Grand Seiko Review - All Hype and No Substance? Better Than My Rolex ? 

I’m tired of this movement argument for spring drive. Yes it regulates through a quartz oscillator. But have you looked at the history and development of spring drive? It’s one guy inside Seiko who developed 600 prototypes before finding one that worked. It took 30 years of work before Grand Seiko put it in to production. The history of it from a craftsmanship perspective is there. I love mechanical watches and I see this as a mechanical watch much more than a quartz watch. It wasn’t a discovery like quartz was. It was painstaking passion that makes traditional mechanical watches

If it was Omega Spring Drive...no one would complain. People would sing it’s technological achievement like the co-axial movement.

The spring drive is what bothers you the most? Oh brother. I got a 9f and I LOVE how it's always bang on time and the degree of engineering it has for a "quartz"

I see you didn't mention one of the greatest features of the spring drive: the seconds hand smooth movement. I believe that it is the most relevant feature aside that it doesn't require a battery to have a quartz accuracy. Cheers from Spain.

A non watch person sees the word "Seiko" and thinks $300. There is no inherent "status" symbol, which many people buy expensive watches for. Granted, if you are a true watch aficionado, this doesn't matter. But, it is reality.

I have a SBGE005 GMT Spring Drive as my daily wearer, and I absolutely love it. You'll have to pry it from my cold dead wrist. As to the quartz debate, I totally disagree with Federico. I love that it has a piece of in-house grown, primo quartz in it because, to me, accuracy is prized above all else. I argue that it's a mechanical, automatic watch. The accuracy is uncanny (+15 seconds a year) and crushes my Rolex Explorer. And I love the accuracy of my Explorer (+3 seconds a day). Months go by without being my GS off even by a second. I don't think any automatic Rolex can even compare at any price point in terms of accuracy. Then, there's the finishing and attention to detail which I do agree with Federico about: that it punches four times higher than its weight class. My GMT looks very different from the one in this video. Mine has a minimalist dial that is a Japanese design aesthetic that I adore. While I certainly would prefer micro adjustments on the bracelet, I can't find any flaw with the watch itself. It's pretty much perfect.

Fed, the High-Beat automatic gets around the Spring-Drive snob issue.

I’ve loved watches for many years but only recently got into the hobby, and I have got to say Teddy B’s explanation of the spring drive made me fall in love with the complexity and artistry of grand seiko

Grand Seiko reminds me of Lexus in the early 2000s. A decision by the Japanese to build the very best for an elevated but still affordable price.

I have a GS Hi-Beat. My AD told me that the Spring Drive can now be serviced in the US. At this point, only the chronograph still has to go back to Japan. GS is building out its US infrastructure. He showed me the pricing for GS service. A Spring Drive was between $550 and $600, as I recall. What I heard Fed say is that if he had bought a Hi-Beat on a strap, he’d have no real complaints.

Three weeks ago I purchased the Grand Seiko Sklyflake on a blue alligator strap. The Sklflake blue watch face is absolutely mesmerizing which stacks up against other watches multiples in price. The stainless steel case with the Zaratsu polish is simply stunning. The strap blends if perfect and looks great in any social setting. This is my first Grand Seiko, I loved it so much I purchased the new SBGM239 Hodinkee version. My other watches are taking a sabbatical for a while to enjoy the fine finishing of Grand Seiko.

I have the Snowflake and absolutely love the watch and have connected to it, but totally agree about the bracelet and buckle. Hopefully they will step up their game in that area. Would you consider a High Beat GS?

I just picked up my first GS too, a few months ago, SBGA413, the Spring "Shunbun" model from the "Seasons" release, and OMG I love that white/pink sakura dial. The finishing is amazing, it's Titanium but you would think it's steel until you pick it up. As far as shipping the watch to Japan once every five years for service? Doesn't bother me one bit. Of course if I have issues with the watch and it constantly needs service, well yeah, that would kind of suck. The Spring drive movement? That's one of the main reasons I got this watch, something different. Quartz technology is actually really interesting when you dive into the details, at least to me, but I do agree, the heart of the watch is not the mainspring. I almost picked up a high-beat GMT but chose this instead. I'd like to own a high-beat some day. I wasn't certain if I'd connect with my GS, but I have in a big way. It's so beautiful and the sweep of that seconds hand is mesmerizing, but I understand it's not for everyone. And oh yeah, it does suck that there is no micro adjustment. I got lucky though, mine fits perfectly.

