7 Reasons ROLEX Continues to Outshine Grand SEIKO
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- Rolex vs. Grand Seiko. In this video, we dive into the lively debate of Rolex vs. Grand Seiko. Discover the 7 key reasons why Rolex stands out as the superior choice for watch enthusiasts. From unparalleled craftsmanship to unmatched brand prestige, we break down the factors that set Rolex apart. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the world of luxury watches, this detailed comparison will give you valuable insights. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more watch-related content!
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0:00 Intro
1:00 Reason One: Lume
1:46 Reason Two: Wearability
2:50 Reason Three: Bracelets
3:50 Reason Four: Resale
4:35 Reason Five: Name Recognition
5:15 Reason Six: Servicing
6:25 Reason Six Again: Range
4:41 Reason SevenAgain: Model Range
9:18 Closeout
Disclosures:
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Ciao Sam, I hope this finds you and your family well.
Not a fan of green dials in general, but I must say, I adore your DJ, just stunning. Wonderful video as always. I had no idea the GS had such poor resale, then again, great for finding a deal I suppose? I'm obviously in the Rolex camp, but I am warming to GS. Interestingly, my "issues", (if you can call it that), with GS are so different. If I ever find the time I would love to do a video like this, maybe next year 🤣🙏 KBO!
Ta ta
T.
P.s. OMG, that Root beer at @5:20 🔥🔥🔥
Hey TGV, thanks. Yep absolutely let me know you’re always welcome on my channel.
Get in on the SBGW line man! some of the best GS dress watches are in there.
I don’t want to create a controversy but the comparison here is between a high quality but mass produced watch (over 1 million a year) versus Grand Seiko which I believe prouduces approximately 60,OOO watches a year predominantly by hand. A greater proportion of the Rolex price tag is a marketing cost. I’ve been collecting watches for over 40 years and have owned a large number or Rolex and GS watches. I’ve worked in Supply Chain for 25 years and unfortunately Ben the cost of a Grand Seiko has a far greater labour component compared to a Rolex. Empirically the brands are different in their cost and manufacturing structure. Both are fabulous and to be admired. Sorry!
Thanks, all great points!
@@CasualWatchReviews agreed, this video isn't about the quality and design, technology, and talking about resale, values, rolex are machine made, mass producted marketing monster,
This whole video is disingenuous and all to do with views, as the bloke knows rolex videos get more views
Well this is a good test for sure. If viewers want to see more like this the views will be a good indication. I do loads of other watch content as you will see and I did own both of the watches in this upload so I’m giving my genuine thoughts
Grand seiko as a whole is not better than Rolex, they lack consistency and a strong identity. They lack overall refinement. They have so far to go.
It doesn't matter how much GS puts hand labor into watches. The bottom line is Rolex makes watches where designs and wearability appeals to a lot more people. GS watches tend to be more dressy in their design language. You really have like what they're offering to enjoy GS. If you mean marketing as in knowing what most people out there want in a watch, then yes Rolex does a great job marketing.
All great points. I’d add another one: I hate all the GS limited editions. There have been a few GS models that have interested me, but they were limited editions set aside for another country or continent. I guess GS wants to keep its SKUs under control, but they leave me feeling left out.
but i still want a Spring Drive Diver one day.
Rolex watches are fantastic,however the snobbery and the waiting periods are on another level .
Grand seiko needs to improve on the clasps ..they are to flimsy and not secure as a Rolex clasp ..
I personally prefer Omega than Rolex or grand seiko ..
Better price ,great quality and fantastic range ..
The customer service at omega is second to none..No snobbery and you don’t have to wait for years like Rolex
That's why I bought GS in leather strap.
You nailed it!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for your insightful video. I once had the Rolex Explorer II 226570, which was great but I sold it (resale value, as you mentioned). I now have the Grand Seiko SBGE285. Best watch I’ve ever had. Still, I can understand if folks have a negative experience with GS, particularly their bracelets (which are fine for me). Anyway, cheers!
