Seiko and mass public

[Watchnewby]

Does anyone show their high end seiko and other ppl wowed? 

Yes, show it to WIS like you and me, and we will wowed over the GS.
But show it to the general public, they will "Err, Seiko, ar?"

I guess the money din go into italy... The $ instead go to Richmont manager in Switzerland

True.

[Watchnewby]

This is my Seiko Ananta - the leader of my seiko collection -

Love your Seiko Ananta, meoramri.
Very nice indeed   

[Enkidu]

And I guess among seiko afficiandos themselves, there is a "discrimination" against "not made in Japan" seikos. Many collectors wish to see "MADE IN JAPAN" printed on the caseback and "Japan" on the bottom of the dial.

Some of the older Seiko 150m divers are really well made and tough. My seiko 6105 diver runs within +2 sec a day in every position, resting or worn. The 6309-7040 diver is not as accurate though, but feels really robust. My 6146-8000 GS is still running at +1 sec a day despite being made in 1969.

I don't really care what other people think about Seiko, collecting watches is really a very personal thing. Over the years I have converted a number of rolex-only fans to buying seikos (from my collection...hahahha ).

But I do agree the modern GS are a little too over-priced (due mainly to the current high yen value I guess). Yes, you do get a super nicely finished watch with in-house movement, but for the same price, you can get a cartier or zenith (also a nice but often underrated brand).

[bftcentury]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Also, may I know where you got your Ananta from? As I don't see these kind of series before in the streets before.

[Watchnewby]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Seiko spring drive - The Spring Drive is a novel watch movement that was developed by Seiko which uses a mainspring, barrel, automatic winder and stem winding like in a mechanical watch to store the watch energy. The conventional escapement is replaced with a device that Seiko calls a Tri-synchro Regulator to regulate the unwinding of the mainspring. The regulator controls the use of the three forms of energy used in the Spring Drive mechanism; the mechanical power of the mainspring, the electrical energy generated from this mechanical power, and the electromagnetic energy that governs the rotation of the glide wheel. The energy produced by the glide wheel is used to power a control circuit and quartz crystal oscillator, which in turn regulates the electro-mechanical braking of the glide wheel.

The movement is used on the Spring Drive International collection and in some watches of Grand Seiko, Credor, Galante, Izul, Ananta and Prospex series.

For indepth study on this revolutionary movement, see a timezone link :
http://www.timezone.com/library/rdnotebook/200509073623

Seiko Ananta - Ananta is a Sanskrit word that means ‘the infinite’. When the SEIKO design team embarked on this creation, they were told that there were no boundaries. They were given infinite scope to build a watch that embodied the SEIKO dream of “the most technologically advanced craftsmanship in the world”. They could explore any design direction and seek new inspiration wherever they chose. Ananta is the result: a collection that expresses SEIKO’s dedication to infinite perfection.

Another unique feature of the Ananta is the time-setting work. The hour and minute hands can be set separately, with the first detent of the crown setting the hours, and the second detent, minutes. But the clever part of this is that the hour hand moves in hour-interval clicks rather then continuously, and in such a way that it always maintains the proper relative position to the minute hand.
I believe This is handy for adjusting for Daylight Savings Time, or for changing to a different time zone.
In short, the Ananta also uses the spring dive technology.

[meoramri]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Also, may I know where you got your Ananta from? As I don't see these kind of series before in the streets before.

I got mine when Seiko did their 130yr celebration in KL. The main distributor in Malaysia said that at the moment they don't have the right to carry the brand in Msia yet. They brought in just one of every sub-series under the Ananta brand. I bought the retrograde when they exhibited the Seiko range in Mid Valley Mall.

The only problem that I may face is servicing. It can only be done in Japan as the main distributor is not qualified by Seiko Japan to service this type of watch. Hopefully, the AD does get certified in the next couple of years so that I can at get the watch serviced locally!

[kakashi...]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Also, may I know where you got your Ananta from? As I don't see these kind of series before in the streets before.

I got mine when Seiko did their 130yr celebration in KL. The main distributor in Malaysia said that at the moment they don't have the right to carry the brand in Msia yet. They brought in just one of every sub-series under the Ananta brand. I bought the retrograde when they exhibited the Seiko range in Mid Valley Mall.

The only problem that I may face is servicing. It can only be done in Japan as the main distributor is not qualified by Seiko Japan to service this type of watch. Hopefully, the AD does get certified in the next couple of years so that I can at get the watch serviced locally!

this is quite hassle as I also met this issue...

