Seiko Spring Drive
Discussion
If any other company, Patek, JLC, etc, had developed the Spring drive, it would have been hailed as the biggest step forward for mechanical watches in the last 90yrs. Sadly, sticking more cogs into an already crowded space to increase complexity is seen as the ultimate horological achievement.
Or making the case deeper.
However, the Spring Drive is Seiko. This means, everything is designed, engineered and manufactured in house... Everything, even the lubricants. Second to only to Rolex quality control. It used to mean a universal guarantee? Kudos from none pompous watch fans that appreciate innovation and the knowledge that you don't run with the crowd.
Apart from the fact they ain't cheap, and that dullards would suggest you buy an Omega Seamaster instead, there doesn't appear to be a downside. Depreciation? You own a car, you should be used to it.
Or making the case deeper.
However, the Spring Drive is Seiko. This means, everything is designed, engineered and manufactured in house... Everything, even the lubricants. Second to only to Rolex quality control. It used to mean a universal guarantee? Kudos from none pompous watch fans that appreciate innovation and the knowledge that you don't run with the crowd.
Apart from the fact they ain't cheap, and that dullards would suggest you buy an Omega Seamaster instead, there doesn't appear to be a downside. Depreciation? You own a car, you should be used to it.
Edited by Shuvi on Monday 25th August 04:10
I love Seiko Spring Drive. They seem to have started promoting them in the UK, there was an ad in the latest Evo. They are a bit out of my price range but I love perving on this Japanese site http://www.seiyajapan.com/
Have a look in the flagship and diver's sections, some lovely watches.
I agree that if Spring Drive had been from an established Swiss maker more people would be talking about it. I do like the fact that it's a bit of a hidden treasure though.
Have a look in the flagship and diver's sections, some lovely watches.
I agree that if Spring Drive had been from an established Swiss maker more people would be talking about it. I do like the fact that it's a bit of a hidden treasure though.
There were two second hand on Ebay last week starting at £1,000. They seem to be superb technologically but my only worry is as to how long the coils will last before breaking down. The more complex a watch, the greater the possibility of something going wrong is how I feel about it. Nevertheless, by chance I googled the subject this morning and especially if you use the name seiya instead of Seiko you'll find some in Japan for sale. Since the Grand Seiko SBGA031 and SBGA029 are selling at around £3,000 (steel) and £3,500 (titanium) perhaps the price of the other post here, the Spacewalk, isn't far out at £5,000 although it can only be the rarity that would push the price so high I guess. If you want to see the Spring Drive range and prices go here:-
http://www.seiyajapan.com/category/0_flagship/
Edited to add that the Seiya Prospex range are very highly rated too and much cheaper although not all spring drive. Look here to view this range :-
http://www.seiyajapan.com/category/2_for_divers/
http://www.seiyajapan.com/category/0_flagship/
Edited to add that the Seiya Prospex range are very highly rated too and much cheaper although not all spring drive. Look here to view this range :-
http://www.seiyajapan.com/category/2_for_divers/
Edited by lowdrag on Monday 25th August 15:37
lowdrag said:
...but my only worry is as to how long the coils will last before breaking down. The more complex a watch, the greater the possibility of something going wrong is how I feel about it.
I can understand why people might be wary of long term performance, when you consider how long the trad' movement has been around, and the refinements it has received over that time.The Spring Drive is Seikos attempt at simplifying the mechanical watch. The coils are basically just that, wound coils.
I think the Spring Drive rocks, and as a movement junkie I simply have to have one. The thing holding me back has mainly been Seiko's policy of using the movement in their JDM 'formal' watches such as the Credor and Seiya range. I've seen pics of these (and obtaining even one of these would be difficult, availability being limited) and none of the dial or case designs turn me on.
Even though I'd be buying it for the movement... I still need to like the look of the watch. And I do have a thing about chronographs....
....which brings me onto the copy of Evo I've just read... and the advert for the Spring Drive chrono, titanium alloy bracelet, fine looks, display back and that movement.
I love it, and I will have one if there's any feasible way of obtaining one (if Seiko do a Rolex Daytona then I'll pass purely on principle). And I'm happy to pay £5k for the privilege. That chrono looks like a 500 piece limited edition so I wouldn't be surprised if they've already been snapped up by speculators - but then again, it says Seiko on the dial... and the FX trader boys won't pay top dollar for that, only the watch geeks will.
