Advice wanted for first Grand Seiko

[427shark]

I dabbled with Marinemasters in the past and as of recently rekindled my Seiko love. I currently have a padi turtle, great white turtle, & a green baby marine master that I really like alot.. . I started looking at higher end Marinemasters and decided to try and take the plunge into Grand Seiko. Im looking to find a good deal on a pre-owned one but not 100% sure which model to look for

looking for:
40mm <
not sure to go hi beat or spring drive ?
would prefer an exhibition case back

thats pretty much it, im open to pretty much any dial color and prefer a sportier look to dressy. Im also trying to get a really good value so I guess limited / special editions are out. . .What do you guys recommend ? thanks

[pickettt]

Sporty and <40mm is going to be tough with Grand Seiko. My advice is to find an AD and try some on and see how they wear on you. BTW, Grand Seiko is already a great value at MSRP.

[JR16]

It might be helpful if you go to the grand Seiko website and post a few pics of watches that catch your eye so we have a better idea of what you are looking for, look wise


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[427shark]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Sporty and <40mm is going to be tough with Grand Seiko. My advice is to find an AD and try some on and see how they wear on you. BTW, Grand Seiko is already a great value at MSRP.

Good advice, I'm going to try and locate an AD. Hopefully I can find one near the jersey shore

[427shark]

Originally Posted by JR16

It might be helpful if you go to the grand Seiko website and post a few pics of watches that catch your eye so we have a better idea of what you are looking for, look wise


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Will do. Thanks

[Cru Jones]

The Hi-Beat is a really fine movement, but, for my first Grand Seiko, I really wanted a Spring Drive, even if the SD tech in the Seiko world isn’t unique to GS. Something about the smooth second hand and exquisite finishing seemed “right” to me. YMMV.

Even though the Snowflake and others are 41, you need to try them on: they wear exceptionally well.

[daveo5]

I would vote for any Seiko outfitted with the spring drive movement. I own one of the first commercial spring drives, the small sections at nine. Was one of the three first models.


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[427shark]

yeah, i actually wound up selling my marinemaster hi beat years ago to fund a GS spring drive diver which never happened , the spring drive really is awesome to look at

[Jpccarguy]

Originally Posted by daveo5

I would vote for any Seiko outfitted with the spring drive movement. I own one of the first commercial spring drives, the small sections at nine. Was one of the three first models.

You’re just the person I’d like to hear from. There’s not much information about spring drive and long-term issues. I’m hoping to acquire a Ti SD diver in the next week. How long have you had yours, has it been serviced, and is the durability better than a mechanical movement, in your opinion?

Thanks,

John

[mongrelnomoad]

36.5mm, ultra thin, 36,000bph, pure grammar of design.

Go vintage.

[daveo5]

Originally Posted by Jpccarguy

You’re just the person I’d like to hear from. There’s not much information about spring drive and long-term issues. I’m hoping to acquire a Ti SD diver in the next week. How long have you had yours, has it been serviced, and is the durability better than a mechanical movement, in your opinion?

Thanks,

John

The spring drive is a beautiful combination of two working parts. OK that’s very simplified. As I said I purchased my spring drive immediately after Seiko introduced the first consumer model. There were three dial variations and complications. In the time I have had mine I have not had one problem nor servicing. The accuracy is phenomenal. For detailed discussion on the spring drive, quiry Seiko spring drive. Hope this helps.

[Locust]

SBGV245. Very sporty. Quartz though. But the 9F is awesome. Can find one for $2300 too! (Just looked on chrono24). Think it’s 40mm

[Locust]

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[london_v]

I bought my first grand seiko just before Christmas. Well actually it was a wedding gift from my fiancée.

I wanted a dress watch that could also be used as a daily. I loved the SBGW231 and was lucky that the AD in London had one available (even they were surprised as it was a cancelled order). It’s simple, timeless and classy. I’d definitely try and check one out before deciding :-)

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by Locust

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That's lovely. Spending way too much time at Wako recently and trying on all the Grand Seikos, couldn't help but think pretty much all their nicest watches were Quartz. They weren't grotesquely oversized and, crucially, they were thin. Out of everything I tried on, this was by far my favourite.



It really depresses me that Seiko and GS seem to have totally given up on making their mechanical and quasi-mechanical watches a reasonable thickness...

Otherwise, my second favourite was the SBGA285. 39mm, Spring Drive, no nonsense, solid caseback. Unfortunately, thin it ain't, at 12.5mm thick.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Locust

SBGV245. Very sporty. Quartz though. But the 9F is awesome. Can find one for $2300 too! (Just looked on chrono24). Think it’s 40mm

that is my thoughts. or the gmt 9f