First GS - Winter or Snowflake?

[Bruin20]

Getting ready to purchase my next watch and have decided I’m going the grand seiko route.

Requirements:
- Spring Drive
- Ti case and bracelet (will immediately put it on a leather strap though)
- auto wind
- more brushed than polished surfaces if possible
- light dial preferred

This has brought me to the new winter edition which is highly brushed and has the awesome 62GS case and the classic snowflake.

[1William]

I have handled both and would go with the Snowflake.

[bondtoys]

I find the Snowflake casing boring and I don‘t like the hour markers on the Snowflake.
So SBGA4xx for me.

But you should have a look at the 413, the Spring dial is gorgeous!

[icnbne]

I also find the snoflakes case boring

[pickettt]

Cannot go wrong either way. I’d say Winter, but that’s ONLY because I’ve already got a Snowflake. Whatever you choose is a win...good problem to have.

[Bearxj86]

Spring over winter

[Cru Jones]

If Ti, I would go for the greater contrast of the Snowflake, which also, to my eyes, is a nicer dial. I also prefer its case, with its smoother lines: to me, more harmonious with the zen of the Spring Drive.

[Locust]

I like the case of the winter better. The dial of the snowflake better. Also consider the spring and the golden snowflake.

[JR16]

I own both- snowflake was first, then winter. Would be hard to choose between the two. Snowflake dial and hands pop more, winter is more muted. W regards to the Spring, I handled both and chose winter over spring - liked the gray tones better than the pink tones, and the flatter dial of the winter over the spring dial which at some angles has more reflectivity (similar to the sbga 387, which I owned and sold ).

Have you seen both in person and on yout wrist ? If not, that is the place to start.


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[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

I find the Snowflake casing boring and I don‘t like the hour markers on the Snowflake.
So SBGA4xx for me.

But you should have a look at the 413, the Spring dial is gorgeous!

That looks great but I definitely prefer the blue second hand on the winter and snowflake. I’ve tried both on and they feel identical on the wrist to me. My only hesitation on the snowflake is the sharply down turned lugs. Wondering how well that will work on a leather strap.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

That looks great. I’ve tried both on and they feel identical on the wrist to me. My only hesitation on the snowflake is the sharply down turned lugs. Wondering how well that will work on a leather strap.

Mine’s on crocodile, if you want to see how it looks ?

[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Mine’s on crocodile, if you want to see how it looks ?

that would be great thanks!

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

that would be great thanks!

Don’t get excited, the price tag is the strap only
FADCB1C2-256B-4190-86CC-97A141D55EB1.jpeg

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[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

Getting ready to purchase my next watch and have decided I’m going the grand seiko route.

Requirements:
- Spring Drive
- Ti case and bracelet (will immediately put it on a leather strap though)
- auto wind
- more brushed than polished surfaces if possible
- light dial preferred

This has brought me to the new winter edition which is highly brushed and has the awesome 62GS case and the classic snowflake.

Maybe consider the Godzilla SBGA405 or SBGA403 as well.

[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Don’t get excited, the price tag is the strap only
Attachment 1101323

Attachment 1101324

Attachment 1101325

Looks really good. Does it sit up high on the wrist at all?

[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

Maybe consider the Godzilla SBGA405 or SBGA403 as well.

That case doesn’t really do it for me. Seems way to chunky. The red on the Godzilla is amazing though.

[Hipster Doofus]

Frankly, I vote neither. This is the 60th anniversary year of GS. They will be doing more interesting things than these watches this year. If you are absolutely compelled to buy one right now, which unless you don't have a watch is a mistake, then go snowflake.

The snowflake is a classic for a reason. If you're going to have something washed out, do it properly with a white dial or at least have a real flash of colour every now and then. The four seasons collection is a bit middling and derivative, as is the 62 case. The winter isn't even the pick of the four seasons.

This is just my opinion folks don't kill me.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

Looks really good. Does it sit up high on the wrist at all?

It works for me...6.5” wrist
3935FD0D-7154-4B98-82AD-D1E52729DFFD.jpeg

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

That case doesn’t really do it for me. Seems way to chunky. The red on the Godzilla is amazing though.

I can see that.

I agree the dial is phenomenal and think the watch is so good with the casebook print and strap choice. One of their best special editions imho

[white__light]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Don’t get excited, the price tag is the strap only
Attachment 1101323

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Attachment 1101325

Was that the price of the strap from a Japanese GS boutique?

[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by pickettt

It works for me...6.5” wrist
Attachment 1101333

That works perfectly with the strap. Thanks for sharing.

[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by Hipster Doofus

Frankly, I vote neither. This is the 60th anniversary year of GS. They will be doing more interesting things than these watches this year. If you are absolutely compelled to buy one right now, which unless you don't have a watch is a mistake, then go snowflake.

The snowflake is a classic for a reason. If you're going to have something washed out, do it properly with a white dial or at least have a real flash of colour every now and then. The four seasons collection is a bit middling and derivative, as is the 62 case. The winter isn't even the pick of the four seasons.

This is just my opinion folks don't kill me.

I’ve had this thought in the back of my mind now while shopping. GS always seems to be releasing better and better stuff and they are clearly making a huge effort to expand in North America now. Personally the 44GS case is my absolute favorite but I really like the bezel free aesthetic of the highly brushed 62GS.

Personally find the lighter GS dials more appealing because they don’t rely on a difference in reflection to read really well.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by white__light

Was that the price of the strap from a Japanese GS boutique?

I paid 250 USD from an AD in Japan.

[Hipster Doofus]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

I’ve had this thought in the back of my mind now while shopping. GS always seems to be releasing better and better stuff and they are clearly making a huge effort to expand in North America now. Personally the 44GS case is my absolute favorite but I really like the bezel free aesthetic of the highly brushed 62GS.

Personally find the lighter GS dials more appealing because they don’t rely on a difference in reflection to read really well.

I think you've answered your own question here. As difficult as it is when you have an itchy trigger finger, wait. I waited more than six months on the kirazuri. These two watches will still be available BNIB at under retail price later in the year, just like the kirazuri was.

There is plenty to come this year. It's life-death-taxes-level certain that there will be something closer to your correct preferences for 44gs spring drive light dial stuff than what you're seeing right now.

[JR16]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

I’ve had this thought in the back of my mind now while shopping. GS always seems to be releasing better and better stuff and they are clearly making a huge effort to expand in North America now. Personally the 44GS case is my absolute favorite but I really like the bezel free aesthetic of the highly brushed 62GS.



Personally find the lighter GS dials more appealing because they don’t rely on a difference in reflection to read really well.

The 62gs case is just so damned sexy.



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[nyc2la]

I vote Season. I went Spring but Winter is a wonderful choice, too.

[GB-man]

If you can forgo the spring drive the sbgr305 is the business.



(Photo from ABTW)

[Bruin20]

Originally Posted by GB-man

If you can forgo the spring drive the sbgr305 is the business.



(Photo from ABTW)

Thats a great dial but spring drive is an absolute requirement for me in a GS. I honestly believe GS should only build spring drives and quartz watches. The high beat just doesn't interest me.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

Thats a great dial but spring drive is an absolute requirement for me in a GS. I honestly believe GS should only build spring drives and quartz watches. The high beat just doesn't interest me.

Fair enough cheers. I wish they’d build more high beats lol

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Bruin20

Thats a great dial but spring drive is an absolute requirement for me in a GS. I honestly believe GS should only build spring drives and quartz watches. The high beat just doesn't interest me.

What is it about hi-beat that turns you off?