@@NHCH I had a lecturer when studying scientific photography who argued the term 'macro' is incorrect. From memory I think his point was that 'macro' means large scale, when in fact most of these macro lenses max out at 1:1 magnification. An interesting point to ponder, but really if a word is used enough (even if incorrectly) it takes on that definition. In the end of the day, the lenses have 'macro' printed on them. :D
@@gavanmitchell9095 yeah, it isn't the best choice of words. But that is. In photography macro means with a rateo of ~1:1 from the dimensions of the object and the dimensions of the sensor, the termn "micro" is referred to things that are invisible to the naked eye. The americans keep calling the petrol "gas" even if that's a liquid but you can't just say "liquid" referring to gas expecting that everyone understands lol
7:10 incase you thought that the underside on the second's hand was unpolished, due to it looking scuffed in it's reflection on the hour hand... It's actually polished to such a high degree that the dial is being reflected off of it... Pretty impressive
I tried both of these on today at GS store in New York. I did not want to take the snowlafke off my wrist. Super comfortable. That’s until I put on the birch. It just screams quality. Absolutely amazing piece. No picture serves it justice!
The rotor on the white birch is reminiscent of of an A. Lange & Sohne rotor. It would be awesome to see "Grand Seiko" engraved on the rotor instead of 80 hour power reserve
i actually prefer it like this - in painted gold. If engraved on the rotor it wouldn't be gold and that wouldn't be right - I'm assuming they can't paint on the engraved parts of the rotor. The Lange engraved rotors aren't painted too
Both of these define perfection, and I'd be delighted to own either for a lifetime, but given the choice between them, I'd go for the snowflake every time. The perfectly smooth second hand, titanium case, and absolute subtle perfection of the dial are just second to none for me.
Yes, but now that I can afford it, I need reading glasses to appreciate it. I don’t like the power reserve marker, but it does evoke the sweeping snow.
Would love to see where GS is in 20 years. With their current lineup, I feel they are on the cusp of watch greatness. A better bracelet and thinner profile would be perfect.
This release has had the effect of making me love the Snowflake even more. This White Birch is absolutely a real stunner and indeed both a level up for the brand and an indisputably fine bit of watchmaking. But it’s not what I buy a Seiko for. I like where Seiko has maximized the beauty of function of concepts that are specifically DEPARTURES from European watchmaking. But thanks to Seiko for the increase brand cachet.
Speaking as someone who will likely never own either of these watches I still prefer the Snowflake, simply because I find the movement of a luxury watch to be the most fascinating aspect. Spring Drive is a technological marvel.
The birch has an outstanding and beautiful movement. Although I really like the spring drive I would choose the Birch over it in first place. I will definitely go for a Spring Drive variant in the future 🤙🏻
You know, I'm gonna sound corny and cliche even, but your intro thanking your viewers is what really keeps me coming back. It's getting more rare these days maybe due to simple ignorance or the "no need" to announce such a message, but you don't know how much it means even more to certain viers so thank you.
I know the up close video shots of the the white birch make it look impressive, but I still think the spring drive movement is still the straw that stirs the drink for me. It's always the watch I talk about the most when I am showing someone my full collection.
I've been waiting for someone to make a comparison video between these two. Thank you! @3:30 also, that very reason is why I picked the Skyflake over the Snowflake
Had my eyes on the White Birch since release and it feels like I’ve watched every video on UA-cam about it. Really excited to see Watchfinder review it! Fantastic video and closeups. I’m even more convinced now
Snowflake still takes the cake for me. I personally prefer the dial and love the spring drive movement. That said, the movement and movement finishing in the Birch is beautiful.
Different types of watches. I have a Snowflake and love it. If I was going to dish out another 10 grand on a watch, it would probably be the White Birch. I think I could love them equally.
opens with a Spinal Tap reference. bravo!! meanwhile love the birch though it somehow has a bit of a retro look-maybe because the dial recalls vintage linen designs.
LOVE my Snowflake. The bracelet is better than I expected, but this watch is INCREDIBLE on a strap. I’ve been wearing it on a black cordura strap, and it’s just something else. I find myself wearing it constantly with my Sub and my Speedy sitting at home. I’ve got a somewhat large wrist at 7.5”, so the 41mm snowflake feels just fine to me. Plus with the titanium, it is incredibly light weight. Love the new stuff that GS has coming out, but I’m quite happy with my Snowflake and love the smooth sweep of the Spring Drive.
