Low end Seiko yes but a snowflake is hardly likely to be under a huge discount. They still make some of the nicest understated dress watches especially if it's a leather strap
Low end Seiko yes but a snowflake is hardly likely to be under a huge discount. They still make some of the nicest understated dress watches especially if it’s a leather strap
Agreed on both counts, their higher end stuff is as good as any and worth the money if you're in that market. I've 5 or 6 Seikos and I still really like a lot of their designs. My perennial moan (and I know I've said this repeatedly so sorry!) is that they've been steadily hiking up the prices of their entry and mid-market models for a few years now, and without a commensurate increase in anything to justify it, their QC is shonky AF and the specs haven't got any better.
Case in point; the Marine Master GMT I’m looking at at now 30% discount is probably the perfect “1 Seiko” on a route to a GS in years to come. Yet, - although I can return it and even though the reviews are good - it’s an expensive watch and I’d be trading it with two of the Seikos I have that don’t have QC issues - the King Sam and Slim Turtle/Willard to help pay for it. Besides, that’s a bag of sand that can go into a GS fund.
This is what Seiko have created for themselves, they’ve likely made an extremely good watch at the price point, but people/collectors will hesitate becuase of said reputation defaulting to discounted “legacy” pieces for collectors and other brands where a single expensive watch is desired.
TLDR; mid tier Seikos are a dubious consideration currently IMHO.
I do agree, the mid tier Seiko's while being good watches and look nice, I would think you would be better to keep saving for the GS. I know if it was me, I don't think I would feel the same kind of connection with it as I would know its just temporary and is actually slowing down the purchase of the GS.
Regarding lower end Seiko's, I have two. Save the Ocean Solar Chronograph (SSC701P1) that I really like. No issues with that one, the other is an older Diver that doesn't get worn very much, but I've not noticed any issues with it.
I really like Grand Seiko watches except for the logo.
GS or Grand Seiko makes no odds.
If it wasn’t in that daft typeface I’d be happy.
Maybe you really want a King Seiko igm. Still got the lush finishing and dials without the extravagant prices, (although you don't get the extravagant movements either).
I like the extravagant movements, I like the dials and the finish - could they just use the standard Seiko font on the GSs.
I think it's polarising. I happen to love the GS logo and it's instantly recognisable. I think they make some fantastic watches with amazing dials....
then cheap out on the poorly adjustable bracelets and clasps. That's the sole reason why I wouldn't get one unfortunately
Red dial Seikos are shockingly ugly I've never understood them. One of the Seiko watches I'm looking at has -+17sec swing per day and that's on a 600qiud watch.( Automatic)
My 90s prospex Pepsi is or was 3secs when new according to the papers.
I do want a GS at some point thou
Maybe someone can help me out and suggest a place in Newcastle to service a Rolex? The background story is that it was my FIL’e and it has more value to me for sentimental reasons than timekeeping. It does keep decent time but I keep thinking I should have it serviced just to make sure it’s in good condition. Having said that, I’m afraid the repair shop will take it to bits and then tell me it will cost a mint to service and reassemble in which case I’d rather keep it as it is !!
One of the Seiko watches I’m looking at has -+17sec swing per day and that’s on a 600qiud watch.( Automatic)
They're never as bad as the specs. My Mini Turtle with a 4S movements has been -7 this week. I've lost the records for my other ones with a a change of phone, but they were a all within 10 seconds.
@drj a lot of us here have used and recommend Calibre in Dundee. I had my Sub serviced there last year and the process was A1. I'm in Cambs and everything was easy peasy by post.
As above. I’ve measured of mine - 1 x 6r and 1 x 4r calibre to similar tolerances.
im falling for my Siekos again, after wearing the King Sam all week & the Arnie is my weekend watch. I’ve discovered why I like big and / or heavier watches - I have virtually no “knuckle” bone so everything ends up at the end of my forearm rather than the end of my hand if that makes senses - the bigger watch’s cover the gap in my wrist to look more normally situated.
still can’t abide the orange 5kx though 🙁
Edit – I see they arrange that.
They do and it's painless.
… and fully insured.
Wow look at that!
They are absolutely beautiful!
Better photos would be good when you get the chance…..
@boblo can you give an idea of the cost of your service by calibre ? I appreciate it will vary depending on the work required, I wasn't happy with the last one when the watch fell off my wrist the first time I wore it as they'd not attached the bracelet properly
@sprootlet I'm assuming your watch wasn't serviced at Calibre when it fell to bits?
My last full service at Calibre was a bit less than £500 including fully insured Special Delivery each way. Back within a week IIRC and Steven fully photographed the process to satisfy my curiosity. Rolex in Mayfair wanted double that and a month IIRC. I had it serviced by Rolex previously and it was £600 probably ~15 years ago.
My 2006 Aquaracer chrono was £330 at Calibre during ‘21 lockdown, fully insured back and forth and hadn’t been serviced since I bought it.
Phew!
