Grand Seiko, worth buying?

[montecristo]

http://www.seiko-watch.co.jp/gs/

Looking for a new christmas gift for myself, might take a trip to Japan after thanksgiving and pick up a GS.

What do you guys think about their spring drive? Are they worth buying?

[JJ Irani]

The Grand Seiko is a superbly exquisite and very distinguished watch. Padi should be along shortly to tell you all about it.

That would be a terrific buy for Christmas.

Good luck - JJ

[astcell]

No picture there....

[SLRdude]

My friend Sam just picked up a Spring Drive and he is very very pleased.
I plan on seeing it as soon as I return to Dallas this weekend from my business trip.
Personally, I'd go for a Spring Drive and not a Grand Seiko.
While there is no doubt that the GS is a very high quality watch, there is something about owning a watch with a movement that nobody else in the world has.

Here is a pic of Sam's watch. He just got it today.

[padi56]

Always been a fan of Seiko watches there low end market produce some of the best value all in-house watches on this planet today.Now the Seiko high end like the Credo and Grand are IMO as good if not better than most of the Swiss high end brands.Perhaps a little bit reserve in design myself been looking for a early model for quite some time.There movements are as good as they get,and tested to a far higher standard than the Swiss COSC. And build quality is up there with any of the best of the Swiss.Sure they can be expensive but no more expensive than a similar high end Swiss check out a these couple of links.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...eiko#post62466

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=646
Seiko spring drive explained a hybrid quartz mechanical.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...o+spring+drive

[BruceS]

Agree about the Seikos. Too bad most Americans, and probably most Europeans as well, have such a negative view of Seiko (as cheap watches). There aren't that many true manufactures out there anymore, but Seiko and Citizen are among the small number remaining. And btw, I've yet to read of a dissatisfied Grand Seiko customer!

If you find one that smiles at you and the price isn't an issue, go for it.

As others have said, GS are among the best in the world, and it would be cool to have such a high calibre watch that is probably the ultimate stealth in haut horologie.

[montecristo]

I have my eyes on this one. With kanji date-day display.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by comatox

My friend Sam just picked up a Spring Drive and he is very very pleased.
I plan on seeing it as soon as I return to Dallas this weekend from my business trip.
Personally, I'd go for a Spring Drive and not a Grand Seiko.
While there is no doubt that the GS is a very high quality watch, there is something about owning a watch with a movement that nobody else in the world has.

Here is a pic of Sam's watch. He just got it today.

That's nice, but I think I like the GS automatic better. I like the smaller, more discrete PR indicator on the GS better than the massive slash on the Spring Drive.

[montecristo]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

That's nice, but I think I like the GS automatic better. I like the smaller, more discrete PR indicator on the GS better than the massive slash on the Spring Drive.

Eventhought I wasn't exactly sure why I didn't like their SD line up, I suppose it was that first "is that another kinetic?" feeling that I didn't like after reading your comment.

I prefer the regular dial yet I am intrigued by their 72 hour power reserve claim. My rollie last 2 days if left on its own.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by montecristo

Eventhought I wasn't exactly sure why I didn't like their SD line up, I suppose it was that first "is that another kinetic?" feeling that I didn't like after reading your comment.

I prefer the regular dial yet I am intrigued by their 72 hour power reserve claim. My rollie last 2 days if left on its own.

If you want better reserve, go for an 8-day JLC.

[montecristo]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

If you want better reserve, go for an 8-day JLC.

Never a big fan, prefer the clean seiko look that and the more subtle brand name. *(at least in the states, people who doesn't know would think that paid 100 bucks for it)

I am looking at their 2006 catalog now and saw a 600M spring drive diver watch, that and a 1000M quartz movement.

[Rockrolex]

hey, whatever floats your boat and sings most sweetly to you, MC.

I would buy a GS at the right price. I haven't seen one in person yet but they certainly look quite good. The Spring Drive is another matter entirely and I am not yet jumping on that bandwagon. Just something about it that doesn't sit well with me.......

[montecristo]

Originally Posted by Avalon

I would buy a GS at the right price. I haven't seen one in person yet but they certainly look quite good. The Spring Drive is another matter entirely and I am not yet jumping on that bandwagon. Just something about it that doesn't sit well with me.......

I just got a quote for the marine master 1000m quartz, they want 1K us for one shipped to new york.

That and 5k for this spring drive GS.

http://www.seiko-watch.co.jp/p_search/SBGE001.html

[Sam]

I just picked up a Spring Drive earlier this week. It was a great price and I love the watch. It's the one Chip posted about earlier in this thread. It's every bit as well made as any Rolex or Omega. I'm impressed!

It's not just another kinetic. The kinetics were basically quartz watches that charged a capacitor by a spinning rotor....nothing special. The Spring Drive is basically a mechanical watch with a quartz crystal that regulates the speed of the glide wheel with an electromagnetic brake for quartz-like accuracy. It's still powered by a mainspring just like a mechanical. It's also the only watch with a constant sweep second hand...not "ticks"....one fluid motion. You really need to see it to believe it. In 3 days, my Spring Drive is +/- 0 seconds.

I used to be in the "uuughhh it's a Seiko...no way would I spend that much" camp. Not any more.

