Buying a watch not officially available in the UK?

[Debaser]

This afternoon I went to my local Omega dealer and tried on a Planet Ocean Big Size. I wasn't sure how such a big watch would look on my wrist, but I thought it was great! However, I can't decide between the Omega and a couple of Seikos that aren't available here - either the MarineMaster 300 or the SBDB001 Spring Drive.

I'm worried about buying a watch without having tried it on (I imagine the Spring Drive in particular might look a bit big on me), and also not too sure about what to do if something needed fixing under warranty, or when it needed servicing.

If any of you have bought either of these watches any advice would be much appreciated!

[leginigel]

I aways buy 2nd hand watches,give them a couple of weeks sometimes months and if they don't do anything for me they are sold on,sometimes with a little profit.The only watch I have held on to is the black face Omega Seamaster it seems to be the watch I judge all the others by.

[cyberface]

I'd love a Spring Drive, but never seen them in the UK - and generally on eBay they tend to be private sellers which I'm very wary of when we're talking about £2000+ watches.

Let us know how you get on! The movement in the Spring Drive watches is pretty incredible.

[lowdrag]

As a comment if you can wear the big PO then the Marine Master or Spring Drive should pose no problem to you. As regards maintenance, well a lot of us wear a Monster and that isn't available in the UK either. Personally, I think the MM is a beautiful watch and much rarer than the PO so I'd go for that. They turn up from time to time on the TZ Sales corner too.

[Debaser]

Well I've been doing some research over the weekend and found that Seiya sells the SBDB001
http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-SBDB001/SEIKO_...

And there's a Seiko Centre shop in Paris that stocks the Spring Drive watches. I guess if Seiko sell them in Paris then I should be able to get it serviced there?
http://www.seikocenter.fr/

However, while looking around I stumbled across this which looks totally incredible! Looks like I might have to keep saving for a lot longer...
http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-SBGA031/Grand_...

I couldn't find anything on Google, but is anyone aware of a Seiko Centre in the UK?

[Dominic H]

Debaser said:

Well I've been doing some research over the weekend and found that Seiya sells the SBDB001
http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-SBDB001/SEIKO_...

And there's a Seiko Centre shop in Paris that stocks the Spring Drive watches. I guess if Seiko sell them in Paris then I should be able to get it serviced there?
http://www.seikocenter.fr/

However, while looking around I stumbled across this which looks totally incredible! Looks like I might have to keep saving for a lot longer...
http://www.seiyajapan.com/product/S-SBGA031/Grand_...

I couldn't find anything on Google, but is anyone aware of a Seiko Centre in the UK?

Seiko have an established UK service centre who should be able service all calibres....

Here are the contact details....

Seiko UK Limited
SC House
Vanwall Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 4UW

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]


Dom H

[HereBeMonsters]

I recall that service centre servicing my Dad's watch which was bought in Singapore or Abu Dhabi or somewhere. They said it would take a little longer as they had to order parts in, but it came back in a couple of weeks.