecdotal evidence that numerous Spring Drive movements have lasted much longer between service intervals, but I've also anecdotally heard of units failing at around 8 years (running very slow or not at all). There's also something about a purely mechanical watch which is as accurate as the newer Omega Co-Axials. I'm hearing from a number of people that their watches have been running +/- 1 second per day for years, even with some people getting sub 1 second per day. I know I can't expect that, given that the spec is +0 - +5 seconds per day, but even then... WOW! That's purely mechanical and matching what Grand Seiko advertises for most of their Spring Drive models (yes, I know in reality they tend to run much better than this).
Omegas are great. I love them and own several. But their accuracy isn’t comparable to a GS spring drive. Not even close really. Omega METAS certified movements have accuracy comparable to Rolex or JLC, but GS spring drive (particularly the 9RA2) is not comparable. One example I have with that movement hasn’t lost or gained a single second since I bought and set it a year ago.
@@arkachatterjee5179 agreed the spring drive is obviously insanely accurate, and I do love GS, but if I was making a first purchase all over again I'd probably go omega too. I think if someone is trying to have a minimal collection an AT is superb. By far my two favorite brands and a couple of my Omegas average +1-+2 a week plus for me the magnetic aspect is huge (which is also above avg in GS models). Needless to say - OP picked, imo, the best two to decide between
I’ve had Seiko’s for years and have always admired Grand Seiko, I finally purchased one ( Evolution 9 Spring Drive Diver ) and I love it. I can’t see me having anything other than a Grand Seiko to be honest.
Good video. Thanks. I went to the Grand Seiko Shizukuishi Studio in northern Honshu, Japan, and was similarly impressed by the genuine appreciation of nature including the snow on Mt Awate, the white birch, etc.
Excellent commentary. The Japanese are the ultimate in quality and integrity in everything they do from farming, textiles, woodworking, aquaculture, food, cars, the list goes on. It's no surprise that they incorporate their work ethic into watches and have since the 1950's. I do not own a Grand Seiko (yet) but I have other Seiko's in the automatic movements and they (in my opinion) offer the best value for the money spent. I have friends who own Grand Seiko both in the quartz and spring drive versions so I've witnessed them up close and personal. Stunning to be sure and on the bucket list. Thank you for a great presentation on these fine watches. Beauty and value are always in the eye of the beholder of course, but these are not to be ignored if you're looking for a high end watch.
I didn't see a GS in the video that I didn't like, but there was the one with the dark blue dial that was a real eye catcher! I also like the ones with a simple dial with no date window. My only negative comment is that sometimes the power indicator throws off the balance of the dial design and is distracting. But it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker. I like how Seiko did the power indicator on some of the Presage line where the indicator is not a cut-out like on the GS but is worked into the design of the watch. It's there when you look for it but otherwise fades into the design.
I feel the same way, so I'm glad they put the power reserve indicator to the back in their caliber 9RA2. Much cleaner dial, but that's personal preference of course :-)
I got myself a SLGA009 and never looked back since. I hope that they would taper the bracelet narrower towards the clasp to make it a bit more elegant, to match the beautiful dials and exquisite Spring Drive movement.
I still think the old Seiko slogan was the best. "Some day, all watches will be made this way". A great line. Somehow reflects the Japanese approach to quality too.
The fact that the Europeans completely stopped the competition that has taken place for many years the moment they saw what Seiko can do and it's potential to dominate the competition is enough telling that how great Seiko as a fine watchmaker and it's heritage is.
While I am interested in a spring drive, I’m curious about the service! I heard that the spring drive watches need to be shipped to Japan and this takes a long time. The other concern I have is the resale value, these watches take a huge hit on the secondary market.
My father owns a rolex and has worked on watches in the past, he is an amateur clock and watch builder/tech. When I was ready to buy a Rolex and the treatment I got from the AD I went with GS. My father said that Seiko is not Rolex and I said this is a GRAND Seiko, not a Seiko and handed it to him. After a few minutes of checking it out, my dad handed it back and said, I had no idea they could make a watch this fine. I love my GS and can't wait to buy another.
