www.youtube.com/@watchspiritstokyo.5188 - Check out my friend's channel, Naomi of Watch Spirits Tokyo. ➡ ua-cam.com/video/lkMFSNVyvjE/v-deo.html - Click here to watch The CHEAP Rolex Watch Alternative NO ONE Talks About!
I have several Rolexs and GS watches. The GSs are just better finished with better movements hands down. You get a Rolex to impress your friends, you get a Grand Seiko to impress yourself.
@@whereRbearsTeeth Agree, you clueless if it comes to movements, because Rolex can't even hold a candle to GS or Omega - even their own sister company, Tudor is know for better quality work then Rolex.
Seikoholic and Grand Seiko fan here 😊 I've owned 2 Grand Seiko watches and currently own several Seiko watches in my collection, so I agree and respect this video👍 thanks for breaking down the details and history of Seiko / GS . Owners of GS simply appreciates the craftsmanship of a watch.
@@Ossory88 One thing is for sure, they don't hold there value like a Rolex. It's really hard to bash the quality of a GS though. They make a beautiful watch. My Holy Grail watch is the Vacheron Overseas Chrono in blue of course.
7:30 - I can verify this. I visited their Ginza store back in 2019 and they seemed genuinely tickled pink that I came in wearing an SBGX263. Mind you that is one of their entry-level quartz models; it may as well have been one of their $10,000 pieces by how appreciative they were that I had it on my wrist! ❤ Great video, btw. 👍
Japanese people are in general appreciative if you like anything Japanese. They would say "Thank you" if you show or state appreciation of anything Japanese, even if their only affinity with what you like is it being Japanese. They're very patriotic if I may say so.
@@just88 I have to agree. Then Rolex AD's for the most part, are not as appreciative compared to the experience with Seiko. I hope Rolex will just do better customer service. Do better!
That's because their culture is based around shintoism which means appreciating everything in nature, big or small. So unlike americans they actually value things for what they are instead of viewing everything that isn't a flex-machine as junk. In america you can get made fun of for wearing a $50k watch because "it's not rolex" and finding a good value watch is considered shameful as opposed to overspending for nothing
Agreed in most of the content. But there's one thing about Japan and their people. They take a tremendous amount of pride in the things they do, and the final result speaks for itself. I love things made in Japan, because I know I'm getting more than my money worth. I must truly enjoy the content of this video! 👍👍
I had a 8 watch collection and one of my everyday go to watch was a Seiko Sport 5 with the NH35A movement that ran me about $95.00 U.S.D. I noticed that it was more accurate than my Rolex, Omega, Breitling and other of my high end luxury watches. I later (about 4 years ago) invested in a Grand Seiko and absolutely feel in love with the watch.
I got lucky with my first Swiss automatic. A Tissot about 15 years ago, which was somehow consistently +1 second per day, for years until the oils needed replacing.
Ah, no. I service Seiko 5 & Rolex watches. If your Seiko 5 keeps better time than your Rolex it is the horologist doing the COA on your watch and not the quality. It takes time & patience to turn the weights on the balance wheel to time out the Rolex, but when done properly I never have a Seiko time out to be as accurate as the Rolex.
@@davidcooper1201 I'm not going to subscribe to trying to convince you, but the quartz crisis alone is proof of this. but geez, it must sucks to drop $5k on a pre-owned Rolex to not be accurate on the time.
@@arthurcanet1014 Of course quartz technology was developed to get a more accurate time piece. Main spring powered watches, no matter what brand cannot compare to quartz for accuracy. But, the modern day, modern as meaning since the 1960's self-winding watch will be around a long after the junk drawer is filled up with quartz movements-I keep especially eta quartz movements for setting parts, mainly-when the circuit has burnt out, though the drive train may be good. The life of a high quality quartz is 20 to 30 years. According to research done by Breitling, they figured that a mechanical fully jeweled movement could last up to 700 years before it would wear out if routinely cleaned, oiled and serviced. There is nothing to argue here....the ultimate heirloom is a mechanical watch or clock
@@arthurcanet1014 The quartz development can't compare to the longevity of a main spring powered watch movement. Time accuracy, yes; longevity, no, a thousand times no.
I bought myself a GS a few months ago. When I was at the store, just like you Antonio I was hesitating between the Snowflake and the Shosho, except that I went with the Snowflake. The spring drive movement was the tie breaker for me. My grand father passed away last year. All his life he was into martial arts and and asian culture. This is why I chose to buy a GS with the money he left me. I see it as a last heirloom from him. I think of him every time I wear it and it is now by far my favorite piece in my collection.
It's not just marketing but also a matter of taste. To me the GS are too chunky and I am not a huge fan of their case shapes and of course there are the bracelets.
@@heiner71 No it's entirely marketing, you're justifying spending all that money for status. Seiko and Citizen basically defeated the entire watch industry and to survive the Swatch group and Rolex marketed themselves as "swiss luxury" while badmouthing the japanese as "cheap sht". Meanwhile nearly are innovation and actual creative design is being done by the japanese OR by really high end swiss that the average person doesn't even know. Rolex was not originally viewed at all as luxury and was viewed as a tool watch to do a job...james bond wore them because he was a spy and was fairly "rugged" and wanted to get a job done, the opposite of what people have been lead to think. Also you really can't get more boring or lifeless designs than rolex and let's not get into their tech. Their only standout feature is the quality of their bracelets (which are scratch magnets and embarrassingly don't compete with microbrands like Traska)
@@rafaeloliva6425 GS literally have more lineage. They've made pretty much every major technological advancement for decades and are still advancing while rolex can barely play catchup with Omega. Rolex was always viewed as just a tool watch, nothing more. No amount of cope will change that you overpaid tremendously for what is basically the toyota of watches that's pretending to be a bentley
Having owned rolex, cartier, omega and grand sieko at a particular point of time. I can wholeheartedly say that amongst these brands Grand Sieko stands out in terms of quality. Not going to lie Design looks basic sometimes but when you see this thing up close, the craftsmanship is impeccable. Its too bad that GS is gaining popularity because their watches are getting expensive due to price hikes. Its truly said “you buy a rolex to impress others but a grand sieko to impress yourself.”
@@thetruthhurts7500 its not just about connections. Today only i was offered submariner no date at retail but they want me to buy another watch for 5000 dollars , then only they will give it to me. You tell me would you pay that when you know there are better watches out there??
People buy Rolex because of the massive advertising and sponsorship. They are good watches but if the name Rolex wasn't on the watch many people wouldn't buy them.
That's true of everything, the Omega NTTD NATO strap is £330, the Bark & Jack one which doesn't have a painful 007 engraving on it is £26. A generic no name from eBay is under a tenner. In either of the first two, you're paying something for the name, probably about £7 for the B&J, maybe 25% of the price. Probably about £300 for the Omega, more like 90% of it's price.
They're decent tool watches sold at 4-5x their actual value (even considering good margins) and we all have to pretend these toyotas are bentleys. They're also completely vertically integrated so their economy of scale could allow for very cheap prices if they wanted.
@@fontyyy Omega is also extremely overpriced but they beat rolex in every category imaginable and are still cheaper and don't have an artificial scarcity and AD gatekeeping. Their straps are top tier but yes overpriced. You ever see that video of teddy scratching a $400 rolex link that cost almost as much as a Traska watch that couldn't be scratched?
i dont understand why people want to go to war against quartz its freaking accurate ...especially citizen 0100 with accuracy of 1 second a year plus its a solar movement...the 9f in grand seikos has 50 years service time period
They are such beautiful watches. A lot of people don't know this but one reason so many of their models lack lume is because zarutsa polishing is so high that it's still quite visible in a low light setting.
The spring drives are absolutely mesmerizing for me. I don't mind the power reserve (actually like it if I am being honest). You picked up a beautiful watch. Thanks for the video.
I've been thinking about purchasing a rolex to add to my collection but was really put off by the Ad who would only put me on the list for a model I didn't want. Grand seiko is looking more and more appealing.
I bought my 1st Rolex in Waikiki Hawaii, I window shopped for a couple days, they would fill the display cases in the AM and leave them empty as they sold product…pretending they had run out.I went in asked to see my choice from the display case, told them I want fresh from the box, they told me this was the one and only, I said thank you I’m leaving, miracle they found another love my watch.Rolex marketing is bizarre.
I’ve heard too many horror stories about quality control issues and poor customer service. When it comes time to put money on the table, I’d stick with a good Swiss name.
@Alan1234x I hear you , I have loads of lower end watches Tag ,seiko, casio, tissot etc. I was looking to spend a bit more I might go Zenith or an Omega because the whole Rolex experience was a bit strange.