Let me start by saying that I own the Snowflake and absolutely love it. At first I was not really happy with the titanium case and would still prefer it. Now I had the opportunity to handle the White Birch. My anticipation was almost overwhelming. In my mind I was ready to whip out the card and take it home...... When I put the watch on I liked the feel, it was substantial. It felt like I really had a watch on my hand. Then I took a close look at the dial and all I saw was what looked like textured chrome, it was silver, and the disappointment set in. The case size wasn't really noticeable. I will stick with the Snowflake.
The last thing that Grand Seiko needed to nail was the finishing on the movement, even the parts you don't see. Once they do that, in my eyes they would have unarguably surpassed similarly priced swiss brands.
I collected my White Birch this week. Akzo bought one for my cousin and he has the new pink blossom spring drive on order...I might just get one too. The White Birch is stunning. So very different to any other watch. And now that its been given mens watch of 2021 it will be unavailable. I got the only 2 in Australia. Great review.
I love the dial and the craftsmanship of the movement, but for me, the Spring Drive and the White Birch dial would be a really compelling combination. Another excellent video :) Thanks!
@@dso1986 I get that. And I understand how that could work. It's why we are not all buying the same timepieces, but discussing our views about what we enjoy about different watches :)
you can fault Rolex for many things but engineering is not one of them; they have some of the best engineered movements (in the mid-tier luxury category)
There's always something subtly zen, pure and perfect about Grand Seiko and Seiko watches...and I especially love that they appreciate and make quality products at all price points.
The weight of titanium is jaw dropping. Feels like nothings there which can be good and bad, light weight and stronger than SS but for some reason it turns off a lot of buyers because of that.
I prefer spring drive over high beat the spring drive smoothness of a second hand rotating is just mindblowing...but then white birch dial is on another level dunno what to choose
A big reason the snowflake is my next watch is because I believe the spring drive is the best movement out there. IMHO any serious challenger to the snowflake must have a spring drive movement
The dial of the Birch is very lovely; also, the movement looks fantastic. But I would still always take the Snowflake. It's cheaper, and the Spring Drive movement is just a wonderfully unique piece of engineering. I also like the convenience of rarely having to reset the watch. For me, the Snowflake has a clearly better overall package. However, I would definitely prefer the birch over ANY Rolex or Breitling.
Both are amazingly beautiful, but they are different enough that one won’t eclipse the other. I prefer the white birch though, although I wish it was also made in Titanium.
I love a well designed and polished metal bracelet. I always feel like a piece of dead cow or gator is undeserving of gracing a good watch. Although the Birch is a beautifully polished watch, I am a fan of titanium, the spring drive and the snow drift effect of the dial. Not enough improvement in the Birch to justify the extra cost.
Last week I had the Snowflake on my wrist (courtesy of GS of Beverly Hills) and my goodness is it light!!! I loved it although I'm slightly more appealed to the SBGE201/251 GMT's.
I’d love to see it in ‘real life’ as I’m actually not a fan of the dial having seen it on a screen. The smaller size and shorter lugs are definitely more appealing than the 41 though.
Seiko in general is increasing the prices for every model. Its fine for me as long as they dont make everything too big. This reduced size is so perfect i hope they dare to go even smaller.
I prefer the subtle but extremly clean look of the Snowflake. The White Birch‘s dial is a little bit too rough for my taste, the hour hand a little bit too fat.
I almost bought a GS quartz a few day ago but i sore mechanical ones that where cheaper, then i got overwhelmed by so many for sale. I still have the money in the bank :/
We know you want more watches…. click here: linktr.ee/watchfinder
The dial of the White Birch is one of the most beautiful dials I've ever seen. Amazing.
Yes, the Snowflake is finished. It's finished quite well, actually! The decoration and zaratsu polishing are super well done!
The Snowflake has solidified itself as a classic, so no it is not finished.
The Snowflake is definitely finished. In fact, it's finished quite well! Have you seen that zaratsu polishing?! 😅
The snowflake is dead
...long live the Snowflake.
