I’m wearing a 42 year old Seiko Speedmaster I bought new in 1982. I had it serviced in 2022 and it’s a beautiful watch. It is an early example of the 7A28 movement that was used in the Ripley and Bond watches. It is a piece of history.
My highest respect to Seiko for manufacturing basically everything in-house. This week I'm wearing my Seiko 5 (app. 100 EUR) and it is amazing how good the blue dial plays with the sunlight. If it would been 39-40mm instead of 37mm, I probably would buy a few additional variants.
Seiko is a great brand to start with and to return to. My first ‘nice watch’ was a titanium kinetic SKH681. I was fascinated that it was powered by movement and not a removable battery & I loved the lightweight material. I purchased it with money from my high school graduation, and I still wear it (within my rotation) 22 years later.
Leaving aside that I was watching this while wearing my SBGN013 Grand Seiko GMT, I have to say, gentlemen, that you've outdone yourselves. Bravo! The banter with the cameraman, the generally relaxed language, the off kilter jokes, and even some colourful language: This is how it's done. I think it's the best Fratello Talks so far. Maybe it is because Seiko is so devoid of pretense that people feel they can speak about it in a relaxed way. I woudn't say I like Seiko, or that I'm a fan, I'd actually go so far as to say I love Seiko, including Credor and GS. Back in 2007, when I threw my highly unreliable Omega Speedmaster Reduced in the bin, I went to a small dealership, picked up a titanium Seiko quartz chronograph, and after 14 years of abuse it's still happily ticking away in a corner of my watch collection. My recent 5 purchases have all been Grand Seiko's and one SPB317. It seems cyclical: I started there, I feel I might end up there. It helps that I have a deep respect and fascination for Japanese culture and history, and for the joy that I have derived from Seiko's products over the years. I own 20 watches, in a variety of segments, half of which are (Grand/King/SJE) Seiko's, and half are Cartier, Nomos and others, but nowadays I am very hard pressed to strap anything on my wrist that is not a Seiko, somehow. Regarding the movements in the more expensive King Seiko's: The 6L based movements are thin, they are generally well regulated off the factory line, and they are solid performers over time. The fact that Seiko under delivers but over performs is clear to me here. I have two watches with that movement, and they are fantastic. The 6L is, in my book, on par with the higher grade ETA 2892-A2 series of movements, which itself is a sadly under-used movement in today's market.
Thanks, Chris! In the end we try and pick topics that we enjoy and run with it. Sometimes it works better than others, but for the most part we try to have fun with it and stick to the original concept behind Fratello Talks (which has evolved a bit at this point), which is to just share the conversations which we might have at HQ if the camera wasn't rolling. Thanks for tuning in!
Have to take my hat off for you guys. Amazing effort to make some relatable content for the avarege Joe's. Seiko is usually super underated among super high end/snob watch collectors. Felt like you were of your confort zone but manage to make a good show in the end. 🎉
I’ve had numerous Seikos over the years but I never end up keeping them. For me, the primary issue is that they are too thick and their movements don’t keep good enough time. I’ll put it on my winder for a few days in-between wears and I always have to adjust it because it’s off by a minute or two every time!
Seiko is a watch for the average man on an average income at the lower price point. A great manufacturer of watches for all tastes and can even produce high quality watches for those on higher incomes. I love them, even though some of their movements aren’t that accurate, but I guess if you are in to the accuracy thing, buy a quartz watch and Seiko do plenty of those.
Got my GS SBGW287 Boshu on today! You guys should give that a look if you haven't seen it before. It has that gorgeous burgundy/wine red dial, manual wind, 37.3mm case size, red strap. I also have my Dad's 1983 Arnie from when he was a Captain in the United States Air Force; he bought it BEFORE it became the Arnie!
Love the Seiko Presages. Specially the Cocktail Times, which can be obtained "dirt cheap" as worn... just bought Honeycomb for 400€ and is in perfect condition.