Got tired of Rolex and their nonsense AD games. Kicked them to the curb and moved on to GS among other wonderful and arguably, far superior brands lol.
You should be patient and get what you really want. Avoid buyers remorse, when your ready to up grade and take a beating when you resell your 2nd tier watch.
I own 3 Seiko divers that have actually been in the ocean diving and snorkeling. One Seiko 5 and a Presage, all excellent watches. BTW nobody beats the sweep of a Spring Drive movement ............NOBODY !
In 1976 I graduated High School and my parents gave me a gold Seiko watch. Still have it. I. Stumbled across the channel and watched this presentation. I had no idea about Grand Seiko. I am not into the expensive watches as I think it is a foolish game. But I’m impressed with this company! Learned some things today. Thank you. Subscribed now.
I love this brand. We now have several Grand Seiko models, and I couldn't be happier with all of them. At some point, if you could swing a Spring Drive, the manual wind Omiwatari may be a good option for the smaller wrist. The Evolution 9 case is a bit big; I can barely pull it off with a 6.5in wrist. The Omiwatari is thin and smaller than other spring drives and has the power reserve indicator on the back.
Is it high quality? Yes. Is it better than rolex in terms of quality? Probably. But I cant call GS “affordable” specially in the last few years their list prices have skyrocketed
The first GS I have personally encountered is the Snowflake. Unfortunately I have been underwhelmed. Now I have four, GS a Spring Drive, a Quartz and a couple of Hi-Beats. For me, they're all better than the Snowflake. At their price point I wouldn't want any other brands.
Great content, Antonio! Congrats on the shosho. I own an SBGA415 winter and am trying to acquire a Lake Suwa SLGA007.. As a watch collector, we tend to pay attention to the little details.. my biggest gripes against GS are that their bracelets/clasps are mediocre, at best, and many exhibition casebacks have their logo, blocking the view of the beautiful movement. But they are beautiful and pieces of art.
Awesome video Antonio. It took me many years to finally purchase a luxury watch and it is a Grand Seiko. I absolutely love it. I also appreciate that it is understated. The sweeping second hand is mesmerizing!!
There’s not only “Grand Seiko” there’s also the lesser known “The Citizen” with is in equal quality. Even Casio have a Japan exclusive domestic luxury brand, dough it’s more affordable “Casio Oceanus”. Which I’m myself very partial to especially the Oceanus T200.
@@PETERJOHN101 No, it's people who know nothing about watches that look down on Citizen. First of all the "Citizen" you know in america is an entirely different line than in Japan. Their JDM line is significantly better and it's because the japanese know americans like trash. Second of all "The Citizen" is a line of Citizen watches that is basically their version of Grand Seiko and is on a significantly higher level. They've got $5k watches that are better than $10k one you can find from the swiss. And talking about heritage, Citizen is more important and successful than nearly every swiss brand from multiple points of views
@@AndreiGeorgescu-j9pkind of like how many Rolex owners look down on GS. It’s why people pay way too much money for Fender guitars over other lesser known but ‘better’ ones. Etc. Etc. Perception and ‘prestige’. Technical specs etc, are for aficionados. The (sad) reality is 98% of the population doesn’t really care
If Grand Seiko is out of your budget you can get the Seiko Pressage "Sharp Edge" GMT line that feature a true traveler's GMT movement, extremely similar design as Grand Seiko line particularly in their special edition white Asanoha dial and the even more limited Mount Fuji navy or dark blue dia which is the only version with a ceramic bezel. You can get these for $1k - $1.5k USD. Only downside is they're 42mm if you have a smaller than 7 inch wrist.
huge respect to Japanese craftmanship. another story I heard about is about they Whiskey beating Scotland on an international competition after trial and error as well. own a few Seiko myself, might upgrade to a GS, it's definitely more expensive than my current range but one day
@@ykx777 Those are all great. Unfortunately the Western world is discovering what was once a best kept secret. Hibiki and Yamazake were pretty affordable. The prices have more than doubled in the last five years.
Very nice production value and research. I have been to that part of Tokyo. It's very impressive at night. Grand Seiko is really a quality product with precise engineering and assembly. I am still old-school and prefer a 35-35mm watch, but it looks like you made a good purchase. New sub here.
I am fascinated with watches and love watching watch channels. This channel is the best I have observed; very educational while being entertaining as well. The quality of the presentation and the complicated nature of its production are also appreciated.
I have just returned to the UK from Japan where I stumbled upon a brand-new discontinued GS SBGA001 Champagne dial for a bargain price of 290,000yen or £1.610 when converted, I am so happy with this Watch. 😊😊😊😊😊😊
For readers of the comments to this video, the Spring Drive is also found in several high-end model Seiko watches as well as in Grand Seiko watches. Seiko watches with the Spring Drive, as of 2022, had model numbers beginning with SNRxxx which are watches in the Prospex and Presage lines. But hang on, the MSRP on these was running between $4500-$6000 USD in 2022, putting them in line to be competitive with some of the Grand Seikos which generally feature better finishing and dial design. When the video began, I did suspect it would be a Grand Seiko based on the Spring Drive but considered it could go either way based just on viewing the movement.
Nice to see this on your channel. Grand Seiko and Rolex are my favourite watch brands, in that order. Both of them have lost their way, but their output in the 60s and early 70s was fantastic. Vintage GS is the way to go. Those watches Seiko made when they were gearing up for and winning the observatory time trials can be found for decent prices now. And they're the correct size for men, not the huge contemporary sizes made for obese American guys.
It should be known that the large watch movement started with brands like Panerai….which could lead to the argument that these oversized watches were made for obese European egos. Not to mention, Europeans purchase more timepieces than Americans by almost 4 fold. So, who were these watches made for, again? I agree with the rest of your sentiments. Old school GS is a great watch.
While oldschool GS was good I dont think they have lost their way as Rolex has, I think they're only getting better and innovating day by day. Once they make better bracelets I truly think nothing can compare
@@ykx777 Cool, this got me thinking. Yes, GS does keep improving. They are engineering and making better watches. So, not that they lost their way, but they've gone a different way - in terms of design - that doesn't speak to me like the 60s pieces do. I fully recognise you are correct, GS continues to push ahead whilst Rolex's lastest improvement was....Everose?
You are absolutely right, Rolex can't compete. Seiko are a Japanese Multinational Electronics company. Rolex is a dedicated watch maker, and to my knowledge, they don't make printers, scanners, or watches in Singapore, Malaysia, or China either!
Am I the only one who could not care less about the fancy polishing but would be delighted to have a Seiko 5 case with a 9F grand Seiko movement inside it ? No? Only me then ?
Love Grand Seiko. Own two. They just need to step it up with their bracelet quality. They feel light and Tin like compared to the high end Swiss brands. Nothing that hasn’t been discussed for a decade.
$7500 for that shosho on Amazon... we have VERY different definitions of "affordable" 😂I thought you were going to talk about something in the $500-$1500 range
Here to plug Tissot. I have a Tissot Powermatic 80 and it’s awesome. It looks great, feels comfortable all day, and never loses power as long as I wear it. It was less that $1k but looks like it costs three times as much.
I love mine, very comfortable and keep amazing time for the price, but man my Gentleman bezel is a scratch magnet with being this exposed even after only a few months. The glass is still looking great though.
My 27 year old rolex submariner in SS and 18K that has been serviced maybe 6 times by the exact same local watchmaker and has all the same parts except for appropriate gaskets. Keeps time to better then a third of a second a day. That is extraordinary time keeping for a five grand watch 27 years old. It has never been off my wrist except to bathe or swim. Has run consistently for 27 years 24/7. Looks fab and I smile at it once a day a least.
A very smooth sweep indeed, but not the smoothest ever. Spring Drive sweep is completely stepless. Could not possibly be any smoother than that! However, when we're comparing sweeps which both appear to the naked human eye as being indistinguishably smooth, it's all academic at that point.
Grand Seiko isn't really Affordable. Some models (MSRP, same category) are on par if not even sometimes more expensive than Rolex. Also, the higher end Seiko Prospex divers go up to 4-5-6k also.
$15.- Casios are hard to beat. Consider them disposable in 7 years. 7 years are long enough. Deadly accurate, put Rolex to shame, no mechanical watches can beat that.
I also own both GS and Rolex in addition to Omega, VC and Cartier. GS and VC are my most refined, finished watches. Cartier is my favorite but consider both Cartier and Rolex below Omega, GS and VC. To be honest I rarely wear my Rolexes… they are just not all that
I have the SBGE248...it is an absolutely gorgeous watch and yes, it is a Spring Drive. It has to be seen in person to really appreciate the beauty of this watch.