I think Grand Seiko is the ultimate in watch making, in terms of the Zaratsu polishing,finishing and design of the dials, polished hands, indices and pure perfection in craftsmanship and advanced technology in their watch movement and best part of all, everything is made in house in Japan as opposed to Swiss made watches where not all parts are made in Switzerland, watch movements and watch casing may be in Switzerland but there is a possibility of bracelets and watch casing made elsewhere and likely not in Switzerland. So you don’t really get a 100% Swiss made watch. Now that is a great bummer,
I am waiting for my Rolex 41, 126333, Blk, and digits (if it ever comes....?). I got sick of the Rolex mind games and bought a GS Sky Flake.... wow! Yes, it does not have the cache' and stopping power of a Roli... but WOW! The spring drive under the hood is pretty amazing. It is a VERY elegant watch and I may (possibly) have second thoughts on the 126333 The only issue so far is the name.... Grand Seiko is sort of like calling a Lexus a Grand Toyota
Generally speaking both Seiko and Grand Seiko makes a lot of great watches even if the movement and watch band isn't that great. I'd rather just save some money and buy a Seiko Presage Sharp Edge watch instead. They sure do know how to make a watch with a beautiful looking dial. Many similarly priced Tissot and Mido watches look a bit boring.
I strongly dislike how GS put that little power reserve hand on the dial, it looks so untidy, put it on the other side if it's needed. My next GS will be a SBGW231....
I love the clickbait titles lmao. They literally make me wonder what the video is going to be about. Then I get pleasantly surprised with a guest! This is not a sarcastic comment by the way!
I would like a 9F but the three year battery life in a country like UK with no quality local battery service puts me off. I don't want to send it away ever three years. The Astron range also makes me think. I will buy a Grand Seiko but I can't decide which one. Thank you.
The watch face on the snowflake is too cluttered, if it were up to me .... Remove the word SEIKO from under the 12 , replace with the letters GS , above the 6 , use the words Spring Drive and below that Hi Beat 36000 , there you go !
What about why there isn't more 39-41mm sports watches and more 36-38mm dress watches. And surly the old get rid of the winding indicator on the dial comes up a fair bit?
My question is, why would you put a Spring Drive on a cheap Seiko? When one of the first reasons of buying Grand Seiko is for the Spring Drive movement.
I'm a great believer in Brand Loyalty. Being a collector, this was put to test during the pandemic, when alot of boutique staff became rude and unkind. This was the period that I realized just how special Grand Seiko is, the GS9 club sends a present every year - which in itself is such a kind gesture. It made me want to dig deeper into the catalogue and start focusing on GS more. I bought the SBGJ253 GMT, marvelous timepiece. Since then I've gone on to collect a 44GS Tribute and the Mt. Iwate. Truly a wonderful brand and spectacular movements. Love 'em!
This right here speaks volumes. i only recently got into watch collecting, just a few months before the pandemic hit everyone full-force, and Seiko is the brand that really sparked that love. I'm 7 watches in (no GS models yet) but my fandom for Seiko has only grown.'
Now I'm really looking forward to making my first GS purchase to get a taste of that brand loyalty myself.
I find it utterly crazy and unacceptable how some luxury brands treat customers in general. I may be a student now and can't afford a super expensive piece, but I surely know where I won't buy for eg. my fist watch from my first real salary.
@@Nimadee I wish you all the very best in your studies. Choosing and buying your first watch is a very special experience. A watch marks an event in one's life. I remember every one of mine... Welcome to the hobby. 😊
Couldn’t agree more, laughed out of a Rolex AD, welcomed with open arms by Grand Seiko, proud owner of an SBGA413 shunbun “Cherry Blossom”.
The company is Seiko, not Grand Seiko.
My first ever watch was a Seiko. My father bought it for me when I was four years old in 1966. I’m 60 years old now and it still works perfectly. A couple of years ago my wife bought me a GS Spring Drive snowflake. I have may high end watches, but the snowflake is absolutely one of the best. I absolutely love it’s subtle refinement and mechanical perfection. It’s an absolute joy to wear. You know you have the right watch when you find yourself looking at it even when you don’t want to know what time it is.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word
only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing. there'se nothing original and japanese
that is nuts lol Bless you Jeremy!
In Peru, Seiko was the high end watch for the urban working class during the 70s and 80s. We did to our Seikos and Citizens the unthinkable, without giving them service (we didn't even know what service was.) And they kept working as usual, despite the abuse and carelesness. A particular Seiko belonged first to my older brother, then to another brother, and finally to me. Nothing less was expected. For us, it was an expensive watch, to be used in every single circumstance, day and night, forever.
That is so true. My criteria exactly.
After having it for two years, I too still find myself looking at my SEIKO SSA413J1 PRESAGE, particularly at it's "open heart".
The mere fact that Grand Seiko is Japanese should not have any bearing on choosing a good watch one iota. The Spring Drive movement is its own unique entity and very serious in approach towards craftsmanship and engineering. The finish of them is of a very high level. The more you research into Grand Seiko the more you appreciate them, understanding what they are all about. Having a Spring Drive in one's collection is very respectable and credible. There is so much that can be said about these!
I think they mean that as a complement to their work, as opposed to the stereotype that good watches can only be made in Switzerland.
