Seiko better get their shit together because the deterioration of their reputation will ultimately affect Grand Seiko’s reputation (as unwarranted as that may be) and their attempt to move upmarket. Perception is reality.
I’ve never understood being such a fan of a brand that you’re willing to put up with stuff like this. Thank you for not just writing this off as “it’s Seiko, har har har”.
It happens all the time, I love Apple products but they have had all sorts of issues over the years that I was willing to put up with. Very few products are perfect in life and compromise is necessary sometimes. For example I loved my iPhone 4 and it was a spectacular phone and software, however the fact the antenna was blocked by holding it was an issue, admittedly a barrier case sorted it but the fact Apple came out publicly and told people 'you are holding it wrong' was a big no no
I have to admit that their QC is as good as non existing, got a SPB207J1 and it went back within 24 hours as it had some issues. But with that being said I have to Seiko Presage watches which I truly love, SRQ025J1 and SPB061J1, amazing time keeping and just wonderful watches. My advice is to buy whatever you might like and try it out, look for anything which might have been missed and if you are not happy just return the damn watch
I’ve had pretty good luck with alignments and other quality control issues. What drives me nuts is that they don’t regulate their watches well enough. Spending over $1000 for a watch that loses 15 seconds/day is unacceptable
This is a very fair point: whatever their price, Seiko does not regulate their watch at all. The whole process is industrialized as much as possible, they only do routine checks
I own Seiko and Orient watches. I never had a QC problem with Orient. I own a Bambino 36mm and a Ray 2 - awesome watches for less than 200. Seiko on the other hand...misaligned chapter rings are a norm. Loved Seiko, never cared much for Orient - till I gave them a try. Today I would say it is my favourite brand at the entry level
@@marceldemir7514 I wouldn't say never- the 6R15D in my SARX045 is keeping a consistent +1s/day. Perhaps the previous owner had it professionally adjusted by a wizard watchmaker, or maybe I'm just lucky. The F6G42 in my Orient Star keeps +2.7s/day avg, out of the box. Lucky me.
I'm glad someone else has said this. I adore Seiko and own a number of models but the QC issues seem to be getting worse. I have had so many issues with the 6r35 movement, it's just such a shame that so many of the Seikos I want seem to have this same movement. I'm losing 30-60 seconds a day on my SPB165j1. It will be the last Seiko I buy until things improve.
I picked up my first Seiko ever earlier this year- a King Samurai Manta (SRPE33, Japan marked dial) which didn't have any alignment issues at all. After working with the touchy regulation system it has since been keeping a steady +2-3 seconds a day. If you regulate your own movement, be mindful of the rotation and location of the regulator pin's slot relative to the hairspring coil any time you move the adjustment arm, and check it for proper hairspring clearance as shown in the Seiko service manual. It's easy to bump/ nudge it accidentally when adjusting, as I found out. I like everything about it so far other than the sub-par diver's extension design on the bracelet, so I guess a Long Island or Strapcode bracelet for it is also on my list now.
I have a Seiko 4r39a open heart which I got for my 70th birthday from my family. I scratched the Hardlex within the first week. At the time of watching this (on my Huawei p10 plus smartphone) I am wearing a Sea-gull Ocean Star diver with sapphire crystal. It's perfect.
Wow - I knew about the bezel misalignment, but I was not aware that some of Seiko’s movements were off by that much. I love Seiko, but now I am hesitant to purchase a new one. It is especially troubling that QC issues are also common in the higher cost models.
Very valid points. What other brand would be let off the hook for repeated QC issues. Now they are charging much higher prices they have the ability to improve their QC department. The same types that slag-off Chinese homage brands are forgetting that a Steeldive (for example) would have sapphire, a better chance of not having misalignment issues at a fraction of the price. If they can do it...
G'day Jody, Love your video contents mate, thank you for your work. I purchased a "limited Edition" Presage SRPE47J 'Tequila Sunset' in 2020. I bought it with a $50 discount price when it came out ($945.00 AUD). It ran ok but was inconsistent in its time keeping rate so I wore it a couple of times & then put it away. A few weeks ago I finally put it on my timegrapher to find that the beat error was at 0.9 with a + 26 s.p.d. beat rate. Like any obsessive watch collector, I went to correct the errors & the watch stopped! I put on my loupe & find that one side of the balance spring is crushed. WTF? Seiko have let this through their QC in this condition? I've had it over a year now so I can't return the watch for exchange or refund. I bought from my friend's store so if I complained he might help me even now but I shouldn't have to! I've ordered a new "balance wheel complete" from Aliexpress & i'll change it out myself. I'm absolutely disgusted with Seiko's apparent profit before performance mind set. Should I ring Star Buy & let them know anyway?
Try and track down a NORSK, best homage to Seiko and solidly built as the beaters beater. Its also now quite a collector piece. Great to have you back.
Kinda sad when cheap vostoks can have better QC than an expensive seiko, my vostoks haven’t had any QC problems like the seikos in this video. Of course the bezel on Vostok’s is nothing to talk about, since my scuba dude bezel is held on by a cheap wire spring, instead of a nice clickety click it just make a faint scratching sound 😆
Great video, hopefully Seiko sees this and the others. I have 4 Prospex in my collection and would like to get the SRPG47 but can't bring myself to pulling the trigger ordering it online without seeing it first and your vid confirms my decision.
I know just how you feel ,man. I bought a 140th anniversary limited edition and get that misaligned dial too. And it wasn't me alone. Customers in Thailand got that misaligned lot. So now I turned to Orient.
I'm a die hard Land Rover owner...so, that being said...I'm still sticking by Seiko! LOL!!! Regarding both brands...I just love 'em, imperfections and all!
Go ahead call them (Seiko) out. How ridiculous is it that we the customers have to request the seller to do a QC check on the watch before buying and where the prices keep increasing and the quality goes the inverse. Thanks for airing our grievances, we need an advocate. I want to keep the Seiko love but feel it’s a gamble when every thing seems to be bought online sight unseen. Thanks!
Has anyone had these crazy QC issues with their more affordable watches? ofc they are probably higher production so there will be issues, but is the ratio just as bad? I've only heard of the 1k+ watches having these. I don't have any experience with the 1k+ ones, although perhaps it's a certain factory or something with these issues. Just speculating, not trying to defend these issues because they are unacceptable, but I'm curious to why it seems to be the expensive ones with these issues.
So do we have to put the seiko movements, often used by microbrands and others on a blacklist as well ? I hope microbrands calibrate and QA-check the nh35 and nh36 movements.
I would love to hear Seiko respond to the enthusiasts QC complaints. Culturally, I strongly believe the Seiko corporate leaders strive for perfection, look at Grand Seiko for example. I would just appreciate a response from Japan, even a acknowledgement and a commitment to improve.
Cannot agree more. I returned to the watch hobby last year and Seiko is a mistake in building my collection. I bought 6 regular Seiko's, new and used, Presage and Divers, since Feb 2020. Except a brand new SLA023 (blue dial MarineMaster), all can't keep good time in the context of proper mechanical movement, whether it is a 6R or 4R. And all of these are the made in Japan version. Not to mention the misaligned bezel. I am keeping one for going to the pool and selling the rest. I stopped adding Seiko in late 2020. No more Seiko for me; at least those with the 6R or 4R movement.
