How good is GRAND SEIKO Snowflake really? Watch review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- A full review of Grand Seiko SBGA211 'Snowflake'. Enjoy the video:)
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![Which One Should You BUY? Grand Seiko Snowflake vs Rolex Explorer [SBGA211 vs 214270]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5jClkW0EnM4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Which One Should You BUY? Grand Seiko Snowflake vs Rolex Explorer [SBGA211 vs 214270]](/img/tr.png)
I can watch the second hand sweep all day long! Beautiful watch.
Agree
The Seiko Snowflake is rather perfect. I like the show.
Thank you!
15:18 Yea not having a bunch of little holes in the clasp is a negative. Looks pretty Clean to me! Comes with two Half links which enables a perfect fit for any wrist.
I have the sarw041 baby snowflake and I love it! It has the power reserve and the date. I bought this piece to see if eventually I will buy the Grand Seiko and I will definitely. Great review!!
Thank you! Great choice with SARW041!
The SARX055 is the true baby snowflake.
When you have a reference accurate watch, you don't want it to stop, and that's when power reserve comes in use
I still want one so badly. My ultimate grail for the last 4 years now 🤩👌👍
You’ll love it!
I finally saw it in person and I’m so impressed. You really need to see the dial on person to understand. Pictures and videos just don’t capture it.
I got one about two weeks ago for my birthday. The dial and finishing is amazing. Mine runs consistently just under +0.2 (+0.17) per day. That beats all my other mechanical watches by a wide margin. It's a different thing altogether. I realize it's not purely mechanical but it's cool that it uses purely mechanical energy to run everything, including the IC. Anyway, I think it's a really cool addition to a watch collection.
Just purchased this beautiful watch. LOVE it. The attention to detail is spot on. It’s not for everyone- but an iconic watch nonetheless.
How does it play with light? Is there something you cant see from videos or photos?
Love this watch....now if I could only afford it! The spring drive is the ultimate perfection of the mechanical watch. Agree regarding the clasp.
A 38mm or 39mm version with shorter end links would cater to a far wider market, so I don't understand why Grand Seiko does'nt produce it. Maybe clash with saab or Alpinist?. I'd certainly choose it over any price equivalent Rolex or Omega.
Love the watch on my way to pick one up watching this on the way!
As per the screws and titanium, agree with Seiko. My glasses frames are titanium and the lens is held by screws but the nature of titanium means the screws don't bite tight as they would into steel. I'm always checking them as they do get loose.
Good point Matthew. I recently learned that Nautilus is using collar pins and that watch cost way more than $5,000
@@24hourstimeyeah but there is a very big difference between the refinement and finish the bracelet on the nautilus is second to only royal oak and rolex
A Grand Seiko spring drive is my Grail. Congratulations on an excellent and balanced review. I especially enjoyed the power resurve action as most reviews just assume we've seen it (but where? No one else shows it.) Until I've saved enough for the big daddy GS I'll make do with my SARB033 baby GS.
Hi Oleg, great video. You should check out the seasons collection USA only release .
Four pieces to represent the four seasons. Winter is my favourite the sbga415👍
Thank you Simon. Appreciate the suggestion, I’ll see if I can get my hand on one of those:)
The snowflake was always the GS I wanted until I saw the seasons collection. I absolutely love Spring! I agree with Oleg about the thickness. If I bought this, I'd want it to double up as a dress watch, although I think you could still pull it off as such, just about
I got one slightly used for $2K and love it. It's a great watch.
Thanks for sharing. A bit thick, would prefer 11mm. I like the power reserve, it's a useful complication. Talk about a signed crown. Yeah, I think they need to do something with the clasp, some kind of microadjust or adjustment on the fly. I like the appearance of the clasp, and the gap at the 6 o'clock side wouldn't bother me. Makes an equivalent priced rolex look quite plain. I think springdrive is a hybrid, if not it's own beast.
Great review as usual, Oleg. I am waiting for the comparison with the baby snowflake. Anyway I haven't a GS in my collection yet, but if that moment will come, I think I will definetely be a Spring Drive movement, because from a technical point of view it's something unique.
Thank you! I’m really excited to post that comparison. The two watches a lot more similar than I first thought.
Awesome review oleg. Very clear explaination on the watch. Keep up the good work!