I have a bunch of Seiko watches, particular interest in dive watches, from the affordable Seiko 5s all the way to the high-end SLA series. Seiko has largely contributed to the world of horology history. Call me a Seikopath! 😂
Great conversation. I think it's unfortunate you can no longer get a Seiko 5 for under $100USD retail (maybe with a sale) however it's hard for me to not recommend Seiko one someone asks about what watch to get
I put the prospex king turtle with ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal up against many higher tier divers. Both looks, durability and history. You can’t beat that watch right now
The stated accuracy is always wrong I have a bunch of Seikos and they all run within in -5 +5 seconds a day….that in my opinion is pretty good for the price…which range from £200-£900 from a Seiko gmt to a sharp edge
That was fun guys, I enjoyed that. I really love Seiko, especially the 62MAS. Hoping to own a vintage one, one day. A few remarks from a Seiko Modder: 1. They’re easy to mod using household appliances, I.e. a rubber ball (opening the watch case), tweezers (removing the stem, removing the movement, removing the hands using a plastic grip bag), a bottle cap to set the movement on, little screwdrivers, blue tac to remove dust particles, etc. 2. They’re super easy to mod using the above appliances and an app on your phone. 3. You can create your own watch getting your favorite parts, e.g. I built “The Dark Knight)”, a combination of a Batman style dial and hands and a Bruce Wayne bezel insert, getting parts online: ua-cam.com/users/shortsoK5nP1eWL6Q?si=HAExFi5u8naF5sSt
I used to own five SPB models with 6R15 and 6R35 movements. I have now sold them all as I could no longer enjoy those watches with the wild variability of their timekeeping. I would regulate them myself but it wouldn't seem to matter, as they would always be running different every time you'd use them. With Seiko ever increasing the RRP of there watches, the 6R movement should really be put out to pasture. Particularly considering the Citizen owned 9000 series Miyota exists! I currently now own three SLA models (021, 051, 071) with 8L35 movements, and they have been vastly better experiences.
Regulating is a mixed bag. I have a model with a 6R55, and it was running around 50 to 55 seconds fast a day right out of the box. After Seiko serviced it, it was running +7-8 a day until settling into -3/4. I suspect they replaced the movement. Who knows how it will run in the future. These movements are too unpredictable.
The Seiko "we all love" is the one from 10 years-ago and earlier. They ruined almost every model, release too many model lines, make insignificant iterations every other year, celebrate too many anniversaries, JDM lost all its allure, the accuracy is even worse with their longer power reserve and it's a lot more expensive than before. I have a stack of cool old rare models but roll my eyes at every new release. The Seiko "we used to love" is more appropriate.
I strongly disagree, so many great JDM’s lately: the Baby Snowflake SARX055 is a masterpiece, the 2024 SBSC009 field GMT and the Alpinist GMT green dial are stunning
Things i like about Seiko: Beautiful Dials Polishing on the cases History and Heritage Lume Technological acheivements Things I dont like (especially in the 2,000 and below price point): Alignment issues Stated accuracy too underwhelming (hit and miss if it ends up being good or not) Too many limited editions with absurd quantities (1 /10,000 🤭)
The amount of disrespectful laughing going on though out this showed how much snobbery there is in the watch world ,the guys constantly laughing and then not knowing the reference number on this wrist, I bet if it had another five letters on the front they would know everything about it especially how much it worth, not everyone can afford five figures for their watch
Maybe it's the laughter of three friends chatting about watches? We certainly never mean any disrespect and enjoy our Seikos as much as any other watch we own.
Exactly! I saw many videos from enthusiasts talking about seiko and they are very different form than this crap, I thought they are the same but zero enthusiasm
Fratello have written tons of positive articles about Seiko as well as quite glowing reviews of some of their watches such as the SPB143. No doubt there is snobbery in the watch world, but the accusation here is misplaced.
8:57 Talk about peddling straight up misinformation about the C07 movements from the forum telephone game that counts for “discussion”. Honestly, is baffling that me, a lay person in watch community speak can look at pictures and find videos and figure out quickly that they, in fact, can be regulated. They are free sprung, and have weights on them. You are a watch outlet. You were supposed to know more than a schmuck like me. This is frustrating
Maybe he's referring to the System 51 movement which is laser regulated but not adjustable after it leaves the factory? For context, we had been talking about that earlier in the day. We are well aware that the C07 movement variants can be calibrated :)
Sadly I’m not a fan of seiko. The QC is atrocious and now that there’s so much competition in the market, I’m more likely to spend that money buying a Citizen or CW. Also thinking about studio underdog, Vulcan, Mr Jones watches and others.. yeah.. Seiko isn’t my cup of tea.
Used to be a fan. Currently own two. Sadly, during the past several years Seiko have made great effort to destroy their brand. They even managed to make the worst movement in the world among all serious brands (6R35).