To be fair the hands on my Zelos Hammerhead 3 came misaligned from the factory. I'd take chapter ring misalignments over the hour and minute hands not lining up at noon.
@@surfside75 4 in the last two years but if I’d bought 20 I’d be seriously miffed if the quality deteriorated Like I said. Mine are fine but I will certainly keep an eye out in the future
I’ve had two Casio Protreks that lasted 10 yrs and then quit working. Screen going blank, time resetting to TKY time, year resetting to a decade ago etc, etc. No more digital Casio’s for me.
I’ve bought an SNKM97 and an SRPD11 and both had chapter ring alignment problems. The SNK809 was perfect in every way. Go figure. The less money spent, the better the QC?
Between 2013 and 2017 I bought 56 Seikos, none in 2018 and 2019 and two in 2020. Only one in 2021 and one in 2022. As prices have gone up and QC down I am almost to the point of being done with Seiko. The one last year was my first King Turtle with everything lining up well for $387. Just got lucky. Would rather buy Steeldive, Heimdalr and San Martin homages.
HAIL TO YOU, thank god you said it. For years I was telling people, this brand is not no. 1 from Japan. Clearly Citizen is the No.1 . The watches are made with much more quality, the same with the movements. You talk about a NH35,36 etc pp. The movements are ok, work horses, BUT they cant compare to Miyota or Citizen movements. They are much more accurate. Like always this is my opinion, nobody has to share it. PERIOD
you're undoubtably right, but since a bought my first seiko in 1969 in westpac for nine dollars, i personally have never been dissappointed and don't know how many, but easily more than fifty, including two recent presages (but none close to two thousand). that said, with only one good eye left, i am more than pleased to easily read a watch!
Was there a recent leadership change at Seiko that could explain the cost-cutting? Has the issue gotten any better in the time since you recorded this?
Great video, sir! Good QC is good QC (which Seiko does not have). Mass produced or not, they need to improved their QC. Hondas and Toyotas are all mass produced as well and they have good QC. So mass production is no excuse.
Been looking at the Seiko SRPD79K1 (all black 'street' version) the last few weeks, seen various videos on TH-cam, loved the look. Took the plunge last week. Watch arrived and as I unboxed it I got the feeling that the watch wasn't brand new, maybe a customer return. Just didn't look like the watches I had seen on the videos. It just wasn't 100% brand new looking. Various emails to and from the seller, they assured me its brand new, they got the stock in, check the watch is in the box and then its sold literally within hours or days. So all I can say is, I'm not impressed with Seiko if this is supposed to be brand new.
I come from Spain and i´ve noticed same in others spanish-speaking channels. I'ts a great mistake from Seiko as big company, to focus on increasing prices and saving cost on QC. Personally i´ve had a bad experience with a Seiko Premier a few years ago. Trying to adjust time into a summer schedule, the watch post went out from case. As watch had no more warranty, i had to pay 90 euros to official Seiko service. It was a robbery¡¡¡¡¡¡ Greetings from Mallorca
Purchased an SPB143 62MAS for what I consider a great deal of $, and it has bezel alignment issues, running +14-18 spd and (most completely unforgivably) 3 specs of dust underneath the crystal. That's just ridiculous.
Had 2 out of 2 good Seiko 5s so far and love them both. But yes, as soon as I unboxed them I was inspecting the alignment. I shouldn't have to be apprehensive about buying a Seiko.
I think people give Seiko a pass on this because "they make everything in house so that makes them superior." As watch hobbyists, we need to get over that. I had my eye on the SDBC077 but the QC is a show stopper for me.
I bought a Seiko from a review from you Jody. A 7s26 02jo and it just stopped on me no reason,I hardly wear it. Since then I have now been travelling back in time and restoring old Seiko from the 60s and seventies and they were better watches then. Legend movements from Japan when QC had life or death consequences. Something to consider Jody
I have an Orient automatic diver watch and love it such a great value around $200 and has better features and looks better than many comparable diver watches in the $500 price range.
If I can get a perfectly aligned 30 year-old seiko 5 off the bay, there is no excuse for misalignment on a $2000 piece 30 years later using better machinery. 🤦
People have been stating that seiko punches above its weight for so long that I think seiko believed its own hype. Thought, 'oh maybe we should just charge more while keeping everything the same' including the marker issue apparently.
Problem is that a large manufacturer in XXI century is expected to have their quality control integrated well into production processes. In other words, product should be perfect when coming off the line, without any involvement of a quality inspector. It is sad that it isn't so - a Japanese watchmaker should be a leader in lean manufacturing.
What's surprising is that Seiko can't be unaware of the QC issues and the backlash. It would be great if a watch reviewer would conduct an interview with a Seiko exec and raise the problem.
Pressed steel clasps, misaligned bezels, and misaligned dials becoming the norm for Seiko, and with the price hikes over the last 18 months, well, they just aren't good enough. Why does Orient perform better?
@@matthewsprague7674 not directly, they're all part of the same overarching corporation but operate as completely separate entities. Some people would have you believe that Seiko Watch Corp owns Orient - not true
I have 6 Seikos, some quartz some mechanical. Never have any issue. But I prefer Rolex. I bought Rolex mostly second hand, often have scars, damaged bezels, time not very accurate and I service them change the the damaged parts ; polished and that service often cost more than US$1,500 and expect to work great for another 10 years. For 1 Rolex, I can buy my entire Seiko collection, and each Rolex service cost can buy me another Seiko brand new. Love my Seiko but Rolex to me is like my "air"; I can't breath without it.
@@andreshultz8638 I seriously prefer Tissot. I have an automatic and it never broke down. My brand new automatic Seiko is going back to get fixed again. I will get another automatic Tissot, but never again another Seiko, not even quartz.
I've had people tell me the bezel "isn't even 2 degrees off, that's very small!". Except 1.5 degrees is the WORST possible scenario on a 120 click bezel and you can't be 3 degrees off. It's a complete joke that these things continue to happen with Seiko, no matter the price.
It's like having a misaligned parts on your new car, doors would not close properly because they are fucked up, wipers will swipe over the windshield and steering wheel would be crooked. Would you be happy to own such crap? I wouldn't
Re-entry into the earth's atmosphere by Apollo craft was within 2.4 degrees, so 2 degrees is not small. I can easily detect far less than one degree of error in a dial, and it is annoying.
I love Seiko - LOVE THEM. As a brand. You are 100% correct. This is silly and borderline abusive on the part of the company. I now buy homages - like that Steeldive Willard you were positive on. Seiko now has a new Prospex Willard that will run you $2,500 USD. I think $90 on AliEx is a better bet. Thanks again for all the hard work - and don't let the haters bring you down.
I ended up buying a Tondorino (a sterile Steeldive SD1970 but with no lume on the ceramic bezel, other than a lume-pip, and no UV anti-reflection on the flat sapphire crystal). I then sent the watch to my favourite watch-modder who fitted a genuine Seiko dial, aligned everything perfectly, and regulated the NH35 to +3 seconds per day with no beat error. Then, added a vintage Italian-leather strap. Total cost for everything? About £275. I can hand-on-heart say that it is every bit as good as the new 6105 reissue, and a grand cheaper!
