I love how TGV takes an obscure, relatively inexpensive Seiko reference from 1989 and explores its place in cultural and horological history. It's such a relief from the endless videos on some other channels about Rolex prices.
As a young man in my 20's through most of the 1980's, I can confirm that these types of white dial, moonphase complications were absolutely the aspirational watches of the era. Rolex with a solid gold President bracelet was what your dad wore... Patek was what the young up and comers were after.
Received this watch in 1988 as a graduation gift from law school. Still works and worn every day at work with my suits until I retired in 2015. A little worn, but it’s still on my wrist from time to time.
I would like to see an episode on maintenance of vintage quartz watches. My 1988 Seiko quartz watch - an engraved gift from my parents with my university logo on the face - runs great but eats batteries. I have heard this is common - does the movement need replacing? Thanks for another great vid and keep a close eye on Hugo...
Imo for under 250 you can't beat a Seiko Grand Quartz or King Quartz. They were often just as wel finished as the non quartz counterparts. A decent example goes for 200 to 250 usd. They used temperature adjusted movements that often were accurate to +20 seconds per YEAR! They came with amazing dials and often hand polished cases.
@@theurbangentry no worries ! They made some amazing linen , "diamonddust" and snowflake dials. I owned a king quartz 9923 , it never gained any time over a 3 year period. Some guy in a Facebook group has a quartz timegrapher , his king and Grand quartz were often accurate within 2 seconds per year. Basically the pinnacle of the quartz crisis.
@@AK-rq1cz yeah it nearly matches it. Their temperature adjusted twin quartz movements were insanely accurate and pricey back then. Same price and sometimes even more expensive than the hi beat Grand Seiko/King Seiko's
I read that Bill wore the watch because if he took it off for a movie role it would eventually stop, after which he had to go back to the shop and spend 200 bucks to get it reset (I guess the calendar is tricky?). Note that in the movie clip the date is November when they were filming and not Xmas eve....
It never ceases to amaze me the sheer enthusiasm over what other watch channels would deem "cheap", TGV manages to mobilize. Always ready to find the good, the redeeming feature in a watch. We have something to learn from this positive approach, not only to watches, but to life itself. Thanks, TGV. Excellent, as ever.
These videos showcasing obtainable watches with history and technical information are my faves. They are what originally got me watching gentry back in the day. I'm all for more videos like this. Heck thats how I learned about the spaceview back in the day. Now I own a spaceview and a omega f300. They are my favorite watches. Btw my f300 is on the wrist candy nato your explorer is sporting. Perfect match.
Excellent video and excellent intro. Really happy with my Seiko 7T32-6M10. My wife bought it for me in 1999 and it's still going strong. It's a slightly better example of the one worn by Joe Biden. It's the first watch my wife bought me, so a treasured part of my collection.
There are dozens, probably hundreds, of great watches that be had for around and under $250. For me, there are no truly great watches that cost a lot more than that because a truly great watch represents great value. The value proposition for watches starts to wither at a price of over $300, IMHO.
Hi Ranger Smith. I own quite pricey Rolex, Universal and Breitling pieces and more affordable watches like Direnzo 04, MaS Irukandji, Seagull 1963 and many other lovely little tickers, however in my opinion there are truly great expensive watches just as there are more affordable gems like the Seagull 1963 or a Hamilton Khaki handwinder for example. I cannot identify that the value proposition starts to wither at prices over 300 bucks. I still yearn for an old Longines 13 ZN in perfect condition and there is absolutely no doubt about the horological importance of this thing..............it´s just beyond my financial means ! 😢😢😢
I personally think that Jack Turner Watches are one of the best value watches out. Would love to see you review them on the channel and hear your opinion
It's a matter of diminishing returns. That applies to almost every type of product. Costs rise exponentially compared to the increased quality or performance.
TGV actually makes creative content, not just a salesman selling watches in youtube. Thank you for this! OG! Hello from Macau. Crazy city whos into watches, lots of TGV fans here.
Absolutely phenomenal. I love that it’s quartz too. Makes it so much more accessible and useful in an everyday situation. Also the size is just perfect. 10/10 best bang for buck I have seen in a while
If you are looking for a do it all dress watch under $250 from Seiko I would recommend the SRP761J1. Sapphire glass, 4R36 and 100m water resistance all with a very classic, elegant design!
great vid. id like to see a vid of a seiko 9983 superior twin quartz if you can get your hands on one. it was +/-5seconds a year in 1978!!! I'd like to add that its not at the 250$ price point, but its a nice watch with a great history.