If somebody wants a Rolex, no other watch will do. No other watch is a Rolex. Most people can spot one from meters away. By the same token, no other watch is a Seiko. I have a Datejust that I received as a gift in 1984. I wore that watch for decades, had it serviced, etc. and enjoy it very much. Lately, I bought myself a lowly Seiko 5 field watch. I really like the Seiko. I wear the Seiko more and it keeps excellent time. I am very impressed with Seiko's design sense and especially by their technical innovation.
I have a 9F Grand Seiko. Beautiful dress watch. Highly accurate. Lightly used, I paid about US$1,100 for it. The 9F movement is completely sealed and has a service interval of 50 years!
used to buy Rolex. already had 5 pieces in my collection. then you have nothing much to look for. recently got into grand seiko. their watches are really beautiful. already got 2 of them, and its really exciting to look forward to their next release. even thou not all design are to my liking lol. btw love the stories of every dial they design.
My Grandfather bought a Wittnauer watch after the war, and I bought one about 20 years ago . It still shines, and the crystal is still immaculate and scratch free. Still get compliments on it. And of course, it still tells time, not that I ever use it for that..
I'm not a Swiss watch snob, I've owned Seikos before, held/worn a few GS watches. The problem with Seiko and GS is that they find a way to drop the ball somewhere. Like with lower tier models they may provide great finish/dail but a crap movement. With GS you get first class dials and movements, case work but the size isn't great and the bracelets suck, which is not forgivable when you get into $10k range. Say what you will about a Rolex but it's fully thought through design, not just the dial or movements but the size of the case, bracelet etc. GS has the potential to get there but they're not there yet.
was just in Japan for a few weeks myself. wore my SBGE255 for the trip and made a special point to go to the Wako flagship store in GInza to buy a SBGA201 that i was waiting to purchase especially on this trip. buying a GS in Japan is a lovely experience. walk into any other GS shop, anywhere in Japan and they notice and thank you for wearing a GS. while in Ginza i went next door to the Seiko dream square building and with my brother on video call he picked out a lovely Seiko Presage JDM offering in titanium. WIfe got herself a Lukia as well. I have a couple rolex in my collection, but what GS is doing far exceeds what rolex is doing currently. good video and good information for those who are just getting into watch collecting or purchasing their first luxury watch.
Good video, but the best watch in the world is a Tissot! I was bought a Tissot Powermatic, an automatic electrically powered watch with 80 hours power reserve, 30 years ago. 20 years later! One of the hand came off after roller hockey game, and I landed on the floor. I took the watch to my local jeweller shop who sells Tissot , a few days later, I came into the shop, took out my wallet ready to pay for the repair, and to my surprise, the shop keeper said no charge! the watch is guaranteed for life! WTF Now that is a real guarantee that even modern Rolexes dont offer! I know because my daughter recently bought a Rolex that only comes with a 5 year warranty. Thus I value my reliable Tissot over any other watch, because Tissot themselves believe in their product so much, as to offer a lifetime warranty! Anyone else got a Powermatic ? great watches arent they!
Stunning. I bought a Grand Seiko quartz watch a few months ago. It's so nice I'm afraid to wear it! I will, though. No point it sitting in a box. It's 37mm with a champagne dial. Total sophistication. The only thing that might make it look sharper would be a nice, croco-leather strap.
I bought my first GS in 2023. It was Grand Seiko Automatic GMT Limited Edition For HODINKEE. It’s a beautiful watch but their bracelet needs to come a long way. For that price it should have glide lock tfit even a deployment clasp would help. I don’t have that issue with the Rolex’s or Tudor watches I own. Lume would help as well for a gmt.
Worst neck pocket I've ever had was a MIJ Fender '62 Strat. The shim was close to 1mm thick to make it playable. And yes, I zipped it apart. It was legit and not a Chinese copy or a Partscaster
Owned many brands of watches including Rolex and GS. GS feel so much premium on hand and the movement is insane. they actually have very good looking sport watches compared to basic model but some of the best looking sport watches they have actually large in size not suitable for most wrist. They should make it smaller for most people like 40mm size.
The snowflake was my first watch as a beginner collector. I like it a lot. It is perfect for business. I wish that all my watches had a power reserve indicator. However, after I had owned it for maybe 1.5 years, the date stopped advancing. They fixed it under warranty, but I was pretty surprised. I had worn it carefully maybe five days per month. I have had bad luck with new Swiss watches as well.
Nice presentation. I had an Airking and 77' Datejust. I got rid of them after I had both serviced at the hefty fee of $1700 for both. Out they went and I was once again a happy watch collector and I never regretted it.
Thanks for the video and your thoughts. Seiko and Grand Seiko are great brands. However, I think many people purchase these watch brands including Omega or others when they really want a Rolex. Talking from experience, I always wanted a rolex and I purchased a few other cheaper watches trying to scratch that itch. If I could do my journey again, I would have just saved up for my Rolex and purchased it earlier. If you have a grail watch in mind that you could afford with some effort and saving you can always go to other brands after if you want some more variety. Just my personal experience.
I suppose it depends on what you want from a watch. I own an Omega Seamaster for the look and the George Daniels connection, I own a Grand Seiko for the finishing and the faultless quartz movement. A Rolex? I can't think of a reason to own one. Each to their own though.
@chrisbrown6494 yeah very true. It's all individual. I think anyone who knows about watches, knows that Rolex don't necessarily make "the best" but you are paying for the name for sure. For me, personally, coming from a pretty humble background, owning a Rolex was always a status symbol or a sign you were doing well. This I am sure was one of the major reasons I wanted one. Only watch people will see a grand Seiko and know what it is, where as anyone will see a Rolex and know what it is. I know that says more about me than the watch but I think many people think the same which is why Rolex sells for such premiums.
My hat is off to the Japanese watch makers, they all offer great value for the money. Two years ago, I purchased a legendary Citizen JP 2000-08e certified dive watch. I noticed that it seemed to keep perfect time. I was curious just how accurate it was, so I synchronized it with atomic time on August 29 and then compared it to Atomic time on August 29 a year later. My watch was only 9 seconds fast ;for the entire year. It is a $400 quartz tool watch that is only slightly changed from the very first dive watch to incorporate an accurate electronic depth gauge. Probably worn by more scuba divers over the years than any other dive watch. I don’t know if mine is an exception, but I cannot get over that accuracy, plus all it’s unique dive watch functions for that price.
Earlier this year I visited the grand seiko boutique in Miami and was blown away by how beautiful their watches are. The pictures do not do them justice. I prefer GS over Rolex anyday and GS is definitely on my list of watches to add to my collection.
I have a lower end GS - 9F quartz. It has everything: great finishing, 10 out of 10 for legibility, deadly accuracy (less than 1 second per month on my measurement). It is one of only two watches in my collection that gets comments (the other is a Sea-gull 1963!).
I own two GS watches (one of them a quartz that gains 2 seconds per year.) I like to say that you buy a Rolex to impress others, but you buy a Grand Seiko to impress yourself.
Grand Seiko is an amazing watch. I own one. Their biggest problem is putting out too many models and they never really get a following for their lines. They need to slim down the offerings and special editions. It's the same thing that has plagued Omega for years.
Love GS. Great that you know of these. Don’t like their sport models but their elegance and heritage models are among the best and I think they are just a hair better than VC!!!
I have a Seiko 5 GMT blueberry divers in my collection and true to say it's a watch I wear regular and it has received compliments, that dial bursts into life under the sun. This year has seen yet another serious price hike on Seiko's and even at that, I'd say these watches are still a serious quality bargain. You want bangs for bucks? then the answer is Seiko all the way.
while Rolex is creating an artificial inflation of their watches and not even offering any sales snobbing potential customers, Seiko and GS is there and very happy to accommodate them. don't get me wrong, I have a Rolex 69 GMT Master Pepsi (from my late grandfather) and Omega Speedmaster Schumacher 0708 but I also have several Seikos, SSC911P1, DressKX, 5KX, and a GS SLGH005. most of my Seikos and the GS have longer wrist time rather than my Omega and Rolex.
I’m honestly so tempted to buy the Sakura style SBGA413. I think it makes for a great watch to share with my girlfriend. An oversized watch for her that suits her aesthetic and a statement piece for myself. It doesn’t make financial sense for me yet because I need to buy a new car first.