I have been a long time Seiko fanboy. Things have changed quite a bit in my opinion because of all the folks selling aftermarket bracelets and straps. My 62MAS reissue was seriously lacking in accuracy. That is till I spent some time regulating it myself with a Weissi Timegrapher and I can now say it is running well within COSC specs for sure. Simply regulating the movement can really really make a huge difference in accuracy for sure. My first really good watch in my opinion was a Seiko. I’ve collected watches since I was 10years old and I’ve had everything from Rolex to Seiko and can say for sure a Seiko is going to be the watch I wear everyday for sure mainly cause I don’t have to worry about getting jacked for a Seiko. Nobody wants to steal and beat the hell out of you for a Seiko. I can’t say that about my Submariner. Just my opinion. Everyone has their own preferences.
Just find a nice vintage example and get it serviced. I found a nice one for $450 USD but you need to know what to look for. The majority of them out there have aftermarket parts.
Not everyone. They’re overpriced now. Especially since their stated accuracy is awful compared to similarly priced watches. Their lume is awesome though.
Is Thomas in his right mind? We shouldn’t care about accuracy? The time keeping aspect of any watch is time! If you pay hundreds or few thousand dollars, shouldn’t Seiko, such a big organisation, be able to regulate their watches?
Love Seiko - no one does dials like Seiko at or below Seiko prices. No one.
High quality watches, affordable prices, history and range.
Don't forget about Citizen.
I’m wearing a 42 year old Seiko Speedmaster I bought new in 1982. I had it serviced in 2022 and it’s a beautiful watch. It is an early example of the 7A28 movement that was used in the Ripley and Bond watches. It is a piece of history.
My highest respect to Seiko for manufacturing basically everything in-house.
This week I'm wearing my Seiko 5 (app. 100 EUR) and it is amazing how good the blue dial plays with the sunlight. If it would been 39-40mm instead of 37mm, I probably would buy a few additional variants.
Watching this wearing my King Seiko KSK SJE083. I absolutely love it! Gets about equal wrist time with my Speedy 3861.
Seiko is a great brand to start with and to return to. My first ‘nice watch’ was a titanium kinetic SKH681. I was fascinated that it was powered by movement and not a removable battery & I loved the lightweight material. I purchased it with money from my high school graduation, and I still wear it (within my rotation) 22 years later.
Leaving aside that I was watching this while wearing my SBGN013 Grand Seiko GMT, I have to say, gentlemen, that you've outdone yourselves. Bravo!
The banter with the cameraman, the generally relaxed language, the off kilter jokes, and even some colourful language: This is how it's done. I think it's the best Fratello Talks so far. Maybe it is because Seiko is so devoid of pretense that people feel they can speak about it in a relaxed way.
I woudn't say I like Seiko, or that I'm a fan, I'd actually go so far as to say I love Seiko, including Credor and GS. Back in 2007, when I threw my highly unreliable Omega Speedmaster Reduced in the bin, I went to a small dealership, picked up a titanium Seiko quartz chronograph, and after 14 years of abuse it's still happily ticking away in a corner of my watch collection. My recent 5 purchases have all been Grand Seiko's and one SPB317. It seems cyclical: I started there, I feel I might end up there.
It helps that I have a deep respect and fascination for Japanese culture and history, and for the joy that I have derived from Seiko's products over the years. I own 20 watches, in a variety of segments, half of which are (Grand/King/SJE) Seiko's, and half are Cartier, Nomos and others, but nowadays I am very hard pressed to strap anything on my wrist that is not a Seiko, somehow.
Regarding the movements in the more expensive King Seiko's: The 6L based movements are thin, they are generally well regulated off the factory line, and they are solid performers over time. The fact that Seiko under delivers but over performs is clear to me here. I have two watches with that movement, and they are fantastic. The 6L is, in my book, on par with the higher grade ETA 2892-A2 series of movements, which itself is a sadly under-used movement in today's market.
Thanks, Chris! In the end we try and pick topics that we enjoy and run with it. Sometimes it works better than others, but for the most part we try to have fun with it and stick to the original concept behind Fratello Talks (which has evolved a bit at this point), which is to just share the conversations which we might have at HQ if the camera wasn't rolling. Thanks for tuning in!
Original design, fit on wrist, and history are the biggest reasons why I’m a Seikohead.
All this and you don't need to hide it under a sleeve for fear of being robbed.
Seikopath 😅
Have to take my hat off for you guys. Amazing effort to make some relatable content for the avarege Joe's. Seiko is usually super underated among super high end/snob watch collectors. Felt like you were of your confort zone but manage to make a good show in the end. 🎉
Thanks! I think that to some of us Seiko is more so our comfort zone than some of the high-end watches we cover sometimes :)
Today I have bought in Osaka Umeda a 42mm automatic Seiko with black dial for 100 Euros. Unbeatable!