Seiko is no longer the value proposition it used to be. This is coming from someone who grew up with no less than a dozen Seiko. My SARB035 also had a misaligned chapter ring. And it poked me in the eye every time I look at the dial. The 6R15c movement gave out on me within 5 years. I ended up with a cocktail time as a replacement. It’s okay. I think I will get a Hamilton for my next watch. No more Seiko for me either. So hard to say goodbye to a long relationship.
Not unreasonable to service a movement after 5 years. The problem is the watch is cheap enough that servicing costs more than the watch is worth. Or I would have done with my SARB033 and SARX045.
Corporations never care about the customer. It’s always been this way and it’s not going to change. Small companies are the ones that care. But as they grow they will eventually stop caring.
Last Seiko I bought I got the AD to show me the watch on video, wasn’t aligned so I got them to order me another. Showed me a video of the new one and it was aligned, then I pulled the trigger. Pedantic I know but it was for a Willard and I don’t want to spend 1k and it be misaligned.
Why it's definitely best to go with a reputable AD, just flat out refuse the watch if it's not aligned. People play with fire when they go with grey imports
Never worry about being pedantic. I guarantee the vast majority of the business owners would never accept inferior product themselves so if they question you on your efforts then they are being total hypocrites.
I haven't bought a Seiko at retail in a few years. The move upmarket while not addressing QC and somehow getting worse at it, made me stop giving them my money. My collection is 90% Seiko, and will always be mostly Seikos. I've just decided to buy pre-owned or vintage Seikos instead. Seiko's back catalog is full of hidden gems, and the 90's and 2000's still had great quality pieces.
last time I get brand new Seiko I sent to service the calibre since the first day I bought haha (pretty sure they changed that calibre instead, it was too abnormally fast) if you ask which one it is, it's Prospex Save the Ocean Penguin Day
Nope. I bought an Eco-drive and the chapter ring was misaligned. Sent it to customer service in Germany, they got it better aligned, but the watch came back with a hour index partially oxidized (looks like it) and dust on the dial and under the glass. Complained, got no answer.
I love it it’s true that’s why I got away from them and I went with Citizen I got the pro master automatic I bought it for the same price is for a Seiko 100% better than they would ever be everything lines up everything‘s perfect and heirlooms great love them will never go back to Seiko
@@todd344 Their newer citizen models have ridiculously, almost scientifically straight lines. their second hands land on the index everytime. I have the calendier and it's incredible the accuracy.
I've had a few $300ish Seiko, and I haven't gotten myself to buy any of their $1,000 offerings. I've bought more expensive watches (Omega and Oris), but I'm not gonna buy any expensive Seiko sight unseen (online).
MAN Jody... I was going to go for one of these... Love the Grand Seiko lite vibes... But thats not an easy fix of it's the dial.... BTW I agree most of the Seiko I have purchased or featured on my channel have had alignment issues. Kind of sad 😭
@@chronocommander007 if it is done by the factory it would bother me. If it is a scratch or ding done by myself, then I'm okay with it. Only Seiko I have owned is the GS snowflake, so I cannot speak for their QC.
I was gutted when I got the watch of my childhood dreams when it had a misaligned chapter ring and a dust speck. I love my Turtle but... And then seeing Steeldive, San Martin etc with so much better QC and spec for a fraction of the price.
In the last month I’ve purchased two inexpensive Seiko’s; a made in Japan SBDY099 Green Tortoise, which lines up perfectly, and a made I have no idea where SNE543P1, which is also perfect. In the past year, however, I’ve purchased and returned, an SBDC065, a Capt Willard, and a SARX033. All had alignment issues, and all were made in Japan. JDM used to be considered a step up in quality and desirable, but I’m not so sure..
What is shocking to me is the fact that Seiko, literally, cannot get things straight, but Grand Seiko goes above and beyond to make sure everything is beyond perfect. Obviously, there is a vast disparity between Grand Seiko and Seiko, but you would think the two would share the common belief in superb quality control since they both come from the overarching Seiko Holdings Corp.
Sadly, even Gs has been slipping lately. I’ve come across a few we issues. The moment they increased production, they’ve had a slight increase in qc issues. Obviously, no where near as bad as regular seiko’s.
Actually, I recently bought a Seiko Presage Porco Rosso Enamel Dial Spring Drive Limited Edition watch with a 37% discount Brand New. The watch is fantastic with no QC issues what so ever. The Spring Drive is identical to the Spring Drive used in Grand Seikos. Finally, it did have a Grand Seiko retail price and seems to have been in the shop for a year before I bought it which led to the huge discount. Maybe due to the Watch Badge Snobs but I don't care because I love my new watch.
GS should just be changed to Credor and halve production. this way the name "seiko" doesn't hold them back. I regularly wear my SBGA407 "skyflake" after 18 months of heavy daily wear, so i'm not a hater... :)
@@frazzl they're owned by Epson which is one of the big 3 in the Seiko group. Technically not a sub-brand of Seiko but 6 of one half a dozen of the other.
My SNKL23J1 has misaligned hands, day and date (but the blue dial is georgeous). My SKX 013 has no misalignments at all, runs -8 sec/day unregulated and consistant for a year now. A Seiko certainly is a miss or a hit. Am I ready to spend 1000$ or more on a Prospex Line diver without having to marry the AD’s daughter to make it run right afterwards? I am not so sure. Even though I wear my Seikos proudly.
@The Insanely Great Apple Channel Toyota must be an exception because they are still the most reliable. Seiko makes watches covering a wide range of price points and the quality will vary accordingly. Grand Seiko is most definitely not average quality.
I've owned 16 Seiko watches over the past six years and over 40% of them have had minor cosmetic issues that should have been caught by a robust quality control process. The chapter ring alignment is something that Seiko seems to have a hard time getting right. I agree with Jodi -- no more Seikos for me.
Seiko is just a mass market brand - I never understood why so many people are cheerleaders for it. I find that Citizen is much better for quartz watches.
I love my Citizen Tsuno, great functions, solar power, power reserve indicator, alarm ( not loud enough though), chronograph, sapphire crystal, battery life great, I only charged it once the last year in the sun. It holds time perfectly, I payed around $ 700
@@edwardfletcher7790 Yeah my Casio F-91W has been on numerous tours as has my Suunto. I thought I'd try a cheap style dive watch but was very disappointed. You are correct it was under warranty and went back for a refund.
Is it a generational shift? 30 years ago, a misaligned bezel would have meant a Seiko worker needing to do the honorable thing... Now days??! Maybe a gentle reminder via a memo.
No way, I did exactly the same 😄. Traded 6 of mine towards a 2012 Seamaster Professional. All of the Seiko's had alignment issues. The only ones I've kept are my gen2 monster and my Flightmaster. Hope you enjoy your Seamaster!
And because a Vostok is about the price of a decent watch strap. That forgives a hell of a lot. This nonsense of seiko qc being so bad on more expensive watches is ridiculous. Once you get over $1k, you're into the realm of lower tier mainstream Swiss brands, and they tend to actually have decent QC.
I like the idea of Pagani but could never bring myself to wear a blatant rip off of a more expensive watch no matter how cheap it was. My personal opinion and certainly don't judge others who do.
@@stevebennett7783 Yeah I get where you are coming from, but companies have been knocking off from other companies for decades now. Some say that the Submariner was a knock off of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 🤷♂️ Good thing is that 99.9% of the population couldn't care less
As I've commentated elsewhere the value proposition with Seiko drops off a cliff at the thousand pound point and the competition crowds in, the real issue is the budget watches are poor value toothese days. £250 for a 5?!.....Heloooo San Martin,!