Forgot to mention another watch in my collection. It was my fathers and was left to me. It has 5 letters and ends in a X! It is a TIMEX! It keeps great time at a fraction of the cost of others.
my dad had a Seiko from the 80s that he had given to me ask a family heirloom.... and I asked him to hold it for me, and I'd take it back when he was older, and I'd make sure it got into my son's hands eventually. heartbroken when someone broke in and stole it and a few other things. I hope one day I cam get him a GS Seiko to replace the one that was lost, while he's still around. I remember how amazing that blue dial was, and unique glass.
Watch collector here. Big fan of Grand Seiko and also a fan of Rolex. I often see people talking down on Rolex to try and promote a different brand and theres no need for that. The truth is that Rolex is far superior in branding, is more well known and retains its value much better than most other watch brands. Even the mention of the name Rolex in a video title will get more views.
Great video Antonio, Very educative for those who don’t know much about the Nippon brand. I was recently in Tokyo and spent hours in the same store but didn’t have funds to get the one I loved. I am making it a goal for my next trip there.
I like the Grand Seiko because of the quality, but most of all the precision, it's accuracy, but for the money you cannot beat the Bulova Precisionist, this is a quartz watch with extras in their movement, the second hand moves like the old original Accutron that used a tuning fork, it literally sweeps the dial, the Precisionist was found to have only gained 5 to 10 seconds after a time of 1 year, I myself wear the Accutron II, it is a smaller version of the Precisionist and is not as accurate, after 1 year of usage, it gained only 43 seconds, and for only $650 you can't go wrong. You have a great show, I am a watchmaker and I hope one day I can afford a Grand Seiko.💎😎
Saw Spring Drive at 0:28 and thought, "yep Grand Seiko time". The best dials of any watch maker. Rolex is poor compared to GS. Real watch people know and acknowledge the superior finishing and dials of Grand Seiko.
I got a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and I love it. But I also purchased low budget watches like Seiko’s, Tossit, Hamilton, even Casio. Seiko’s feel and look more expensive than they are. Planning to buy a Grand Seiko. Their finishings are superb.
Awesome video and I completely agree. I've owned both GS and Rolex but my problem with both brands is the wearing experience. I have a very small flat (boney) wrist and I find I pretty much need a flat case back for the watch to feel comfortable on my wrist. I'm still looking at GS though and hopefully I'll find something in their quartz line that will do trick
The mechanical Grand Seikos just seem a little too bulky on my relatively 'refined' wrist. I hope one day to own the spring drive which is a phenomenal innovation. In the mean time, I have settled for a Black dial Grand Seiko Quartz SBGX261G. I love it!! (£2000 UK) The lugs on the case curve 'below' the case-back itself. Thus the watch hugs my wrist like an old friend. The watch crystal and hour markers sparkle and flicker in the light. The stainless steel bracelet with it's polished flanks, brushed surface and reassuring snap is a silky joy. I far prefer the discrete buckle to that which is on my Rolex two tone Explorer...and I don't give a hoot about the lack of bracelet taper. I wish that Grand Seiko might offer some of their other fantastic dials on the Quartz versions - because I would probably have 3 more!!
I just recently started looking into mechanical watches and I've been so moved by Seiko/GS and their products. I don't yet have the budget and experience to justify purchasing a GS, but I'm sure I will one day. Meanwhile I looked to Seiko's Presage line and found lots of well-made watches with amazing dials. I ended up purchasing one of their Zen garden inspired models, which has sapphire crystal, a beautifully polished case, a zen-garden pattern that to me looks as inspiring as many of the GS dials, an open-heart + transparent back design which I love, and a lovely leather strap with a steel clasp, all just for a bit over 400 USD. I received a Cartier watch from my grandparents not long ago as a wedding gift, which is a gorgeous and extremely well-built watch, but it costs around 40 to 50 times my Seiko does and honestly brings me less joy to look at.
Like one of the commenters …..I also own both GS and Rolex, in addition to Omega, VC and Cartier. GS and VC are my most refined, finished watches. Cartier is my favorite but consider both Cartier and Rolex below Omega, GS and VC. To be honest I rarely wear my Rolexes… they are just not all that! I live in the middle east and feel privileged to see the best watches on earth in. person good video 😊😊😊😊😊
I have two GS models (SBGA467 and the SBGA293) and they are easily my favorites in my collection. For the first time in my life I visited a boutique that had lots of Rolex in stock and I tried on many of them including my long time “grail” the 40 Explorer and a Grey Dial Datejust…..both shockingly left me flat. I am so used to the quality of GS that the Rolex models just don’t measure up ,as nice as they are. GS just inches them out IMHO
You're right. Unfortunately grand seiko plummet in value. It's not an issue if you really believe you're going to keep the watch forever, or never need to sell, however, tastes change and a year a two later you'll be lucky to get half your money back. Unfortunately Rolex has it beat in terms of value retention, if you can get one. If you're wealthy it doesn't matter, Grand seiko are at least as good as rolex some say better, but be mindful, it shouldn't matter but it does, same goes for omega, be mindful if you ever want to trade it in..
Excellent video and as a Grand Seiko (and King Seiko) owner I concur! I use to have a Rolex itch and fortunately my Tudor Prince Day Date scratches it for much less than a Rolex!
I've owned a number of high end watches, including a Rolex day date. One thing I can say about watches is that the lower end watches do not have as nice of a finish, both in the polish and brushing, as high end watches. Rolex uses a higher grade stainless steel on their sports watches and are well finished. For the price, though, if you don't need an in-house movement, Maurice Lacroix watches have very good finish on them. I own the older style Pontos (with the 5 piece bracelet, alternating polished and brushed links, as opposed to the newer Oyster style bracelet). They also have very good finish on the dials. I think that brand is a little underrated.
www.youtube.com/@watchspiritstokyo.5188 - Check out my friend's channel, Naomi of Watch Spirits Tokyo.
➡ ua-cam.com/video/lkMFSNVyvjE/v-deo.html - Click here to watch The CHEAP Rolex Watch Alternative NO ONE Talks About!
@RealMenRealStyle what are your thoughts on Citizens Brand?
@RealMenRealStyle are you still wearing your grand seiko as much?
I've been interested in them for years now.
I have several Rolexs and GS watches. The GSs are just better finished with better movements hands down. You get a Rolex to impress your friends, you get a Grand Seiko to impress yourself.
well said
If the So called grand seico is so fantastic, why don't you sell your "several " Rolex watches.
Grand seico just doesn't impress anyone!
@@rafaeloliva6425 Rolexes are for impressing ignorant sheep. Sometimes in life you have to play the game, even if you know the rules are stupid.
You are simply showing your ignorance if you think that GS movements are superior to Rolex movements. Totally clueless.
@@whereRbearsTeeth
Agree, you clueless if it comes to movements, because Rolex can't even hold a candle to GS or Omega - even their own sister company, Tudor is know for better quality work then Rolex.
Seikoholic and Grand Seiko fan here 😊 I've owned 2 Grand Seiko watches and currently own several Seiko watches in my collection, so I agree and respect this video👍 thanks for breaking down the details and history of Seiko / GS . Owners of GS simply appreciates the craftsmanship of a watch.
What do you think of the Seestern homage to the Grand Seiko... they use a similar movement to the Grand Seiko and if anything the finishing is better?
@@steverocky7215 doesn't seem like a similar movement and the finishing is not even close let alone better. no zaratsu polishing
Sorry but Seiko, albeit commendable, is nowhere near as close in quality as a Rolex , AP or Lange.
@@Ossory88 yup grand seiko is way up
There compared to Rolex
@@Ossory88 One thing is for sure, they don't hold there value like a Rolex. It's really hard to bash the quality of a GS though. They make a beautiful watch. My Holy Grail watch is the Vacheron Overseas Chrono in blue of course.
7:30 - I can verify this. I visited their Ginza store back in 2019 and they seemed genuinely tickled pink that I came in wearing an SBGX263. Mind you that is one of their entry-level quartz models; it may as well have been one of their $10,000 pieces by how appreciative they were that I had it on my wrist! ❤
Great video, btw. 👍
same here
On my next trip to Japan (2024) I am going to the Seiko Museum. They also have a section for Grand Seiko.
Japanese people are in general appreciative if you like anything Japanese. They would say "Thank you" if you show or state appreciation of anything Japanese, even if their only affinity with what you like is it being Japanese. They're very patriotic if I may say so.
@@just88 I have to agree. Then Rolex AD's for the most part, are not as appreciative compared to the experience with Seiko. I hope Rolex will just do better customer service. Do better!
