Seiko / Grand Seiko servicing

[mbalmz]

I'm curious about service as pertains to some of the increasingly more expensive Seikos that have been released of late.

I'm a huge Seiko/Grand Seiko fan. I have an SLA017 and I love some of the other SLA models released recently. The SLA037 is gorgeous (I've considered flipping my 017 for one), and the Presage enamel dial spring drive watches that came out last year look awesome IMO.

All that being said, these watches are all firmly in Grand Seiko territory pricepoint wise, and I'm not sure how I should feel hypothetically having a e.g. $6,300 watch serviced next to a $200 watch (as great as some of those $200 watches are!)

does anyone have any thoughts on this or info on how seiko actually handles this? do some of these SLA watches with effectively GS movements actually get serviced by GS?

and sorry if there's already been a thread on this!

[AEC]

I believe knowledgeable owners ship them to the factory service center in Japan. My sense is we should avoid the service center in the USA.

[mbalmz]

Originally Posted by AEC

I believe knowledgeable owners ship them to the factory service center in Japan. My sense is we should avoid the service center in the USA.

doesn't that get a little insane cost-wise?? I imagine insuring and shipping a
$5-6k across the globe is pretty expensive; particularly if it's not a huge issue with the watch...

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by AEC

My sense is we should avoid the service center in the USA.

Why? The US service center has stepped in the last few years to start servicing GS watches.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by mbalmz

\
All that being said, these watches are all firmly in Grand Seiko territory pricepoint wise, and I'm not sure how I should feel hypothetically having a e.g. $6,300 watch serviced next to a $200 watch (as great as some of those $200 watches are!)

No one here can tell you how the service center is setup. Maybe ping GS in NYC and ask.

I don't understand how a $200 watch sitting next to a $6300 even matters. Indy's work on watches in the whole price spectrum, why can't Seiko?

[AEC]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Why? The US service center has stepped in the last few years to start servicing GS watches.

Just sharing the impression I get from reading posts on this topic in other watch fora. From the reading I did, it sounded like Seiko owners were in agreement on this. I don't have direct experience using Seiko USA's service center.

[AEC]

Originally Posted by mbalmz

doesn't that get a little insane cost-wise?? I imagine insuring and shipping a
$5-6k across the globe is pretty expensive; particularly if it's not a huge issue with the watch...

Yeah, you bring up a good point. I suppose that would be an issue.

[AEC]

Originally Posted by mbalmz

I'm curious about service as pertains to some of the increasingly more expensive Seikos that have been released of late.

I'm a huge Seiko/Grand Seiko fan. I have an SLA017 and I love some of the other SLA models released recently. The SLA037 is gorgeous (I've considered flipping my 017 for one), and the Presage enamel dial spring drive watches that came out last year look awesome IMO.

All that being said, these watches are all firmly in Grand Seiko territory pricepoint wise, and I'm not sure how I should feel hypothetically having a e.g. $6,300 watch serviced next to a $200 watch (as great as some of those $200 watches are!)

does anyone have any thoughts on this or info on how seiko actually handles this? do some of these SLA watches with effectively GS movements actually get serviced by GS?

and sorry if there's already been a thread on this!

When my SLA033 is ready for routine maintenance, I plan to look for a Seiko-certified independent with a good track record. For example, my Omega watches all go to Nesbit's in Seattle, where the quality of the work has been consistently excellent on my watches.

For Seiko watches, I haven't discovered who the candidates are in the US, but I'm pondering the question you asked in your original post, and thus the reading I've been doing just in the past few days.

[mbalmz]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

No one here can tell you how the service center is setup. Maybe ping GS in NYC and ask.

I don't understand how a $200 watch sitting next to a $6300 even matters. Indy's work on watches in the whole price spectrum, why can't Seiko?

well my points wasn’t literally that they’re sitting near eachother; my concern is more about whether the people servicing the watch are used to servicing the $200 watches.

and as to indies, I normally wouldn’t take a $6,300 watch to an indy that predominantly works on $200 watches. if I’m getting a rolex serviced at an indy I take it to an indy who has a track record of working on rolexes.

if honda suddenly started making honda branded cars at ferrari prices with ferrari-like parts I don’t think it would be that weird to have questions about whether you’ll be taking it to a regular old Honda service center, would it?

[mbalmz]

Originally Posted by AEC

When my SLA033 is ready for routine maintenance, I plan to look for a Seiko-certified independent with a good track record. For example, my Omega watches all go to Nesbit's in Seattle, where the quality of the work has been consistently excellent on my watches.

For Seiko watches, I haven't discovered who the candidates are in the US, but I'm pondering the question you asked in your original post, and thus the reading I've been doing just in the past few days.

let me know what you come up with!