I've purchased two luxury watches so far: both Grand Seikos. In the $5K - $10K pricepoint, it's genuinely difficult to find anything better. Whether it's movement, design, or finishing, Grand Seiko really does a fantastic job across the board. I would much rather wear a Grand Seiko over a Rolex.
My Oyster Perpetual cost more than double what I paid for my GS SBGR073. All you get for the Rolex over the GS is clout. I've never seen finishing to that standard, the GS is impeccable at every point. The movement isn't a spring drive, it's not even a high beat, just a modest 9S65. The movement finishing alone makes it worth it. When you look at the finishing on the case, the dial, the hands - you really think, what are you actually getting for a Rolex, apart from clout?
I imagine you would not be wearing the rolex, with all the thieves about at the moment.
@@keithhilton1564 unfortunately not. A shame as it is still a lovely watch regardless of how better finished the GS is. It's a tool watch - but unfortunately I've become the thing I hate the most in watch collecting - the guy who keeps it locked up instead of letting it get used. If I could wear it without fear of getting my arm sliced off with a machete, I would.
We have to be honest with ourselves. The Rolex is an exquisite proven elite crafted watch. It is an icon of success when you have one. As much as I love my GS, the stopping power of a Roli is on a different strata vs GS. With a Rolex you are buying and extremely good watch, but you are also buying a statement. If it is all about what is under the hood, buy a Seiko which is 1/10th the price of a GS.
I love the way Rob emphasized and described the uniqueness of Japanese culture. There is a strive for perfection by most Japanese people in everything they do that's found nowhere else in the world. From martial arts, tea making, toilets, cars, knives, Cameras, etc. Seiko, and particularly Grand Seiko is the pinnacle of this endeavour, where as humble as the Japanese are, it's almost like they are rubbing our noses in our own crude inferiority. I have owned a few Rolex watches, and currently own a Datejust. While Rolex quality is a very high standard, GS has surpassed Rolex in every way at a fraction of the price.
Wow, that's a statement
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word
only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing. there'se nothing original and japanese
I just dumped a Rolex Datejust on a jubilee band for an Omega Aqua terra. Rolex is a brand for people that identify with brand and not quality.
As a GS (quartz) owner & fellow Yorkshireman, I loved this! Great guest & a credit to the brand. Honesty, integrity & a bit of humour thrown in. Things that can often be missing in this hobby of ours…great stuff Rob 👍🏻 One day I’ll add a SpringDrive I’m sure…
Don't feel bad about having a GS quartz, they're made insanely well and even have a high level of finishing on them. Wear it with pride, I have a blue snoflake spring drive and absolutely love it. Either way welcome to the GS club, its growing every single day!
The GS quartz movement sounds quite impressive. I've seen several new GS Quartz watches at quite affordable prices (a bit under $2000 USD), so for those thinking of one of the $1000 plus Seikos, you might be able to move up to a Grand Seiko.
I agree. This Yorkshireman has sold GS to me.
Yeah I didn't expect to hear the home tongue on here, but pleasantly surprised. The Yorkshire accent is so down to earth and friendly.
Thanks for having me! Great hosts as always.
I absolutely love my SBGJ261. I wear it every day and can’t imagine dropping that kind of coin on pretty much any other brand. It is miles ahead of everything else I’ve seen at this price point. Very excited to see what they have in store for us next year!
I am so impressed by the heart behind the heritage. Lots of companies have been around for a long time, but to have this kind of devotion to beauty and perfection...and to hold onto that goal for so long, is truly admirable.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word
only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing with quartz movement lol. there'se nothing original and japanese
I love that you can actually BUY the dang watch, as well. No weird ritual, no proving you're a worthy customer. They have it, you got the cash, you own the watch!
I recently purchased my first ever Seiko. It's a Presage with an enamel dial. It's not my most expensive watch, but it's beautiful and I'm surprised it actually keeps good time. I wasn't keen on the black crocodile strap it came with so, I put it on a Hirsh Modena, Royal blue with white stitching. I attached the Seiko clasp to it. It's my preferred daily wearer. My next watch purchase will be a Grand Seiko GMT.
I have several of the Presage line. They produce some real beauties with incredible dial designs, and both their enamel and porcelain dials display real craftsmanship to do it right.
I have a SBGJ249 GS GMT. You won’t regret it. I travel a lot and it’s superb.
I wear my SBGJ253 on a Hirch Strap, it's so comfortable. I recently ordered a strap and clasp directly from GS, and it's definitely worth the value. Plus they include a separate warranty for the strap! If you join the GS9 club, you get a Service Rebate of around $ 800 USD for your timepiece.