Funny enough I was talking to a friend who's new to the watch world about the Seiko QC issue and he was baffled about such a big brand not being able to sort them selves out. It's a weird thing that we just accept it.
I think we've accepted it because so many TH-cam watch reviewers have accepted it, and like Jody said, we've treated it as something of a joke. I'm glad a major reviewer is finally saying enough is enough.
As pointed out Grand Seiko is their luxury brand. Are we going to bash them? Even Seiko’s $1000+ watches are produced in numbers far exceeding some brands total brand production. QC issues are QC issues but most people don’t realize how hard it is to produce an item on a mass scale. Seiko also knows the mass market doesn’t care about the imperfections.
Seiko better get their shit together because the deterioration of their reputation will ultimately affect Grand Seiko’s reputation (as unwarranted as that may be) and their attempt to move upmarket. Perception is reality.
Hey, means a cheaper GS for me. I don't mind at all 😁
Seen it all before. For example, with Sony, and before that when National became Panasonic.
If you're a traditional Seiko buyer, switch to Orient.
You're not wrong my friend.
If that happens they will just re brand grand seiko i think(but a cheaper GS spring drive is amazing though)
I had QC issues on a 3 k + USD watch. Jagged edges along the chapter ring. I am done with them forever.
I’ve never understood being such a fan of a brand that you’re willing to put up with stuff like this. Thank you for not just writing this off as “it’s Seiko, har har har”.
“i’Ll tAkE a SeIkO over aNy rOlEx!”
It happens all the time, I love Apple products but they have had all sorts of issues over the years that I was willing to put up with. Very few products are perfect in life and compromise is necessary sometimes. For example I loved my iPhone 4 and it was a spectacular phone and software, however the fact the antenna was blocked by holding it was an issue, admittedly a barrier case sorted it but the fact Apple came out publicly and told people 'you are holding it wrong' was a big no no
@@diavalus
I'll buy a Seiko over a Rolex since i can't afford any Rolex's models yet.
Hehe.
I have to admit that their QC is as good as non existing, got a SPB207J1 and it went back within 24 hours as it had some issues. But with that being said I have to Seiko Presage watches which I truly love, SRQ025J1 and SPB061J1, amazing time keeping and just wonderful watches. My advice is to buy whatever you might like and try it out, look for anything which might have been missed and if you are not happy just return the damn watch
Still better than Rolex. I don't understand why anyone puts up with their shenanigans. I've also seen misaligned bezels on some of their GMTs.
I’ve had pretty good luck with alignments and other quality control issues. What drives me nuts is that they don’t regulate their watches well enough. Spending over $1000 for a watch that loses 15 seconds/day is unacceptable
This is a very fair point: whatever their price, Seiko does not regulate their watch at all.
The whole process is industrialized as much as possible, they only do routine checks
Citizen in term of accuracy is head and shoulders above the Seiko!!
@@ticossbruh my 4r36 is more realiable than my 6r35A dont know why but the latter feels like its russian roulette when It comes to accuracy
You're absolutely in the right for bashing a brand that asks 1.500 USD for a watch with a misaligned dial. Are they completely bonkers?!
tell that to Rolex also...it's quite common to find misaligned rehauts
@@MrMadvillan I don’t but know better than spout shite
They might be on something
It feels like they keep all the A-stock for themselves in Japan and send all the B-stock out to the rest of the world
Like every american guitar companies
Happens with japanese guitars too
I own Seiko and Orient watches. I never had a QC problem with Orient. I own a Bambino 36mm and a Ray 2 - awesome watches for less than 200. Seiko on the other hand...misaligned chapter rings are a norm. Loved Seiko, never cared much for Orient - till I gave them a try. Today I would say it is my favourite brand at the entry level
I love my Orients and Orient Stars. I have too many, but zero regrets!
Yes and you can regulate them to 4 seconds a day. Seiko never stay accurate
Orient should go for ISO certification
@@marceldemir7514 I wouldn't say never- the 6R15D in my SARX045 is keeping a consistent +1s/day.
Perhaps the previous owner had it professionally adjusted by a wizard watchmaker, or maybe I'm just lucky.
The F6G42 in my Orient Star keeps +2.7s/day avg, out of the box. Lucky me.
My Orient Kamasu has a misaligned and stiff bezel... And I'm sure I'm not the only one with this issue
I'm glad someone else has said this. I adore Seiko and own a number of models but the QC issues seem to be getting worse. I have had so many issues with the 6r35 movement, it's just such a shame that so many of the Seikos I want seem to have this same movement. I'm losing 30-60 seconds a day on my SPB165j1. It will be the last Seiko I buy until things improve.
6:42 It amazes me how such a glaring issue passes QC on a $1000+ watch. It would've even bothered me on a $70 Pagani Design.
I picked up my first Seiko ever earlier this year- a King Samurai Manta (SRPE33, Japan marked dial) which didn't have any alignment issues at all. After working with the touchy regulation system it has since been keeping a steady +2-3 seconds a day. If you regulate your own movement, be mindful of the rotation and location of the regulator pin's slot relative to the hairspring coil any time you move the adjustment arm, and check it for proper hairspring clearance as shown in the Seiko service manual. It's easy to bump/ nudge it accidentally when adjusting, as I found out.
I like everything about it so far other than the sub-par diver's extension design on the bracelet, so I guess a Long Island or Strapcode bracelet for it is also on my list now.
I got big upset when my gold tuna had chapter ring misaligned. Good video. Keep up the good work.
I have a Seiko 4r39a open heart which I got for my 70th birthday from my family. I scratched the Hardlex within the first week.
At the time of watching this (on my Huawei p10 plus smartphone) I am wearing a Sea-gull Ocean Star diver with sapphire crystal. It's perfect.
Wow - I knew about the bezel misalignment, but I was not aware that some of Seiko’s movements were off by that much. I love Seiko, but now I am hesitant to purchase a new one. It is especially troubling that QC issues are also common in the higher cost models.
Very valid points. What other brand would be let off the hook for repeated QC issues. Now they are charging much higher prices they have the ability to improve their QC department. The same types that slag-off Chinese homage brands are forgetting that a Steeldive (for example) would have sapphire, a better chance of not having misalignment issues at a fraction of the price. If they can do it...
G'day Jody,
Love your video contents mate, thank you for your work. I purchased a "limited Edition" Presage SRPE47J 'Tequila Sunset' in 2020. I bought it with a $50 discount price when it came out ($945.00 AUD). It ran ok but was inconsistent in its time keeping rate so I wore it a couple of times & then put it away.
A few weeks ago I finally put it on my timegrapher to find that the beat error was at 0.9 with a + 26 s.p.d. beat rate.
Like any obsessive watch collector, I went to correct the errors & the watch stopped! I put on my loupe & find that one side of the balance spring is crushed. WTF?
Seiko have let this through their QC in this condition? I've had it over a year now so I can't return the watch for exchange or refund.
I bought from my friend's store so if I complained he might help me even now but I shouldn't have to! I've ordered a new "balance wheel complete" from Aliexpress & i'll change it out myself.
I'm absolutely disgusted with Seiko's apparent profit before performance mind set. Should I ring Star Buy & let them know anyway?
