Great review. When the Minamo was announced, with its 9-series case, 120-hour power reserve and ±10-second accuracy, I was excited, but hesitated for a moment when I saw the price. However, my hesitation dissipated when I heard that the design of the beautiful dial was based on the image of Lake Suwa. This is because Minamo's birthplace, Shiojiri, where the Seiko factory is located, is also the birthplace of my mother and my second hometown, and Suwa Lake is a symbol of that hometown. Even now, as I write this comment, the beautiful surface of Lake Suwa is shining on my arm. It is truly a masterpiece of beauty, precision, and comfort.
Sometimes I just stare at the dial and forget to actually check the time. It was part of an anniversary pair making our first luxury watch purchases along with the Cartier Santos Medium you helped us settle on. Tempted to also get an Omiwatari to have sport and dress watches depicting the same lake in summer and winter... just need to eat nothing but oats for 2 years. Aside, it's deviated less than a second in 12 days. Killer design.
Wow! Glad my Santos video helped with the Cartier pick up. I am also tempted by the Omiwatari since it is thin and has the power reserve on the caseback.
I love this watch so much I will have to take out a mortgage!! The Dial, is beautiful, plus moving the power indicator to the back, excellent. Spring Drive is the greatest innovation in Horology. (Period). 🙂
I saw your thumbnail, and immediately said, "yooo..." Clicked through, and you start with "yooo..." Two of a mind. And stellar piece. Omiwatari has been top of my wishlist -- but trading in my love of the small size and finish of the Elegance line for an automatic Spring Drive and a bracelet... Tough choice for me!! 😆
Hahaha! All real reactions here. I was blown away. Tough choices between the SBGY007 and SLGA007 although I’ll probably lean towards the SBGY since I want a more dressy piece
What a beauty ! 😱🔥😎 I like the PR indicator at the back. Still have the complication but keeps the dial clean. I would have prefer a no-date to have an even cleaner dial. 👍🔥😎
They knocked it out of the park with these (as with the seasons watches). Really shits on a Datejust but people still line up for those. I think people are catching on to GS fast though...
I wish I had purchased the Lake Suwa! This is a must have for any Grand Seiko collector! It is such a gorgeous watch and one of my favorites although when it comes to Grand Seiko there are too many favorites 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. One thing I hope they do in the future is to eliminate the stupid lion decal on sapphire glass backs.
Hi Derek, Good review! And i’m not entirely objective because I was able to get the ‘Minamo’. And I agree totally with your observation that they are hard to obtain. Thanks for the review. Cheers
One of a kind watch from GS. Absolutely prominent release for sure. It took quite a good time and chunk of money but I am so happy with my decision. It just stands out among my other highend collection.
Had this for less than a year. Evo 9 case is just weird, hated the 22mm to 20mm taper. Loved the spot-on accuracy tho. Recently bought the Shūbun and now I'm a happy cow. I hope they make a 9SA5 / 9RA2 in a 62GS next 🤞🏻.
I found that the lugs of this slga007 is different than the White Birch,47.6mm vs 47mm ,makes it looks sharper and slimmer, and the white birch looks more rounder ,don't know why they change the spec....may be different movement?
That's a good observation, the White Birch Series 9 case has slight differences compared to the Minamo case especially when comparing the crowns. I should have included that detail!
I never minded the power reserve, it made it look different than a standard watch. Like an indication of something more advanced going on. I’d rather see some of these watches at 38mm.
first, it's steel band, hard to watch it on the back. Second, how an indicator useful if we hard to see it ...anyway, nice dial. I believe we should bring that power indicator at rear of dial
I wonder if models with the power reserve on the dial will appreciate in the future, I feel like the hype around clean dials could see the design feature retired shortly.
Just like the old “Seiko GS Seiko” logo watches. I think it will still be a long way before all Spring Drive watches utilize the power reserve on the back since currently it is only on the Series 9 design in the 9RA5 and not the standard 9R65 movements
@@MinuteMon yeah that’s true, I’m not even sure if it could be done well on an automatic with the rotor obstructing the power reserve. I don’t know, maybe they’ll do away with the complication on autos, it doesn’t seem overly popular.
