Discussion
I was fortunate enough to have a look at a Grand Seiko at the weekend. I previously knew absolutely nothing about them, and thought it was made up...but I'm sure you guys know very much about them. Thought I would share this anyway.
When looking at the watch, from a distance, it looks not too dissimilar to a standard £50 model. The Grand Seiko, however, costs >£3k!
The technology is pretty impressive and thought you guys might appreciate it too. I wouldnt buy one, personally, but it's impressive nonetheless:
http://www.grand-seiko.com/manufacture/springdrive...
When looking at the watch, from a distance, it looks not too dissimilar to a standard £50 model. The Grand Seiko, however, costs >£3k!
The technology is pretty impressive and thought you guys might appreciate it too. I wouldnt buy one, personally, but it's impressive nonetheless:
http://www.grand-seiko.com/manufacture/springdrive...
CommanderJameson said:
glazbagun said:
I'm not a fan of Springdrives in general, but love Grand Seiko's. 
Do Seiko make a Spring Drive watch that isn't a GS?
Sorry, ambiguity on my behalf then.
The MarineMaster 300 is indeed an Automatic movement.
I mean the MM600 - http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-SBDB001/SEIKO-...
That is a Spring Drive and not badged as a GS.
The MarineMaster 300 is indeed an Automatic movement.
I mean the MM600 - http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-SBDB001/SEIKO-...
That is a Spring Drive and not badged as a GS.
I blow a bit hot and cold with these (Spring Drives that is, rather than GS's in general).
In terms of engineering then absolutely hats off to Seiko for putting the time and effort into designing and manufacturing it all in it's entirety, and the truly sweeping hand is quite something to observe even if I've only witnessed it through the power of YouTube, I also like the way Seiko draw a parallel between the sweeping hand and the true advancement of time itself.
On the minus side I can't help but think that, in terms of accuracy, I prefer the idea of a purely mechanical device designed and then built by hand to the highest quality and workmanship possible in order to try to achieve the same thing - I guess that, to me at least, there's a touch more emotion involved.
In terms of engineering then absolutely hats off to Seiko for putting the time and effort into designing and manufacturing it all in it's entirety, and the truly sweeping hand is quite something to observe even if I've only witnessed it through the power of YouTube, I also like the way Seiko draw a parallel between the sweeping hand and the true advancement of time itself.
On the minus side I can't help but think that, in terms of accuracy, I prefer the idea of a purely mechanical device designed and then built by hand to the highest quality and workmanship possible in order to try to achieve the same thing - I guess that, to me at least, there's a touch more emotion involved.
CardShark said:
On the minus side I can't help but think that, in terms of accuracy, I prefer the idea of a purely mechanical device designed and then built by hand to the highest quality and workmanship possible in order to try to achieve the same thing - I guess that, to me at least, there's a touch more emotion involved.
I remember reading somewhere that Seiko started winning the Swiss chronometer competitions in the 60s with their mechanical movements, then got excluded because they were making the Swiss manufactures look bad.Just tried to find a link but can't find anything so I may be wrong!
Absolutely, I remember reading the same.
I'm not sure as to exactly why Seiko did what they did in coming up with the whole Spring Drive concept, if it was to show off their skills or have the most accurate (part) mechanical movement in world or whatever. I just feel that, rightly or wrongly, Spring Drives are mechanical movements that are only as accurate as they are because they have an electronic device governing their output.
I'm not knocking them, they're lovely bits of kit and the complete watches themselves are superb, it's just that I like the idea of having a purely mechanical movement that's be honed to the 'nth degree (even if they're not as accurate as an SD) over a hybrid device
I'm not sure as to exactly why Seiko did what they did in coming up with the whole Spring Drive concept, if it was to show off their skills or have the most accurate (part) mechanical movement in world or whatever. I just feel that, rightly or wrongly, Spring Drives are mechanical movements that are only as accurate as they are because they have an electronic device governing their output.
I'm not knocking them, they're lovely bits of kit and the complete watches themselves are superb, it's just that I like the idea of having a purely mechanical movement that's be honed to the 'nth degree (even if they're not as accurate as an SD) over a hybrid device
Edited by CardShark on Tuesday 10th May 22:17
I think I'd agree with that too. The feat of making a mechanical watch as acuurate as possible is amazing. However, I think Seiko have identified a problem, taking the emotion out, and fixed it with modern technology and electronics! It's kind of like evolution.