That's because their culture is based around shintoism which means appreciating everything in nature, big or small. So unlike americans they actually value things for what they are instead of viewing everything that isn't a flex-machine as junk. In america you can get made fun of for wearing a $50k watch because "it's not rolex" and finding a good value watch is considered shameful as opposed to overspending for nothing
Agreed in most of the content. But there's one thing about Japan and their people. They take a tremendous amount of pride in the things they do, and the final result speaks for itself. I love things made in Japan, because I know I'm getting more than my money worth. I must truly enjoy the content of this video! 👍👍
To be honest, so do the Swiss. They are also VERY proud of their products, and give it their all. Even in cheap objects like the swiss army knife.
Can't say enough about my Toyota 4Runners.....Work first family 2nd *Japan* The first takes care of the second.
Makita tools. Honda over Toyota. Yonex tennis rackets. Yup Made in Japan is sign of quality.
I totally agree.
I like my MIJ Fender better than my USA guitar
Agreed 100%. That's why I am a Lexus fanboy :)
I had a 8 watch collection and one of my everyday go to watch was a Seiko Sport 5 with the NH35A movement that ran me about $95.00 U.S.D. I noticed that it was more accurate than my Rolex, Omega, Breitling and other of my high end luxury watches. I later (about 4 years ago) invested in a Grand Seiko and absolutely feel in love with the watch.
I got lucky with my first Swiss automatic. A Tissot about 15 years ago, which was somehow consistently +1 second per day, for years until the oils needed replacing.
Ah, no. I service Seiko 5 & Rolex watches. If your Seiko 5 keeps better time than your Rolex it is the horologist doing the COA on your watch and not the quality. It takes time & patience to turn the weights on the balance wheel to time out the Rolex, but when done properly I never have a Seiko time out to be as accurate as the Rolex.
@@davidcooper1201 I'm not going to subscribe to trying to convince you, but the quartz crisis alone is proof of this. but geez, it must sucks to drop $5k on a pre-owned Rolex to not be accurate on the time.
@@arthurcanet1014 Of course quartz technology was developed to get a more accurate time piece. Main spring powered watches, no matter what brand cannot compare to quartz for accuracy. But, the modern day, modern as meaning since the 1960's self-winding watch will be around a long after the junk drawer is filled up with quartz movements-I keep especially eta quartz movements for setting parts, mainly-when the circuit has burnt out, though the drive train may be good. The life of a high quality quartz is 20 to 30 years. According to research done by Breitling, they figured that a mechanical fully jeweled movement could last up to 700 years before it would wear out if routinely cleaned, oiled and serviced. There is nothing to argue here....the ultimate heirloom is a mechanical watch or clock
@@arthurcanet1014 The quartz development can't compare to the longevity of a main spring powered watch movement. Time accuracy, yes; longevity, no, a thousand times no.
I bought myself a GS a few months ago. When I was at the store, just like you Antonio I was hesitating between the Snowflake and the Shosho, except that I went with the Snowflake. The spring drive movement was the tie breaker for me.
My grand father passed away last year. All his life he was into martial arts and and asian culture. This is why I chose to buy a GS with the money he left me. I see it as a last heirloom from him. I think of him every time I wear it and it is now by far my favorite piece in my collection.
Grand Seiko has always been a step above Rolex; it's just that marketing has taught the general public to think otherwise.
It's not just marketing but also a matter of taste. To me the GS are too chunky and I am not a huge fan of their case shapes and of course there are the bracelets.
Gran Seicos are very nondescript period. They will never have the linage or resale value of a Rolex.
That is not an opinion, just reality.
@@heiner71 No it's entirely marketing, you're justifying spending all that money for status. Seiko and Citizen basically defeated the entire watch industry and to survive the Swatch group and Rolex marketed themselves as "swiss luxury" while badmouthing the japanese as "cheap sht". Meanwhile nearly are innovation and actual creative design is being done by the japanese OR by really high end swiss that the average person doesn't even know. Rolex was not originally viewed at all as luxury and was viewed as a tool watch to do a job...james bond wore them because he was a spy and was fairly "rugged" and wanted to get a job done, the opposite of what people have been lead to think.
Also you really can't get more boring or lifeless designs than rolex and let's not get into their tech. Their only standout feature is the quality of their bracelets (which are scratch magnets and embarrassingly don't compete with microbrands like Traska)
@@rafaeloliva6425 GS literally have more lineage. They've made pretty much every major technological advancement for decades and are still advancing while rolex can barely play catchup with Omega. Rolex was always viewed as just a tool watch, nothing more. No amount of cope will change that you overpaid tremendously for what is basically the toyota of watches that's pretending to be a bentley
A matter of opinion. Ask a horlologist what he thinks in comparison.
Having owned rolex, cartier, omega and grand sieko at a particular point of time. I can wholeheartedly say that amongst these brands Grand Sieko stands out in terms of quality. Not going to lie Design looks basic sometimes but when you see this thing up close, the craftsmanship is impeccable.
Its too bad that GS is gaining popularity because their watches are getting expensive due to price hikes.
Its truly said “you buy a rolex to impress others but a grand sieko to impress yourself.”
And write this comment to impress others in the comments. 🫠
@@Ze_Hans I didn’t see it that way at all. I’d seen that saying before, but it meant more to me after reading his experience with Grand Seiko.
You buy a Rolex because you understand greatness and have a connection at the AD...You buy a GS because you don't.
@@thetruthhurts7500 its not just about connections.
Today only i was offered submariner no date at retail but they want me to buy another watch for 5000 dollars , then only they will give it to me.
You tell me would you pay that when you know there are better watches out there??
@@thetruthhurts7500
That comment has more to more to do with snobbery than greatness. 😂
Rolex 👑 = Pricey.
G.Seiko. = Amazing.
People buy Rolex because of the massive advertising and sponsorship. They are good watches but if the name Rolex wasn't on the watch many people wouldn't buy them.
That's true of everything, the Omega NTTD NATO strap is £330, the Bark & Jack one which doesn't have a painful 007 engraving on it is £26.
A generic no name from eBay is under a tenner.
In either of the first two, you're paying something for the name, probably about £7 for the B&J, maybe 25% of the price. Probably about £300 for the Omega, more like 90% of it's price.
They're decent tool watches sold at 4-5x their actual value (even considering good margins) and we all have to pretend these toyotas are bentleys. They're also completely vertically integrated so their economy of scale could allow for very cheap prices if they wanted.
@@fontyyy Omega is also extremely overpriced but they beat rolex in every category imaginable and are still cheaper and don't have an artificial scarcity and AD gatekeeping. Their straps are top tier but yes overpriced. You ever see that video of teddy scratching a $400 rolex link that cost almost as much as a Traska watch that couldn't be scratched?
Who wants a watch from a manufacturer who produces 1m plus a year,
Wow, what an absurd know it all statement.
The spring drive is something else. It is beyond beat rates. The second hand is perfectly smooth.
SBGA413 Cherry Blossom owner. Movement and finish is better then my Rolex Omega, Cartier and IWC. And the dial is literally insane.
i dont understand why people want to go to war against quartz its freaking accurate ...especially citizen 0100 with accuracy of 1 second a year plus its a solar movement...the 9f in grand seikos has 50 years service time period
They are such beautiful watches. A lot of people don't know this but one reason so many of their models lack lume is because zarutsa polishing is so high that it's still quite visible in a low light setting.
The spring drives are absolutely mesmerizing for me. I don't mind the power reserve (actually like it if I am being honest). You picked up a beautiful watch. Thanks for the video.
I've been thinking about purchasing a rolex to add to my collection but was really put off by the Ad who would only put me on the list for a model I didn't want. Grand seiko is looking more and more appealing.
I bought my 1st Rolex in Waikiki Hawaii, I window shopped for a couple days, they would fill the display cases in the AM and leave them empty as they sold product…pretending they had run out.I went in asked to see my choice from the display case, told them I want fresh from the box, they told me this was the one and only, I said thank you I’m leaving, miracle they found another love my watch.Rolex marketing is bizarre.
I’ve heard too many horror stories about quality control issues and poor customer service. When it comes time to put money on the table, I’d stick with a good Swiss name.
@Alan1234x I hear you , I have loads of lower end watches Tag ,seiko, casio, tissot etc. I was looking to spend a bit more I might go Zenith or an Omega because the whole Rolex experience was a bit strange.
Got tired of Rolex and their nonsense AD games. Kicked them to the curb and moved on to GS among other wonderful and arguably, far superior brands lol.
You should be patient and get what you really want. Avoid buyers remorse, when your ready to up grade and take a beating when you resell your 2nd tier watch.