@@barfymann362 - Sounds great. But I don’t think the club is open to join from Australia 😔
@@gregfelix6979 I lived in Sydney for 16 years! Oh man oh man do I miss it. Nothing but love for Australians. Great country, great people. I have some of my best memories from my time in Australia. Much love!
I have one of the quartz models, and the accuracy is phenomenal - It's gained about a second over six months. That, plus a flat-out gorgeous dial - you can't ask for more in a watch, unless of course you get your jollies from having an elaborate, retro mechanical contraption hidden inside. I just want it to work well and look good, and I'm just as happy with technical wizardry as I am with the mechanical variety.
Naa dawgy
What movement, how much?
@@sotecluxan42219F85 caliber, but enhanced with a specially-selected quartz crystal. I think it's in all the GS quartz models.
Get a spring drive you scrub
@@Mysteryboy0007 Instead of three gorgeous quartz models for the same money? Not a chance.
Hope you like the one watch you were able to buy!
These videos, and this format of them, are fast becoming my favourite. This one was outstanding though - great to hear Rob so passionate about the brand, yet stay so honest and humble too. Well done, Sir!
Thanks to this Chanel, I am now the proud owner of two 9F Grand Seiko watches, spring-drive for me next, definitely.
Keep up the great videos and keep well :-)
I have the SBGA407 (skyflake) and it is incredible. I also own a few Rolexes, I’ve gotta say that when you remove the prestige of owning a Rolex, the Skyflake in particular the spring drive movement is superior to Rolex. I love both brands
I'm old enough to recall "Made in Japan" being derided. I've loved Japanese technology for decades whether knives, cars, cameras or watches. No one makes better denim than the Japanese.
My collection has evolved over the years. Now, Grand Seiko is the only brand that I have more than 1. That said, I think I’m the only one that doesn’t have a gripe about the bracelets. I truly believe that you get a lot more watch for the price with any of their models.
Rob is right that the brand *is* listening with regards to bracelets. They do still need some work, but I own a 2020 GS Shunbun and a 2022 Evo9 Chronograph GMT, and the difference in bracelet quality is staggering. More solidity, better comfort, more aesthetically consistent with the case. Is it perfect? No, but it's a noticeable improvement.
I have a shunbun, put it on a ox blood red leather strap, now all is good.
@@MrJnrc I tried finding a strap for mine for a while but just went back to bracelet. Even if it's not the best looker, it's so dang comfortable and I like that I can wear it in any weather conditions and in water (which I can't do with leather). It's easily my most comfortable watch, and I own a Rolex BLRO on Oyster.
Wow! Love to see all the GS appreciation in the comments section. I only buy and wear GS, so that should speak for itself but it’s hard to find good GS social circles so I’m loving the attention they have gotten here, not just with this video but overall. This has become one of my favorite TH-cam channels!
Grand Seiko is epic! So underrated.
Grand Seiko hasn't been underrated in years mate. :D
As is seiko in my opinion
I used to collect & wear swiss watches, i had eight before buying my first Seiko.. Now i still have the swiss watches but i now have a lord marvel, two vintage king seiko chronometers, four vintage grand seiko & two modern GS & one is quartz. They are fantastic watches regardless of type. The show is great. Thank you..
Great having a company rep on the vid! Enjoyed the insights.
The B-roll shot at 11:35 is a thing of beauty!
Grand Seiko is the brand of watch maker for me. The whole ethos speaks to me. Quiet class. Even the draw of AP as I am descended from the Piguet family, has not drawn me to them over GS (I am sure it will one day). Love the dials, love the history, love the culture.
''grand'' seiko is a literal joke. the symbol: european lion. fonts: german. origine: a cheap asian plastic watches factory. grand: latin word
only retards will pay big money for this japanes car grab thing with quartz movement lol. there'se nothing original and japanese
@@ivangamer8022 well I suppose you have your opinion as to what is good and I have mine.
11:40 I've seen this sequence so many times already, a reflection of a reflection on the *underside* of the second hand. And every time I see it my mind is blown again
The bracelets are very good, if a little unimaginative. The gripes that people typically have is on the lack of micro adjustment on the clasps (or the clunkiness and lack of elegance of the diver clasp that does have micro adjustment).
Okay, I have two grand seikos and 4 seikos and the bracelets aren't good.. I'm sorry to say
@@mplsmnpi leave the Seikos out of the conversation as they are lower priced and unfair to compare them. GS mostly use the same three bracelet designs (3 segment, 5 segment and 5 segment with polished intermediates) across all of their models, which is why I said they were unimaginative. However, they are very comfortable (with the intermediate links allowing flexibility for resizing), well finished and look as good as a Rolex Oyster bracelet. Where they disappoint is in the clasps which (mostly) don't have micro-adjustment and aren't particularly elegant.
