calling Grand Seiko aficionados.....seeking your opinion

[KTY]

Note that the stainless steel equivalent of the snowflake (such as SBGA001 and SBGA003) from the Grand Seiko Basic collection costs 100,000 yen less.

Putting aside the emotional aspect of watch buying/ownership and viewing strictly from the point of Seiko marketing, one quickly comes to 2 conclusions..

1) the hi-beat movement costs 100,000 yen > the spring drive,

2) 100,000 yen buys you a titanium case and bracelet.

The titanium snowflake is of course very light, my copy with 3 links removed weighs only 93 grams. This is a plus for some and to others, the lightless gives the watch a cheap feel.

The innovative property of Seiko's 'bright titanium'  alloy is that it can be polished to a gloss to resemble stainless steel. It is also harder and less resistant to scratches.

The polished surface on my copy of snowflake is not perfectly smooth like that of stainless steel. From a certain angle, the surface exhibits an orange-peel texture, like a bad re-spray paint job.

Now, onto the snowflake dial, I believe the pattern is stamped from a master and is not unique to a particular watch. I check the pattern of my dial with others posted on the net, so far, they look similar. According to Seiko, the snowflake dial takes 6 steps to make but that of SBGA001 actually involves a 12-steps process.

In summary, If you decide on the snowflake, it will be for the dial and lightless/hypoallergenic property of titanium. If you don't care for titanium, then it is only for the dial. Of coures, when it comes to watch buying, the heart takes precedence over the head.

Let me share with you what a friend said to me.. " What?, you pay premium for titanium which is then worked to resemble stainless steel?"

KT

[JOS2012]

hi KTY

Thanks for taking the effort of sharing your detailed ownership of the Snowflake….
I'll certainly take note of all your comments.
Regarding the uniqueness of each Snowflake dial, I read it on the net whether on one of the official Seiko web or a review by a prominent Grand Seiko fan like Holbrook, Arizona Time, WUS, etc.. I forgot coz I read dozens of reports on the GS.

As for titanium vs steel, I have both titanium and steel watches. I actually like the slight grey of the titanium Snowflake when I compare it side by side with the HiBeat steel. I'll check on the orange peel and if its true, its a no no for me..

Anyway at the end of the day I may still end up getting both just that the Hi Beat may come first…and hopefully the following year, the Snowflake which will by then pop up in another configuration somewhere else.

So are you a GS collector. If so do share on your experience of your other GS.

Note that the stainless steel equivalent of the snowflake (such as SBGA001 and SBGA003) from the Grand Seiko Basic collection costs 100,000 yen less.

Putting aside the emotional aspect of watch buying/ownership and viewing strictly from the point of Seiko marketing, one quickly comes to 2 conclusions..

1) the hi-beat movement costs 100,000 yen > the spring drive,

2) 100,000 yen buys you a titanium case and bracelet.

The titanium snowflake is of course very light, my copy with 3 links removed weighs only 93 grams. This is a plus for some and to others, the lightless gives the watch a cheap feel.

The innovative property of Seiko's 'bright titanium'  alloy is that it can be polished to a gloss to resemble stainless steel. It is also harder and less resistant to scratches.

The polished surface on my copy of snowflake is not perfectly smooth like that of stainless steel. From a certain angle, the surface exhibits an orange-peel texture, like a bad re-spray paint job.

Now, onto the snowflake dial, I believe the pattern is stamped from a master and is not unique to a particular watch. I check the pattern of my dial with others posted on the net, so far, they look similar. According to Seiko, the snowflake dial takes 6 steps to make but that of SBGA001 actually involves a 12-steps process.

In summary, If you decide on the snowflake, it will be for the dial and lightless/hypoallergenic property of titanium. If you don't care for titanium, then it is only for the dial. Of coures, when it comes to watch buying, the heart takes precedence over the head.

Let me share with you what a friend said to me.. " What?, you pay premium for titanium which is then worked to resemble stainless steel?"

KT

[KTY]

Hi,

My office is located at KLCC.

Buy me a Starbuck at lunch time. You can examine the snowflake to your heart's content and we can talk about other GS.

I have written to katsu-san to pre-book the SGBM029, recently revealed at Basel 2012. Except the 72 hr movement, it is a SBGM005 Isetan LE look-alike. Cool looking watch!

PM me.

KT

[JOS2012]

Hi,
Thanks for your offer.
My office is abt 15 mins walk from KLCC but its too hot for me.
Maybe we can meet after work.. say 6pm arnd KLCC. I'm arnd Jln Sultan Ismail area.