I own 3 Seiko divers that have actually been in the ocean diving and snorkeling. One Seiko 5 and a Presage, all excellent watches. BTW nobody beats the sweep of a Spring Drive movement ............NOBODY !
In 1976 I graduated High School and my parents gave me a gold Seiko watch. Still have it. I. Stumbled across the channel and watched this presentation. I had no idea about Grand Seiko. I am not into the expensive watches as I think it is a foolish game. But I’m impressed with this company! Learned some things today. Thank you. Subscribed now.
I love this brand. We now have several Grand Seiko models, and I couldn't be happier with all of them. At some point, if you could swing a Spring Drive, the manual wind Omiwatari may be a good option for the smaller wrist. The Evolution 9 case is a bit big; I can barely pull it off with a 6.5in wrist. The Omiwatari is thin and smaller than other spring drives and has the power reserve indicator on the back.
Is it high quality? Yes. Is it better than rolex in terms of quality? Probably. But I cant call GS “affordable” specially in the last few years their list prices have skyrocketed
A Grand Seiko is on my wishlist, when my love of watches overrides my fiscal responsibility 😆
The first GS I have personally encountered is the Snowflake. Unfortunately I have been underwhelmed. Now I have four, GS a Spring Drive, a Quartz and a couple of Hi-Beats. For me, they're all better than the Snowflake. At their price point I wouldn't want any other brands.
Great content, Antonio! Congrats on the shosho. I own an SBGA415 winter and am trying to acquire a Lake Suwa SLGA007.. As a watch collector, we tend to pay attention to the little details.. my biggest gripes against GS are that their bracelets/clasps are mediocre, at best, and many exhibition casebacks have their logo, blocking the view of the beautiful movement. But they are beautiful and pieces of art.
Awesome video Antonio. It took me many years to finally purchase a luxury watch and it is a Grand Seiko. I absolutely love it. I also appreciate that it is understated. The sweeping second hand is mesmerizing!!
There’s not only “Grand Seiko” there’s also the lesser known “The Citizen” with is in equal quality. Even Casio have a Japan exclusive domestic luxury brand, dough it’s more affordable “Casio Oceanus”. Which I’m myself very partial to especially the Oceanus T200.
Most serious watch guys look down on Citizen watches, I personally like some of their automatics and Eco drive models.
@@PETERJOHN101 No, it's people who know nothing about watches that look down on Citizen. First of all the "Citizen" you know in america is an entirely different line than in Japan. Their JDM line is significantly better and it's because the japanese know americans like trash. Second of all "The Citizen" is a line of Citizen watches that is basically their version of Grand Seiko and is on a significantly higher level. They've got $5k watches that are better than $10k one you can find from the swiss. And talking about heritage, Citizen is more important and successful than nearly every swiss brand from multiple points of views
@@AndreiGeorgescu-j9pkind of like how many Rolex owners look down on GS.
It’s why people pay way too much money for Fender guitars over other lesser known but ‘better’ ones. Etc. Etc.
Perception and ‘prestige’. Technical specs etc, are for aficionados. The (sad) reality is 98% of the population doesn’t really care
If Grand Seiko is out of your budget you can get the Seiko Pressage "Sharp Edge" GMT line that feature a true traveler's GMT movement, extremely similar design as Grand Seiko line particularly in their special edition white Asanoha dial and the even more limited Mount Fuji navy or dark blue dia which is the only version with a ceramic bezel. You can get these for $1k - $1.5k USD. Only downside is they're 42mm if you have a smaller than 7 inch wrist.
huge respect to Japanese craftmanship. another story I heard about is about they Whiskey beating Scotland on an international competition after trial and error as well. own a few Seiko myself, might upgrade to a GS, it's definitely more expensive than my current range but one day
Hope you get it one day man it's a thing of beauty. And yes their Whisky, notably the Toki, Hibiki and Yamazaki are amazing
real nikka whiskey (from za hoodo)
@@ykx777 Those are all great. Unfortunately the Western world is discovering what was once a best kept secret. Hibiki and Yamazake were pretty affordable. The prices have more than doubled in the last five years.
Very nice production value and research. I have been to that part of Tokyo. It's very impressive at night. Grand Seiko is really a quality product with precise engineering and assembly. I am still old-school and prefer a 35-35mm watch, but it looks like you made a good purchase. New sub here.
I am fascinated with watches and love watching watch channels. This channel is the best I have observed; very educational while being entertaining as well. The quality of the presentation and the complicated nature of its production are also appreciated.
I have just returned to the UK from Japan where I stumbled upon a brand-new discontinued GS SBGA001 Champagne dial for a bargain price of 290,000yen or £1.610 when converted, I am so happy with this Watch. 😊😊😊😊😊😊
For readers of the comments to this video, the Spring Drive is also found in several high-end model Seiko watches as well as in Grand Seiko watches. Seiko watches with the Spring Drive, as of 2022, had model numbers beginning with SNRxxx which are watches in the Prospex and Presage lines. But hang on, the MSRP on these was running between $4500-$6000 USD in 2022, putting them in line to be competitive with some of the Grand Seikos which generally feature better finishing and dial design. When the video began, I did suspect it would be a Grand Seiko based on the Spring Drive but considered it could go either way based just on viewing the movement.
the power reserve annoys me too
Nice to see this on your channel. Grand Seiko and Rolex are my favourite watch brands, in that order. Both of them have lost their way, but their output in the 60s and early 70s was fantastic. Vintage GS is the way to go. Those watches Seiko made when they were gearing up for and winning the observatory time trials can be found for decent prices now. And they're the correct size for men, not the huge contemporary sizes made for obese American guys.
It should be known that the large watch movement started with brands like Panerai….which could lead to the argument that these oversized watches were made for obese European egos. Not to mention, Europeans purchase more timepieces than Americans by almost 4 fold. So, who were these watches made for, again? I agree with the rest of your sentiments. Old school GS is a great watch.
While oldschool GS was good I dont think they have lost their way as Rolex has, I think they're only getting better and innovating day by day. Once they make better bracelets I truly think nothing can compare
@@ykx777 Cool, this got me thinking. Yes, GS does keep improving. They are engineering and making better watches. So, not that they lost their way, but they've gone a different way - in terms of design - that doesn't speak to me like the 60s pieces do. I fully recognise you are correct, GS continues to push ahead whilst Rolex's lastest improvement was....Everose?
@@Kenzabukuro Don't forget palm fronds, puzzle pieces and polka dots! VERY innovative!
You are absolutely right, Rolex can't compete. Seiko are a Japanese Multinational Electronics company. Rolex is a dedicated watch maker, and to my knowledge, they don't make printers, scanners, or watches in Singapore, Malaysia, or China either!
Am I the only one who could not care less about the fancy polishing but would be delighted to have a Seiko 5 case with a 9F grand Seiko movement inside it ? No? Only me then ?
Love Grand Seiko. Own two. They just need to step it up with their bracelet quality. They feel light and Tin like compared to the high end Swiss brands. Nothing that hasn’t been discussed for a decade.
Disagree. I have the SLGA023 Ushio,…and the bracelet does not “feel light and tin like”. This has turned into a trope.
$7500 for that shosho on Amazon... we have VERY different definitions of "affordable" 😂I thought you were going to talk about something in the $500-$1500 range
Here to plug Tissot. I have a Tissot Powermatic 80 and it’s awesome. It looks great, feels comfortable all day, and never loses power as long as I wear it. It was less that $1k but looks like it costs three times as much.
Agree. For the money, Tissot is superb.
I love mine, very comfortable and keep amazing time for the price, but man my Gentleman bezel is a scratch magnet with being this exposed even after only a few months. The glass is still looking great though.
My 27 year old rolex submariner in SS and 18K that has been serviced maybe 6 times by the exact same local watchmaker and has all the same parts except for appropriate gaskets. Keeps time to better then a third of a second a day. That is extraordinary time keeping for a five grand watch 27 years old. It has never been off my wrist except to bathe or swim. Has run consistently for 27 years 24/7. Looks fab and I smile at it once a day a least.
How much does a servicing cost if you don’t mind ?
@@williamsheehan260 Last service was $375
Very reasonable. Cost my friend 750 !
Citizen and Bulova are currently my favorite watch makers.
My watch that I wear regularly is a Bulova. I want a Citizen because I love that classic style.
I wear Citizen ecodrive watches.
Love these two brands too. Citizen has their Chronomaster line that comes close to Grand Seiko.
my bulova accutron 2 is a quartz 262 Khz frequency watch with the smoothest sweep ever. 16 ticks per second. accurate to 5 seconds per month
A very smooth sweep indeed, but not the smoothest ever. Spring Drive sweep is completely stepless. Could not possibly be any smoother than that!
