Nice write up, so convienced that I went out and bought a seiko 5 - cheap, unassuming and durable.
To be honest I was 1 of those who sniggered at seiko grand's pricing.
To me seiko is targeted at the mass market and thus loses its 'snob appeal', I would not want to be wearing the same brand as my subordinate although I paid RM20k for my seiko grand while he paid RM350 for his seiko quartz.
That is the reason luxury brands price their wares exorbitantly - the more expensive the more exclusive - snob appeal
Thank you for reading, chin.
There are other luxury series from Seiko, like Credo.
IMHO, If one is going for snob appeal, get those pricey and luxurious one.
My points on Seiko is that it can match with any of the Swiss watch manucfacturer in terms of producing in-house parts, R&D, can cater for mass-appeal as well as snob appeal.
Cheers.