Obviously, not finished. There's only 5 grand seiko titanium models with spring drive movement and one is a limited edition..
A 36,000 an hour tick AND 80 hour power reserve?? That's a technical achievement there.
If you think that's an achievement, wait till you hear about spring drive!
A Casio has 5 years power reserve, minimum
@@ekimandersom4478 Plenty of casios have 6 months power reserve.
@@ekimandersom4478 Dude those are damn quartz or battery powered not a mechanical time piece
@@ekimandersom4478 It's a shame that a comment as stupid as this somehow made it to this channel.
“Nature’s gentlest form of precipitation”...who writes this stuff!? You guys are the best!
No man - you’re the best.
word!
You're pretty good also! 🖖
I was just going to send you this video link. These guys at watch finder are #goals for all of us watch reviewers!
@@SoCalWatchReviews Dude, I was on this like white on rice! I was waiting for them to do a video on the birch and they didn't disappoint.
OMG the MICRO shots are ... incredible!!
*macro
@@NHCH I had a lecturer when studying scientific photography who argued the term 'macro' is incorrect. From memory I think his point was that 'macro' means large scale, when in fact most of these macro lenses max out at 1:1 magnification. An interesting point to ponder, but really if a word is used enough (even if incorrectly) it takes on that definition. In the end of the day, the lenses have 'macro' printed on them. :D
@@gavanmitchell9095 yeah, it isn't the best choice of words. But that is. In photography macro means with a rateo of ~1:1 from the dimensions of the object and the dimensions of the sensor, the termn "micro" is referred to things that are invisible to the naked eye. The americans keep calling the petrol "gas" even if that's a liquid but you can't just say "liquid" referring to gas expecting that everyone understands lol
7:10 incase you thought that the underside on the second's hand was unpolished, due to it looking scuffed in it's reflection on the hour hand... It's actually polished to such a high degree that the dial is being reflected off of it... Pretty impressive
actually i never doubted the GS guys at the Shinju watch studio ;)
I tried both of these on today at GS store in New York. I did not want to take the snowlafke off my wrist. Super comfortable. That’s until I put on the birch. It just screams quality. Absolutely amazing piece. No picture serves it justice!
The rotor on the white birch is reminiscent of of an A. Lange & Sohne rotor. It would be awesome to see "Grand Seiko" engraved on the rotor instead of 80 hour power reserve
Well if they did that it wouldn't be Japanese anymore!
i actually prefer it like this - in painted gold. If engraved on the rotor it wouldn't be gold and that wouldn't be right - I'm assuming they can't paint on the engraved parts of the rotor. The Lange engraved rotors aren't painted too
I agree but can't fault GS for showing off their achievement...
Subtlety in showing your achievement is true greatness. Seiko is letting the enthusiasts do the bragging.
Both of these define perfection, and I'd be delighted to own either for a lifetime, but given the choice between them, I'd go for the snowflake every time. The perfectly smooth second hand, titanium case, and absolute subtle perfection of the dial are just second to none for me.
ur crazyy have u held both in your hands in person??
No waiting list. Far better finished than any Swiss competitor. Amazingly complex and accurate movement.
Perfect.
There is a bit of a wait as GS ramp up production. At least with the 3 ADs I’ve talked with
But no heritage..
@@remmont3984 Seiko has been going since 1881. They have far more heritage than plenty of Swiss competitors.
@@remmont3984 no heritage? Approx 140 years
@@remmont3984 Seiko have longer history then Rolex.Quarter century
The understated yet sublime dial of the snowflake is still my preference. That subtle pattern had me nut.
Yes, but now that I can afford it, I need reading glasses to appreciate it. I don’t like the power reserve marker, but it does evoke the sweeping snow.
Oh how I would want white snowflake but in a steel watch. And without the power reserve meter.
I really hope they make a snowflake that is slightly smaller and doesn't have the spring drive power meter. That would be my grail.
@@filbert-the-lazy-squirrel but yet in titanium? that was a deal breaker for me, and went with Rolex instead. For triple the price.
Agreed, but I’d need to see them live next to eachother.
I'm not sure which is better. The Watches or your Exquisite and Poetic presentation? Grand Seiko is to be Congratulated!
I've actually seen the birch in real life, incredible watch and dial!