But if it's available, I'm seriously enquiring about the waiting list.... Does anyone know what's going on with the Spring Drive Chrono? I absolutely love it - but having just found (through timezone.com) that it was launched in 2007, and was a 300 piece limited edition... surely I've missed the boat? So what's with the adverts in Evo? A new model?
The only thing that'd put me off buying this would be a £2k speculator's premium, a £7.5k price tag or if it's > 42mm case size, as has infuriatingly become the trend these days. I can't wear Panerai-sized watches, if I could then I'd own an IWC doppelchronograph (bottled the purchase at last minute with credit card out when the GF pointed out it was far too big for my wrist and looked vulgar)....
Hell, it's got a time-tested comfortable Rolex Oyster-type bracelet, which I know is very compatible with my wrist, it's got a 72 hour power reserve (knocks my Breguet into a cocked hat), date, chronograph and *that* movement - all visible through a display back (which sadly my Breguet lacks). It looks pretty thick... I guess the sticking point will be size...
(FWIW I share Shuvi's opinion that Seiko are a true manufacture and up there with Patek and co. - they've made many innovations in mechanical watchmaking over the years and make *everything* in house. Only their cost-conscious and engineering-appropriateness use of plastics in their movements (hey, it's self lubricating, ideal for calendar mechanisms etc. that don't see a lot of torque) gives the snob the sneer-factor. Other than that... they deserve to be taken very seriously indeed)
Even though I'd be buying it for the movement... I still need to like the look of the watch. And I do have a thing about chronographs....
....which brings me onto the copy of Evo I've just read... and the advert for the Spring Drive chrono, titanium alloy bracelet, fine looks, display back and that movement.
I love it, and I will have one if there's any feasible way of obtaining one (if Seiko do a Rolex Daytona then I'll pass purely on principle). And I'm happy to pay £5k for the privilege. That chrono looks like a 500 piece limited edition so I wouldn't be surprised if they've already been snapped up by speculators - but then again, it says Seiko on the dial... and the FX trader boys won't pay top dollar for that, only the watch geeks will.
But if it's available, I'm seriously enquiring about the waiting list.... Does anyone know what's going on with the Spring Drive Chrono? I absolutely love it - but having just found (through timezone.com) that it was launched in 2007, and was a 300 piece limited edition... surely I've missed the boat? So what's with the adverts in Evo? A new model?
The only thing that'd put me off buying this would be a £2k speculator's premium, a £7.5k price tag or if it's > 42mm case size, as has infuriatingly become the trend these days. I can't wear Panerai-sized watches, if I could then I'd own an IWC doppelchronograph (bottled the purchase at last minute with credit card out when the GF pointed out it was far too big for my wrist and looked vulgar)....
Hell, it's got a time-tested comfortable Rolex Oyster-type bracelet, which I know is very compatible with my wrist, it's got a 72 hour power reserve (knocks my Breguet into a cocked hat), date, chronograph and *that* movement - all visible through a display back (which sadly my Breguet lacks). It looks pretty thick... I guess the sticking point will be size...
(FWIW I share Shuvi's opinion that Seiko are a true manufacture and up there with Patek and co. - they've made many innovations in mechanical watchmaking over the years and make *everything* in house. Only their cost-conscious and engineering-appropriateness use of plastics in their movements (hey, it's self lubricating, ideal for calendar mechanisms etc. that don't see a lot of torque) gives the snob the sneer-factor. Other than that... they deserve to be taken very seriously indeed)
Just to drag up an old thread...
I am still drooling over the titanium GS Diver SBGA031 - Any thoughts now the price has crept to around GBP4k after discounts?
I absolutely love this watch and have a number of Seiko's in my collection and have definitely bought into them as a Manufacture but when weighing this watch up against a Rolex DSSD, I am having trouble setting the money aside for the Seiko!
Cyberface, any further thoughts?
I am still drooling over the titanium GS Diver SBGA031 - Any thoughts now the price has crept to around GBP4k after discounts?
I absolutely love this watch and have a number of Seiko's in my collection and have definitely bought into them as a Manufacture but when weighing this watch up against a Rolex DSSD, I am having trouble setting the money aside for the Seiko!