@@inscrutablechicken no no no.. hair pullers at the best.
I found that you can fine tune them without micro adjustments. They’re half links are liken 3/4 links so if you play with full and half links you get a few mm difference just like with micro adjustments. I love their claps which feel non existent, unlike the bulky longer clasps that are impossible to use at a desk.
Love my SBGJ227 Peacock GMT model! It reminds me of the 6 months I lived in Japan while deployed with the military there. Such great craftmanship! I also love my Japanese fountain pens! The world is such a big place; there is plenty of room for high end Swiss and Japanese watches! :D
The Sk007 rekindled my love for watches. A year before the pandemic I was in a position to finally buy a luxury watch, and I went with the sbga231. I'm that guy who commits to one watch that becomes "his". I have a one watch collection. I'm not afraid to do activities and I'll never sell it. Almost 5 years later and I still find myself mesmerized by the sweep at least once per day. I would have picked a Breitling Navitimer, but its water rating was a deal breaker and Rolex movement seemed last century compared to the spring drive.
I’m kind of a beginner watch collector and I was fascinated by some of the watch repair videos, I ended up buying a timegrapher to evaluate the condition of my 3 automatic Swiss made watches, and delving further into the subject of calibre’s, third party etc, I was further enlightened to the different types of calibre’s.
Of course this led me straight to the Spring Drive, I was fascinated that I knew nothing about it. As an owner of 3 high end Rolex automatics, I appreciate the workmanship and precision of the 3055 and 3135 calibre’s. So I continued to study Seiko via Teddy Baldassarre and then it was just a matter of which one I was going to purchase. 😊 I haven’t even received it yet, but I’m very excited, I chose the SBGA 427, pure class, inside and out, I have no doubt in my mind that one Seiko will not be enough, thank you so much Seiko!
I think the GS’s are a work of art. Stunning dials, exceptional movements, but bracelets let them down and the point you loose half the value as soon as you walk out of the shop.
I do have 2x seiko’s In my collection but no GS, yet!
Depends entirely on the model. Mine is worth more than I paid for it, and I paid retail.
@@jpdemer5 what model do you have then?
I have seen variety overall in terms of pricing for certain GS in my research. I have some Seikos and dove into GS and honestly the prices on used seikos are about average depreciation for any luxury watch. I will also caveat that supply and demand rules apply to any watch so if you want additional insurance perhaps just get a more limited model.
@@Dsnipez18 SBGP017 ("Sea of Clouds"). It's a limited edition, which raises the market value.
I own one and it truly is grand, pun intended. The answers were a lesson in good marketing and connecting with the enthusiast community.
I dislike the quartz tick but the GS version addresses all my concerns and is also hypnotic. The spring drive version is simply magical. My watches take the odd knock which I means I am too 'clumsy' to wear these high end and high value watches. Perhaps in another life.
One these videos, I almost become hypnotized watching the smooth movement of the second hand as it makes its way around the dial.
From a collector’s perspective, GS brings a tremendous amount to the proverbial table. I appreciate the ingenuity and precision of the Spring Drive movement, the artisanal quality of their dials, and the refinement of their cases, specifically the new Evolution 9 cases. All of this delivered for a relative bargain, especially when compared to many of their Swiss counterparts. I agree with Andrew, however. If GS were to improve the quality of their bracelets to a level comparable to some of their market competitors (Glashutte Original, IWC, Tudor, Rolex, Blancpain, etc) while maintaining their price points, it would only serve to make an already comprehensively valuable product even more desirable.
Excellent interview chaps, thanks very much for getting representatives from these brands to come on and chat about them.
I am a Seikoholic and collect vintage pieces going back to 1962, love the look of these Grand Seiko, but find the modern Seiko watches are not up to scratch with misaligned chapter rings and bezel inserts. These issues need to be resolved.
Seiko, please bring solar and perpetual calendar to Grand Seiko quartz!
I think if Grand Seiko Japan listened to this interview, they'd be pretty chuffed with the way Rob conducted himself and answered those questions! He sounds like a god guy to head up GS UK !!
I have a Grand Seiko SBGA 283G spring drive, I can honestly that this is the best watch I have ever owned. I have Rolex and Omega in my collection as well but they do not come close. to the fit and finish of the GS plus the accuracy of spring drive.🙂
I have the same model. I've owned it 5 years and have had no issues. It's running +4 seconds per 3 months. Awesome watch
I am a total newbie in the watch world, never having owned a "real watch" and being priced out of many watches. I am planning to start with a seiko when I can afford it and I think if I ever can afford one a grand seiko will be one of my first luxury watches
But why they keep raising prices? What has changed? Has the quality increased or we are paying for their marketing campaigns?