Hello Oleg. I agree with you about the clasp could be better design, It would be nice to have at least 3 micro adjustments, rather than having to play with half links, but I love the finish, the glide second hand move and the precision is amazing, not to mention the dial. I have a couple of high standards watches and this is the most accurate watch I have ever had. Rolex don’t even come close. Maybe those things that could be improved bothers you more than it bothers me. This is most likely my favorite watch of them all.
I wish every watch had a power reserve indicator. I never know how many hours I have left on my watches without it.
Me too, also I’d like to be assured that my watch is fully wound without being worried about over winding it.
Appalachian Gunman Exactly my feelings. I tend to not wind at all, thinking I wore the watch and it’s probably fully charged and usually it isn’t and if it’s an old watch I underwind because I don’t want to break it. I would rather have a power reserve indicator than virtually any other complication.
RickJason yeah, I like date windows too but I can do without the days of the week or anything else. I work five days a week and I’m always looking forward to those two days off or dreading going back so I always know the day of the week, but if the date wasn’t on my watch I would probably never know what the date is.
The power reserve indicator should be on the back of the watch.
80's Nostalgia Guy that’s a good idea, with a see-through case back, there’s no reason you can’t.
I was going to get this watch for my 30th birthday. It is a really nice watch (looks great, really light) with one major issue for me, the thickness was a bit crazy for a watch of this style.
For my 6.2 inch wrist it looked like wearing a rock. I ended up getting a Rolex oyster perpetual 39mm which was much much more comfortable to wear.
You should have bought a Grand Seiko quartz watch. The case are much thinner.
@@nerychristian yes thats the alternative but the model that i wanted sbgx259 was not available in NZ😓
I have the Grand Seiko SBGH267 “Whirlpool” and the SVGJ227 “Peacock”, and both are worth checking out. I wouldn’t object to owning a Snowflake as well though. Nice review.
Really honest review. They do cost a lot of money. No micro-adjustments. I am not sure if the snowflake has any other strap options are you are paying a lot for titanium bracelet. There are Grand Seiko's that have leather straps and even in 38mm is what I would look for if I were able to get one. I love the spring drive. I wish they had a much less expensive Seiko with the spring drive non-grand Seiko. They used to but I am not sure anymore.
Thanks Scott. I’m hoping to review a few more Grand Seiko models in the future. See how they compare with this watch.
I think that the quartz watches have better cases. Much slimmer and more elegant. For example, the SBVG221.
Yay Oleg! Been waiting for this review haha :)
Being another SARX055 owner, I'm of the same mind as you, I think that when I buy a GS, it will be a different model. Probably still a spring drive though. I would possibly consider the Citizen Chronomaster AQ4020-54Y as my "snowflake". Ultra high high end ecodrive quartz on par with the 9F and Longines VHP, titanium and a reasonable size for my smaller 6-3/4" wrist.
The Citizen is a beautiful watch and more affordable.
Look up the SBGV221. Thinner case, and very elegant watch.
The problem I have with the power reserve is that higher should equal right side /when the needle is higher. Not the way they did it.
Great review Oleg, thank you for sharing
I think this is the best and most objective review of the Grand Seiko Spring Drive. Enjoyed the video. 😎
Don't mean to sound as a rolex fanboy, but their date changes instantly. On a different note i'd prfer a solid caseback for the snowflake, or any watch for that matter.
Another Great review. How is your experience with the titanium holding up? Is it really that more scratch sensitive? Keep up de good work!
finally, someone that does not just talk about the usual bla bla
good video mate
Ah yes 1977.....a good year to be conceived 👍. Stunning watch. Good review
Thanks Chris! 1977 was a legendary year lol
Looking forward to your thoughts on the 2020 Grand Seiko Sports collection!
Very nice. I do like the case and the movement.
Still more than I will ever spend for a watch. I can’t personally justify it. Plus I really wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around with something so valuable.
The movement is ridiculously amazing everytime when I wear it.
Beautiful watch. I just wish the snowflake didn't have that triangular shaped cut out for the power gauge. It just randomly disturbed the dial and looks weird to me.
I agree. They could have put the power reserve indicator on the back of the watch.
Great review. Having no micro adjustments would be somewhat of a showstopper if I were considering this watch.
I've been saving my dollars to purchase one of these amazing time-pieces. I tried one of them on at my local jewelery shop and was smitten.
I keep coming back to this video. Im picking one up on tuesday 🤦🏻♂️😂
I agree the clasp is whack, For a higher end watch I think they could have did better on the clasp ....