I knew someone who got the birch in Singapore.
@@rookdy I’m from Singapore and I went to the gs boutique but they do not have one atm. I wish I can see one up close
GS always reminds me Rolex is just a marketing company.
You needed GS to figure that out?
@@ekimandersom4478 He said it reminded him, not that he found out by GS. Read please.
Not even a company, it’s a charity
@@tryitout-701 its a racket
@@deansusec8745 do you have a link to the video you mention please? Interested to see it, thanks :-)
A Watchfinder video is the perfect follow-up to an amazing F1 race!
I see you're a man of fine taste.
Argh! No spoilers!
what do you like about f1 racing?
@@GodisGracious1 Racing?
Is anyone else loving that bead blasted line down the dead-centre of the clipped hour hand?
Definitely
Would love to see where GS is in 20 years. With their current lineup, I feel they are on the cusp of watch greatness. A better bracelet and thinner profile would be perfect.
This release has had the effect of making me love the Snowflake even more. This White Birch is absolutely a real stunner and indeed both a level up for the brand and an indisputably fine bit of watchmaking.
But it’s not what I buy a Seiko for. I like where Seiko has maximized the beauty of function of concepts that are specifically DEPARTURES from European watchmaking.
But thanks to Seiko for the increase brand cachet.
I have the snowflake and I really love this watch.
The accuracy and the attention to detail is absolutely stunning
Speaking as someone who will likely never own either of these watches I still prefer the Snowflake, simply because I find the movement of a luxury watch to be the most fascinating aspect. Spring Drive is a technological marvel.
Never say never; If you set your mind on something and work extremely hard for it nothing is impossible. Persistence is key.
The birch has an outstanding and beautiful movement. Although I really like the spring drive I would choose the Birch over it in first place. I will definitely go for a Spring Drive variant in the future 🤙🏻
The birch is absolute perfection. Its like the JLC Masted Date, irresistible with its classical looks and simplicity.
You know, I'm gonna sound corny and cliche even, but your intro thanking your viewers is what really keeps me coming back. It's getting more rare these days maybe due to simple ignorance or the "no need" to announce such a message, but you don't know how much it means even more to certain viers so thank you.
Perhaps Grand Seiko should hire you for their marketing work! Beautifully done!
Perhaps he already is😉
This seconds hand on Spring Drive is one hell of unreal smooth dream...just a DREAM ❤️❤️❤️
I know the drill. I see Grand Seiko, I hit like, then I watch the video.
me too
Exactly
Oh shut up
Bruh i smash that like on every watchfinder video before i watch
Haha, I hit like then watched the video. I guess we're "fanboys"...
I know the up close video shots of the the white birch make it look impressive, but I still think the spring drive movement is still the straw that stirs the drink for me. It's always the watch I talk about the most when I am showing someone my full collection.
Both watches are good, but I would still prefer snowflake. The gliding second hand is a treat to look at.
8:33 the minutes hand on the snowflake is so polished, it's very hard to notice it
I've been waiting for someone to make a comparison video between these two.
Thank you!
@3:30 also, that very reason is why I picked the Skyflake over the Snowflake
100% agreed regarding strap. It is fantastic when we the GS fans hear GS and JLC in one phrase.
Grand Seiko and Presage have the most beautiful art details on the dial.. Japanese watch is still great till now
I am not rich by any means, but I am very proud of my Seiko Presage.
@@Industrious420 Seiko Presage timepieces are great buddy
@@Industrious420 which presage do you own?
@@marc4143 SRPB43 - Cocktail Time :)
@@Industrious420 nice!
Had my eyes on the White Birch since release and it feels like I’ve watched every video on UA-cam about it. Really excited to see Watchfinder review it! Fantastic video and closeups. I’m even more convinced now
do you already have a snowflake?
@@karlkarlng Nope, but I picked up the White Birch this past weekend!
I will get my White Birch next week. Such a great piece of art 😍
@@christopherp.2455 enjoy! I wear mine daily!
@@itsdavo5810 Where did you get yours? I live in Kc and theres no GS boutique here
Snowflake still takes the cake for me. I personally prefer the dial and love the spring drive movement. That said, the movement and movement finishing in the Birch is beautiful.