I tried on a GS yesterday, it was the quartz GMT, that watch ticked all the boxes for me and it was very much in the Goldilocks zone. yes yes I agree about micro adjustment on the bracelet but a lot of that is because populist sales, they allow you to develop those things. in the case of the watch I tried on that is going to be absolutely astonishing for a quartz. Worth noting monta has that bracelet quality so you are paying an awful lot of money when it comes to Rolex. I think personally the criticism is valid in the lower end steel models which have seen huge amounts of inflation.
Good points all around. I think where GS shines is with *dress* watches (not a popular segment of the watch market). Their sport watches are oddly styled, poorly proportioned and too dressy for my taste. On the other hand, GS dress watches are superb in many ways and even represent a "reasonable" value for what you are getting.
I think you’re spot on. If I was buying one again I would go for a dressier one like the vintage one.
I've had three Rolex, still have one of those, I just never had the urge to look hard at Seiko. I'. pretty sure I did have a Seiko when I was a kid at one time or another.
I have both GS and Rolex, and I gravitate towards Rolex every time everyday. There’s something off about GS, whether the case shape, dimensions, bracelet or overpolished cases making it feel less of a tool…
Thanks for the video, but I’ll still pick the GS -wearing ‘experience’
(and not just for the character/quality of the designs)
One unexpected but fun/rewarding characteristic? the community!
the impromptu conversations w/ people I meet when out wearing the GS , is on a different level than with Rolex.
Truly interesting, engaging characters, vs. , well…you know.
I think you are correct
Agree with all your points, the only thing I would say is when I look at pre used, I’m not seeing any bargains! On the whole they bottom out the same as nearly all others. Look at Moser or Bvguari both excellent however drop like a stone after purchase, that’s normal. Rolex pre used is not normalised yet. Go back to 2015 and it wasn’t the way with them either, still a bit better to see but not stronger which is everything to do with brand recognition
This is a great point Mell, I do see a lot of people unwilling to go lower on GS. But if you looks at the charts on Chrono24 or the 'sold' ones on ebay, some really take a bath... like I did on the two I sold.
Many good points! I agree wholeheartedly and personally would add marketing to your list. I’m tired of the forced stories about nature and the constant limited editions that often are better looking than their flagship models.
Your points are all valid, but I still bought 2 GS and no Rolex watches. I fully agree with you about your clunky spring drive sports watch, the bracelets, the lume, and the resale value, but my spring drive model is a 40mm titanium 62gs model which is far less clunky, I wear it on a strap, it has no lume, and I am not selling it.
Rolex’ designs are far more consistent than Grand Seiko‘s, but I‘d rather have a brand that sometimes produces a great watch and sometimes a crap one. Rolex has great quality but the designs make me yawn.
Hey thanks for watching and giving your opinion. Glad you like yours. I really wanted to love the ones I got but I never warmed to them.
Sam, have you tried the 62GS case (I recently bought a Ginza LE sbgh315) and compared to my Rolexes (40 & 41 mm subs, Batman GMT, 39mm OP) the GS wears much better.
The GS bracelet: i really don’t get why everyone is complaining about the GS bracelets. I guess it’s easy howling with the wolves 😢.
Have you noticed the poor case polishing on Rolexes lately? That was shocking when I npticed it.
I have a grand seiko and omega speedmaster and seamaster. The omega watches get the maximum wrist time as they are so comfortable.
I think your video is very fair. GS is best bought pre-owned per its loss of value as you state. As others have said, the two watch brands are probably more different than similar. But for the price they are near the same level.
I would agree with mostly all the points with the exception of price. Of course this is arbitrary to some degree, but I cant see how Rolex's prices are justified compared to any other brand including GS. When comparing pre-owned unworn conditioned watches, Omega, zenith, GS, Breitling etc. all seem to offer more value for money. Even the sister brand Tudor offer a steel diver that comes close to the Sub for nearly half the price
Yep I totally see your point, used Breitling is a good deal.
All fair points Sam. As we know Rolex makes around 1.2million machine-made watches a year. They are of excellent quality and really well designed, no question. I would observe that if your concern is for resale, today you’ll also be disappointed if you try to sell your Rolex to a dealer. And Rolex is like Fame, to paraphrase the film/tv series; “Rolex servicing costs, and here’s where you start payin’ “. You also don’t buy a Rolex for exclusivity, and partly because there are so many out there they don’t have the caché, nor the cool, they once had. Nevertheless they are very well made. Then again you can buy a Proxima with a O-style case and O-style bracelet with OTF micro-adjust (and their own design of hands and dial), which I have done and it too is supremely comfortable, beautifully made and its PT5000 movement runs +2 secs per day…for £140 incl taxes. So…whatever works for you. 👍
Thanks for watching mate! Good points!
