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Old 1 March 2021, 06:36 PM   #1
Old Expat Beast
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Icon2 Vintage SEIKO High Accuracy Quartz (HAQ) Test

I set these three watches to the time.is website today at 4pm. The one on the left, with early Snowflake dial, was quite expensive in its time, at 50,000 yen, which was about the same price as a mechanical Grand Seiko mechanical back then.

The middle watch was the most expensive and accurate stainless steel watch offered in Seiko's catalogues in the 1970s, priced at 230,000 yen and promising accuracy of an incredible five seconds a year.

On the right is a modern Grand Seiko 9F quartz, which is rated to 10 seconds a year.

I wonder which is most accurate today. I will be checking back every month for the next few months to share updated results for anyone interested.

See you in April
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Old 1 March 2021, 06:42 PM   #2
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I’m interested to see how they all perform Adam.
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Old 1 March 2021, 11:05 PM   #3
Jay (Eire)
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Interesting study Adam. Will be watching.
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Old 2 March 2021, 09:50 AM   #4
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Thanks guys
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Old 2 March 2021, 10:46 AM   #5
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Cool experiment.
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Old 7 March 2021, 01:40 PM   #6
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Cool experiment.


One week in and it's extremely close.

See you on April 1!
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Old 1 April 2021, 12:22 PM   #7
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Results for the first calendar month are in!

The 2017 Grand Seiko is still dead on, the 1978 Superior has gained 4 seconds and the 'underdog' 1976 Snowflake has gained just two seconds.

We'll be back again on May 1
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File Type: jpg Snowflake.JPG (127.1 KB, 579 views)
File Type: jpg Superior.JPG (126.1 KB, 583 views)
File Type: jpg Grand Seiko.JPG (120.4 KB, 585 views)
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Old 1 April 2021, 01:20 PM   #8
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My sbgn007, with the little star on the dial, states 5 seconds per year, but in my experience, it's much better than that. The only time it's out is when I accidently hack it when changing the date every few months.

Great timekeeping investigation! I'll be checking back in for the results.
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Old 1 April 2021, 03:54 PM   #9
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My sbgn007, with the little star on the dial, states 5 seconds per year, but in my experience, it's much better than that. The only time it's out is when I accidently hack it when changing the date every few months.

Great timekeeping investigation! I'll be checking back in for the results.
Yes, I'm going to have to be careful with that at the end of this month
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Old 1 April 2021, 04:00 PM   #10
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Very cool, please keep us updated.
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Old 2 April 2021, 08:08 AM   #11
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Thanks, will do!
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Old 30 April 2021, 04:30 PM   #12
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Look out for the monthly reveal tomorrow, if I remember to update
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Old 30 April 2021, 04:48 PM   #13
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Can I assume that the 4803 is not thermo-compensated?

ps. excited for the results!
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Old 30 April 2021, 05:01 PM   #14
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Can I assume that the 4803 is not thermo-compensated?

ps. excited for the results!
Yes, I think that's safe to say. The first Grand Quartz used the 4843 movement, which was slightly higher rated (+/- 5 secs per month) but was not, as far as I know, TC. The 4803 in this study, though, is somehow keeping Grand Quartz time
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Old 1 May 2021, 12:27 PM   #15
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Ok here are the results for the second calendar month!

The 2017 Grand Seiko is still exact. The 1976 Snowflake has added 5 seconds in the last month, for a two-month gain of 7 seconds, and the 1978 Superior has remained stable, adding another 4 seconds for a two-month total of 8 seconds.

I was able to quickset the date from 31 to 1 on all three watches without accidentally hacking the movement.
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File Type: jpg IMG_4059.JPG (105.6 KB, 480 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4060.JPG (116.8 KB, 474 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4064.JPG (127.6 KB, 480 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4067.JPG (139.9 KB, 483 views)
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Old 1 May 2021, 09:52 PM   #16
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Fascinating stuff - just amazing. Thanks for sharing this!!!
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Old 2 May 2021, 03:02 AM   #17
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I also have the SBGT235 and can report similar results. The accuracy is incredible.




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Old 2 May 2021, 06:34 AM   #18
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Great thread. Subscribed. :)
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Old 2 May 2021, 08:06 AM   #19
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Fascinating stuff - just amazing. Thanks for sharing this!!!
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Great thread. Subscribed. :)
Thank you
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Old 4 May 2021, 08:27 PM   #20
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Just for reference, here's a Seiko chart showing the expected accuracy of their higher-end quartz movements during the 1970s, and showing the 9983 as the most accurate.
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Old 1 June 2021, 12:18 PM   #21
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Three months

Ok, so we’re three months in and these are the latest results.

With a significant summer temperature increase here in Hong Kong over the last 30 days or so, the 1976 Snowflake gained six seconds in May for a total of 13 seconds over three months (2+5+6). That’s still one second better than its originally advertised monthly variation of -/+ 15 seconds per month.

The thermo-compensated 1978 Superior has held steady for a third consecutive +4 second gain, making a total 3-month gain of 12 seconds (4+4+4). Not quite the originally advertised 5 seconds per year, but on target for well under one minute per year. Not bad for a quartz watch marking its 43rd birthday this month.

The 2017 Grand Seiko is still exact, with no variation (0+0+0).

Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_4499.JPG (103.3 KB, 374 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4497.JPG (105.8 KB, 369 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4496.JPG (91.2 KB, 373 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4501.JPG (147.9 KB, 374 views)
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Old 1 June 2021, 08:04 PM   #22
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Thanks so much for regularly sharing your results!
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Old 1 June 2021, 09:24 PM   #23
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Thanks so much for regularly sharing your results!
You're most welcome. Thanks for your interest
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Old 2 June 2021, 10:46 AM   #24
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Great information. I love having my (+-5 seconds per year) GS quartz in my watch box. I do think they perform better than advertised too!
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Old 3 June 2021, 02:32 AM   #25
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Just amazing - so cool, thanks for sharing.
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Old 3 June 2021, 09:25 AM   #26
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Sbgx271

Had this a few years now, like it a lot and the accuracy is almost boring lol Seems like it never changes. Thanks for hipping us to 'em, you have some beauties!!!
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Old 3 June 2021, 09:42 AM   #27
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Great information. I love having my (+-5 seconds per year) GS quartz in my watch box. I do think they perform better than advertised too!
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Just amazing - so cool, thanks for sharing.
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Had this a few years now, like it a lot and the accuracy is almost boring lol Seems like it never changes. Thanks for hipping us to 'em, you have some beauties!!!
Thanks guys
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Old 10 June 2021, 08:28 PM   #28
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Great thread Adam - can't believe I missed this!

Thanks for taking the time (groan ) to do this
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Old 10 June 2021, 11:03 PM   #29
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Great thread Adam - can't believe I missed this!

Thanks for taking the time (groan ) to do this
Cheers Scott, I'll be back again on July 1!
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Old 1 July 2021, 12:26 PM   #30
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July 1 Update

Ok, it's July 1, four months are up, and here are the latest results.

In June, the 1976 Snowflake gained six seconds, as it did in May, having now perhaps settled into the summer temperatures.

The 1978 Superior gained another four seconds, as it has every month so far.

The 2017 Grand Seiko is still exact.

So after four months . . .
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File Type: jpg IMG_4906.JPG (114.8 KB, 268 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4905.JPG (126.7 KB, 266 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4902.JPG (127.7 KB, 265 views)
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