I love Seiko when I was young and have so many that I lost count. Then I found GS and love the spring drive. I bought my first spring drive GMT in Hong Kong GS boutique when i was in business trip there. It was my last day for the trip. As I trusted the quality from GS. I didn't check the watch in details. When I back in UK and enjoyed the details of the watch, found that the hands not aligned at all. I emailed the Hong Kong GS boutique, they didn't bother to reply my email. So, I went to the London GS boutique and discussed the issue with them, they admitted the watch was no good and offered me the repair. I am not happy having a new watch to be repaired. Eventually, the manager contacted the head office in Japan. Then, they offered an exchange. Long story short, I am happy with the help by the manager but with too much trouble to deal with the issue. I like GS but with that experience, I spent half an hour to check the watch before I pay for it for my second GS. I still love my GS and plan to get another one soon and must be with thorough checking.
GS' Achilles heel is the bracelets. If they figure out something unique like Royal Oaks bracelet or Daydates bracelet, it's gonna put a lot of points to the company.
I personally enjoy my 2 GSs and I put a strap to the one because it looks better.
Snowflake belongs to a Strap!
I agree..
When it comes to badging "Seiko/Grand Seiko", if you consider it to be akin to how General Motors puts a little "GM" badge on their cars (Corvette included), then you won't like Seiko in this regard. Cheapness, poor quality, design by committee are certainly GM traits, but for Seiko, it appears to be the exact opposite. Mr Brook brought up excellent points in terms of being proud of their heritage, their successes, and unique traits that set Seiko apart from other brands.
Oh, sure, Grand Seiko has Spring Drive, zaratsu polishing and all, but Rolex has puzzle pieces and polks dots!
Years back, I remember first looking at GS. The AD showed me a Snowflake, talked a little about the Spring Drive, and I knew I’d be buying a Spring Drive for my first GS. And when I saw the Cherry Blossom, that was it. Took it home. Fantastic.
As for Rob’s answer regarding bracelets, GS is slow to fix their bracelet issues, and that’s disappointing.
I do think GS could do much better. The Swiss, in general, have them beat.
Take for example my Cherry Blossom bracelet, the finishing is great. But no micro adjustment? Every watch I own, I’m usually 2 links each side, and one micro-adjustment to get a good fit. The Cherry Blossom, I got really lucky. 2 links each side was perfect. But if it hadn’t fit, I would have had to try a half link, which likely would have been too loose. And if that didn’t work, I would have walked away, irritated, disappointed.
I really, really appreciate Tudor’s T-clasp. You would think GS would invest more resources to get perfect fit every time, plus some adjustability throughout the day.
i bought my first grand seiko a few months ago, a 9f quartz gmt, its a beautiful watch, its rated +/- 10 seconds a year but after 3 months its barely off by one second.
Andrew asked the questions/objections about Grand Seiko that were on top of everyone's minds, and Rob Brook addressed each one well. It was great to hear that Grand Seiko is aware of the poor perception of the bracelet, but I am surprised it has been over a year with no "next gen" bracelet rolled out yet. I own a GS Heritage and absolutely love it!
What’s the mantainance like for these watches ? I read that the servicing of the Spring Drive needs to be done every 4 years.. and that it costs 1000$.. not including the shipping cost to Japan.. which is quite a bit..
Would appreciate your thoughts on that..
Really liking this format, great video. It would have been good if it was a lot longer, showed the people involved and discussed the watches
The only quartz I would ever consider buying is a Grand Seiko. They are accurate and beautiful.
I love seeing another SBGV245. It is one of the best watches I have ever owned.
My first Seiko was a gold colored quartz dress watch my wife bought for me 40 yrs ago. Quite expensive for us at the time. Still works well. A sks009 rekindled my love for watches. I have monsters, turtles, samurai, shoguns, sumo, Willard, sarx, and a special black lacquer dial presage. Recently bought a red dial king Seiko. Stunner!
Love the brand. I own a sbga429, sbga413, and a quartz sbgp017. All amazing watches! Some day I will buy another. Can't beat the quality and accuracy.
I grow cherry trees and other plants. Had to have the sbga413! Love GS reference to nature when describing their watches
I love the Grand Seiko offerings, but recently while weighing Grand Seiko against Omega, I decided to go Omega. As much as I very much want a Spring Drive based watch.
If the brand recommended maintenance intervals are adhered to, then the current model Omega Co-Axial watches are significantly cheaper to maintain than similar Grand Seiko models.