Grand Seiko wide price range is one of the reason I'm a fan . Good thing is all there watches are built to the same quality nother luxury brand can make that claim
Yes even despite the new price category in the Series 9, the quality at the $2-3k quartz level is seriously impressive and follows that trend upwards. Albeit - most people would rather pay for a GS between the standard $5-7k range
Grand Seiko is not all that GRAND. Bought a brand new Lake Suwa Ref SLGA021 with the Spring Drive in Japan after hearing how great GS was. It's supposed to have a 5 day power reserve. I got the watch for a family member as a gift thinking this would truly be a watch he could enjoy for years to come. Never wore or sized the watch. Absolutely brand new from authorized Grand Seiko dealer in Japan. I just opened it up and wound the power reserve to near full and hoped to see it last for up to 5 days. Two days later I go back to see the watch that's in the box and it's stopped running! Now this can't be normal right? Since I don't live in Japan I couldn't go back to the selling dealer. So I went to my local GS dealer in my country and he said this is not normal. He said let us bring it to our Grand Seiko watch repair center to see what they say. 4 days later they tell me oh this is something ONLY Japan can repair and because this model is so new we are not equipped to repair this! I said so I paid about for a new watch and it has to go back to Japan for about a month or more to get repaired? I requested that Grand Seiko simply replace the unit with a new unit and he said they could not do that. I find this practice to be unethical, poor business sense, and a quick way to lose brand loyalty, of which they have not even yet established yet. SO basically I have to pay in full, never get any use from the purchase, and it has to go to Japan for repairs for God knows how long. Not sure Grand Seiko Marketing or Director of Sales would find this remedy to be fair. Anyways, that's my experience with GS so far and no I won't recommend this brand to anyone. Pretty much at my wits end, if you have any suggestions or recommendations please send them my way. Thank you for your informative video.
Very nice. Like all the specs. Just the fatter hour hand annoys me compared to the other models, looks wrong IMO compared to the minute hand. Female end links would make this fit more people too.
So far people have told me they’ve been getting incredible accuracy- pretty much the .5 second per day or better. Unfortunately you can’t measure Spring Drive on a Timegrapher
You might be able to flip the DJ and come up with some $$ to help pay for the GS. I own this GS now and just dumped my DJ for a tidy profit. Not looking back - GS is the better watch for sure!
Overall, a decent looking watch. Great looking movement. However, the dial design bothers me. Both the 12 o'clock marker and hour hand look out of place.
Gd this watch is too good. I love it but also am scared I wouldn’t like it in person for some reason. Don’t got the cash for this one either way hahaha.
Great review.
When the Minamo was announced, with its 9-series case, 120-hour power reserve and ±10-second accuracy, I was excited, but hesitated for a moment when I saw the price. However, my hesitation dissipated when I heard that the design of the beautiful dial was based on the image of Lake Suwa. This is because Minamo's birthplace, Shiojiri, where the Seiko factory is located, is also the birthplace of my mother and my second hometown, and Suwa Lake is a symbol of that hometown.
Even now, as I write this comment, the beautiful surface of Lake Suwa is shining on my arm.
It is truly a masterpiece of beauty, precision, and comfort.
That’s a beautiful connection to the Minamo and also back to your roots of your mother and home. Hope you wear it in great health!
Totally agree and I love how they incorporate nature into their watches. I love nature so this resonates with me!
How much is this in Japan? Beautiful story.
Spring drive has amazing accuracy. My 9r65 has only gained 1 sec in over 6 weeks since I purchased it, awesome!
Amazing! I love spring drive
Picked up mine earlier this week - love it to death, truely got it all😎👍👍
Sometimes I just stare at the dial and forget to actually check the time. It was part of an anniversary pair making our first luxury watch purchases along with the Cartier Santos Medium you helped us settle on. Tempted to also get an Omiwatari to have sport and dress watches depicting the same lake in summer and winter... just need to eat nothing but oats for 2 years.
Aside, it's deviated less than a second in 12 days. Killer design.
Wow! Glad my Santos video helped with the Cartier pick up. I am also tempted by the Omiwatari since it is thin and has the power reserve on the caseback.
I've never wanted a watch so badly. Love it
Phenomenal... The dial looks amazing, even the bracelet. And spring drive... Great review too. 👍
Just had a chance to get one, so I started to think about it, then quit that mess and just ordered it. Can't wait to wear it.
EXACTLY! Don't even bother questioning it. Haha.
The Patek tiffany sweater look great!
Thanks I’m thinking to auction it… 🤔
I love this watch so much I will have to take out a mortgage!! The Dial, is beautiful, plus moving the power indicator to the back, excellent. Spring Drive is the greatest innovation in Horology. (Period). 🙂
It's absolutely stunner. Thank you for sharing and happy holiday.
Happy Holidays! Glad you enjoyed it
Simply stunning! Thanks for sharing and great video 🍻
Glad you enjoyed it!
I saw your thumbnail, and immediately said, "yooo..." Clicked through, and you start with "yooo..." Two of a mind. And stellar piece.
Omiwatari has been top of my wishlist -- but trading in my love of the small size and finish of the Elegance line for an automatic Spring Drive and a bracelet... Tough choice for me!! 😆
Hahaha! All real reactions here. I was blown away. Tough choices between the SBGY007 and SLGA007 although I’ll probably lean towards the SBGY since I want a more dressy piece
What a beauty ! 😱🔥😎
I like the PR indicator at the back. Still have the complication but keeps the dial clean.