Once I got over that branding thing (and I believe it improved much by using GS) I learned to love it a great deal the SBGN005 GMT being a close to perfect travel watch for me! That sweeping second hand of the Spring Drive models is in my view pure perfection and superior to any hacking regular escapement..

I went from anti-GS to owning 3 including a spring drive diver. People like Bill Sanders whom I greatly respect have difficulty with accepting spring drive. I am in love with the technological achievement spring drive represents and the glide of the seconds hand freed from the normal friction of an escapement. I am not enamored of the metal bracelet but all of those issues go away when you switch the bracelet out for rubber, leather or NATO straps (I use all three). The overall value proposition of GS watches is tremendous. If you were to have a good custom strap made for your GMT, I think you would not be thinking of saying sayonara to GS. In all events, I admire you for being open to trying a GS.

I like sending this out for servicing. It means that the extremely high quality talent that builds the watch is the one who services it. It is not some local dealer who knows nothing about the watch. It is the actual technicians that have a heart for the watch and an emotional connection to the watch that services it. The band has been fixed on the new 2020 series, so that is no longer an issue. What I hate about a mechanical watch is that they are not really that accurate. Every month you have to reset it. I love that this has real engineering behind it and after a month it is only off by a handful of seconds, sometimes just 1 or 2. The quality blows away even Rolex. It is an amazing watch that is focused more on the engineering than the brand.

By far the greatest practical weakness of a quartz watch is that it needs to be regularly opened to replace the battery. Every time that happens, water resistance is endangered. I don't care about that with an inexpensive watch. The idea of quartz accuracy with a mechanical source of electricity is staggering. This is a mechanical watch; it's just that the mechanism works indirectly to power and regulate speed. While I couldn't imagine actually diving with a spring drive GS diver, in theory it is an optimal technology for this purpose.

The bracelets on a GS are deliberately a little "loose" so it won't pinch and pull hairs.

Thanks for the honesty. I personally love spring dive but it’s very rich hearing other opinions. Nice

I appreciate your candid and honest thoughts, it is very refreshing to hear. I can totally understand some people's hangup due to the quartz element, because for so long we've been conditioned to think of quartz as something cheap associated with $20 "throwaway" watches, but for me it's the mastery of what Grand Seiko have done which elevates the Spring Drive into an art form and a thing of beauty. The value of a watch from my perspective comes from the exquisite craftsmanship of its construction and its absolute perfection in its primary function of telling the time, and for me Grand Seiko Spring Drive is the absolute pinicle of embodying this in (realatively speaking) an affordable timepiece.

I looked pretty hard at a GMT springdrive about 3 months (at Delray Watches site) and while it had all the pluses you note, the service situation was the show stopper for me. Reassuring to hear that you feel the same way. It always amazes me how Seiko does such an incredible job of some things and completely drops the ball on others. Thanks for your honesty and frankness here.

So glad u are on RU-vid! Thanks for the honesty. I enjoy both mechanical & quartz movements. Camping,hunting, shooting range my mudmaster gwg1000. Everything else mechanical. I would like a Grand seiko diver in my collection. I think the movement is +/- 10 sec a year. That’s impressive

When I first heard people spending thousands on a SEIKO (GRAND SEIKO), I thought I must have heard wrong. Who would spending 4 grand on a GS? Then when I finally tried on one, I havent looked back since. The polishing and finishing is at Patek's level, let alone Rolex's. I am a owner of several Rolexes but I love my GSs more, particularly if you can get ones which one of those special dials (like the Godzilla).

I loved this video. Your candid honesty is refreshing and honest. I need to watch more of your watch reviews because I know that you'll give an honest assessment.

You should try to experience a Grand Seiko that doesn't have Spring Drive :)

I saw it on Your site, so I’m guessing that time for it to move on has come :) Thanks for this and All your videos

It does look good on your wrist. The finishing looks very impressive.

Great review, Fed. I had similar feelings about the SBGE245 that I purchased. Checked all the boxes from a quality standpoint, and I had no issues with the spring drive and enjoyed the sweep of the hand. For whatever reason, I just didn’t love it. It was a bit bigger than I liked, so that probably played a role. If I give GS another try, I will probably go with a Hi Beat GMT. Thanks again.

I’ve enjoyed the video. Servicing is a nightmare for a great deal of luxury brands, such as horror stories from Rolex and patek. I can’t but help think that watch snobbery has affected you sir and I say that respectfully. There’s no issue with not connecting with a watch but it’s wrong when it’s purely Because of the brand name. You’re other points about the buckle and such is understandable though. I’m just a bit fed up with grand seiko never truly being looked at with the open mindedness it deserves.