Try and track down a NORSK, best homage to Seiko and solidly built as the beaters beater. Its also now quite a collector piece. Great to have you back.
Get Vostok GMT, bezel lacking the clicks, lining up perfectly every time 🤣✌🏻
Kinda sad when cheap vostoks can have better QC than an expensive seiko, my vostoks haven’t had any QC problems like the seikos in this video. Of course the bezel on Vostok’s is nothing to talk about, since my scuba dude bezel is held on by a cheap wire spring, instead of a nice clickety click it just make a faint scratching sound 😆
Great video, hopefully Seiko sees this and the others. I have 4 Prospex in my collection and would like to get the SRPG47 but can't bring myself to pulling the trigger ordering it online without seeing it first and your vid confirms my decision.
I remember your review of Rolex messing up their chapter ring….maybe Seiko is just following the big R….but yea, their QC is garbage….
I know just how you feel ,man. I bought a 140th anniversary limited edition and get that misaligned dial too. And it wasn't me alone. Customers in Thailand got that misaligned lot. So now I turned to Orient.
Why is over $1000 the cutoff? If they're that bad why give them any free publicity at all?
do you know how many brands have QC issues (proportional to watches made)?? Lots..including Swiss watchmakers.
@@algorithm007ify Well I own none of them so stop buying the crappy brands.
I'm a die hard Land Rover owner...so, that being said...I'm still sticking by Seiko! LOL!!! Regarding both brands...I just love 'em, imperfections and all!
Likewise..the charm overrides the flaws.
This is a fine example of fanboyism.
@@RM-el3gw everyone is a fan of something...even if it's being a fan on not being a fan!
I have an Alpinist and seem to have lucked out. Very happy indeed to have it in the collection, but don't think I'd roll the dice on another Seiko
Seiko are taking the piss, great for calling em out mate.
Go ahead call them (Seiko) out. How ridiculous is it that we the customers have to request the seller to do a QC check on the watch before buying and where the prices keep increasing and the quality goes the inverse. Thanks for airing our grievances, we need an advocate. I want to keep the Seiko love but feel it’s a gamble when every thing seems to be bought online sight unseen. Thanks!
Has anyone had these crazy QC issues with their more affordable watches? ofc they are probably higher production so there will be issues, but is the ratio just as bad? I've only heard of the 1k+ watches having these. I don't have any experience with the 1k+ ones, although perhaps it's a certain factory or something with these issues. Just speculating, not trying to defend these issues because they are unacceptable, but I'm curious to why it seems to be the expensive ones with these issues.
So do we have to put the seiko movements, often used by microbrands and others on a blacklist as well ? I hope microbrands calibrate and QA-check the nh35 and nh36 movements.
I would love to hear Seiko respond to the enthusiasts QC complaints. Culturally, I strongly believe the Seiko corporate leaders strive for perfection, look at Grand Seiko for example. I would just appreciate a response from Japan, even a acknowledgement and a commitment to improve.
I recently purchased a King Samurai and a King Turtle and both are “perfect”. Lucky, I guess.
I have no issues about my Samurai SRPB49k1 so far..
Cannot agree more. I returned to the watch hobby last year and Seiko is a mistake in building my collection. I bought 6 regular Seiko's, new and used, Presage and Divers, since Feb 2020. Except a brand new SLA023 (blue dial MarineMaster), all can't keep good time in the context of proper mechanical movement, whether it is a 6R or 4R. And all of these are the made in Japan version. Not to mention the misaligned bezel. I am keeping one for going to the pool and selling the rest. I stopped adding Seiko in late 2020. No more Seiko for me; at least those with the 6R or 4R movement.
To be fair the hands on my Zelos Hammerhead 3 came misaligned from the factory. I'd take chapter ring misalignments over the hour and minute hands not lining up at noon.
I’ve never had a problem to be honest. I’ll keep an eye out though
How many have you bought? I have had over over 20 seiko and definitely my skx is suffering from these issues.
@@surfside75
4 in the last two years but if I’d bought 20 I’d be seriously miffed if the quality deteriorated
Like I said. Mine are fine but I will certainly keep an eye out in the future
@@topgazza luckily most in my collection are actually seiko5 which ironically seems to of had better QC. Strange as this seems, it's TRUE.
@@surfside75
Same as me. 3 out of 4 have been Seiko 5
Casios offers the best value.
100%
@@djzrobzombie2813 Budget watches mate.
I’ve had two Casio Protreks that lasted 10 yrs and then quit working. Screen going blank, time resetting to TKY time, year resetting to a decade ago etc, etc. No more digital Casio’s for me.
No, Citizen is better.
@@djzrobzombie2813 Bullshit!!
I’ve bought an SNKM97 and an SRPD11 and both had chapter ring alignment problems. The SNK809 was perfect in every way. Go figure. The less money spent, the better the QC?
Seiko' QC is like the security to Chinas "Wet Market" 🤣🤣🤣
Between 2013 and 2017 I bought 56 Seikos, none in 2018 and 2019 and two in 2020. Only one in 2021 and one in 2022. As prices have gone up and QC down I am almost to the point of being done with Seiko. The one last year was my first King Turtle with everything lining up well for $387. Just got lucky. Would rather buy Steeldive, Heimdalr and San Martin homages.
HAIL TO YOU, thank god you said it. For years I was telling people, this brand is not no. 1 from Japan. Clearly Citizen is the No.1 . The watches are made with much more quality, the same with the movements. You talk about a NH35,36 etc pp. The movements are ok, work horses, BUT they cant compare to Miyota or Citizen movements. They are much more accurate. Like always this is my opinion, nobody has to share it. PERIOD
you're undoubtably right, but since a bought my first seiko in 1969 in westpac for nine dollars, i personally have never been dissappointed and don't know how many, but easily more than fifty, including two recent presages (but none close to two thousand). that said, with only one good eye left, i am more than pleased to easily read a watch!
Was there a recent leadership change at Seiko that could explain the cost-cutting? Has the issue gotten any better in the time since you recorded this?
Great video, sir! Good QC is good QC (which Seiko does not have). Mass produced or not, they need to improved their QC. Hondas and Toyotas are all mass produced as well and they have good QC. So mass production is no excuse.
Totally agree, they have lived off of a name for years. When looking for a new watch, I don't look at Seiko
Been looking at the Seiko SRPD79K1 (all black 'street' version) the last few weeks, seen various videos on TH-cam, loved the look. Took the plunge last week. Watch arrived and as I unboxed it I got the feeling that the watch wasn't brand new, maybe a customer return. Just didn't look like the watches I had seen on the videos. It just wasn't 100% brand new looking. Various emails to and from the seller, they assured me its brand new, they got the stock in, check the watch is in the box and then its sold literally within hours or days. So all I can say is, I'm not impressed with Seiko if this is supposed to be brand new.
Exactly how i feel about Seiko. Sold 6 Seikos from my collection and only keep 1 left, the SARG005.
I come from Spain and i´ve noticed same in others spanish-speaking channels. I'ts a great mistake from Seiko as big company, to focus on increasing prices and saving cost on QC. Personally i´ve had a bad experience with a Seiko Premier a few years ago. Trying to adjust time into a summer schedule, the watch post went out from case. As watch had no more warranty, i had to pay 90 euros to official Seiko service. It was a robbery¡¡¡¡¡¡
Greetings from Mallorca
Purchased an SPB143 62MAS for what I consider a great deal of $, and it has bezel alignment issues, running +14-18 spd and (most completely unforgivably) 3 specs of dust underneath the crystal. That's just ridiculous.
