Another Seiko QC Issue! Seiko SBDC101 Trouble 

Gnomon charge authorized dealer prices, so they should provide authorized dealer support.

Welcome back mate. Looking forward to seeing more videos 🇬🇧

Good to see you back in action! Great review,

Good to see you back Mike. I hope they do the right thing. In the future try Seiya as a retailer in Japan

Bummer about the movement, it’s a darn good lookin’ watch!

That’s why when you drop a $1000 or more on a watch, you should buy it from a Seiko AD in the States. I bought my SPB149 from an AD and asked all sorts of warranty and service related questions before forking over my $1350. I wanted to ensure I was fully covered by the factory warranty or by the seller as an AD should any issues arise. I hope Gnomon covers you. I’ve heard plenty of good things about them, so I wouldn’t be too concerned.

Nice seeing you back.....I have an issue with a 1 year old bluemo movement is acting crazy

Two absolutely gorgeous timepieces. Sorry to hear about the movement issues. Hopefully the issued is handled quickly and completely.

My SPB149 gained 45 seconds per day in the dial up position, 3 minutes per day in the dial down position, and had a wildly erratic beat error on a timegrapher. Had to send it back for repair. Still runs 20 seconds fast per day, “within specs” for Seiko. Seiko quality control is just awful. Beautiful watch, lousy movement. A basic ETA 2824 is much more reliable and more accurate.

Ugh, that's bad. I will pray for mine. I've had the same issue with an Oris.

Very informative, great video !!

Sorry to hear about your issue. It's good to know how Gnomon handles issues like this. I would not buy from them...good to know

Ouch! Here's hoping they send a replacement!

I was thinking of pulling the trigger on a SBDC101, think I will go with an ETA made movement. And I was really sold on your review watch.

Glad you're back, nice surprise. OK, so this is just me, but I'd rather they fixed the movement that's in it, or replace the watch. I realize this isn't a PP or VC, but I'd rather the watch stay as original as possible. It's good looking, but it IS disappointing, especially since (to me) this watch ain't cheap. I know, even if it's a 30 dollar Timex it should function correctly, but to me even more so as the price goes up. Hope it works out for you.

I have the SPB143 and love it....But I've noticed that if I screw the crown down just that little bit too tight it's almost impossible to unscrew. Not very pleased.

Hi , I have the same watch . When I pull out the crown to wind the watch and putting crown back it locks up as if it catching on something?

My SPB143 did the same thing...it wouldn’t stop completely but would just randomly lose 15 minutes overnight. Did this on several nights even fully wound. When wearing it the next day it was spot on all day. I lost faith in it and it just sits on by desk.

That’s the problem with Seiko. Their QC issues were acceptable when most of their dive watches were $200-$500. Misaligned chapter rings, misaligned bezels etc. All understandable for a watch at that price. But these are now $1,000 watches that still have misaligned bezels, off-centre lume pip on the bezel, faulty movements. If Seiko plans to move upmarket and charge Swiss prices (like they’re doing now) they really need to fix these issues. There’s no value in the brand at this price.

I gotta take issue with the Seiko trolls. If this was a $10,000 Rolex you would get 2 choices. A refund or a repair of the watch. They will not give you a new replacement watch. Neither will PP, AP, VC, Omega, Breitling, or Tudor. So Gnomon is being fair. They will fix your watch and if it cant be fixed, they will give you a new one. And this is a $1000 watch not a $10,000 watch. They should pay for shipping both ways, as that is not your fault. No offense, but a free replacement watch is a bridge to far.

It's a nice looking Seiko...

Good luck with your case, i am sure gnomon will take care of it. Both watches are perfect for ur wrist. Cheers

It looks like it has a fully aligned bezel. I'd get a new movement in that case. Who knows what problems a replacement might come with. I wouldn't be too hard on Seiko, I have a Sinn which had to go back to the factory twice to get the exact same thing fixed. It was a sold out limited edition so couldn't be replaced and I liked the watch so didn't want my money back. One thought, doesn't Seiko have a US service centre that could do a simple movement swap under warranty?

Glad you are back! Any plan to review the Explorer?