However, when we're comparing sweeps which both appear to the naked human eye as being indistinguishably smooth, it's all academic at that point.
I will, forever, love my manual winding Concord Impresario. 20 years old and still looking BNIB 😃
Grand Seiko isn't really Affordable. Some models (MSRP, same category) are on par if not even sometimes more expensive than Rolex. Also, the higher end Seiko Prospex divers go up to 4-5-6k also.
$15.- Casios are hard to beat.
Consider them disposable in 7 years.
7 years are long enough.
Deadly accurate, put Rolex to shame, no mechanical watches can beat that.
I also own both GS and Rolex in addition to Omega, VC and Cartier. GS and VC are my most refined, finished watches. Cartier is my favorite but consider both Cartier and Rolex below Omega, GS and VC. To be honest I rarely wear my Rolexes… they are just not all that
I have the SBGE248...it is an absolutely gorgeous watch and yes, it is a Spring Drive. It has to be seen in person to really appreciate the beauty of this watch.
That polishing is crazy. Nice choice in model. I love their GMTs.
If somebody wants a Rolex, no other watch will do. No other watch is a Rolex. Most people can spot one from meters away. By the same token, no other watch is a Seiko. I have a Datejust that I received as a gift in 1984. I wore that watch for decades, had it serviced, etc. and enjoy it very much. Lately, I bought myself a lowly Seiko 5 field watch. I really like the Seiko. I wear the Seiko more and it keeps excellent time. I am very impressed with Seiko's design sense and especially by their technical innovation.
I have a 9F Grand Seiko. Beautiful dress watch. Highly accurate. Lightly used, I paid about US$1,100 for it.
The 9F movement is completely sealed and has a service interval of 50 years!
I had my first Seiko in the 90 but now I am a great fan of Citizen watches also from Japan
used to buy Rolex. already had 5 pieces in my collection. then you have nothing much to look for. recently got into grand seiko. their watches are really beautiful. already got 2 of them, and its really exciting to look forward to their next release. even thou not all design are to my liking lol. btw love the stories of every dial they design.
My Grandfather bought a Wittnauer watch after the war, and I bought one about 20 years ago . It still shines, and the crystal is still immaculate and scratch free. Still get compliments on it. And of course, it still tells time, not that I ever use it for that..
I'm not a Swiss watch snob, I've owned Seikos before, held/worn a few GS watches. The problem with Seiko and GS is that they find a way to drop the ball somewhere. Like with lower tier models they may provide great finish/dail but a crap movement. With GS you get first class dials and movements, case work but the size isn't great and the bracelets suck, which is not forgivable when you get into $10k range. Say what you will about a Rolex but it's fully thought through design, not just the dial or movements but the size of the case, bracelet etc. GS has the potential to get there but they're not there yet.
was just in Japan for a few weeks myself. wore my SBGE255 for the trip and made a special point to go to the Wako flagship store in GInza to buy a SBGA201 that i was waiting to purchase especially on this trip. buying a GS in Japan is a lovely experience. walk into any other GS shop, anywhere in Japan and they notice and thank you for wearing a GS. while in Ginza i went next door to the Seiko dream square building and with my brother on video call he picked out a lovely Seiko Presage JDM offering in titanium. WIfe got herself a Lukia as well. I have a couple rolex in my collection, but what GS is doing far exceeds what rolex is doing currently. good video and good information for those who are just getting into watch collecting or purchasing their first luxury watch.
Good video, but the best watch in the world is a Tissot! I was bought a Tissot Powermatic, an automatic electrically powered watch with 80 hours power reserve, 30 years ago. 20 years later! One of the hand came off after roller hockey game, and I landed on the floor. I took the watch to my local jeweller shop who sells Tissot , a few days later, I came into the shop, took out my wallet ready to pay for the repair, and to my surprise, the shop keeper said no charge! the watch is guaranteed for life! WTF Now that is a real guarantee that even modern Rolexes dont offer! I know because my daughter recently bought a Rolex that only comes with a 5 year warranty. Thus I value my reliable Tissot over any other watch, because Tissot themselves believe in their product so much, as to offer a lifetime warranty! Anyone else got a Powermatic ? great watches arent they!
Stunning. I bought a Grand Seiko quartz watch a few months ago. It's so nice I'm afraid to wear it! I will, though. No point it sitting in a box. It's 37mm with a champagne dial. Total sophistication. The only thing that might make it look sharper would be a nice, croco-leather strap.
I bought my first GS in 2023. It was Grand Seiko Automatic GMT
Limited Edition For HODINKEE. It’s a beautiful watch but their bracelet needs to come a long way. For that price it should have glide lock tfit even a deployment clasp would help. I don’t have that issue with the Rolex’s or Tudor watches I own. Lume would help as well for a gmt.
Love Seiko and anything made in Japan. They make amazing products from cars, guitars (Fender MIJ), Fujifilm Cameras,etc.
Me too!!
Worst neck pocket I've ever had was a MIJ Fender '62 Strat. The shim was close to 1mm thick to make it playable. And yes, I zipped it apart. It was legit and not a Chinese copy or a Partscaster
@@ahoneyman thanks for letting us know - I have been tempted by a MIJ Fender jazz bass. I will have to check it carefully
Owned many brands of watches including Rolex and GS. GS feel so much premium on hand and the movement is insane. they actually have very good looking sport watches compared to basic model but some of the best looking sport watches they have actually large in size not suitable for most wrist. They should make it smaller for most people like 40mm size.
When it’s time to put money on the table, almost everyone will go with Rolex.
The snowflake was my first watch as a beginner collector. I like it a lot. It is perfect for business. I wish that all my watches had a power reserve indicator. However, after I had owned it for maybe 1.5 years, the date stopped advancing. They fixed it under warranty, but I was pretty surprised. I had worn it carefully maybe five days per month. I have had bad luck with new Swiss watches as well.
Although I had doubts about buying a replica watch, gussl dispelled my doubts. The watch has an authentic look and feel.
Nice presentation. I had an Airking and 77' Datejust. I got rid of them after I had both serviced at the hefty fee of $1700 for both. Out they went and I was once again a happy watch collector and I never regretted it.
I've worn a Tissot for over 50 years. Utterly dependable at a sensible price. Can't think of a sensible reason to spend more.
Thanks for the video and your thoughts. Seiko and Grand Seiko are great brands. However, I think many people purchase these watch brands including Omega or others when they really want a Rolex. Talking from experience, I always wanted a rolex and I purchased a few other cheaper watches trying to scratch that itch. If I could do my journey again, I would have just saved up for my Rolex and purchased it earlier. If you have a grail watch in mind that you could afford with some effort and saving you can always go to other brands after if you want some more variety. Just my personal experience.
I suppose it depends on what you want from a watch. I own an Omega Seamaster for the look and the George Daniels connection, I own a Grand Seiko for the finishing and the faultless quartz movement. A Rolex? I can't think of a reason to own one.
Each to their own though.
@chrisbrown6494 yeah very true. It's all individual. I think anyone who knows about watches, knows that Rolex don't necessarily make "the best" but you are paying for the name for sure. For me, personally, coming from a pretty humble background, owning a Rolex was always a status symbol or a sign you were doing well. This I am sure was one of the major reasons I wanted one. Only watch people will see a grand Seiko and know what it is, where as anyone will see a Rolex and know what it is. I know that says more about me than the watch but I think many people think the same which is why Rolex sells for such premiums.
My hat is off to the Japanese watch makers, they all offer great value for the money. Two years ago, I purchased a legendary Citizen JP 2000-08e certified dive watch. I noticed that it seemed to keep perfect time. I was curious just how accurate it was, so I synchronized it with atomic time on August 29 and then compared it to Atomic time on August 29 a year later. My watch was only 9 seconds fast ;for the entire year. It is a $400 quartz tool watch that is only slightly changed from the very first dive watch to incorporate an accurate electronic depth gauge. Probably worn by more scuba divers over the years than any other dive watch. I don’t know if mine is an exception, but I cannot get over that accuracy, plus all it’s unique dive watch functions for that price.
Grand Seiko and Glashutte Original are the 2 most underappreciated quality brands.
No watchmaker works harder for your money than GS. Amazing company!
Earlier this year I visited the grand seiko boutique in Miami and was blown away by how beautiful their watches are. The pictures do not do them justice. I prefer GS over Rolex anyday and GS is definitely on my list of watches to add to my collection.