Had 2 out of 2 good Seiko 5s so far and love them both. But yes, as soon as I unboxed them I was inspecting the alignment. I shouldn't have to be apprehensive about buying a Seiko.
I think people give Seiko a pass on this because "they make everything in house so that makes them superior." As watch hobbyists, we need to get over that.
I had my eye on the SDBC077 but the QC is a show stopper for me.
I bought a Seiko from a review from you Jody. A 7s26 02jo and it just stopped on me no reason,I hardly wear it. Since then I have now been travelling back in time and restoring old Seiko from the 60s and seventies and they were better watches then. Legend movements from Japan when QC had life or death consequences. Something to consider Jody
Great comment. They have increased the price of Seiko a lot and they also should increase the quality also. Or who can buy them ?
Plenty of people it seems
I get the suspicion that most of Seiko's quality controllers went to Orient.
Seems like it
... great quality watches
Does seem that way
It seems
I have an Orient automatic diver watch and love it such a great value around $200 and has better features and looks better than many comparable diver watches in the $500 price range.
If I can get a perfectly aligned 30 year-old seiko 5 off the bay, there is no excuse for misalignment on a $2000 piece 30 years later using better machinery. 🤦
Dunno, but "Seiko doesn't give a sh** anymore" sounds like a pretty good excuse to me...
I don't think Seiko wants to realize, that moving upmarket should mean the quality moves upmarket, as well, not just the prices.
People have been stating that seiko punches above its weight for so long that I think seiko believed its own hype. Thought, 'oh maybe we should just charge more while keeping everything the same' including the marker issue apparently.
Like Hodinkee success went to their head
Low quality tat and always has been
@@jaskey EXACTLY! Your comment NEEDS to be reposted on it's own. Actually, an entire video could be based on it.
Not in this day and age where consumers have low standards
I’m guessing their QC are working from home.
hahahaha
Problem is that a large manufacturer in XXI century is expected to have their quality control integrated well into production processes.
In other words, product should be perfect when coming off the line, without any involvement of a quality inspector.
It is sad that it isn't so - a Japanese watchmaker should be a leader in lean manufacturing.
Lol! Excellent! 😂
What's surprising is that Seiko can't be unaware of the QC issues and the backlash. It would be great if a watch reviewer would conduct an interview with a Seiko exec and raise the problem.
@@mohammedhanif6780 great observation. They have to know but have decided that it is more profitable to continue as is.
Pressed steel clasps, misaligned bezels, and misaligned dials becoming the norm for Seiko, and with the price hikes over the last 18 months, well, they just aren't good enough. Why does Orient perform better?
Good question re Orient. I'm right in thinking Orient is a sister company yes?
Not to mention still treating flat sapphire as some kind of exclusive, super premium feature.
Yes, yes and yes. Shame on you Seiko!
Dont forget unsigned crowns for watches costing over a 1000 USD. How is that even a thing Seiko? How is it acceptable?
@@matthewsprague7674 not directly, they're all part of the same overarching corporation but operate as completely separate entities. Some people would have you believe that Seiko Watch Corp owns Orient - not true
Very good show Jodi, but I think you got it wrong putting this out on a Saturday, it would have made a Great Sunday Roasting!!!
Seiko is priced out of my budget. And now if I had the money I wouldn’t buy one given the qc issues.
I have 6 Seikos, some quartz some mechanical. Never have any issue. But I prefer Rolex. I bought Rolex mostly second hand, often have scars, damaged bezels, time not very accurate and I service them change the the damaged parts ; polished and that service often cost more than US$1,500 and expect to work great for another 10 years. For 1 Rolex, I can buy my entire Seiko collection, and each Rolex service cost can buy me another Seiko brand new. Love my Seiko but Rolex to me is like my "air"; I can't breath without it.
@@andreshultz8638 I seriously prefer Tissot. I have an automatic and it never broke down. My brand new automatic Seiko is going back to get fixed again. I will get another automatic Tissot, but never again another Seiko, not even quartz.
I've been a Seiko fan for a long time. You are absolutely on point. Quality control is never a laughing matter. Seiko needs to address this.
Seiko's garbage
I've had people tell me the bezel "isn't even 2 degrees off, that's very small!". Except 1.5 degrees is the WORST possible scenario on a 120 click bezel and you can't be 3 degrees off. It's a complete joke that these things continue to happen with Seiko, no matter the price.
Really! Hope those people don’t work for SpaceX!!
@@vailmcc Aerospace is one area they struggle to infiltrate
It's like having a misaligned parts on your new car, doors would not close properly because they are fucked up, wipers will swipe over the windshield and steering wheel would be crooked.
Would you be happy to own such crap? I wouldn't
Re-entry into the earth's atmosphere by Apollo craft was within 2.4 degrees, so 2 degrees is not small. I can easily detect far less than one degree of error in a dial, and it is annoying.
@@StaticVapour590That was called British Leyland
I got my $88 USD Steel Dive Willard this week. Everything lines up. 🙄
Thats the way to go if you want this style of watch at the correct price, well done !
@@Winston.S.1984 Guess what, they are using a SEIKO Nh35 in it, ya little fanboy.
@@Winston.S.1984 wait and see it's as good as any Seiko since it's a Seiko movement? Hahaha
@zack oblong that's at least within my tolerance for a $88 watch. I think my Vostok is worse.
@zack oblong lol
I love Seiko - LOVE THEM. As a brand. You are 100% correct. This is silly and borderline abusive on the part of the company. I now buy homages - like that Steeldive Willard you were positive on. Seiko now has a new Prospex Willard that will run you $2,500 USD. I think $90 on AliEx is a better bet. Thanks again for all the hard work - and don't let the haters bring you down.
Agree - cheers! 👍
Fanboyism at its finest
I ended up buying a Tondorino (a sterile Steeldive SD1970 but with no lume on the ceramic bezel, other than a lume-pip, and no UV anti-reflection on the flat sapphire crystal). I then sent the watch to my favourite watch-modder who fitted a genuine Seiko dial, aligned everything perfectly, and regulated the NH35 to +3 seconds per day with no beat error. Then, added a vintage Italian-leather strap. Total cost for everything? About £275. I can hand-on-heart say that it is every bit as good as the new 6105 reissue, and a grand cheaper!
Totally on the button @Nicholas Say and in the same camp regarding superior engineered homages from Steeldive et al.
I read an issue about this new Willard 8L, movement stopped and not winding after 2 days. So even with the higher models, no one is safe with seiko.
the Rolex Root Beer GMT that you reviewed was also misaligned. Its not just Seiko
Quiet you, no one likes to hear the truth. Especially when the mob is in a frenzy.
@@Bob_Smith19 lol
@@Bob_Smith19 Morning Bob, you couldn’t get the Daily Mail and The Sun to print that as a banner headline tomorrow could you?
Seiko is no longer the value proposition it used to be. This is coming from someone who grew up with no less than a dozen Seiko. My SARB035 also had a misaligned chapter ring. And it poked me in the eye every time I look at the dial. The 6R15c movement gave out on me within 5 years. I ended up with a cocktail time as a replacement. It’s okay. I think I will get a Hamilton for my next watch. No more Seiko for me either. So hard to say goodbye to a long relationship.