Hello TGV I have been a admirer and follower of your channel for few yrs now. Not only you but also some other youtubers are educating us on watches. I am personally like quartz, i have been disappointed lately not by you only that most watches are showcased are autos and i feel.that quartz are neglected. I also feel auto have negatives too which should be highlighted by watch community online. Most of the quartz reviews are limited to gshocks. I also understand the premuim segment is more mechanical and autos but i do feel strongly that if more quartz watches are reviewed to have a more balanced perspective. This is my personal opinion i made this considering i feel i am a part of global urban gentry family.Tc
Hello Mr. Gentry, would you recommend a new watch collector to get into vintage watches? Is there a lot of maintenance on them? Also, did it take you a long time to find this watch?
I bought a very similar Seiko model (with a gold dial) in the late eighties for maybe $120. The first watch I every bought that seemed too nice for me to wear. I LOVED THAT WATCH! I wore it everywhere, even camping and hiking. I wish I hadn't lost it long ago.
I have always loved seeing these on eBay. Question TGV: could someone just taken the seconds hand off of a quartz watch like this? If you could take it off then it could be considered even more of a dress watch, and not contain a ticking seconds. Formal watches often do not have seconds hands.
Great idea and certainly very easy for a watch maker to do, the only problem is it would make it harder to sell if you ever need to. Thank you Dane, Best regards, TGV
Thank you TGV for another great review! Love the introduction! Very funny!!! Spectacular watch for the price! May you please let me know of what you think on the affordable Kingsbury watch brand? Also in the price range of $200-$250. And if you have time May you please let me know if what you think of the Starking automatic watches with price range $60-$120? Thank you again! Stay healthy and well! Nicholas
Good Lord. I was just looking at Seiko moon phase watches today wondering if I should add one to my collection. Then this video drops. Time to make a purchase...
Loving the 80s vibes you sprinkled in throughout this review. Gotta love a good moon phase, and Seiko has probably the easiest to set of any I've seen!
As always, a great review. Love what you do and your style. I have several Seiko quartz watches from the 80s. I don't wear them a lot but they all work and are classic style. Thin, elegant and functional.
Hi TGV Interesting subject. There’s so much to find out there if you know what you’re doing. Knowledge about the history of watches is the key... If you let Hugo keep the Santos you’ll get rid of a freeloader...in a quite expensive way, but still.😆 Keep up the good work👍
Plenty of good watches out there for around this price point. Most of my watches 7 watches are under the 1k price point with two big exceptions and I love them just as much as my more expensive watches
Mark’s channel with his Watch and Learn series and The Urban Gentry are the two best watch channels on the planet. The history behind this watch was very interesting. The opening with Hugo was the best ever. How do you do that? Unbelievable! Keep up the great work.
If you're looking for value from Seiko quartz nowadays their JDM Dolce line features sapphire crystals, onyx crown, and quartz chronometer accurate (iirc +-20) Seiko 8F movements for
I love the fact that the 80's watches are starting to get some respect. Sure with a modern eye they can look quite odd but they are of their era. They truly represent the greed is good 80's.
"Mountbatton residence, Hugo here..." 0:51 hahahaha fantastic. The most unbelievable part isn't a talking dinosaur named Hugo with impeccable taste, it's that he was able to answer his iphone with his claw tip.
A great watch isn’t always an expensive watch! Look at the new seiko prospex speed timers as a great example- need to change our expectations on what value actually is- no doubt hyper watches have their place and there’s no escaping the cost of development and the sheer man hours by a master of his craft in the construction - let’s face it, hundreds of hours go into producing these pieces- but you can’t knock a massive bargain like this.
Excellent value! I'm yet to purchase a vintage piece, my only two being Omega's that have been passed down. The handful of models I'd be willing to take a chance on are just SO expensive.
Thank you for a glimpse into to movie poster collection. The French Conformist poster made me envious. Interesting and enjoyable intro sequence. Cheers from Canada.
Superb intro............................dahling. This is my price range for watches, though I do have more than $250 in the bank it wouldn't be sensible for me to spend $1000's on a watch. Please, more gems in the under $500 category like this. Cheers.
Ahh, I just bought a beautiful Sun & Moon Dial Titan with roman numerals. This watch definitely is an inspiration for my beloved time piece. What a beautiful watch by Seiko..
TGV...please do a review/video of history and info on the JLC Sector Dial of the Master Control. I think it is the classiest "simple watch" I've seen under $10,000 and I can't find any online. Thanks. love you stuff.
Nice art deco style watch. I have a similar vintage Seiko Moon Phase in very good condition with a 7T36 Movement. You are right, they don't make them like this anymore. Same lay out, but with a tachometer on a fixed bezel, rather than the coin bezel here. The seconds hands are internal dials & the chronograph is integrated into the moon phase at 12o'clock. I bought it from a matchmaker in Albany, CA for $180 out the door about 4 years ago. He cleaned all the gears and electronic connections, and installed a new battery. The gears are plastic and can wear. So there may be some elements of the complication not working properly. Also, their are electronics in these early quartz models that are hard to replace if shorted out. If you get one of these, I suggest getting a working spare movement / beater watch for parts. Also, like any vintage watch, the gaskets may be no good. So even if it says WR100, presume that you cannot wear in the rain.