Originally Posted by Sam

I just picked up a Spring Drive earlier this week. It was a great price and I love the watch. It's the one Chip posted about earlier in this thread. It's every bit as well made as any Rolex or Omega. I'm impressed!

It's not just another kinetic. The kinetics were basically quartz watches that charged a capacitor by a spinning rotor....nothing special. The Spring Drive is basically a mechanical watch with a quartz crystal that regulates the speed of the glide wheel with an electromagnetic brake for quartz-like accuracy. It's still powered by a mainspring just like a mechanical. It's also the only watch with a constant sweep second hand...not "ticks"....one fluid motion. You really need to see it to believe it. In 3 days, my Spring Drive is +/- 0 seconds.

I used to be in the "uuughhh it's a Seiko...no way would I spend that much" camp. Not any more.

Hey Sam, long time no see, over here. Congrats on the SD. How bout posting a video clip so we can see how smooth it is.

[JJ Irani]

Excellent info, Sam. Thanks and congrats on that beauty, pal. Wear it in good health!!!

Post some pics when you can.

Thanks - JJ

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Sam

I used to be in the "uuughhh it's a Seiko...no way would I spend that much" camp. Not any more.

Now that I agree with you 100% Sam Seiko remarkable quality and build at both end of there market high or low.Myself been looking for a long time for a late 60s 70s Seiko Grand,a superb watch that will equal the best the Swiss or Europeans can offer.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Atomic

Hey Sam, long time no see, over here. Congrats on the SD. How bout posting a video clip so we can see how smooth it is.

Good to see you Johnny.

Will try to do that.

[Sam]

Here's a short video clip of the second hand in motion. About 4MB download. Photobucket made it kinda grainy but I think you can see how smooth the second hand is. Enjoy!

Wow, that is smooth. It reminds me of the electric clocks my high school had that swept around, without ticking (Man, did I used to stare at those clocks, lol).

Thanks Sam!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Atomic

Wow, that is smooth. It reminds me of the electric clocks my high school had that swept around, without ticking (Man, did I used to stare at those clocks, lol).

Thanks Sam!

That's exactly what I thought....those old electric clocks in school.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Sam

That's exactly what I thought....those old electric clocks in school.

WOW! That centre sweep is even smoother than a regular watch that beats at 28,800 A/hr.!!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

WOW! That centre sweep is even smoother than a regular watch that beats at 28,800 A/hr.!!

That's because there is no "beat".....it's in constant motion.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Sam

That's because there is no "beat".....it's in constant motion.

Very emotional, I agree!!

Originally Posted by Sam

Here's a short video clip of the second hand in motion. About 4MB download. Photobucket made it kinda grainy but I think you can see how smooth the second hand is. Enjoy!

It reminds me of my old Accutron. Was the same smooth sweeping motion, with the humming of the tuning fork as an added bonus!

I need to get one of those sometime just for kicks.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Avalon

with the humming of the tuning fork as an added bonus!

What's weird about the Spring Drive is that it's completely quiet...not a tick, not a hum, nothing.

[montecristo]

Originally Posted by Sam

I just picked up a Spring Drive earlier this week. It was a great price and I love the watch. It's the one Chip posted about earlier in this thread. It's every bit as well made as any Rolex or Omega. I'm impressed!

It's not just another kinetic. The kinetics were basically quartz watches that charged a capacitor by a spinning rotor....nothing special. The Spring Drive is basically a mechanical watch with a quartz crystal that regulates the speed of the glide wheel with an electromagnetic brake for quartz-like accuracy. It's still powered by a mainspring just like a mechanical. It's also the only watch with a constant sweep second hand...not "ticks"....one fluid motion. You really need to see it to believe it. In 3 days, my Spring Drive is +/- 0 seconds.

I used to be in the "uuughhh it's a Seiko...no way would I spend that much" camp. Not any more.

You just sold me a new watch. Matter of fact, I am not even going to pick one up in person, just gonna order one from the catalog.

Problem is, what about the one that non-spring drive grand seiko? How about those? I asked a Tokyo watch store for seiko catalogs and they overnighted the 2006 seiko + GS catalog to me.

I am currently looking at a 18k wg GS that uses 9F62 movement for $18,000 (only day display)

A SS GS with day date display (kanji) that uses 9F83 movement for $2,400

Or the spring drive that I am drooling over but not too found of the style itself thats about $4,000 w/GMT and 600M WR +/- less than a sec a day.

Of the three, I really wish they can make the 2nd one all 18kt gold and 600m WR and I be gladly hand over $30k for it.

What should I do? What other models do they use spring drives on? I prefer their original japanese models, not their euro versions.

Attached are some snaps of their current catalog. Knowing myself, whichever one I get, I'll wish I have gotten the other one. I really prefer the all gold casing and bracelet on the first one yet I am so intrigued by the spring drive on the last one, but I do like the look of the 2nd one.

I need a drink now. btw, how much did that beauty cost you?

[Sam]

All of the spring drive models are up on www.seikospringdrive.com

The Grand Seikos are just as nice...they are just your standard mechanical movement vs spring drive. If that's the one you like, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. How much are you looking to pay? I wouldn't pay anywhere near list price. I paid less that 50% of list price for mine.