[bftcentury]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Seiko spring drive - The Spring Drive is a novel watch movement that was developed by Seiko which uses a mainspring, barrel, automatic winder and stem winding like in a mechanical watch to store the watch energy. The conventional escapement is replaced with a device that Seiko calls a Tri-synchro Regulator to regulate the unwinding of the mainspring. The regulator controls the use of the three forms of energy used in the Spring Drive mechanism; the mechanical power of the mainspring, the electrical energy generated from this mechanical power, and the electromagnetic energy that governs the rotation of the glide wheel. The energy produced by the glide wheel is used to power a control circuit and quartz crystal oscillator, which in turn regulates the electro-mechanical braking of the glide wheel.

The movement is used on the Spring Drive International collection and in some watches of Grand Seiko, Credor, Galante, Izul, Ananta and Prospex series.

For indepth study on this revolutionary movement, see a timezone link :
http://www.timezone.com/library/rdnotebook/200509073623

Seiko Ananta - Ananta is a Sanskrit word that means ‘the infinite’. When the SEIKO design team embarked on this creation, they were told that there were no boundaries. They were given infinite scope to build a watch that embodied the SEIKO dream of “the most technologically advanced craftsmanship in the world”. They could explore any design direction and seek new inspiration wherever they chose. Ananta is the result: a collection that expresses SEIKO’s dedication to infinite perfection.

Another unique feature of the Ananta is the time-setting work. The hour and minute hands can be set separately, with the first detent of the crown setting the hours, and the second detent, minutes. But the clever part of this is that the hour hand moves in hour-interval clicks rather then continuously, and in such a way that it always maintains the proper relative position to the minute hand.
I believe This is handy for adjusting for Daylight Savings Time, or for changing to a different time zone.
In short, the Ananta also uses the spring dive technology.

Thanks for your information

[bftcentury]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Also, may I know where you got your Ananta from? As I don't see these kind of series before in the streets before.

I got mine when Seiko did their 130yr celebration in KL. The main distributor in Malaysia said that at the moment they don't have the right to carry the brand in Msia yet. They brought in just one of every sub-series under the Ananta brand. I bought the retrograde when they exhibited the Seiko range in Mid Valley Mall.

The only problem that I may face is servicing. It can only be done in Japan as the main distributor is not qualified by Seiko Japan to service this type of watch. Hopefully, the AD does get certified in the next couple of years so that I can at get the watch serviced locally!

Ohh my... This means it will be hard for me to catch a glimpse of it. How much is the Ananta series?

[Watchnewby]

Thanks for your information

You are welcome.
We share and share information and discussion in MWF. 

Have a Good weekend.

[meoramri]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering what actually defines the grade differences on the various Seiko series... For example, Seiko Ananta vs Seiko Spring Drive, which one is better and what defines them?

Also, may I know where you got your Ananta from? As I don't see these kind of series before in the streets before.

I got mine when Seiko did their 130yr celebration in KL. The main distributor in Malaysia said that at the moment they don't have the right to carry the brand in Msia yet. They brought in just one of every sub-series under the Ananta brand. I bought the retrograde when they exhibited the Seiko range in Mid Valley Mall.

The only problem that I may face is servicing. It can only be done in Japan as the main distributor is not qualified by Seiko Japan to service this type of watch. Hopefully, the AD does get certified in the next couple of years so that I can at get the watch serviced locally!

Ohh my... This means it will be hard for me to catch a glimpse of it. How much is the Ananta series?

When I got mine, a few months ago, it was slightly above RM8k

[JOS2012]