Cyberface, any further thoughts?
dom9 said:
Just to drag up an old thread...
I am still drooling over the titanium GS Diver SBGA031 - Any thoughts now the price has crept to around GBP4k after discounts?
I absolutely love this watch and have a number of Seiko's in my collection and have definitely bought into them as a Manufacture but when weighing this watch up against a Rolex DSSD, I am having trouble setting the money aside for the Seiko!
Cyberface, any further thoughts?
I bet the sales of Spring Drive watches are infinitesimal in the UK. The are probably a league ahead of the Swiss firms on an engineering front but if you don't have the right brand image you're wasting your time.I am still drooling over the titanium GS Diver SBGA031 - Any thoughts now the price has crept to around GBP4k after discounts?
I absolutely love this watch and have a number of Seiko's in my collection and have definitely bought into them as a Manufacture but when weighing this watch up against a Rolex DSSD, I am having trouble setting the money aside for the Seiko!
Cyberface, any further thoughts?
Fittster said:
I bet the sales of Spring Drive watches are infinitesimal in the UK. The are probably a league ahead of the Swiss firms on an engineering front but if you don't have the right brand image you're wasting your time.
Hmmm... Maybe they could put a bit of Burberry check on the box?dom9 said:
Just to drag up an old thread...
I am still drooling over the titanium GS Diver SBGA031 - Any thoughts now the price has crept to around GBP4k after discounts?
I absolutely love this watch and have a number of Seiko's in my collection and have definitely bought into them as a Manufacture but when weighing this watch up against a Rolex DSSD, I am having trouble setting the money aside for the Seiko!
Cyberface, any further thoughts?
A friend of mine has the SBGA031 and it's truly stunning. I can understand why people in the West hesitate when considering a purchase (Grand Seiko aren't sold in the West, so few westerners have actually seen one in the metal to understand the price point), but the build quality is (IMO) better than Rolex. The attention to detail is exceptional. I would not hesitate to buy the GS before the DSSD (and I like the DSSD).I am still drooling over the titanium GS Diver SBGA031 - Any thoughts now the price has crept to around GBP4k after discounts?
I absolutely love this watch and have a number of Seiko's in my collection and have definitely bought into them as a Manufacture but when weighing this watch up against a Rolex DSSD, I am having trouble setting the money aside for the Seiko!
Cyberface, any further thoughts?
Myself, I haven't yet put my money where my mouth is, but the Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT (SBGE001) is next on my list.
I have tried a few on and I really wanted to buy one before i tried one on.
The biggest let down for me was the finish on the case and bracelet, it felt very similar to a watch that was 1/6th the price and really not up to the standard that I was looking for.
That aside, watching the second hand is incredbile but the overall finish was just a real let down.
Chris
The biggest let down for me was the finish on the case and bracelet, it felt very similar to a watch that was 1/6th the price and really not up to the standard that I was looking for.
That aside, watching the second hand is incredbile but the overall finish was just a real let down.
Chris
toohuge said:
I have tried a few on and I really wanted to buy one before i tried one on.
The biggest let down for me was the finish on the case and bracelet, it felt very similar to a watch that was 1/6th the price and really not up to the standard that I was looking for.
That aside, watching the second hand is incredbile but the overall finish was just a real let down.
Chris
That is interesting because, as per Toshi's comment:The biggest let down for me was the finish on the case and bracelet, it felt very similar to a watch that was 1/6th the price and really not up to the standard that I was looking for.
That aside, watching the second hand is incredbile but the overall finish was just a real let down.
Chris
Toshi said:
...but the build quality is (IMO) better than Rolex. The attention to detail is exceptional. I would not hesitate to buy the GS before the DSSD (and I like the DSSD).
Most people seem to say that the build quality is 2nd to none. Was it a Grand Seiko you looked at, or a 'normal' Seiko with the Spring Drive?To me the Seiko has the better movement, a nicer case (titanium) etc when compared to the DSSD but that has the classic face and the Rolex name. Now, I am not into names, it is just like buying a car in many ways; I want to be careful of depreciation and I want a good, local dealer network. Do you buy one of these relatively unknown brand supercars or a Ferrari - You know!? Difficult because I really love this watch...
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