Not unreasonable to service a movement after 5 years. The problem is the watch is cheap enough that servicing costs more than the watch is worth. Or I would have done with my SARB033 and SARX045.
I feel like seiko went from actually caring about the customer (skx) to just caring about getting paid and not really caring what they are putting out
Corporations never care about the customer. It’s always been this way and it’s not going to change. Small companies are the ones that care. But as they grow they will eventually stop caring.
it certainly looks like it.
Lol, how delusional. The SKX had terrible quality control, a lacking movement, and very cheap bracelets/straps... All at too high a price point.
The only thing they put any effort in anymore are their King, Pressage and Grand lines and that's it.
SKX had horrible QC !!! It was very known the SKX had massive problems with alignment.
“You’ll be back Jodi, you’ll ALL BE BACK! Muahahahhaha” Seiko
Last Seiko I bought I got the AD to show me the watch on video, wasn’t aligned so I got them to order me another. Showed me a video of the new one and it was aligned, then I pulled the trigger. Pedantic I know but it was for a Willard and I don’t want to spend 1k and it be misaligned.
Why it's definitely best to go with a reputable AD, just flat out refuse the watch if it's not aligned. People play with fire when they go with grey imports
Too right
Never worry about being pedantic. I guarantee the vast majority of the business owners would never accept inferior product themselves so if they question you on your efforts then they are being total hypocrites.
I think that you mean that you pulled the plug
Agh, "pulled the trigger". Such a lame phrase. Love the Willard though, hope you "wear it in good health"
I haven't bought a Seiko at retail in a few years. The move upmarket while not addressing QC and somehow getting worse at it, made me stop giving them my money. My collection is 90% Seiko, and will always be mostly Seikos. I've just decided to buy pre-owned or vintage Seikos instead. Seiko's back catalog is full of hidden gems, and the 90's and 2000's still had great quality pieces.
last time I get brand new Seiko I sent to service the calibre since the first day I bought haha (pretty sure they changed that calibre instead, it was too abnormally fast)
if you ask which one it is, it's Prospex Save the Ocean Penguin Day
What do you call a seiko where everything lines up?
A *Citizen*
Nope. I bought an Eco-drive and the chapter ring was misaligned. Sent it to customer service in Germany, they got it better aligned, but the watch came back with a hour index partially oxidized (looks like it) and dust on the dial and under the glass.
Complained, got no answer.
I love it it’s true that’s why I got away from them and I went with Citizen I got the pro master automatic I bought it for the same price is for a Seiko 100% better than they would ever be everything lines up everything‘s perfect and heirlooms great love them will never go back to Seiko
@@todd344 Their newer citizen models have ridiculously, almost scientifically straight lines. their second hands land on the index everytime. I have the calendier and it's incredible the accuracy.
@@AnaCosta-sq7lo see, every company can screw up
Boom! 😅
I've had a few $300ish Seiko, and I haven't gotten myself to buy any of their $1,000 offerings. I've bought more expensive watches (Omega and Oris), but I'm not gonna buy any expensive Seiko sight unseen (online).
@The Insanely Great Apple Channel they are still bad. Orient make better watches in that price range.
Buy it in a shop
@@oscarosullivan4513 problem with shops is usually much higher prices.
@@RM-el3gw A means to justify the ends
MAN Jody... I was going to go for one of these... Love the Grand Seiko lite vibes... But thats not an easy fix of it's the dial.... BTW I agree most of the Seiko I have purchased or featured on my channel have had alignment issues. Kind of sad 😭
It's a case of 'Once you see it, you can't unsee it.' It would drive me mad.
Exactly, once I have noticed an imperfection it's the first thing my eyes get drawn to.
@@chronocommander007 if it is done by the factory it would bother me. If it is a scratch or ding done by myself, then I'm okay with it. Only Seiko I have owned is the GS snowflake, so I cannot speak for their QC.
@@brianhsin678 I've had a few Seiko watches but none within the past 15 years. Way back then i did not find any QC issues.
I was gutted when I got the watch of my childhood dreams when it had a misaligned chapter ring and a dust speck. I love my Turtle but... And then seeing Steeldive, San Martin etc with so much better QC and spec for a fraction of the price.
Its absurd someone should report them to the ombudsman
The QC is terrible. Sadly, as you point out, it's been a thing for a while now.
It would appear Seiko is now a Chinese brand with Malaysian movement.
How long now
In the last month I’ve purchased two inexpensive Seiko’s; a made in Japan SBDY099 Green Tortoise, which lines up perfectly, and a made I have no idea where SNE543P1, which is also perfect.
In the past year, however, I’ve purchased and returned, an SBDC065, a Capt Willard, and a SARX033. All had alignment issues, and all were made in Japan.
JDM used to be considered a step up in quality and desirable, but I’m not so sure..
What is shocking to me is the fact that Seiko, literally, cannot get things straight, but Grand Seiko goes above and beyond to make sure everything is beyond perfect. Obviously, there is a vast disparity between Grand Seiko and Seiko, but you would think the two would share the common belief in superb quality control since they both come from the overarching Seiko Holdings Corp.
Sadly, even Gs has been slipping lately. I’ve come across a few we issues. The moment they increased production, they’ve had a slight increase in qc issues. Obviously, no where near as bad as regular seiko’s.
Actually, I recently bought a Seiko Presage Porco Rosso Enamel Dial Spring Drive Limited Edition watch with a 37% discount Brand New. The watch is fantastic with no QC issues what so ever. The Spring Drive is identical to the Spring Drive used in Grand Seikos. Finally, it did have a Grand Seiko retail price and seems to have been in the shop for a year before I bought it which led to the huge discount. Maybe due to the Watch Badge Snobs but I don't care because I love my new watch.
I got grand seiko on Amazon.... working very perfectly since last 4 years
GS should just be changed to Credor and halve production. this way the name "seiko" doesn't hold them back. I regularly wear my SBGA407 "skyflake" after 18 months of heavy daily wear, so i'm not a hater... :)
They throw resources and QC at GS, and left Alba and Seiko drymsadly
Good on you, Jodie. They need to be called out on this. Below average specs, poor QC and a higher cost for new models?! No thanks Seiko
Fake watches have their markers and markings lined up a lot better than Seikos.
He literally said that in the video...😑
Are you serious or joking, that just seems stupid
@@steelsteez6118 🤫I didn’t say “all” and I didn’t say the location of manufacture.
Sad, but often true.
@@steelsteez6118
Did he say ALL fake watches ?
No, I don't think so.
I have a lorus, pulsar and orient. It's telling that the qc of their sub brands are better than seiko's!
I know exactly what you mean.
Looks like Seiko have lost their mojo, Baby! ♂️
We can add Wired to that list.
Orient are not a Seiko sub-brand.
@@frazzl they're owned by Epson which is one of the big 3 in the Seiko group. Technically not a sub-brand of Seiko but 6 of one half a dozen of the other.
Alignment issues on a Seiko? No way! 🤣
Again, and again, and again.....
@@JustOneMoreWatch I am modding my amphibia
My SNKL23J1 has misaligned hands, day and date (but the blue dial is georgeous). My SKX 013 has no misalignments at all, runs -8 sec/day unregulated and consistant for a year now. A Seiko certainly is a miss or a hit. Am I ready to spend 1000$ or more on a Prospex Line diver without having to marry the AD’s daughter to make it run right afterwards? I am not so sure. Even though I wear my Seikos proudly.