Have a Seiko kinetic auto replay with auto calendar Battery 🔋 running had it years
Seiko for life
Throw it on a nice nato maybe a blue one to compliment the blue seconds hand think it will look awesome!
Why didnt they put the spring drive at the 6 o'clock position in a full arch. It would have looked so much better.
Lose the date as it's not needed.
The bracelet is its shortfall..
I'm in love with this watch. But I actually prefer its more flamboyant brother, the SBGA259, otherwise known as The Golden Snowflake. Maybe that's the reference number for you to look into? :)
G’day mate, personally I think the price is a little steep, the negatives you mentioned, and they are not huge, should not appear on this otherwise great looking watch. It’s the little details that for me distinguish the best watches from the rest.
Es un magnífico reloj, una tecnología de movimiento innovadora que los suizos no han logrado y esto hay que reconocerlo. Los pocos detalles negativos seguramente los mejorarán 👍
Love it, awesome watch but wouldn't buy one as the price is in Seamaster (my grail) territory. Cheers 👍🏻
I had an Omega Seamaster PO titanium that had screwed links, so it’s not impossible. But it’s true that titanium screws are suboptimal...the collared pin bracelet would be my one hesitation with this watch.
I own this watch and I love it very much and it is eye catching
For me this is a casual wear. I enjoy the watch, sometimes with a nice hirsh strap. I have a number of GS dress watches, which are smaller and thinner, sbgw231, sbgk005, sbgy003, and, sbgv237.
Patek also uses pins and collars.
If you can get one on loan, you should take a look at the 9F Quartz GMT grand seikos like the SBGN003/5. I plan for one of those to be my next watch purchases
The holy grail ! :P
Hey friends!
Hello!
- Bond
I enjoyed the review, especially the negatives. Some of them can seriously bug and annoy the new owner. But I am ibterested in the mechanical SBGM221. Can you get the watch on your wrist and tell the tale?
i love the power reserve tbh...kind of reminds me of a snowangel in the snow and frankly, I think 1 complication on a dressier watch is perfect...just enough complications to make it have some value while not overpowering the dial.
Fantastic impartial review Oleg. A watch I have admired for a long time and whilst it’s wonderfully finished it does have some floors. Still hate the power reserve, the thickness does bother me and the clasp is really bad. I too would go for a different model and look forward to watching the ‘baby’ review. If you have done it already then I will go back and watch it. Top stuff! 👍
Question is, whether they will update their bestseller with the new 5 day power reserve spring drive movement in the coming year or so?
Otherwise it really is tempting...
Great and informative review, Oleg. Your improved macros reveal your affection to pull ups (11:21).
Thank you my friend. Yes those callus are a budge of honour 😂
Thanks. Thumbs up. This is by far the most elegant watch I've seen anywhere. Gives Ademars Piguet some serious competition. I do like the power reserve indicator but sadly, its backwards (up mean low and down means full). Oleg is 100% right about the bracelet, case thickness, and lug to lug distance. Is it a true mechanical movement? I don't mind magnets, but I would call it a hybrid because there is a quartz crystal involved. Does that matter to me? No. This watch would best be worn while driving a Mercedes Bentz C 300 Cabriolet (top down). I'm happy Oleg showed the power reserve in action, I've never seen it and I really wanted to see it on these watches that I cannot afford, for now. I do require lum. I cannot imagine spending $5000 on a watch and not having any lum, even if it disrupts the design a little. Fantastic review, thanks.
To me is daft for the power reserve hand to point upwards when the reserve is actually down.
Such a cool piece. Great review buddy!
Thanks Chris!
Definitely too big for my skinny wrist!it doesn’t get any better than a 38 mm case.The white dial is outstanding.
Have you seen the citizen AQ4020-54Y? Similar paperish, snowish dial. 37.5mm diameter. $2500. Quartz though, if that's an issue, although I'd say it's as good as any 9F (bonus ecodrive).
Hi Oleg. how are you? I absolutely agree with everything you said. Actually I almost bought a Grand Seiko, but I wasn't happy with the clasp and push pin. Honestly, if GS can develop "Spring Drive", why can't they manufacture something unique, functional and ground breaking (like Rolex Glide Lock) clasp? And as you said, if Tudor and few other Titanium bracelets can do "screw" links, why can't they? I am a huge bracelet/clasp guy, so having a Armani suit with a pair of Sketcher dress shoes wouldn't do for me.