I would have prefer a no-date to have an even cleaner dial. 👍🔥😎
You and me both!
Wow !!! 🤩 … will it increase in value like the whirlpool?
Amazing time piece
This should be done for every Spring Drive
I'm sure we'll see more 9RA2 spring drives down the road, but they won't be priced under $7k
They knocked it out of the park with these (as with the seasons watches).
Really shits on a Datejust but people still line up for those. I think people are catching on to GS fast though...
Gorgeous watch and nearly perfect!
That spring drive seconds hand movement is mesmerizing.
The waiting list for this in the UK is now 4-6 months, crazy
This watch is a gamechanger for GS!
Nice review! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Please make more Grand Seikos without a date complication !
And some 36mm please ☺
Great review! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing video well done respect
Much appreciated
Beautiful man
Grand Seiko is amazing
Nice watch. It looks really good on you!
Niceee video! I love the minamo just like you do lol 😁
Dude! I can’t wait for your video!! Maybe a side by side with another GS too? 😉
An Example of trying to please everyone is a losing proposition. I like the power reserve in the front. Others don't. Either way looks good to me.
Great review and a beautiful watch!
I wish I had purchased the Lake Suwa! This is a must have for any Grand Seiko collector! It is such a gorgeous watch and one of my favorites although when it comes to Grand Seiko there are too many favorites 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. One thing I hope they do in the future is to eliminate the stupid lion decal on sapphire glass backs.
Hi Derek,
Good review! And i’m not entirely objective because I was able to get the ‘Minamo’. And I agree totally with your observation that they are hard to obtain. Thanks for the review.
Cheers
I won’t even be able to get one myself unfortunately due to its high popularity
I’ve got a Pam 1033 and it also has the indicator on the back , thanks
One of a kind watch from GS. Absolutely prominent release for sure. It took quite a good time and chunk of money but I am so happy with my decision.
It just stands out among my other highend collection.
Congrats!
Beautiful
I preferred it on the front was a nice feature!
Another great review. Thanks Derek. This one is stunning! Make the rotor in gold (or gold colored)! 😍
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video
Agreed …!
I really want the omiwitari that comes with automatic a movement or the lake suwa without the date in the omiwitari case.
Had this for less than a year. Evo 9 case is just weird, hated the 22mm to 20mm taper. Loved the spot-on accuracy tho. Recently bought the Shūbun and now I'm a happy cow. I hope they make a 9SA5 / 9RA2 in a 62GS next 🤞🏻.
Beauty
I found that the lugs of this slga007 is different than the White Birch,47.6mm vs 47mm ,makes it looks sharper and slimmer, and the white birch looks more rounder ,don't know why they change the spec....may be different movement?
That's a good observation, the White Birch Series 9 case has slight differences compared to the Minamo case especially when comparing the crowns. I should have included that detail!
Great video review I am lucky I was able to get one.
Boy you can cash out on that sweater big money 💰 I’m taking heavy bags :)
Great video, wondering how much weight is this masterpiece? Thank you
I never minded the power reserve, it made it look different than a standard watch. Like an indication of something more advanced going on. I’d rather see some of these watches at 38mm.
Looks fantastic. Glad GS is listening to their customers. Now, if they could just start making better bracelets and clasps.
I can’t wait till GS start making gold watches with the all gold bracelet to
match. 👍
I think GS is definitely listening to what their customers want, I'm sure in due time there will be a new bracelet and clasp in the future.
@@JaeWhite140 they have some gold bracelet, if you have 50k
@@glenbuyer8738 I would love to see them. 👍
@@JaeWhite140 sbga364 is one reference.
Nice review. What is the L2L including the end links please? Thanks.
Good looking watch
first, it's steel band, hard to watch it on the back. Second, how an indicator useful if we hard to see it ...anyway, nice dial. I believe we should bring that power indicator at rear of dial
Gorgeous😍
that watch is impressive!
There is one of these sitting in an A.D. shop window at Tappers: West Bloomfield, MI
I wonder if models with the power reserve on the dial will appreciate in the future, I feel like the hype around clean dials could see the design feature retired shortly.
Just like the old “Seiko GS Seiko” logo watches. I think it will still be a long way before all Spring Drive watches utilize the power reserve on the back since currently it is only on the Series 9 design in the 9RA5 and not the standard 9R65 movements
@@MinuteMon yeah that’s true, I’m not even sure if it could be done well on an automatic with the rotor obstructing the power reserve. I don’t know, maybe they’ll do away with the complication on autos, it doesn’t seem overly popular.
