is Grand Seiko known for a particular model ?

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Very nice pair. You probably know this already but if you prefer the SEIKO logo on the dial, the references are SBGT035 & 37. I have both 235 and 035, and prefer the 035 for looks, but the 235 has sentimental value and I bought it first (in Hiroshima, 2018).

Thanks, Adam. Yeah, I might do that to keep them all Seiko dials, and think I can find the 035/037 for less money.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by DG123

I've never worn a Grand Seiko watch. Is the brand known for a particular model or two ? Thanks in advance for any helpful replies.

There are only a few to choose from.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

How 'bout this one?

9.9mm thick

Lug holes

9F Quartz


..or something similar with no day/date or date.

It’s a beauty no doubt.

[DG123]

Thanks to all for the helpful replies (and photos) :) Someday soon I hope to visit a Grand Seiko AD.

[swish77]

I think it's important to keep in mind that while GS might not be most well known for one specific watch, the company is famous for incredible finishing, innovative watch-making, and a very cool Japanese sensibility and history.

GS is unique in this regard and one reason why its watches (many, not just one) are popular.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by swish77

I think it's important to keep in mind that while GS might not be most well known for one specific watch, the company is famous for incredible finishing, innovative watch-making, and a very cool Japanese sensibility and history.

GS is unique in this regard and one reason why its watches (many, not just one) are popular.

Well said.

[Reikolexguy]

Snow flake, and now the white birch and the lake suwa.

Takes 2 months to manufacture each dial from beginning to end.

Hats off to the employee at GS whose sole job is to stamp the dials over the period of time necessary to produce the correct shape & pattern.

To ensure that every production batch passes muster, they even have QCs whose sole responsibility is to visually inspect every batch of watch hands.

Such simple, even monotonous jobs but yet no one seems to belittle or think such a simple job is beneath them.

Wonder if it’s a Japanese cultural thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by swish77

I think it's important to keep in mind that while GS might not be most well known for one specific watch, the company is famous for incredible finishing, innovative watch-making, and a very cool Japanese sensibility and history.

GS is unique in this regard and one reason why its watches (many, not just one) are popular.

As it stands, it's definately a Japanese thing.
Whether it be the finest manifestation of the art of Samurai sword making or the detail that may go into making a high end Moving Coil stylus for HI-FI where the precision of the hand wound windings of ultra fine copper wire are virtually unsurpassed and on to the detail in the GS finishing of hands dial furniture and Wristwatch cases.

On reflection(no pun intended) I wonder if their Grammar of Design which culminated in the creation of the 44GS and 45KS styled watches was the catalyst for the pursuit of Zaratsu polishing.
After all, with so much real estate that is comprised of what can be described as broard flat surfaces with those case styles. The watches would look pretty cheap and unfinished if they weren't pursuing polishing perfection right from the start with their adherence to their Grammar of Design. The same applies to their classic hands that are used with light coloured dials which are polished all over
What really gets me is to their credit, is they even polish the underside of the hands espacially where there is a light coloured dial because of the mirror like qualities of every facet of the hands and dial markers below.

I have a GS where even the finest imperfections in the polishing of the hands is evident if I observe them at just the right angle and position with the light hitting them just right.
Of course, I think the fact that the underside of the Crystal has AR coating makes such observations much easier as well

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Reikolexguy

Snow flake, and now the white birch and the lake suwa.

Takes 2 months to manufacture each dial from beginning to end.

Hats off to the employee at GS whose sole job is to stamp the dials over the period of time necessary to produce the correct shape & pattern.

To ensure that every production batch passes muster, they even have QCs whose sole responsibility is to visually inspect every batch of watch hands.

Such simple, even monotonous jobs but yet no one seems to belittle or think such a simple job is beneath them.

Wonder if it’s a Japanese cultural thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not just the people doing the stamping of the dials.
Someone has to conceive the design(stories of inspiration aside), then pattern makers have to make the dies that provide the blank canvas for the people that finish them at various stages after they're probably stamped and punched or drilled at least at 3 separate stages alone
It blows my mind how they go about the printing and how good they get it with some of their dial textures like the Snowflake for example.