Different types of watches. I have a Snowflake and love it. If I was going to dish out another 10 grand on a watch, it would probably be the White Birch. I think I could love them equally.
opens with a Spinal Tap reference. bravo!! meanwhile love the birch though it somehow has a bit of a retro look-maybe because the dial recalls vintage linen designs.
LOVE my Snowflake. The bracelet is better than I expected, but this watch is INCREDIBLE on a strap. I’ve been wearing it on a black cordura strap, and it’s just something else. I find myself wearing it constantly with my Sub and my Speedy sitting at home. I’ve got a somewhat large wrist at 7.5”, so the 41mm snowflake feels just fine to me. Plus with the titanium, it is incredibly light weight. Love the new stuff that GS has coming out, but I’m quite happy with my Snowflake and love the smooth sweep of the Spring Drive.
Let me start by saying that I own the Snowflake and absolutely love it. At first I was not really happy with the titanium case and would still prefer it. Now I had the opportunity to handle the White Birch. My anticipation was almost overwhelming. In my mind I was ready to whip out the card and take it home...... When I put the watch on I liked the feel, it was substantial. It felt like I really had a watch on my hand. Then I took a close look at the dial and all I saw was what looked like textured chrome, it was silver, and the disappointment set in. The case size wasn't really noticeable. I will stick with the Snowflake.
My local watch shop has a birch, tried it on and its AMAzing!
The snowflake has a better balanced dial thanks to the power reserve indicator imho. Springdrive remains ahead of GS highbeat on my wish list too.
Interesting, because people have been hounding at GS to removing the power reserve indicator because they feel it's imbalanced.
The last thing that Grand Seiko needed to nail was the finishing on the movement, even the parts you don't see. Once they do that, in my eyes they would have unarguably surpassed similarly priced swiss brands.
I think they’ve already passed similarly priced Swiss brands. With a better finished movement, they’ll punch way above their weight.
I collected my White Birch this week. Akzo bought one for my cousin and he has the new pink blossom spring drive on order...I might just get one too. The White Birch is stunning. So very different to any other watch. And now that its been given mens watch of 2021 it will be unavailable. I got the only 2 in Australia. Great review.
I’d love to see some seiko lume on a GS, without a bezel that is
I'm sorry, the snowflake still owns my heart
You are the best channel on UA-cam,big love from Serbia! Thank you for your hard work!!!
The best macro photography in the business 👍
I love the dial and the craftsmanship of the movement, but for me, the Spring Drive and the White Birch dial would be a really compelling combination.
Another excellent video :) Thanks!
Wow i was thinking the exact opposite i would want the whitebirch with the snowflake dial as my perfect watch
@@dso1986 I get that. And I understand how that could work. It's why we are not all buying the same timepieces, but discussing our views about what we enjoy about different watches :)
It is sad a company driven by marketing dominates the watchmaking industry. Watchmaking should be all about engineering. GS gives us some promises
Rolex is a more prestigious name than Seiko though...
you can fault Rolex for many things but engineering is not one of them; they have some of the best engineered movements (in the mid-tier luxury category)
@@remmont3984 GS has more heritage then rolex lmao
Same as the home computer industry. Let's not even talk about the music industry. People are sheep, that's why marketing is a big industry.
Now it’s mainstream to bash Rolex for literally no reasons
Nothing is more beautiful then smooth sweeping of the blue second hand, so mesmerizing! I don’t want to steal ❄️ glory!
Of those two, the snowy spring drive is still my favourite. I do love that dial.
There's always something subtly zen, pure and perfect about Grand Seiko and Seiko watches...and I especially love that they appreciate and make quality products at all price points.
The weight of titanium is jaw dropping. Feels like nothings there which can be good and bad, light weight and stronger than SS but for some reason it turns off a lot of buyers because of that.
They need to hide a piece of lead somewhere inside to give it some weight lol
Once you get past the illusion that weight = quality, wearing a titanium watch is almost liberating after wearing steel for so long
I prefer spring drive over high beat the spring drive smoothness of a second hand rotating is just mindblowing...but then white birch dial is on another level dunno what to choose
That new GS is awesome, but the Snowflake is becoming iconic (if it hasn't yet already achieved that).