Grand Seiko has recommended 2-4 years service intervals, between Hi-Beat and Spring Drive movements respectively, whereas Omega has recommended 7-8 years service interval for their newer Co-Axial movements.
With Grand Seiko I need to have the watch sent back to Japan and it can take 2-3 months to get it back, whereas Omega can be serviced locally for me via local Omega service centres.
I've heard anecdotal evidence that numerous Spring Drive movements have lasted much longer between service intervals, but I've also anecdotally heard of units failing at around 8 years (running very slow or not at all).
There's also something about a purely mechanical watch which is as accurate as the newer Omega Co-Axials. I'm hearing from a number of people that their watches have been running +/- 1 second per day for years, even with some people getting sub 1 second per day. I know I can't expect that, given that the spec is +0 - +5 seconds per day, but even then... WOW!
That's purely mechanical and matching what Grand Seiko advertises for most of their Spring Drive models (yes, I know in reality they tend to run much better than this).
Omegas are great. I love them and own several. But their accuracy isn’t comparable to a GS spring drive. Not even close really. Omega METAS certified movements have accuracy comparable to Rolex or JLC, but GS spring drive (particularly the 9RA2) is not comparable. One example I have with that movement hasn’t lost or gained a single second since I bought and set it a year ago.
@@arkachatterjee5179 agreed the spring drive is obviously insanely accurate, and I do love GS, but if I was making a first purchase all over again I'd probably go omega too. I think if someone is trying to have a minimal collection an AT is superb. By far my two favorite brands and a couple of my Omegas average +1-+2 a week plus for me the magnetic aspect is huge (which is also above avg in GS models). Needless to say - OP picked, imo, the best two to decide between
I'm a proud owner of a grand Seiko... 5.
Hopefully I get to own a GS someday, specifically a Spring Drive.
I’ve had Seiko’s for years and have always admired Grand Seiko, I finally purchased one ( Evolution 9 Spring Drive Diver ) and I love it. I can’t see me having anything other than a Grand Seiko to be honest.
My first luxury watch was a GS quartz. Absolutely still in awe. My daily wearer. Next up a spring drive.
Good video. Thanks. I went to the Grand Seiko Shizukuishi Studio in northern Honshu, Japan, and was similarly impressed by the genuine appreciation of nature including the snow on Mt Awate, the white birch, etc.
I love how he starts with "respect" for the Swiss watch industry. That is the best introduction of Japanese culture. 🔥👍
Great video ! What would break Rob is the explanation of the modelnumbers, I think. 😵💫
I am new to watches, and my experience with the Grand Seiko boutique staff and the watches themselves has been fantastic.
Excellent commentary. The Japanese are the ultimate in quality and integrity in everything they do from farming, textiles, woodworking, aquaculture, food, cars, the list goes on. It's no surprise that they incorporate their work ethic into watches and have since the 1950's. I do not own a Grand Seiko (yet) but I have other Seiko's in the automatic movements and they (in my opinion) offer the best value for the money spent. I have friends who own Grand Seiko both in the quartz and spring drive versions so I've witnessed them up close and personal. Stunning to be sure and on the bucket list. Thank you for a great presentation on these fine watches. Beauty and value are always in the eye of the beholder of course, but these are not to be ignored if you're looking for a high end watch.
A great video from my favorite watch channel about my favorite brand. It doesn’t get better than this!
Absolutely fantastic spokesperson.
I didn't see a GS in the video that I didn't like, but there was the one with the dark blue dial that was a real eye catcher! I also like the ones with a simple dial with no date window. My only negative comment is that sometimes the power indicator throws off the balance of the dial design and is distracting. But it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker. I like how Seiko did the power indicator on some of the Presage line where the indicator is not a cut-out like on the GS but is worked into the design of the watch. It's there when you look for it but otherwise fades into the design.
I feel the same way, so I'm glad they put the power reserve indicator to the back in their caliber 9RA2. Much cleaner dial, but that's personal preference of course :-)
I got myself a SLGA009 and never looked back since. I hope that they would taper the bracelet narrower towards the clasp to make it a bit more elegant, to match the beautiful dials and exquisite Spring Drive movement.
I'm obsessed with that thing, I see a couple available around $7,000 new/unused...that kind of discount is outrageous. Should I pull the trigger?
I still think the old Seiko slogan was the best. "Some day, all watches will be made this way".
A great line. Somehow reflects the Japanese approach to quality too.
The fact that the Europeans completely stopped the competition that has taken place for many years the moment they saw what Seiko can do and it's potential to dominate the competition is enough telling that how great Seiko as a fine watchmaker and it's heritage is.
I adore the Omiwatari, it’s the most beautiful watch I’ve laid my eyes upon!