R u muslim otherwise I prefer a golden brew.
Have u bought stuff from seiya & chino on top of katsu ?
I've made some enquiries in the past but they never had what I wanted eg the Citizen Satellite Eco Drive…the GS 130 Ann SBGW033 (luckily I got it somewhere else)
I've seen most of the GS many many times, handling them, etc..
I'll have the chance to handle all of them up close up again before I pull the trigger.. whether the SBGH001, SBGA011 or the limited edition with gold hand,baton,etc..
I can never wear anything smaller than 40mm….coz my hand is wide..so I have to forego some of GS I actually like.

Care to tell me which other GS you have..
I have the SBGC003 and SBGW033
 

Hi,

My office is located at KLCC.

Buy me a Starbuck at lunch time. You can examine the snowflake to your heart's content and we can talk about other GS.

I have written to katsu-san to pre-book the SGBM029, recently revealed at Basel 2012. Except the 72 hr movement, it is a SBGM005 Isetan LE look-alike. Cool looking watch!

PM me.

KT

[chrisyen]

looks like we can hv lunch gtg now...
my office also in bkt bintang

[takashi78]

I want one also...but weekend can ah? hehe...

[davidtth]

i'd love to vote for hi-beat as well, since you have few SD, should have a Hi-beat to complete the GS collection 

try it on my hand, dun feel like taking it off but wallet not allow to do so.... 

[JOS2012]

david,
I tot u liked the Grand Seiko Auto GMT SBGE009 and going to get it..
it costs the same (in Yen 550,000) as the Snowflake SBGA011 and the Hi-Beat SBGH001

i'd love to vote for hi-beat as well, since you have few SD, should have a Hi-beat to complete the GS collection 

[Enkidu]

Hi, JOS, since you have handled the Hi-Beat, could you advise if the date wheel hangs in between the date number when the time is between say 11pm and 12 midnight?

For example, when the time is 11:30pm, 13 March, does the date window display something between 13 and 14?

I suspect this is an "issue" with most seikos, even grand seikos. Are you able to confirm?
 

[JOS2012]

hmmm...I haven't actually noticed this as I'm either in bed by that time or still out having a whisky in a not too bright place... to be able to see clearly..
When I check out a watch to buy, I'm normally quite anal about the positioning accuracy of the hour and minute hands viz-a-viz the minute/hour markers as I turn the hands through a 24 hour cycle.
I also check the duration of the date change... The date should change completely preferably between a few minutes before or after 12 midnight but not exceeding 10 mins before or after, its one of those no no issues I would consider before deciding to buy or not buy.
Having the date hang in between is no issue for me unless it starts to move way too early like at 10.30-11pm..(after 11.30pm I guess I can accept it).

Obviously those GS I bought has passed my criteria..however I'll try to remember to check out your enquiry one of these few nights and report back...I can only do it for the GS SBGC003 not the Hi-Beat, as I forgot how the HiBeat went but I'm sure its the same for all GS calibres.
(to set alarm in my i-phone for 11.30pm tonight)

Hi, JOS, since you have handled the Hi-Beat, could you advise if the date wheel hangs in between the date number when the time is between say 11pm and 12 midnight?

For example, when the time is 11:30pm, 13 March, does the date window display something between 13 and 14?

I suspect this is an "issue" with most seikos, even grand seikos. Are you able to confirm?

[Enkidu]

Obviously those GS I bought has passed my criteria..however I'll try to remember to check out your enquiry one of these few nights and report back...I can only do it for the GS SBGC003 not the Hi-Beat, as I forgot how the HiBeat went but I'm sure its the same for all GS calibres.
(to set alarm in my i-phone for 11.30pm tonight)

I asked because I was checking an NOS SBGM003 (the older GMT GS model with cream dial) over the weekend and the date change seems to start at about 11:20pm and it hangs in the middle (between the 2 dates) at 11:45pm and goes completely over at about 12:06 midnight. There was no click (like what we normally experience with Rolex, Zenith...etc). I thought the GS would have a sharper date change feature??? 

[JOS2012]

hmmm like you I'd prefer a rapid date change too....
well hopefully with these new calibres which are 72 hrs reserve, this feature has also been improved..
The SBGC003 changes date at 12.02 but I know there is a click... coz I've heard it..

I'll check it out and come back to you...

Obviously those GS I bought has passed my criteria..however I'll try to remember to check out your enquiry one of these few nights and report back...I can only do it for the GS SBGC003 not the Hi-Beat, as I forgot how the HiBeat went but I'm sure its the same for all GS calibres.
(to set alarm in my i-phone for 11.30pm tonight)

I asked because I was checking an NOS SBGM003 (the older GMT GS model with cream dial) over the weekend and the date change seems to start at about 11:20pm and it hangs in the middle (between the 2 dates) at 11:45pm and goes completely over at about 12:06 midnight. There was no click (like what we normally experience with Rolex, Zenith...etc). I thought the GS would have a sharper date change feature??? 