Recently bought a Spring Drive, and found the fit a bit loose, but then realized replacing 2 small links with one large link did the trick. Thats the micro adjustment necessary. If slightly tight, replace one large link with 2 small links

Solution: Get a Grand Seiko High-Beat and stick it on a strap!

I enjoyed this review. I had some question concerning the Spring Drive and chose instead the Hi-Beat Grand Seiko.

I really enjoyed this video - I own the SBGE001. Spring drive has that face engineers and physicists adore - the force driving EVERY aspect of ANY watch movement is electromagnetism - spring drive extends upon a spring's electromagnetic properties to unleash the broader potentials of this fundamental force of nature. A true masterpiece

Thank you for the review Fed. I understand the hang up about the quartz for me the problem with quartz watches is the battery not the quartz so I don't think it will bother me. You have really helped me reaffirmed my interest in this GS. :)

The good news is that Spring Drive pretty much never has to be serviced. There are people that have gone over ten years without a servicing and it's still keeping the same time it was when it was new.

great review. i can totally understand and feel your points. Except the point you had on spring drive, cuz' i love quartz :)

Always great watching your reviews and always interested in what you have to say.

I appreciate the honest review.

I almost ordered it yesterday but I kept thinking do I really want to keep saying it’s not just a Seiko if I ever get a compliment 🤦‍♂️

The part about servicing in Japan is incorrect. All GS watches are services in NJ at the GS service center except for Chronographs, those are very complicated and need to go to Japan. The only thing you can’t get in the US for your non chrono GS is Zaratsu polishing, for that it needs to Japan as well.

Great Review...since I generally hate all bracelets, I put straps on my Grand Seikos. My first Spring Drive arrives tomorrow and I believe that before too long they will be able to be serviced locally...hopefully before I wear one in my casket. Keep up the great videos.

For two of the hangups the solution is get a GS highbeat auto GMT instead. Easier to service and no hangups about the quartz element...I plan on getting the Gs GMT chronograph next.

Thanks for this Federico. It was a breath of fresh air to hear an honest and heartfelt review listing both your personal pros and cons of Grand Seiko. I love and collect GS’s but they are way too many starry eyed videos only expounding the good points. This imho is what a real review should be. Keep doing what you’re doing and god bless!

Thanks Fed for the video as always. Fratello, don't give up on connecting w/it, only has been a month. Agree w/several of your concerns. If GS were to: (1) make more of their watches in the 40-42mm range, (2) improve bracelet quality, and (3) add micro-adjustments, the Swiss may have something to worry about. Nevertheless, these watches and brand (GS) will remain somewhat niche since their production is limited based on what they do...actually a positive. ⌚👍🇯🇵

Great video. I have pretty much the same feeling also. The spring drive is absolutely a marvel in terms of technology but one of the main reasons why I feel personally connected with my mechanical watches is because of the escapement. It's like my heart is in sync with the watch. Anyway when I plan to purchase a GS watch in the near future, I'll probably more likely get an automatic model.

It''s a mechanical watch regulated by quartz for accuracy. What's there not to love? And you can go out and buy one no bother. Be mesmerized by its finishing and the smooth seconds hand. Still love your channel Fed.

I like the idea of the spring drive as an evolution in technical excellence, mastery. Agree with you that for that kind of $ the buckle and bracelet should be much better....and the service situation is a valid concern.

I love GS !!! I deeply appreciate your thoughts in thesis video !! Thank you Your content is solid ! Much appreciated

Both mechanical and electrical oscillators are interesting things to learn about.

Excellent video Federico. Thank you! 💕🕵🏼‍♀️

Seems like you really appreciate the quality. You might be better served by a hi-beat as others have mentioned. It is a stellar looking piece though. Glad to see you gave the brand a chance.

I'm glad you made this video. It was a tricky one I think because a lot of it is your emotional response, and that is always hard to put into words. I'm a mechanical guy, don't connect to quartz, but springdrive - not sure myself. It is a weird area of horology! Interestingly, Bark & Jack also did this and ended up loving it, so perhaps stay with it? Might find a permanent place in the collection as a travel watch, and be associated with fun times.

Snob. Well, you told me to call you that!

If you're having trouble connecting to the watch because its Spring-Drive. Think about the engineer that had a dream in '72, then worked for the next 28 years and passed away just as his dream was realized (Spring-Drive). I can connect to the sheer will and grit that it took to bring Spring Drive to market.

Federico is straight to point with acknowledging being a snob before discussing on topic. Nothing wrong with being a snob, people who are are so obviously a snob but act and claim like they aren't is people i don't like.