You guys have done it again. Such an amazing video. Thank you
While I am interested in a spring drive, I’m curious about the service! I heard that the spring drive watches need to be shipped to Japan and this takes a long time. The other concern I have is the resale value, these watches take a huge hit on the secondary market.
My father owns a rolex and has worked on watches in the past, he is an amateur clock and watch builder/tech. When I was ready to buy a Rolex and the treatment I got from the AD I went with GS. My father said that Seiko is not Rolex and I said this is a GRAND Seiko, not a Seiko and handed it to him. After a few minutes of checking it out, my dad handed it back and said, I had no idea they could make a watch this fine. I love my GS and can't wait to buy another.
Which GS you got?
I think Grand Seiko is the ultimate in watch making, in terms of the Zaratsu polishing,finishing and design of the dials, polished hands, indices and pure perfection in craftsmanship and advanced technology in their watch movement and best part of all, everything is made in house in Japan as opposed to Swiss made watches where not all parts are made in Switzerland, watch movements and watch casing may be in Switzerland but there is a possibility of bracelets and watch casing made elsewhere and likely not in Switzerland. So you don’t really get a 100% Swiss made watch. Now that is a great bummer,
Have 0 intention of buying a grand Seiko but this video is gonna have nice shots of spring drives
Great video! Incredible content. Rob is inspiring. Great guest. Thanks.
the bracelets from GS are very good. what is not so good is that the watches do not have quick micro adjustment
If Seiko are reading this I want a Spring Drive Captain Willard with an excellent bracelet and a bezel that lines up accurately.
Hell yeah
I am waiting for my Rolex 41, 126333, Blk, and digits (if it ever comes....?). I got sick of the Rolex mind games and bought a GS Sky Flake.... wow!
Yes, it does not have the cache' and stopping power of a Roli... but WOW! The spring drive under the hood is pretty amazing. It is a VERY elegant watch and I may (possibly) have second thoughts on the 126333
The only issue so far is the name.... Grand Seiko is sort of like calling a Lexus a Grand Toyota
❤GS ❤ Spring Drive Movements are the best Watch Technology 👌
This channel got me into watches. Love it
The Spring Drive is magic on a wrist. I have the SBGC 201.
Can you please tell me what is the reference for the GMT model featured in this video. thank you!
This is great, more of these, please.
Love the content boys!!!!
Generally speaking both Seiko and Grand Seiko makes a lot of great watches even if the movement and watch band isn't that great. I'd rather just save some money and buy a Seiko Presage Sharp Edge watch instead. They sure do know how to make a watch with a beautiful looking dial. Many similarly priced Tissot and Mido watches look a bit boring.
I strongly dislike how GS put that little power reserve hand on the dial, it looks so untidy, put it on the other side if it's needed. My next GS will be a SBGW231....
I love the clickbait titles lmao. They literally make me wonder what the video is going to be about. Then I get pleasantly surprised with a guest! This is not a sarcastic comment by the way!
I'm soooooo glad I saw this before buying a GS... I mean, I can't afford one, but still....
I have a Seiko spring drive GMT, 20Bar +3sd, my Omega Seamaster 30Bar GMT keeps better time at +1sd, I was disappointed in the Seiko spring drive....
I would like a 9F but the three year battery life in a country like UK with no quality local battery service puts me off. I don't want to send it away ever three years. The Astron range also makes me think. I will buy a Grand Seiko but I can't decide which one. Thank you.
How shock proof is the Spring Drive? Can it be used on the golf course?
I own a GS SBGA469 and LOVE it. I wish I could order a GS strap online and not have to go to a boutique.
The watch face on the snowflake is too cluttered, if it were up to me .... Remove the word SEIKO from under the 12 , replace with the letters GS , above the 6 , use the words Spring Drive and below that Hi Beat 36000 , there you go !
What about why there isn't more 39-41mm sports watches and more 36-38mm dress watches. And surly the old get rid of the winding indicator on the dial comes up a fair bit?
The one with the blue furry dial is fire!
I swear I willl one day join the Grand Seiko club. Especially with the spring drive
When can we expect micro adjustment on the metal straps? Otherwise thoroughly pleased with my spring drive
Thank you Rob - lover your enthusiasm and I really enjoyed Yorkshire fused with Tokyo!
My question is, why would you put a Spring Drive on a cheap Seiko? When one of the first reasons of buying Grand Seiko is for the Spring Drive movement.
The worst thing about Grand Seiko is that there are no ADs in my city of Copenhagen...
Grand Seiko is growing on me all the time. Maybe not my next watch, but the one after that...
Why is the power reserve upside down though? That's my only question.