[Enkidu]

I'll check it out and come back to you...

OK, thanks in advance. But your SBGC003 is a Spring Drive model, could well be different from the Hi-Beat powered by the 9S.

[JOS2012]

good point.
Will be having another round of viewing several selected GS in 2-3 weeks time...
Can come back to you then.

I'll check it out and come back to you...

OK, thanks in advance. But your SBGC003 is a Spring Drive model, could well be different from the Hi-Beat powered by the 9S.

[Enkidu]

good point.
Will be having another round of viewing several selected GS in 2-3 weeks time...
Can come back to you then.

...and please post lots of pics.

[JOS2012]

did u see the one I posted on "whats on your wrist today" the last trip I was in the GS candy store?

good point.
Will be having another round of viewing several selected GS in 2-3 weeks time...
Can come back to you then.

...and please post lots of pics.

[JOS2012]

http://www.malaysiawatchforum.com/index.php/topic,332.msg53134.html#msg53134

http://www.malaysiawatchforum.com/index.php/topic,332.msg58912.html#msg58912

Just shows how fickle-minded I can be even though I'd promised myself to be systematic, methodical and objective in future acquisitions after 2 yrs of painful, loss incurring culling of my collection from 30+ in 2010 to 8 watches in early 2012.

After my pre-2012 purchase of GS SBGC003, GS SBGW033 130th Ann & Ananta SD GMT, I had intended to acquire additional GS within 2012 on a very selective basis...

During 2 visits to a well-stocked GS dealer in Land of Smiles in early part of 2012, I thought I had nailed my choice to the SGBA011 Snowflake and SBGH001 Hi-Beat. I held back so that I would be sure of not making any impulsive purchase. I told myself that if those watches continued to be 'Always On My Mind" for months after viewing them, they would be the right choice and not just another knee jerk reaction.

During my Japan trip a week back however, I came across 2 watches; Ananta 'Naoki Sakai Limited' & the SBGA031 in the company of the SBGA011, SBGH001 and other GS. Maybe it was the right time in the right environment, these 2 just looked so right on the wrist compared to the others and in that moment of weakness, I got them both....

http://www.malaysiawatchforum.com/index.php/topic,332.msg60818.html#msg60818

So thanks everyone for all your input... I've decided to stop buying any other GS for 2012 unless GS can magically come up with a heart-stopping model between now and Baselworld 2013......

[Enkidu]

Hi, JOS,

For your next purchase, I recommend this for your patrician wrist.....



Not my photo.....

[JOS2012]

hi Loo
Thanks for your recommendation. Very nice piece but nowadays I'm looking for casual/after-office not formal dress watches. The other thing is this model's date wheel color is not matching to the dial colour. If the dial is black and the date wheel white, its not so bad as a lot of hi-end watcheslike AP, PP also do that but most GS models have matching date wheel/ dial colours. I'm anal abt details like that.

  Aiyo...don't embarass me la.. what patrician... if I am in the league of PP, Lange, VC or AHCI like FPJ,Dufour, Kari owners then that statement may apply...
You got me mixed up with the few here on MWF who own such watches...
 
Any recent acquisitions on your side ?

Hi, JOS,
For your next purchase, I recommend this for your patrician wrist.....

[Enkidu]

hi Loo
Thanks for your recommendation. Very nice piece but nowadays I'm looking for casual/after-office not formal dress watches.

  Aiyo...don't embarass me la.. what patrician... if I am in the league of PP, Lange, VC or AHCI like FPJ,Dufour, Kari owners then that statement may apply...
You got me mixed up with the few here on MWF who own such watches...
 
Any recent acquisitions on your side ?

Hi, JOS,
I'm still in Hong Kong. As you know, the whole place is like one big watch shop. Not seen (or rather, not paid any attention to) any GS, but saw plenty of Rolexes, both new and vintage. Price seems to be cheaper here for the SS models, but not much different from the latest price offered in KL for the TT or full gold models. Will check out some GS pieces if I happen to see any. 

[HusH]

Hi Enkidu,

The Seiko boutique in iSquare, TST is a good place to start. Good selection of GS and Ananta 

[terrenceterrence]

Hi Enkidu,

The Seiko boutique in iSquare, TST is a good place to start. Good selection of GS and Ananta 

Wow thanks. I never knew it's inside there. I always stay next door and will make a trip the next time I am in town.