Awesome Review, Oleg and thanks a lot.
PS: by the way, besides the clasp & bracelet, as far as the details / fit&finish of the dial/hands/casing/brush work...etc, is this GS as good as Rolex? in your personal opinion?
@@plusgood15 Yup. I didn't make a trip to Grand Seiko Boutique at 439 1/2 N. Rodeo Dr. And I didn't ask for the GS I wanted. I didn't try it on my wrist. Then, I didn't come back home without giving him my credit card. ... And I am still not at home. ha ha ha.
And Yes, I did nearly buy one. LOL
@@plusgood15 I can ask whatever questions to Oleg as long as it is clean & pertinent to the subject matter. Having & enjoying & evaluating watch is as personal as which flavor of ice cream that we each prefer. Perhaps that might be the reason why there are so many watch youtubers and everyone express their likes and dislikes without being bothered nor accused of. Chiming into my comment & insinuating about my integrity isn't actually welcoming nor appreciated. Be that as it may, Oleg having a Rolex of his own, I would love to hear him how he can compare to his Rolex's fit&finish against the GS.
@@plusgood15 ha ha ha. Yes. Sir! I hope that Oleg would read our conversation, if he is wise enough, mature enough, he would listen to your advice, not to reply me the question. Have a wonderful Weekend, Aray :+)
Hey Alex, it’s such a great watch. If clasp was improved it would be almost perfect. I will do a side-by-side comparison between Grand Seiko and my Rolex Explorer. I will try to showcase both finishes and answer the question which one is better. All the best, Oleg and Bond.
If you can‘t see the superior finishing from GS.... well.. just... 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
fair review 👍👍👍
Your lighting doesn't do it justice.
I agree!
I felt axious watching. It might fall from the balcony 😂
so it doesn't have a quick change date?
Handsome Frenchie puppy so cute
You’re so right about the date change. It should be instantaneous. Rolex has set the standard high! I believe that if you’re going to be charging that much for as watch you should do everything the right way, or not at all. If GS can’t figure out how to instantly Change the date on a watch, maybe they should stick to making no date watches.
Thanks for the video!! It was great 👍
The gap on the clasp does look like something is missing
snowflake is more than good enough for me
So, what you think? it's on same level as Omega and Rolex? my opinion is that it is not, I have Omega, Damasco, Sinn ... and I think that GS is on a par with Sinn, Damasko ... and that the price of almost 6000 dollars is a lot! My SBGA373 have screwing pins and its strange that Snowflake don't have!
Rolex is not on par with any of them. It's just hyped up, mediocre tech.
I will do a comparison between this snowflake and my Rolex Explorer. I will try to answer that question.
Victor do you own a Rolex? Genuine question, no beef.
No, I do not own Rolex, because Im not fan of Rolex, but I have many chance to have in my hands Rolex models. I own 2 Omega models, 3 Damasko, 2 Sinn, 1JLC Reverso, 2 Longines, 1 Grand Seiko, 1 Isotope dive watch...and a few more watches by micro brands. Rolex as GS have high end finish, but Rolex models have better bracelets and clasp. It's a shame to pay 6000 dollars and to not have screwing pins, clasp to have gap... I think GS have problem with the workmanship of titanium. I have SBGA373 and is SS and have screwing pins and no gap on clasp.
Penny MKD okay thanks, I was just wondering, because I don’t think people who have never owned one appreciate it, that’s why I was asking the other fellow. I know before I owned a Rolex I never would’ve expected the finishing and comfort, etc. to be as good as it was. I owned the SBGA373 briefly too and it was finished better than anything else I’ve seen, definitely in the same conversation with Rolex but it didn’t fit as well on my 6.75” wrist and the bracelet wasn’t the greatest. I had a Reverso as well and loved it but sold it for my new 126200 datejust. I have a Sinn u50 S coming in at the end of the year which I hope will complete my 2 watch collection for the time being. Maybe go up to 3 next year depending on what GS releases or if I save up enough for a Yacht Master 40 in blue.
i prefer pins over screws on watch bracelets anyways - they wont come lose with vibration
Good point!
yeah
New sub. Jenni sent me here. Fine vid 👍☝🏻👍
I want to sell my santos and get one of these
Can I ask where you got the white strap for your Vostok Amphibia?:)
Is it the Barton Elite silicon strap?