I was able to find and purchase a Seiko 7f39-6009 on eBay, fully functional, beautiful condition for its age, which what appears to be a factory original gold plated band, I believe it is a 1987 release, it looks just like your watch face, I got it for under $50, worth keeping in my collection?
I found a really great steal today at the pawn shop around the corner.....Tissot Supersport Crono for....get this.....$125 bucks. black dial leather strap version with the Tach bezel perfectly unscratched. Thing was pristine. I couldn't pass it up if I wanted to...and I didn't want to
Found your Chanel recently and enjoy your personality and presentation so much. Modest, fun, professional. I have a Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date in the mail and I’m so excited. We appreciate you. And nice Mandy poster by the way. Check out Bone Tomahawk, sleeper film I think you would love.
I just saw this today and wore the 7F18-9A00 instead of my usual beater, its rarely been worn as gold and leather ( still original ) isn't my everyday color but since I'm working from home why not. Our 1st moonphase watch find for me and my wife. Thanks TGV.
You should consider making a video on the Jaen Lassale brand someday!! It was a very unique manufacturer just before the quartz crisis started. They made some of the thinnest mechanical movements ever, which they later sold to Lemania. (cal 1200 and cal 2000)
Hey man, I'm new to your channel and I subscribed because I am digging it! Great stuff. By the way, have you every had the chance to get your hands on a Sugess "Enamel Moonphase Master" watch? If you ever get a chance to review that baby I would love it. Thank you and keep doing what you are doing! :)
I just bought this watch after falling in love with it on eBay. I've been lusting after Seiko watches for some time, but this is the very first I've owned in what will perhaps become a collection. It's just stunning - only shame is, the needle for the day of the week doesn't seem to move. It should automatically adjust when I change the time, shouldn't it? If it's not moving, should I take the risk of entrusting a watchmaker with fixing it? And is that usually an expensive endeavour? Thanks.
Hi TGV, I’m Jonathan from Singapore and I have been a fan of your channel since forever!!! Ive been contemplating whether to write in to you but here goes nothing. I was wondering if I could purchase the seiko from you, if you haven’t already sold it off. I love the piece but am having difficulty finding it on the second hand market. Love and appreciate the content you make, keep at it!
the seiko at 34mm wide is width /case size wise NOT that small, however the lug to lug is abit small/short , as a similar rolex would be around 42mm lug to lug if it is a Rolex OP date (vintage/semi vintage) at 34mm case width. but dress style/formal dress watch is suppose to be smaller anyways .
Yes blame the quartz crisis. The Japanese were wiping the floor with the Swiss even before. Japan simply offered better quality and lower costs by virtue of tighter integration and modern production techniques.
Btw there are so- called beater watches like the Casio Duro or G-Shock… which are still collectables. Real beaters are watches like the MRW -200 H or the W-800HM. These unsung heroes should also be honored once.
hello everyone i found a similar model called Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph. But it doesnt have papers and box. I wonder how can i know if it's fake or not. And also if it's bracelet is sizeable or can i replace it with a leather strap
Fascinating watch TGV, and if you go back a decade (the 70’s), you will find some amazing over-engineered Seiko Quartz models (Grand, King, Twin Quartz etc.) which have been described as state of the art, haute horology. I just purchased a Twin Quartz 9443-7000 for $200 and like my other watches from the era I am expecting a quality watch with amazing accuracy. Actually, maybe don’t - I wouldn’t want to see prices rise 😁
You invited suggestions for a genre to show us. I would very much appreciate a video covering what are often referred to as Tuxedo Watches. Longines has a heritage model, priced as one would expect (this porridge is too hot). There is a Baltany on AliExpress that is likely more disposable than many of us are after (this porridge is too cold). Vario had the drop-dead gorgeous Empire series, but alas, all their releases are limited editions, and all variants are long-since sold out (this porridge is all gone).
Any thoughts on pulsar as a hidden brand for sub $250. They are owned by seiko at the moment. I don't think anyone pays any attention to the brand but it offers chronos, solars, and automatics at much lower prices than citizen.
Seiko really is a gem to watch collectors, offering an immense variety of movements and designs at all different price ranges. This is why I love the brand.
i m really surprise you don't realize it's a pure and real Gerald Genta watch ! look the gefica , same code ! all quartz QP of gerald genta bran ! same design watch !! all change are due to the type of movement . Genta was a close friend of seiko's owner and all Lassale watch , Credor watch of this era are gerald genta watch ! Hope for you don't have sell :)
Haha, I know you do! It's very, well, you. I am not ashamed to say it always brings me to tears, but also so funny and clever too, they certainly don't make them like that anymore. Thank you fratello! Best regards, TGV