@The Insanely Great Apple Channel How does Honda relate to this?
@The Insanely Great Apple Channel Toyota must be an exception because they are still the most reliable. Seiko makes watches covering a wide range of price points and the quality will vary accordingly. Grand Seiko is most definitely not average quality.
I've owned 16 Seiko watches over the past six years and over 40% of them have had minor cosmetic issues that should have been caught by a robust quality control process. The chapter ring alignment is something that Seiko seems to have a hard time getting right. I agree with Jodi -- no more Seikos for me.
Bloody hell Lee. That's a terrible percentage eh?
@@JustOneMoreWatchAnd Citizen will mop up their budget diver market
Seiko is just a mass market brand - I never understood why so many people are cheerleaders for it. I find that Citizen is much better for quartz watches.
Citizen and casio compared to seiko is like rolls royce to fiat... They not only smoke seiko its just a whole different ballpark!
Citizen has serious qc
I love my Citizen Tsuno, great functions, solar power, power reserve indicator, alarm ( not loud enough though), chronograph, sapphire crystal, battery life great, I only charged it once the last year in the sun. It holds time perfectly, I payed around $ 700
But muh hErItAgE
citizen can actually make a decent bracelet too!
Thanks for this rant. I have a Seiko monster showing up Sunday. I’ll be ok. I’ll be ok. I’ll be ok. Lol
We are praying mate 🙏
At least seiko are consistent with being inconsistent.
That could be their new advertising slogan :
"Seiko: Consistently Inconsistent"
The fact that there are so many comments in agreement really says something. Listen Seiko. Listen. Thanks for keeping it real, Jody : )
What do you call a Seiko with good QC ?
An Orient...
Yep.
A grand Seiko
Agreed a GS the 1 Orient I tried died on deployment after 2 months...
@@stevebennett7783 Well it was under warranty then.
I'd suggest a Casio W735 Vibe Alarm for military use.
@@edwardfletcher7790 Yeah my Casio F-91W has been on numerous tours as has my Suunto. I thought I'd try a cheap style dive watch but was very disappointed. You are correct it was under warranty and went back for a refund.
I would never pay more than £400 for a seiko for this exact reason, to me they are solid budget watches and nothing more.
exactly! Watches in this price range, like the SARB033/35 were Seiko's strength - well, these times are long gone....
Same here
Orient much better value for money at this price point
Interesting. I just posted a comment before reading yours and we've both maxed out Seikos top value at £400!
I wouldn't take a seiko for free...
A really bold video! I hope seiko wakes up and gets their QC together...
Please recommend this video to SEIKO.
They won't budge.
Was it this bad 30 years ago?, I dug out my old broken quartz panda, everything lines up perfectly.
My 7t32-6g20 from 1999 is a really well made watch. Accurate, reliable, well finished and no alignment issues whatsoever.
Is it a generational shift? 30 years ago, a misaligned bezel would have meant a Seiko worker needing to do the honorable thing... Now days??! Maybe a gentle reminder via a memo.
I sold all 5 of my 6R35 Seikos for a Seamaster 300. Im over all the QC issues !
Wise decision
No way, I did exactly the same 😄. Traded 6 of mine towards a 2012 Seamaster Professional. All of the Seiko's had alignment issues. The only ones I've kept are my gen2 monster and my Flightmaster. Hope you enjoy your Seamaster!
Great decision
Yep, same here. Got rid of all of my seikos (apart from an old beater skx013) and got a midsize smp 300 .
bad move..you should have kept the 1 or 2 that had aligned bezels and good timing...sold the other 3, and just bank the money.
Snow on the timegrapher is only okay with Vostok, cause it's on brand.
Bostock where the russian winter comes to you
ahaha, yes
Any watch at that price point is slightly defendable
And because a Vostok is about the price of a decent watch strap. That forgives a hell of a lot.
This nonsense of seiko qc being so bad on more expensive watches is ridiculous. Once you get over $1k, you're into the realm of lower tier mainstream Swiss brands, and they tend to actually have decent QC.
@@TechnoLawyer Well put
I've bought and reviewed many quartz and automatic Seikos. Never had an issue.
Likewise, it's a little bit of hysteria here...Disappointing.
I'm looking at my sub £100 Pagani Design - everything lines up, same with my 8 year old Seiko 5 Sports. I'll be steering clear of Seiko from now on.
I like the idea of Pagani but could never bring myself to wear a blatant rip off of a more expensive watch no matter how cheap it was. My personal opinion and certainly don't judge others who do.
@@stevebennett7783 Yeah I get where you are coming from, but companies have been knocking off from other companies for decades now.
Some say that the Submariner was a knock off of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 🤷♂️
Good thing is that 99.9% of the population couldn't care less
@@mickeydee3595 Haha, this is very true 👍
Sad when fake watches are better made than the real thing.
@@Jabber-ig3iw I'll have to take your word on that as I've never bought and never will buy a fake watch.
As I've commentated elsewhere the value proposition with Seiko drops off a cliff at the thousand pound point and the competition crowds in, the real issue is the budget watches are poor value toothese days. £250 for a 5?!.....Heloooo San Martin,!
I like how you say that you're cranky, but still come across as cheerful.
Having an argument with you must be confusing!
Ha! Just ask my wife. She hates it.
Grand Seiko seems to be expanding now. Maybe Seiko has moved over all their best QC to Grand Seiko and left the B Team to do QC at Seiko.
The Seiko Quality Control are under lockdown. Great to see you back Jody. 😀
This was going on way before lock down
Well said! We have to pull through and stop this 'abusive boyfriend' relationship with Seiko. Enough is enough
Funny enough I was talking to a friend who's new to the watch world about the Seiko QC issue and he was baffled about such a big brand not being able to sort them selves out. It's a weird thing that we just accept it.
Good point Jason 👉 citizen don't suffer in the same way 😎😎
It's those nice designs....many are willing to turn a blind eye for the sexy reissues... Hopefully Seiko fix this.
I think we've accepted it because so many TH-cam watch reviewers have accepted it, and like Jody said, we've treated it as something of a joke. I'm glad a major reviewer is finally saying enough is enough.
@@algorithm007ify i agree their designs are some of the best, no doubt. Unfortunately the "hoping" for a change has been going on for years now.
I agree. Don't buy Seikos if you can't see them with your own eyes first.
Yes! Finally! Thank you Jody, this is the truth and maybe if the sales drop, just maybe seiko will start offering the great value they once did.
Nope. They would jack up the price nad rip off their fanboys
@@elvinventucillo4501 yeah, you're probably right... sadly
clearly shows that seiko dont intend themselves to be a luxury brand
Only luxury prices
I've got an Omega with a mis-aligned bezel. Even luxury has its QC tolerances!
they have Grand Seiko for luxury watch brand
@@prasetyow4318 It’s ironic that some Swiss brands have better QC and more accurate movements for less money. Who would have thought.
As pointed out Grand Seiko is their luxury brand. Are we going to bash them? Even Seiko’s $1000+ watches are produced in numbers far exceeding some brands total brand production. QC issues are QC issues but most people don’t realize how hard it is to produce an item on a mass scale. Seiko also knows the mass market doesn’t care about the imperfections.