I’ve had mine for 24 hours and it’s lost 4 seconds. So far so good but this has me concerned. Hopefully I got a good one!

it has to be frustrating for the ADs too bc they did nothing wrong but the unreliability of the seiko non japan made QC issues are wide spread :(

That really stinks about the movement and I agree you should definitely get a brand new watch

Just wanted to share I picked up SPB213 (limited blue bezel / white dial) that had a loose date wheel that would move up and down when you shook the watch. I exchanged it to SPB143 and a few days later notice the hour hand is misaligned about 5-6 minutes and the lume dot on the bezel is of the wrong color! (it's cool blue instead of warm green). I truly cannot believe these watches are being made in Japan... If I had to put a price based the QC I've experienced, these watches should be about $500 MSRP.

Not sure I agree with you that this is much improved over the 051/053 series. The 051 had nicer indices , a beautiful domed sapphire, and I actually prefer the arrow hand handset. Yes the 051 is bigger by about 2mm , but thats relative to your wrist size really. Prices of the new model are about $200 more new , than the 051, and the only improvement is the longer power reserve. People bang on about power reserve etc but in reality your lucky if it's still running after 3 days whatever the so called reserve is claimed to be. Personally I would buy a preowned 051, over this new model because it's more interesting and can now be had for less than half the price used. I've had no issues with my 051 and everything lines up perfectly, and it's only out by a minute per week or so of wearing it. I don't see how seiko can justify the extra price point for a similar quality watch ? The 051 seemed expensive compared to say a sumo , when it came out, but at least it was a big step up in quality in the over all aesthetics. It's not just seiko who are pushing up their prices, most manufacturers are, all though I can see them having to discount heavily if they want to sell them in 2021, because that's going to be a very tough year worldwide !!!

For the money Seiko now charge there are just too many QC issues....very disappointing. I agree....money back or new piece.

I bought one ... it has a vers disapointing +100s/day discrepency .... HoW possible ? No QC at all ? ! ! !

I only buy Seiko Tunas from Seiko. It’s like IWC, only buy pilots. I also had an issue with the SBDC051 on the bezel alignment, a watch a bought from Gnomon. They told me they could refund it, but I would have to pay the return fee. I ended up sticking with it... but after 3 months of wearing I just got frustrated and sold it - but I did tell the buyer about the alignment. I lost about $300 on the watch. I will never buy online again for a Seiko.

When you do a more in-depth review I would like to hear about the end links. They don’t seem right for the lugs.

What happened? Did they replace it or the movement?

I get your frustration, but its a warranty issue. Rolex would have done the same thing for a $10k+ watch.

I have had so many problems with seiko. I know a lot of people really like the brand but I have just been burned too many times.

Extremely rare to ever hear of Seiko movement issues let alone any seiko quality control issues. You were an an extremely unlucky buyer sorry to hear.

Doesn’t say much about the dealer. I would immediately tell you to bring it in and had you a new one when you come in. Send the watch back to Seiko in New Jersey with an explanation of circumstances. Seiko should have no issue with it if they are an honorable company.

Issues like this are why I no longer buy Seiko. I’ve moved on to other brands and have had no quality or qc issues since.

It also can be a fake ? As good as it looks these watches get replicated.

Slap the watch in your hand while holding the bracelet sometime the spring sticks

Seiko don’t repair movements. They just replace them with a new movement

If it’s within the return period they should exchange it for another. After that, repair.

No no no ! Thousands of dollars for Seiko's ? Which have bezel misalignments and all sorts of basic faults ! ! No way - no way would I put up with that on a watch that cost over 500 dollars or euros. I have and have had Swiss automatics - take them out the box, don't even wind, just a few gentle shakes of the watch, put it on, wear it a day and the next morning the watch is running, ticking and keeping really good time. I have an entry level 1975 Omega that I hardly ever wear and which has had NO service in 30 years - I put it on WITHOUT winding, just a few gentle shakes to get it going and it keeps great time.

I’ve had two watches that I’ve purchased online the Sinn U50, and Oris Propilot 41. that were mechanical duds. The Sinn wouldn’t even run, the oris was doing date changes at 6 instead of midnight. In both instances I asked for and received a refund. The guys at watchbuys were quick and easy (less than 24 hours). The Oris experience took about 1 month to resolve with offers to fix or replace the movement. I told them I didn’t pay for a new watch to have it cracked open and movement adjusted and that seemed to be enough. Either way don’t settle or stop fighting. It has really turned me off of online Watch buying

Just get a San Martin 😉

They should just replace it

Now over priced, unreliable, poor QC. Why bother? Out of all the watches I have owned Seiko is the only one that let me down.

As good as this watch looks, I'll never buy another Seiko because of their QC issues