I opened my watch case and was worried to see a blank display on my Certina Chronolympic (ca. 1977).
The chances of finding a replacement module for this are low to zero so if a new battery didn't revive it, it was toast.
I rummaged through my bits and bobs bin and wahey, I found a new Renata 390.
I couldn't get the back off quickly enough! So, battery in place and back secured I nervously turned it over to see the result. LIFE - the display was working and the watch ready to set. Many sighs of relief.
It's in lovely condition considering it's 47 years old.
Re: Calibre
My Sub ND needs a service...15 years old and has had a hard life....its running quite fast now.
Is there any issue about future Rolex servicing (having had third party servicing) should they be used in the future...?
Thanks for the interest. I had the pocket watches serviced at Steven Hale by Bond street tube station. Not cheap, but they are quite valuable both sentimentally and monetarily. They are both gold repeaters
the golden coloured half hunter is a minute repeater by Audemars London, it has lovely blued hands and an inscribed back plate.
the silver coloured one doesn’t have a makers mark that I can see. it is a quarter repeater and has my grandfather’s initials on the front (as he signed them) and his name in Chinese on the back (he lived in China from the 20s to the 50s).
Got an email from Steinhart about this new model. I know it's a Sub copy but I really like it.
No it's not, it's a sprite, a, version of the gmt. Which does I admit look very very much like the sub. I don't think they share the same case oddly, I may be wrong but I think there are teenie tiny differences.
I was looking at that also the other day, but I have a thing against homages; I don’t want the “oh you have a…. Ah no, it isn’t”, and also I know it isn’t “real” despite being a perfectly adequate watch. I want the real one.
Add to that I’m at a brick wall with my collection, I have everything I need, and anything I’d want to upgrade to is serious money, serious enough to have to cull the collection and need some serious saving to get to. I keep looking at the £300-£600 range and thinking, “nah, it adds nothing other than just another watch to give me a daily indecision derived headache”.
Two days ago I got offered the grey graduated King Sumo for half price. A while back I would have just bought it, but now it adds nothing really. I keep looking at the latest half metal Solar Casioak, but why? Equally the 63mas at 2/3 price - a significant upgrade theoretically to my King Sam & Slim turtle/Willard, but other than the GMT hand and the case shape I’m not getting anything else for my £1000 (except less watches).
Im in a weird space, sorry for the monologue mind dump.
I’d rather admire those pocket watches ^^^ and pieces like the Jacob & Co Astronomia Revolution seen here from 19 mins, let it play until you see the animation of the full watch build, holy crap that’s a thing…
If they made a Jacob & Co Astronomia Revolution pocket watch… well I’d look at it at and think it was a very nice thing.
Spotted on EBay this morning - definitely a ‘statement’ watch to wear on special occasions link
There's also this, hahaha!
Anyone recommend me a nice 18mm leather deployment to dress up my new/old Seiko? This one has decent reviews and the price feels enough to be reasonable quality without being mad expensive seeing as I'd not really use it that often.
Booooo
My Helm Vanuatu has broken (but it's still going).
At work today I noticed my watch was rattling, thought a pin had come loose and the bracelet was about to fall apart. Nope. All pins firm but giving the watch a little shake-wind and I can hear what I assume if the auto winding counter weight slopping around inside. Just emailed Matt at Helm as I thought it was a 2 year warranty, but alas not, only 1 year. Hopefully a swift resolution with minimal cost to moi. Annoying though.
My Helm Vanuatu has broken
They give such an air of indestructibility but inside - there's just a Seiko!
NH35 usually quite a solid movement. Not had issue with any one of my other autos. I've got a 6309 from the 80s still ticking
Will see what Helm say.
NH35 usually quite a solid movement. Not had issue with any one of my other autos. I’ve got a 6309 from the 80s still ticking
Sure, don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing Seikos for a minute. I've a few of them and maybe half a dozen various micros and Ali specials with Seiko power on board, my oldest being a 7005-8042 from the seventies that was my dad's. Timekeeping on my SKX779 is getting a bit wayward but the rest are running fine.
It's just Helms look and feel like they're a solid steel billet ( or Ti in my case).
I need some advice. I’ve not found a watch I’d be interested in buying recently and so happy with the collection, I don’t have a twitching wallet. Despite that, after settling the mortgage I have spousal permission to “buy myself something”. You may remember I had an interest to add a GMT to the collection.
So, I’ve negotiated 15% off this Seiko Craftmanship series GMT, a new piece launched recently. My question is, it is worth the price* and the remove of a 5kx and Blue/Ice dial cocktail time - it the “hand made” & Urushi all a bit marketing bollocks or the chance to own something slightly special?
I very much don’t want “just another Seiko” and actually wanted to reduce the number of auto’s in my collection. On the flip side I have located a birth year Omega Geneve auto day/date for £1k, serviced and vgc.
*edit I don’t mean to diminish the expertise & time shown in the video should that actually be applied to the piece I’d buy, but have this “just a Seiko” phrase in my head which is holding me back.