I’ve had numerous Seikos over the years but I never end up keeping them. For me, the primary issue is that they are too thick and their movements don’t keep good enough time. I’ll put it on my winder for a few days in-between wears and I always have to adjust it because it’s off by a minute or two every time!
Are you recording in the middle of the night? I saw the date was about to switch on nachos watch was it?
Seiko are the only watches you need. I love that you can buy several for less than the price of one low level Swiss watch
Seiko is a watch for the average man on an average income at the lower price point. A great manufacturer of watches for all tastes and can even produce high quality watches for those on higher incomes. I love them, even though some of their movements aren’t that accurate, but I guess if you are in to the accuracy thing, buy a quartz watch and Seiko do plenty of those.
Got my GS SBGW287 Boshu on today! You guys should give that a look if you haven't seen it before. It has that gorgeous burgundy/wine red dial, manual wind, 37.3mm case size, red strap. I also have my Dad's 1983 Arnie from when he was a Captain in the United States Air Force; he bought it BEFORE it became the Arnie!
Love the Seiko Presages. Specially the Cocktail Times, which can be obtained "dirt cheap" as worn... just bought Honeycomb for 400€ and is in perfect condition.
I have a bunch of Seiko watches, particular interest in dive watches, from the affordable Seiko 5s all the way to the high-end SLA series. Seiko has largely contributed to the world of horology history. Call me a Seikopath! 😂
Great conversation. I think it's unfortunate you can no longer get a Seiko 5 for under $100USD retail (maybe with a sale) however it's hard for me to not recommend Seiko one someone asks about what watch to get
Love my Seiko sport 5 line, Seiko Arnie and looking forward to get the seiko Turtle "Capt Willard"...
I put the prospex king turtle with ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal up against many higher tier divers. Both looks, durability and history. You can’t beat that watch right now
The stated accuracy is always wrong I have a bunch of Seikos and they all run within in -5 +5 seconds a day….that in my opinion is pretty good for the price…which range from £200-£900 from a Seiko gmt to a sharp edge
Alpinist.. Presage porcelain/enamel .. King... Grand Seiko... Credor... What else? Seiko family is the best. Hands down.
That was fun guys, I enjoyed that.
I really love Seiko, especially the 62MAS. Hoping to own a vintage one, one day.
A few remarks from a Seiko Modder:
1. They’re easy to mod using household appliances, I.e. a rubber ball (opening the watch case), tweezers (removing the stem, removing the movement, removing the hands using a plastic grip bag), a bottle cap to set the movement on, little screwdrivers, blue tac to remove dust particles, etc.
2. They’re super easy to mod using the above appliances and an app on your phone.
3. You can create your own watch getting your favorite parts, e.g. I built “The Dark Knight)”, a combination of a Batman style dial and hands and a Bruce Wayne bezel insert, getting parts online:
ua-cam.com/users/shortsoK5nP1eWL6Q?si=HAExFi5u8naF5sSt
I used to own five SPB models with 6R15 and 6R35 movements. I have now sold them all as I could no longer enjoy those watches with the wild variability of their timekeeping. I would regulate them myself but it wouldn't seem to matter, as they would always be running different every time you'd use them. With Seiko ever increasing the RRP of there watches, the 6R movement should really be put out to pasture. Particularly considering the Citizen owned 9000 series Miyota exists! I currently now own three SLA models (021, 051, 071) with 8L35 movements, and they have been vastly better experiences.
Accuracy is trash. That might sound harsh, but I don’t think so. They should make an effort to improve that if they plan to keep raising prices.
Regulating is a mixed bag. I have a model with a 6R55, and it was running around 50 to 55 seconds fast a day right out of the box. After Seiko serviced it, it was running +7-8 a day until settling into -3/4. I suspect they replaced the movement.
Who knows how it will run in the future. These movements are too unpredictable.
The Seiko "we all love" is the one from 10 years-ago and earlier. They ruined almost every model, release too many model lines, make insignificant iterations every other year, celebrate too many anniversaries, JDM lost all its allure, the accuracy is even worse with their longer power reserve and it's a lot more expensive than before. I have a stack of cool old rare models but roll my eyes at every new release. The Seiko "we used to love" is more appropriate.
I strongly disagree, so many great JDM’s lately: the Baby Snowflake SARX055 is a masterpiece, the 2024 SBSC009 field GMT and the Alpinist GMT green dial are stunning
Things i like about Seiko:
Beautiful Dials
Polishing on the cases
History and Heritage
Lume
Technological acheivements
Things I dont like (especially in the 2,000 and below price point):
Alignment issues
Stated accuracy too underwhelming (hit and miss if it ends up being good or not)
Too many limited editions with absurd quantities (1 /10,000 🤭)
Sexy Lexi was really on fire in this one! Great episode.