A big reason the snowflake is my next watch is because I believe the spring drive is the best movement out there. IMHO any serious challenger to the snowflake must have a spring drive movement
The dial of the Birch is very lovely; also, the movement looks fantastic. But I would still always take the Snowflake. It's cheaper, and the Spring Drive movement is just a wonderfully unique piece of engineering. I also like the convenience of rarely having to reset the watch. For me, the Snowflake has a clearly better overall package. However, I would definitely prefer the birch over ANY Rolex or Breitling.
"Cornier than a Dorito"
you have the best talent on the market in story telling. And the voice is on another level. Natural. The best watch reviews, period.
That white birch is the most beautiful looking watch that I have ever seen.
The Birch with a Springdrive movement inside = perfect watch.
Both are amazingly beautiful, but they are different enough that one won’t eclipse the other. I prefer the white birch though, although I wish it was also made in Titanium.
If only GS would put that spring drive movement into a watch and leave the power indicator in the drawer.
Those dials are absolutely mesmerizing. And fit and finish is nothing short of impeccable.
I love a well designed and polished metal bracelet. I always feel like a piece of dead cow or gator is undeserving of gracing a good watch. Although the Birch is a beautifully polished watch, I am a fan of titanium, the spring drive and the snow drift effect of the dial. Not enough improvement in the Birch to justify the extra cost.
The photography and music go so well, thanks.
Thanks for showing this watch WF. That Birch is a Grail for me! What a beautiful beast!
Will be waiting for your marco shots 😜
Last week I had the Snowflake on my wrist (courtesy of GS of Beverly Hills) and my goodness is it light!!! I loved it although I'm slightly more appealed to the SBGE201/251 GMT's.
Why No lume?
Beautiful slow mo work.....video goals 👏
The video we've all been waiting for!
The white birch dial looks so stunning ..absolutely spectacular
I was starting to get torn between the two then you started talking about the price. The white birch is a bit too expensive for me so Snowflake still!
I can't wait to see the 9SA5 in a smaller/thinner Grand Seiko diver, and it go toe-to-toe with the Submariner and Seamaster.
Damn it! Only had my snowflake a few months and now need to buy a birch too.
That 9SA5 needs to be in more GS watches, what a movement.
its in the limited blue hi beat that Watchfinder covered before, and the original gold limited one he mentioned in that video too
I’d love to see it in ‘real life’ as I’m actually not a fan of the dial having seen it on a screen. The smaller size and shorter lugs are definitely more appealing than the 41 though.
I'd be happy with either.
Same!
Love the spinal tap reference at the beginning
5:43 theres a bit of dust on your lens or sensor.
Thanks for sharing. This is a fantastic timepiece, but my heart still belongs to a spring drive.
but it's lost the springdrive indicator...which is why I am interesting in purchasing one at the first place. It's very aesthetic.
The second hand on the snowflake is the smoothest thing I have ever seen
I have one and I absolutely love it! It runs circles around the. Datejust
Seiko in general is increasing the prices for every model. Its fine for me as long as they dont make everything too big. This reduced size is so perfect i hope they dare to go even smaller.
I prefer the subtle but extremly clean look of the Snowflake. The White Birch‘s dial is a little bit too rough for my taste, the hour hand a little bit too fat.
Until now, no body presented the white birch like you did!
Even Seiko co. Didn't!
Thank you.
My brother just ordered the Snowflake. Can’t wait to wear it in person!
I almost bought a GS quartz a few day ago but i sore mechanical ones that where cheaper, then i got overwhelmed by so many for sale. I still have the money in the bank :/
I hope they will never discontinue the snow flake and its design will stay unchanged.
hot damn that dial
The engineer in me thinks light = cheap is stoopid
Wow, the finishing on the hi-beat movement makes the spring drive look like a 7S26.
new to your channel love it your antidotes and views on each watch is great keep it up
How about the new SHOSHO??
I like everything except the cropped hour hand.
what kind of strap would you put on a birch or snowflake?
Such a beautiful watch piece indeed in an addictive presentation.
Watch of the year. hands down.
myeeeeaah... I still prefer the snowflake :) Both elegant, though.
I totally agree, my snowflake is too big and thr bracelet needs improvement. I might be selling it for a smaller spring drive grand seiko
Taking off my Submariner and putting on my SBGN005 now. Just because...