I like the spring drive concept and completely agree with the comment about it being the "M5" of the watch world!
I like the spring drive concept and completely agree with the comment about it being the "M5" of the watch world!
I have to agree to a point. I jumped on the band wagon and bought a sprindrive ananta.
I am a watch collector, and once I heard about the seiko sprindrive & its quality I decided to buy one.
Its in my watch box gathering dust now.
Firstly the pros...amazingly accurate, i really am quite amazed at how accurate it is, to a few seconds a month.
Thats about it for the pros...
The cons...
Firstly totally agree with those above about a watch either is a handmade mechanical thing or its not, I realise I totally love the 100% mechanical watch...not sure where the springdrive fits in here. I mean so many people raving about what a really clever inverntion it is etc...why?...what hole is it filling?....I have mechanical watches whose accuracy is absolutley fine, really not an issue a few seconds here or there.
I also have a solar powered, radio controlled Junghams watch that sits on my sideboard, thing is awful to wear & the most dreary looking watch, but hey if its accuracy you are after, it knocks spots of even the springdrive, and it costs ££££ less
So thats where i struggle to see seiko springdrive, ok its a clever little jap invention, but its not mover the accuarcy game on more than the Junghams, and its certainly not moved the quality & feel on further than a swiss high calibre watch.
My Ananta is the titanium one, so yes tit does feel a bit light anyway, but overall the tactile experience with it is not good, it looks, it feels just a bit too 'plasticky' for want of a better expression, when you wind it it feels and sounds too 'grindy' not smooth ....it feels like you £200 seiko to me, not a £4k + watch
So I can only think that from the posts above & similar that people are taking seiko springdrive under their wing so to speak as its a big underdog to all the pompous rubbish in the swiss industry, but in my experience I really struggle to see the market for what they are doing, it is not a pure mechanical watch, and that is what purists will always seek, and its not a digital watch either...as I say I am struggling to see the point of it.
And that is my unbiased opinion, I really wanted to like it, as like many Seiko has always had a place in my heart from being a kid, my firat watches were seikos...but I think they should stick to their market, like casio does.
The day they come up with a 100% mechanical watch that is as accurate as the springdrive I will be impressed
I am a watch collector, and once I heard about the seiko sprindrive & its quality I decided to buy one.
Its in my watch box gathering dust now.
Firstly the pros...amazingly accurate, i really am quite amazed at how accurate it is, to a few seconds a month.
Thats about it for the pros...
The cons...
Firstly totally agree with those above about a watch either is a handmade mechanical thing or its not, I realise I totally love the 100% mechanical watch...not sure where the springdrive fits in here. I mean so many people raving about what a really clever inverntion it is etc...why?...what hole is it filling?....I have mechanical watches whose accuracy is absolutley fine, really not an issue a few seconds here or there.
I also have a solar powered, radio controlled Junghams watch that sits on my sideboard, thing is awful to wear & the most dreary looking watch, but hey if its accuracy you are after, it knocks spots of even the springdrive, and it costs ££££ less
So thats where i struggle to see seiko springdrive, ok its a clever little jap invention, but its not mover the accuarcy game on more than the Junghams, and its certainly not moved the quality & feel on further than a swiss high calibre watch.
My Ananta is the titanium one, so yes tit does feel a bit light anyway, but overall the tactile experience with it is not good, it looks, it feels just a bit too 'plasticky' for want of a better expression, when you wind it it feels and sounds too 'grindy' not smooth ....it feels like you £200 seiko to me, not a £4k + watch
So I can only think that from the posts above & similar that people are taking seiko springdrive under their wing so to speak as its a big underdog to all the pompous rubbish in the swiss industry, but in my experience I really struggle to see the market for what they are doing, it is not a pure mechanical watch, and that is what purists will always seek, and its not a digital watch either...as I say I am struggling to see the point of it.
And that is my unbiased opinion, I really wanted to like it, as like many Seiko has always had a place in my heart from being a kid, my firat watches were seikos...but I think they should stick to their market, like casio does.
The day they come up with a 100% mechanical watch that is as accurate as the springdrive I will be impressed
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