The amount of disrespectful laughing going on though out this showed how much snobbery there is in the watch world ,the guys constantly laughing and then not knowing the reference number on this wrist, I bet if it had another five letters on the front they would know everything about it especially how much it worth, not everyone can afford five figures for their watch
Maybe it's the laughter of three friends chatting about watches? We certainly never mean any disrespect and enjoy our Seikos as much as any other watch we own.
Exactly! I saw many videos from enthusiasts talking about seiko and they are very different form than this crap, I thought they are the same but zero enthusiasm
Fratello have written tons of positive articles about Seiko as well as quite glowing reviews of some of their watches such as the SPB143.
No doubt there is snobbery in the watch world, but the accusation here is misplaced.
8:57 Talk about peddling straight up misinformation about the C07 movements from the forum telephone game that counts for “discussion”. Honestly, is baffling that me, a lay person in watch community speak can look at pictures and find videos and figure out quickly that they, in fact, can be regulated. They are free sprung, and have weights on them. You are a watch outlet. You were supposed to know more than a schmuck like me. This is frustrating
Maybe he's referring to the System 51 movement which is laser regulated but not adjustable after it leaves the factory? For context, we had been talking about that earlier in the day. We are well aware that the C07 movement variants can be calibrated :)
Sadly I’m not a fan of seiko. The QC is atrocious and now that there’s so much competition in the market, I’m more likely to spend that money buying a Citizen or CW. Also thinking about studio underdog, Vulcan, Mr Jones watches and others.. yeah.. Seiko isn’t my cup of tea.
Any subject -
Nacho - BUT HUM...BUT HUM...YEAH
but hum... !
Remember Seiko LX…
Used to be a fan. Currently own two. Sadly, during the past several years Seiko have made great effort to destroy their brand. They even managed to make the worst movement in the world among all serious brands (6R35).
I don’t love Seiko. Not a fan of their bracelets or accuracy specs.
I have been a long time Seiko fanboy. Things have changed quite a bit in my opinion because of all the folks selling aftermarket bracelets and straps. My 62MAS reissue was seriously lacking in accuracy. That is till I spent some time regulating it myself with a Weissi Timegrapher and I can now say it is running well within COSC specs for sure. Simply regulating the movement can really really make a huge difference in accuracy for sure. My first really good watch in my opinion was a Seiko. I’ve collected watches since I was 10years old and I’ve had everything from Rolex to Seiko and can say for sure a Seiko is going to be the watch I wear everyday for sure mainly cause I don’t have to worry about getting jacked for a Seiko. Nobody wants to steal and beat the hell out of you for a Seiko. I can’t say that about my Submariner. Just my opinion. Everyone has their own preferences.
We need the a Pogue auto chronograph reissue.
18mm thick with a stamped clasp with 1 micro adjust when it arrives for 5k usd
Just find a nice vintage example and get it serviced. I found a nice one for $450 USD but you need to know what to look for. The majority of them out there have aftermarket parts.
Seiko are overpriced now
Seiko is gaining in popularity, that means that we all have to pay more just for the brand.
Everyone? Count me out
Seiko = Toyota
Grand Seiko = Lexus
Credor = Toyota Century
Wrong. Grand Seiko: BMW.
Not everyone. They’re overpriced now. Especially since their stated accuracy is awful compared to similarly priced watches. Their lume is awesome though.
I dont. In my life, I have never clicked on a Seiko article from any online site. Dont get it. Toyota carola of watches.
The QC on the Corolla is definitely better...
I don't like Seiko and there pretend Sapphire hardlex crystal. So much better value from other brands.
Is Thomas in his right mind? We shouldn’t care about accuracy? The time keeping aspect of any watch is time! If you pay hundreds or few thousand dollars, shouldn’t Seiko, such a big organisation, be able to regulate their watches?
Buy a quartz watch if accuracy is so important to you. Seiko do plenty of those. Anyway, time is in an inaccurate concept in the first place!
@@JamesAlexander14 if I can buy a mechanical for +/-2sec per day, I prefer it from a quartz.
#SeikoSucks
I don’t like Seiko so I guess I can split this one…😂😂
Not everyone… crappy bracelets, overpriced, lousy qc, too many special editions, shitty accuracy, … etc
😂
Sounds like you’re talking about Omega 😂