I love the Snowflake but I'm going for the SBGA375 the deep blue dial is just mesmerising 😍
Man that’s beautiful!
Wow that looks huge
1. Way too thick
2. Sub par bracelet for the pricepoint
3. Power reserve indicator should be on the back
I don't get the hype for this model, at it's inflated price.
What watch is he wearing?
It's a good Doggy!
1:37 balcony shooting 😉😎.
You should take a look at the blizzard. Sbge249
Your wrist?
Makes my BB 41 look like a slim quartz compared to that. Love the finishing but the dial looks like it's flaking off and the power reserve completely ruins the dial.... Gotta love seiko for their overpriced quartz..
It's actually a genius move. A spring drive mechanism is really cheap to produce, because the quartz, electronics and coils are really cheap and don't require additional finish, unlike an escapement that gets better finish as the price increases. But by making people think it's some miracle of engineering that can't be massed produced, and pricing it as such, they've managed to make bigger margins. They could easily be making $500 Seiko spring drives, but the sweet spot for profitability is higher (big margins but still high volumes).
And then people buy them thinking they're beating the watch industry or whatever.
@@ivanlagrossemoule. A standard quartz movement is even cheaper is my point... l didn't say it cost a lot. I said they charge a lot....
which country are you from?
If only it where a little bit smaller ....
27 years to make this spring drive, your´re wrong mate
beautiful GS!!!!!
Kind of doesn't feel right when a watch is criticized for it's bracelet or strap.
But a bracelet is important because you will be wearing it all day. If it is not comfortable, you will not enjoy wearing it.
BRO,IM AFRAID OF HIGHT.....
Haha sorry about that
It might be a great watch, but it leaves me cold. I'd take a Tudor 1926 as a daily wear over the "Snowflake".
I have been a watch collector for over 20 years. I give all brands a chance and love all brands, but I have tried very hard to like GS. I know there are alots of fans out there and fan boys and I have seen all the videos and reviews and even been to the boutique to see the watches and the snowflake. But in the end of all of this... I dont get it...
Saying that this is not a mechanical watch is like saying that a car is not an internal combustion engine car because it has electronic ignition instead of a mechanical distributor. It is an amazing engineering feature, with the first real innovation in controlling the energy flow since the balance wheel was invented. Still, I am not completely convinced by this model from an aesthetic point of view, but that is just personal taste.
That comparison simply does not work. The fact that an engine is a combustion engine is entirely defined by whether there is fuel combustion going on or not.
In the case of the spring drive, the movement is electromechanical because it relies on electronics for the regulation. A mechanical watch relies on a mechanical escapement.
Too much money for an inferior bracelet and clasp. Screws and on the go clasp adjustments are the here and now. Get with the program GS.😷
I've heard, but can't confirm that the titanium is too soft for the screws. The clasp is disappointingly subpar.
I would personally wear it on a leather strap.
Agree.
Can't screw steel screws into titanium... It was a conscious decision based on the material, though we would all love screw links
First
Haha nice!
My God, you could shave with those hands.
I even bet you could shave the hairs off a spider's ass with those hands.
This is the most overrated watch. The dial just looks like paper and the bracelet is horrendous. I saw it in person and was so underwhelmed. Is it a dress watch or a sports watch? It’s big but highly polished. It’s plain and boring but everyone just regurgitates the same opinion. GS has better options.
Either way, thanks for your content Oleg, no knock on you personally.
Aray it should alarm you that a differing opinion on men’s jewelry prompts an insult.
That’s fair. I hope to review other Grand Seiko watches in the future. Any suggestions?
24Hours At A Time if you like the “snowflake” aesthetic, I’d try the SBGA407, for movements and a different case shape than the 44GS I’d say the SBGH273 (Hi-Beat), and for a sport watch an SBGA231 (Diver with titanium).
Hope these offer some variety, I appreciate you asking. Keep up the great work.
I agree. I prefer the Grand Seiko quartz watches. Same level of finish, but thinner cases. For example, the SBGV221. It has smaller case, less cluttered dial, and beautiful simplicity.
80's Nostalgia Guy ya know, for GS I’m only interested in quartz or a hi-beat at this point. Tried spring drive and it just didn’t fit well with me. Didn’t think it would be an issue but it just didn’t feel mechanical to me.