Imagine if they put this movement in the brown or blue whirlpool cookie dial
That would be awesome
Grand Seiko wide price range is one of the reason I'm a fan . Good thing is all there watches are built to the same quality nother luxury brand can make that claim
Yes even despite the new price category in the Series 9, the quality at the $2-3k quartz level is seriously impressive and follows that trend upwards. Albeit - most people would rather pay for a GS between the standard $5-7k range
I wonder if anyone is still selling this new
40mm by 22mm. I must try this on.
Grand Seiko is not all that GRAND.
Bought a brand new Lake Suwa Ref SLGA021 with the Spring Drive in Japan after hearing how great GS was.
It's supposed to have a 5 day power reserve. I got the watch for a family member as a gift thinking this would truly be a watch he could enjoy for years to come.
Never wore or sized the watch. Absolutely brand new from authorized Grand Seiko dealer in Japan. I just opened it up and wound the power reserve to near full and hoped to see it last for up to 5 days. Two days later I go back to see the watch that's in the box and it's stopped running! Now this can't be normal right? Since I don't live in Japan I couldn't go back to the selling dealer. So I went to my local GS dealer in my country and he said this is not normal. He said let us bring it to our Grand Seiko watch repair center to see what they say. 4 days later they tell me oh this is something ONLY Japan can repair and because this model is so new we are not equipped to repair this!
I said so I paid about for a new watch and it has to go back to Japan for about a month or more to get repaired? I requested that Grand Seiko simply replace the unit with a new unit and he said they could not do that. I find this practice to be unethical, poor business sense, and a quick way to lose brand loyalty, of which they have not even yet established yet.
SO basically I have to pay in full, never get any use from the purchase, and it has to go to Japan for repairs for God knows how long.
Not sure Grand Seiko Marketing or Director of Sales would find this remedy to be fair.
Anyways, that's my experience with GS so far and no I won't recommend this brand to anyone. Pretty much at my wits end, if you have any suggestions or recommendations please send them my way.
Thank you for your informative video.
All the gold color is it real gold?
The date window should have been blue or removed, otherwise nice.
Very nice. Like all the specs. Just the fatter hour hand annoys me compared to the other models, looks wrong IMO compared to the minute hand. Female end links would make this fit more people too.
I know, stupid move with the fatter sword hand. Almost looks as stupid and out of place as the Tudor Snowflake disaster hand.
How does the bracelet compare to the SBGH273?
I think that watch is a better deal and sharper offering than this...
how much is this for in USA?
I see the Glasses returned? Or was this all filmed during the same time? 🤣
My first and last appearance with my glasses (limited edition) 😂
@@MinuteMon Limited to 2021?
Id take the white birch
Has anyone done the accuracy test on this watch yet?
So far people have told me they’ve been getting incredible accuracy- pretty much the .5 second per day or better. Unfortunately you can’t measure Spring Drive on a Timegrapher
I am torn between this and a Rolex datejust (I can source one at msrp). Ugh.
You might be able to flip the DJ and come up with some $$ to help pay for the GS. I own this GS now and just dumped my DJ for a tidy profit. Not looking back - GS is the better watch for sure!
YOOOOOOOOOOOO CHEEZEBERGERSSSSSSSSSSSS 🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔
All the bergers!!!
Overall, a decent looking watch. Great looking movement. However, the dial design bothers me. Both the 12 o'clock marker and hour hand look out of place.
I think most people either love it or hate it
It bothers me that this is a limited edition…it should have been a permanent addition
Ils sont trop fort (they're too strong)
GS prices are going up now...
Gd this watch is too good. I love it but also am scared I wouldn’t like it in person for some reason. Don’t got the cash for this one either way hahaha.
Not to be difficult but a half a second a day amounts to 15 seconds a month.
According to Grand Seiko half a second per day is their 10 second a month accuracy, while one second per day is their 15 second per month accuracy
Grand a Seiko finishing blows away Rolex. On par my butt.
The Bracelet should be 20mm. 22mm looks weird.
Sbgy007 looks better overall.
I love the SBGY007
The big fat hour hand is strange.
Half a second a day!!!! Wow, impressive!.
Just like my 15dollar chinese quartz with plastic gears
sad face because I just knew about this just now. :/
GS > Rolex .... hahahahha
The hands are too thick and marker at 12 same. Not getting the vibe.
meh. With the price of the Seikos having gone into nose bleed territory they really need do something other than more of the same.
“5 days” kills the dial
And then all the “Limited Edition” is getting old!
Also getting to submariner pricing, ok not sure about this
Geez. It seems its hard to please the crowd today. And what does a Submariner have to do with this watch? Apples and oranges....
Unless 5 days becomes the normal power reserve, it definitely deserves to be on the dial since that’s a mighty feat
LMK where you can find a submariner at retail price :)