Finally found the 'few' who appreciate the GS. Just to share...
I started buying watches > 30 yrs ago starting with Titoni, Enicar, Favre Leuba, Omega Constellation, Citizen & Seiko. In the 80's I started buying Heur then TAGs. By 90's I had sold off all the TAGs at 1/4 their original price and moved on to 4 Rolex ( GMT II, Explorer, Submariner and SeaDweller). By 2000 all the Rollies were gone (made good money too) replaced by JLCs and Omega Co-Axials.
Over the last few years in my travels to Japan, HK, Singapore where I met up with some WIS there, I started buying GS. The finishing of the cases, movt, dials, hands under a 20X loupe is quite unbelievable even when compared to the JLCs that I still keep. My Omegas don't come anywhere close although the Co Axials timekeeping & rates are very consistent abt +1.5 secs daily. Compared to Spring Drives they are still far behind but better than the manual wind Cal. 9S64 130th Ann. SBGW033.
The 2 Spring Drives that I bought, one a GS SBGC003 Cal.9R86 Chrono/GMT and the other an Ananta GMT Cal. 5R66 SNR021J1  together with the GS manual wind 130th Ann SBGW033 has been taking turns on my wrist since I bought them relegating the JLCs and Omegas to weekly time adjustments and back to the watch box.
You have to touch, feel, handle and inspect a GS or Ananta under a 20X or maybe 40X loupe to believe the precision of their finishing. We must of course realise that Grand Seiko uses industrial technology whereas the high end Swiss still uses artisan craftmanship (talking abt PD, FPJ, AP, PP) Each GS is hand assembled by an assigned Master watchmaker from start to finish. Ananta's are also hand assembled but on a production line each technician doing a specific task. Some of the critical GS parts are now made by LIGA technology for high precision tolerances (but called MEMS by Seiko).
How many Swiss brands have that.
Compare the production figures of GS/Anantas against their equivalent Swiss counterparts costing even twice as much and you'll still be boggled. Talk about being exclusive when Swiss luxury brands churn out a million or in some cases > a million watches per brand/per year where most of these are assembled by assembly line robotics (except PP,VC,AP,JLC,GP,AHCI's,Renaud & Papi & Christophe Claret).
GS production is in the ten of thousands not hundreds of thousands or millions.
I'm looking to add the SBGA011 GS SD Snowflake next. When I saw the snowflake dial under a 20X loupe in person, the hair on my hands stood up but I had just bought the SBGW033 130th Ann so I had to pull the handbrake.... but eventually the Snowflake will be mine...
 

[terrenceterrence]

what i always reiterate is that, we are not paying any much more for "Swiss Artisan's" handcrafted work, but for the Swiss Artisan's "social welfare and safety net" instead. There's much to pay for the Swiss to maintain their "swiss standard of living" and pensions.

well that is life i guess.................

[ivanswk]

I'm looking to add the GS SD Snowflake next. When I saw the snowflake dial in person, my hair literally stood up but I had just bought the 130th Ann so I had to pull the handbrake.... but eventually the Snowflake will be mine...
 

another guy chasing snowflake 
the competition is stiff 

[JOS2012]

ivanswk,
No worries. Snowflake is regular production.
On the other hand 130th Ann SBGW033 is extremely hard to come across as there was only 1 piece of the SS assigned to the watch dealer I met (300 pieces out of Japan and 1,000 for Japan domestic)
The platinum & gold 130th Ann is 130 pieces worldwide but costs almost 4 times & 3 times respectively vs the SS.
Besides I find the beautifully perfectly blued seconds hand of the SS much nicer vs the platinum second hand of the platinum version.

[Cocas]

I went tru this today at a AD that carry Tag Heuer while i was looking at the 1887 carera which is the only model i am interested in because of it seiko movement origin.

Me: Oh do you know this movement is actually based on Seiko auto chrono movement?

Salesperson: SEIKO!!!!!!!!!!!! NO NO NO, THIS is based on TH in house movement. Same goes to caliber 15/16/5, they are all made in house too. ( the fact that the "caliber 15/16/5 is based on ETA movement lol  ) And this also made by TH in house too dont you (pointing at zenith EP powered monaco) Seiko does not do this kind of thing!!!!

Me: How much is this (1887) cost?

Salesperson:  Rm18000 including GST.

Me:  and walk away laughing at them cause they get their fact wrong.

Another case, this is in the shop where i got my grail from.

Me: Showing them the "Watchtime" magazine that was in the shop featuring Grand Seiko watch and the movement... Wow look at this isn't it beuatiful (honestly speaking its damn beautiful)?

Them: Nah, i dont even bother too look at it. No 2nd hand value.....

Me: Okay..........




The main point is that isnt it quite sad that ppl think seiko as "cheapo watch" brand than super duper high end company? Sigh... I guess they would be surprised if Seiko tapau the swiss on chronometer competition last time. I think they got ban again when they organise the competition last time.

What you guys think about this issue? I think seiko brand is too wide... From cheapest to most expensive watch. They should had do what Lexus, Acura and Infiniti does for the big 3 car maker. 

That's why we are lucky to have this Malaysia very own watch forum to educate junior watch enthusiast like me