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by AEC

Just sharing the impression I get from reading posts on this topic in other watch fora. From the reading I did, it sounded like Seiko owners were in agreement on this. I don't have direct experience using Seiko USA's service center.

The forums tend to regurgitate things without have real life experiences. Don't believe everything you read.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by mbalmz

and as to indies, I normally wouldn’t take a $6,300 watch to an indy that predominantly works on $200 watches. if I’m getting a rolex serviced at an indy I take it to an indy who has a track record of working on rolexes.

There are a lot of indy's (including the teo I employee) that work on all brands in all price ranges. Both of my indy's are Rolex/Omega certified. Heck some of the top Rolex indy's also work on lower tier brands. It doesn't equate to inferior service.

[mbalmz]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

There are a lot of indy's (including the teo I employee) that work on all brands in all price ranges. Both of my indy's are Rolex/Omega certified. Heck some of the top Rolex indy's also work on lower tier brands. It doesn't equate to inferior service.

any recommendations in NYC? :)

[cmhorner17]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

No one here can tell you how the service center is setup. Maybe ping GS in NYC and ask.

I don't understand how a $200 watch sitting next to a $6300 even matters. Indy's work on watches in the whole price spectrum, why can't Seiko?

And Chevy dealers work on Aveos and Corvettes. I agree - why would it matter? I'm sure Seiko has that sorted.

[Gasoil4ever]

Originally Posted by cmhorner17

And Chevy dealers work on Aveos and Corvettes. I agree - why would it matter? I'm sure Seiko has that sorted.

Absolutely. I work for a well known Japanese company. The Japanese culture for quality is such that if they give an AD the certified Grand Seiko service agreement, wether or not your watch is sitting next to a 200$ is not relevant. And service is as important if not more than sales in their eyes. If you gain customers through design and technology, it’s through service that you keep them.

[coelacanthus]

Email the US Service Center in NJ. They are pretty responsive and they just started the operation again after the COVID-19 shutdown.

I have asked about GS side they firmly said all GS pieces are worked on by GS trained master watchmakers, and my experience (2 watches so far) has been great. They did the job right, and honored my requests such as not polishing and returning replaced parts.

I think it's worth asking what their protocol is for high-end Seiko pieces (and where that line is).

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by coelacanthus

Email the US Service Center in NJ. They are pretty responsive and they just started the operation again after the COVID-19 shutdown.

I have asked about GS side they firmly said all GS pieces are worked on by GS trained master watchmakers, and my experience (2 watches so far) has been great. They did the job right, and honored my requests such as not polishing and returning replaced parts.

I think it's worth asking what their protocol is for high-end Seiko pieces (and where that line is).

Could you share a little more detail as how you worked with the US Service Center in NJ . Did you use the GS Service website to contact the Service Center ? How did you ship you GS to the Center , using USPS ? Are the individuals that acted as you contact person ?

[statsman]

Not wishing to start a new thread-

I have a $200 Seiko, and it needs service. It is a 20 years old Big 12 Championship Game watch, with the 8F32 Perpetual Calendar (Quartz) movement. From my own tries to reset the calendar, the movement seems “bad” (to use a technical term). I don’t know a local Seiko shop (Dallas-Fort Worth), and fixing this is beyond any local jeweler’s capability.

I see that Seiko Service USA says they service this movement for $116 (I would be happy with a total bill under $200). From your experiences, what can I expect? Do they do good work on cheaper watches? Do they pile on extra repairs? Any cautions or encouragements?

Thanks, and I’ll hang up and listen.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by statsman

Not wishing to start a new thread-

I have a $200 Seiko, and it needs service. It is a 20 years old Big 12 Championship Game watch, with the 8F32 Perpetual Calendar (Quartz) movement. From my own tries to reset the calendar, the movement seems “bad” (to use a technical term). I don’t know a local Seiko shop (Dallas-Fort Worth), and fixing this is beyond any local jeweler’s capability.

I see that Seiko Service USA says they service this movement for $116 (I would be happy with a total bill under $200). From your experiences, what can I expect? Do they do good work on cheaper watches? Do they pile on extra repairs? Any cautions or encouragements?

Thanks, and I’ll hang up and listen.

If Seiko says they can service it that is your only option. A indy can not get parts for the 8f.

[statsman]

Thanks! I mailed it (1999 Big 12 Championship Game Seiko Perpetual Calendar quartz) December 3, USPS Priority. Late December 6, I received an email that it had been received. The movement service and cyclops crystal replacement was quoted at $177, which I happily paid (another independent repair shop quoted me $490; I assume they didn’t know what they were doing and prices accordingly to give them time to learn, or maybe they just didn’t want the business). December 9, I received an email saying it was in work and it was mailed back December 13. I received it in the mail today and it looks and runs great! Very happy and thinking about sending more watches there.

I’ll make a new post with pics of my Seiko B12 CG watches.