GS vs Rolex, not a proper comparison, the correct one is "GS vs Patek"... Rolex brand is a full marketing hype, that's all...
No😂😂😂 grand seiko is nowhere near Patek level. GS fan boys are deluded.
What you say makes a lot of sense. 💪 Rolex does seem better at all the tangibles
many of the factors you are talking about are not relevant to the enthusiast area so generally the person who buys that Rolex probably wonders where the battery is going to go .talking about the pitfalls but we not talking about the pitfalls of being able to walk into the shop and buy the watch in the first .
Most of the things you have talked about are indeed down to name recognition.
if you are an enthusiast, you are going to put up with some of the pitfalls.
No one complains about the butterfly clasps od AP and Omega's are the worst
Rolex and Grand Seiko are not directly comparable. Rolex watches are mass-produced, whereas Grand Seiko watches are produced in low volumes and largely handmade. It's akin to comparing an assembly line-made Audi to a hand-built Aston Martin. Both have their own merits and drawbacks.
If you desire a finely crafted, handmade instrument, you might choose an Aston Martin or a Grand Seiko. On the other hand, if you prefer a mass-produced product with significant brand recognition and quality, an Audi or a Rolex would be suitable. Each option appeals to different preferences and values.
Hey, thanks for committing. Good question, I'm comparing them because I have owned both brands and more to counter the large volume of "GS is the new Rolex" or "GS is better than rolex" uploads other creators have made over recent years.
I'm going to disagree with most of your comment respectfully. As most of my points were not about the production volumes. I guess brand recognition could be. Even if they are hand made that doesn't forgive the bracelets or wearability of the springdrive sports watch I had. It also doesn't explain the resale value being so poor, its not for Aston Martins. If anything it should go up if Grand Seiko is viewed as more exclusive.
Agree and disagree. Rolex is a great brand. Rolex is a boring brand. Grand Seiko innovates. GS innovates TOO MUCH - WAY TOO MANY releases. Rolex > GS when comparing bracelets. Rolex > GS resale value. But, I still enjoy wearing a GS more. They feel special and not just MASS PRODUCED like Rolex.
(side note: Evo9 usually priced higher due to new movements)
I love both brands, but here are my fragmented thoughts: Grand Seiko's Sport Series is full of chonkers and should be avoided, aside from the fixed bezel models. GS clasps are horrible, so I can agree with that as an owner of two. Let's be real, resale value is awful for most entry level luxury watches (Omega, Longines, Oris, Zenith, etc.). I've experienced service from Tudor, Omega, Seiko and GS. Seiko and GS are by miles the most expedient and economical without cutting service experience. It took Omega as long to give me my service quote as it did for GS to service my SBGA469 and send it back to me.
Hey, thanks for watching as adding your experience to this upload!
Though I agree with these points, GS does some things better than Rolex too
I have tried on GS watches a few times and while I'm always wowed by the dials, when I put them on, I don't feel a thing. I have zero emotional response. Same day, trying on Rolex, Cartier, and Tudor-emotional response through the roof. I can't figure it out. I really want to love them but I just can't get there.
Yep thats actually a very good point I felt the same. Maybe I will add that to a part 2
It is called marketing.
Research Pavlov's dogs.
I would research it but i'm too busy waiting for a light to go on so I know there is food coming.
The real reason, investors decided to bet on Rolex. Good watches, they can't get near a 9F for accuracy and aren't any better finished. But investors love em.
Otherwise it's really just the one sports SD model you don't like that you're comparing all of Rolex to?
Hey thanks for watching. There are actually three GS models in the upload (I owned) if you watched the full thing. One was a 9F. The citizen movement in ‘the citizen’ is actually more accurate than the 9F and the 9f is quartz. Rolex no longer have a quartz based watch. Any mechanical movement will be less accurate than a 9F or even a modest priced quartz watch. I have a $300 Vaer quartz thats more accurate than any mechanical watch ever made, even a spring drive. Watches are not good investments even Rolex. Most people would be much better investing in the stock market. Most proper investors know that.