I have a lower end GS - 9F quartz. It has everything: great finishing, 10 out of 10 for legibility, deadly accuracy (less than 1 second per month on my measurement). It is one of only two watches in my collection that gets comments (the other is a Sea-gull 1963!).
Fell in love with GS the first time I saw one. I don’t know what model I get. I definitely have a price limitation, but GS is my grail watch.
I own two GS watches (one of them a quartz that gains 2 seconds per year.) I like to say that you buy a Rolex to impress others, but you buy a Grand Seiko to impress yourself.
Grand Seiko is an amazing watch. I own one. Their biggest problem is putting out too many models and they never really get a following for their lines. They need to slim down the offerings and special editions. It's the same thing that has plagued Omega for years.
and yours is one of the most amazing they have ever made. Great choice.
Omega and Zenith are two more affordable brands that easily kick Rolex‘s ass when it comes to technology and customer service.
Love GS. Great that you know of these. Don’t like their sport models but their elegance and heritage models are among the best and I think they are just a hair better than VC!!!
I have a Seiko 5 GMT blueberry divers in my collection and true to say it's a watch I wear regular and it has received compliments, that dial bursts into life under the sun. This year has seen yet another serious price hike on Seiko's and even at that, I'd say these watches are still a serious quality bargain. You want bangs for bucks? then the answer is Seiko all the way.
while Rolex is creating an artificial inflation of their watches and not even offering any sales snobbing potential customers, Seiko and GS is there and very happy to accommodate them.
don't get me wrong, I have a Rolex 69 GMT Master Pepsi (from my late grandfather) and Omega Speedmaster Schumacher 0708 but I also have several Seikos, SSC911P1, DressKX, 5KX, and a GS SLGH005. most of my Seikos and the GS have longer wrist time rather than my Omega and Rolex.
I’m honestly so tempted to buy the Sakura style SBGA413. I think it makes for a great watch to share with my girlfriend. An oversized watch for her that suits her aesthetic and a statement piece for myself. It doesn’t make financial sense for me yet because I need to buy a new car first.
Forgot to mention another watch in my collection. It was my fathers and was left to me. It has 5 letters and ends in a X! It is a TIMEX! It keeps great time at a fraction of the cost of others.
We went to Hokkaido this summer and I picked up a Seiko Presage in a color you can't find here for almost half what it costs .
my dad had a Seiko from the 80s that he had given to me ask a family heirloom.... and I asked him to hold it for me, and I'd take it back when he was older, and I'd make sure it got into my son's hands eventually. heartbroken when someone broke in and stole it and a few other things. I hope one day I cam get him a GS Seiko to replace the one that was lost, while he's still around. I remember how amazing that blue dial was, and unique glass.
Watch collector here. Big fan of Grand Seiko and also a fan of Rolex. I often see people talking down on Rolex to try and promote a different brand and theres no need for that. The truth is that Rolex is far superior in branding, is more well known and retains its value much better than most other watch brands. Even the mention of the name Rolex in a video title will get more views.
Nevertheless Grand Seiko still makes a better watch
@@cbowman1967 one could argue that digital watches are better if we are just talking about telling time.
Great video Antonio,
Very educative for those who don’t know much about the Nippon brand.
I was recently in Tokyo and spent hours in the same store but didn’t have funds to get the one I loved.
I am making it a goal for my next trip there.
I like the Grand Seiko because of the quality, but most of all the precision, it's accuracy, but for the money you cannot beat the Bulova Precisionist, this is a quartz watch with extras in their movement, the second hand moves like the old original Accutron that used a tuning fork, it literally sweeps the dial, the Precisionist was found to have only gained 5 to 10 seconds after a time of 1 year, I myself wear the Accutron II, it is a smaller version of the Precisionist and is not as accurate, after 1 year of usage, it gained only 43 seconds, and for only $650 you can't go wrong. You have a great show, I am a watchmaker and I hope one day I can afford a Grand Seiko.💎😎
Saw Spring Drive at 0:28 and thought, "yep Grand Seiko time". The best dials of any watch maker. Rolex is poor compared to GS. Real watch people know and acknowledge the superior finishing and dials of Grand Seiko.
Agree 100%. I've owned three Rolexes and own one Grand Seiko (a quartz). I would love a mechanical GS ...
I got a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and I love it. But I also purchased low budget watches like Seiko’s, Tossit, Hamilton, even Casio.
Seiko’s feel and look more expensive than they are. Planning to buy a Grand Seiko. Their finishings are superb.
Awesome video and I completely agree. I've owned both GS and Rolex but my problem with both brands is the wearing experience. I have a very small flat (boney) wrist and I find I pretty much need a flat case back for the watch to feel comfortable on my wrist. I'm still looking at GS though and hopefully I'll find something in their quartz line that will do trick
Have you considered reaching out to both & making a special request for a flat watch back?
@@TheWallReports No .... good point though, thanks
The mechanical Grand Seikos just seem a little too bulky on my relatively 'refined' wrist. I hope one day to own the spring drive which is a phenomenal innovation.
In the mean time, I have settled for a Black dial Grand Seiko Quartz SBGX261G. I love it!! (£2000 UK)
The lugs on the case curve 'below' the case-back itself. Thus the watch hugs my wrist like an old friend.
The watch crystal and hour markers sparkle and flicker in the light.
The stainless steel bracelet with it's polished flanks, brushed surface and reassuring snap is a silky joy. I far prefer the discrete buckle to that which is on my Rolex two tone Explorer...and I don't give a hoot about the lack of bracelet taper.
I wish that Grand Seiko might offer some of their other fantastic dials on the Quartz versions - because I would probably have 3 more!!
I just recently started looking into mechanical watches and I've been so moved by Seiko/GS and their products. I don't yet have the budget and experience to justify purchasing a GS, but I'm sure I will one day. Meanwhile I looked to Seiko's Presage line and found lots of well-made watches with amazing dials. I ended up purchasing one of their Zen garden inspired models, which has sapphire crystal, a beautifully polished case, a zen-garden pattern that to me looks as inspiring as many of the GS dials, an open-heart + transparent back design which I love, and a lovely leather strap with a steel clasp, all just for a bit over 400 USD. I received a Cartier watch from my grandparents not long ago as a wedding gift, which is a gorgeous and extremely well-built watch, but it costs around 40 to 50 times my Seiko does and honestly brings me less joy to look at.
Like one of the commenters …..I also own both GS and Rolex, in addition to Omega, VC and Cartier. GS and VC are my most refined, finished watches. Cartier is my favorite but consider both Cartier and Rolex below Omega, GS and VC. To be honest I rarely wear my Rolexes… they are just not all that! I live in the middle east and feel privileged to see the best watches on earth in. person
good video 😊😊😊😊😊
That's my Grand Seiko! Fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and had to pick it up. Great pick!!
I have two GS models (SBGA467 and the SBGA293) and they are easily my favorites in my collection. For the first time in my life I visited a boutique that had lots of Rolex in stock and I tried on many of them including my long time “grail” the 40 Explorer and a Grey Dial Datejust…..both shockingly left me flat. I am so used to the quality of GS that the Rolex models just don’t measure up ,as nice as they are. GS just inches them out IMHO
I love the Vincero Watch brand you recommended years ago. Excellent choice!
Rolex is what people wear to impress others.
GS is the brand you wear when you want craftsmanship to impress yourself.
You're right. Unfortunately grand seiko plummet in value. It's not an issue if you really believe you're going to keep the watch forever, or never need to sell, however, tastes change and a year a two later you'll be lucky to get half your money back. Unfortunately Rolex has it beat in terms of value retention, if you can get one. If you're wealthy it doesn't matter, Grand seiko are at least as good as rolex some say better, but be mindful, it shouldn't matter but it does, same goes for omega, be mindful if you ever want to trade it in..
I have the quartz version with 44GS CASE. ENJOY LOW maintenance and relatively thin case. Outstanding dial and polish quality
Excellent video and as a Grand Seiko (and King Seiko) owner I concur! I use to have a Rolex itch and fortunately my Tudor Prince Day Date scratches it for much less than a Rolex!
I've owned a number of high end watches, including a Rolex day date. One thing I can say about watches is that the lower end watches do not have as nice of a finish, both in the polish and brushing, as high end watches. Rolex uses a higher grade stainless steel on their sports watches and are well finished. For the price, though, if you don't need an in-house movement, Maurice Lacroix watches have very good finish on them. I own the older style Pontos (with the 5 piece bracelet, alternating polished and brushed links, as opposed to the newer Oyster style bracelet). They also have very good finish on the dials. I think that brand is a little underrated.
I had this feeling that this man knew class and quality
This video *COMFIRMED* that