Almost totally disagree. Some of the reasons are kind of silly, some are non-sensical. But that’s ok, we’re all here for it. Nice vid 😎👍🏼
I don't understand how GS and most Seikos consistently fail on bracelets, something that even cheapo microbrands do better.
That s why rolex is no1 since decades: "there is no smoke without fire" as we say in french. 😉
Everyone knows that Rolex totally crushes Grand Seiko!!! It’s a PROVEN HOROLOGICAL FACT! So deal with it!!!
I agree!!
Watchmaking - GS. By a mile.
Rolex - just people who wanna ride the hype train.
Did you even watch the video? GS has so far to go. Rolex is significantly better
Thanks for commenting! I do agree there are a lot of hype people wanting Rolex but they are great watches. I only bought them well into my watch collecting and UA-cam journey. I started off not liking them but when you handle a lot and own them they really are very good,
@@mema4922 did you? I mean, by simple horology - GS is superior. Japanese excellence and reliability. But if you want to compare reselling, the bracelet, the options of colours - these things are minor compared to the actual mechanics of the watch itself. There are clones for Rolex watches that are identical. Ever wonder why GS don’t have clones? Because they can’t replicate it. Doesn’t that tell you something.
@@penepatitenor GS do have clones.
Secondly, no. GS mechanical movements are far less accurate than Rolex ones. No, it’s not just that, GS is often executed poorly, they typically lack overall refinement, and yeah don’t get me started on the bracelets/clasps.
I'm not sure how the wearability of a watch is minor? The bracelet is a big factor. Rolex movements are more accurate than the GS hi-beats... But if you were just looking for the mechanics of a watch based on performance you would buy one of Citizen's 'The Citizen'. Has a solar quartz with an accuracy to -5 seconds a year and is thermo-compensated. Level of finishing on par with GS.
To make note also that nothing in my upload covered the movements and as someone mentioned there are clones of GS watches, I saw them advertised in Japan when I was there. As for the Japanese excellence comment, standard seiko's movements in most of their sub GS watches don't come close to their Swiss counterparts in terms of movement architecture, accuracy and reliability.
But if you feel strongly on this, make an upload I will link it to this one so people can see the counter argument. If you don't have a YT channel I will upload it to mine.
Grand Seiko is just TOO Japanese for the rest of the world.
GS look generic to me, don't like the hands either. Spring drive is just a quartz-better to have a solar quartz
At last, someone spoke the truth after all these years, where everyone praises grand Seiko! Thanks Sam. 👍🏻 GS are overpriced, ugly, nothing special, stupid bracelets and lugs, no class, no elegance, and the polishing is a scratch magnet. And why can’t they make a decent bracelet with tapering and adjustment? They have been making watches for more than 100 years! Also no lume, and the Seiko name is stupid. Everyone thinks you have a 300 dollar watch, and it looks like a cheap watch as well!
Pure ignorance. Everyone thinks you have a 300 dollar watch lol.
GS look anything but cheap. Go to a store and try them on with glasses.
@@lamentate07 I have tried them on, I’m lucky to live in a country where we have a GS main boutique. 🤮
Nobody would think it was a 300 dollar watch, and even if they did, who cares?
The days of Seiko being cheap watches is a bygone era. They sell watches worth thousands of dollars (USD) before you even get to GS.
Rolex is just a trashy brand imho.
Christopher Ward > Rolex > Grand Seiko. I'm glad I never bought into Grand Seiko. I was super impressed with the Lake Sewer one (ok Lake Suwa), until I looked at the clasp and there was no microadjust, let alone on-the-fly toolless microadjust. Then I asked about the servicing and if it could be serviced in Australia (the Spring Drive) and the guy said nope - has to be sent all the way back to Japan. Servicing time? Several months. Screw that. I don't want to send a watch to the other side of the world and be sweating on it for like half a year just to get it serviced. Give me a bog standard Sellita movement any day over that nonsense.
San Martin lume: better than both Rolex and Grand Seiko😂
😂😂😂😂😂 no