Appreciate your honest review!

Thanks for the personal review of this watch. What's your take on the skyflake, as I have not seen it in person yet, but it looks awesome in videos. Also the service issue is only with their spring drive watches, and not their basic mechanical watches? Is that correct... Thanks Federico for great content as always

Great you had good and bad points Fed. Been honest I thought you might hate on it more. I tried a Rolex then a GS could not for the life of me understand why Rolex gets all the love, it felt almost cheap in comparison! Hey but you like what you like right?, watches are very personal. Glad your sticking with it... for now!

Your honesty is amazing. Thank you. I went to mayors and they tried to tell me that grand Seiko and Seiko are two different companies. I get it ,but it was hard to separate that it is a Seiko.

You are so on point, it’s all about that connection, if it’s not you it’s just not you, until you change , if you ever do, who knows, get back to the stuff that makes you go, yes in a big way 👍💪🏻

thank u Federico, very informative

Hey Fed, great review! Did you end up keeping the watch? If not, how long did you keep it for? Keep up the great content!

Valid criticisms. Honest personal review. 👍

...nice review...tough but fair..you do wear the watch well, have you considered a nice strap ? and our subjective feelings about a watch are at least equally important in our appreciation and love of a watch as the aesthetic and technical details...i'm still very wanting a SBGR 261...and i think it's very evident that GS does have soul...

I have the SBGE001 and I ❤️ it! Most accurate watch I own and I have a few.

That Spring drive has less moving parts than a traditional mechanical. It also keeps time with a digital circuit. Your great grandkids will be using that watch no service required. It's like a Toyota car, the oil changes are only a suggestion not a necessity 🤣

Really helpful Frederico👍👏

Thanks for keeping the prices of Grand Seiko’s low. My +/- 1 second per month Snowflake and I appreciate it.

What I love about your review is that it is 100% honest in how the watch is superbly finished, precise, it checks all the boxes you expect from a luxury watch, and yet you don't love it as much as somebody else would. That is what we love about Horology: a man's trash could be the next man's treasue. I was looking at Omega but when I started looking at GS I just flipped. I just love the brand, and for the record, servicing a Spring Drive watch is cheaper than an Omega speedy or seamaster.

I was told at a GS AD on Madison Avenue that they service spring drive in the Seiko service center in NJ - maybe they were wrong but that is what I was told.

just fyi I had a gs spring drive and although I wasant the original owner I sold it when it was 9-10 years old and it likely had never been serviced and kept dead on time. The design of the spring drive movement suggests that service intervals may be longer than you expect. thanks for your honesty fed

This GS with Spring Drive is on my bucket list someday. I think you chose well. But I get the issues that you have with it. If you are really hung up on not having a Swiss escapement then go for the high beat auto. The maintenance is a valid issue but I deal with vintage Seiko chronographs and I’m used to restorers living in Australia, UK, etc. thank you for the very bold review my friend.

Subjective and objective reasoning. Rock solid. No complaints on the review at all.

Spring drive is cool but GS started with mechanical watches. I think people really forget that and underappreciated their mechanical line ups. You get top, top level finishing as Fed mentioned, nicely finished in house movement as well that's comparable in quality to any in house movements from Rolex/Omega, and are less expensive around 4-7k retail. I know ppl love spring drive and quartz from GS, but I think their mechanical watches should be the core of their business moving forward.

I have watched your Channel for some time, and as the conclusion was as expected. You have my understandig, you are a purist and that sets the standard. I don't think I'm going to buy a springdrive myself because a mechanic watch are supposes to be 100% mechanical.

Great review and fair points, Fed! I think Seiko should really improve its bracelet and clasp. If microbtands can do it, they should get around to it as well. The servicing only in Japan is also a fair concern.

I own a GS spring drive love it and definitely agree with the bracelet gripe but not a big issue for me I hate the feel of bracelets anyway, so I just toss it in a drawer as I do on all my watches.

I do not have a grand Seiko but believe me I am looking hard at them now. I find the Spring Drive an astonishing and innovative solution to the keeping of time. No battery! The purity of the idea that the electrical power is generated by mechanical means resulting in the smooth sweeping seconds hand and accurate time keeping would have had Brequet and his contemporaries applauding the brilliance of the notion. The absence of a 5 mm extension seems bizarre and I imagine that it will not be long before it appears. The servicing issue is a real bind and I doubt if either brand are quick about it! The Rolex has its own problems which do not even relate to the watch itself!

I just purchased a Snowflake from Federico and it is stunning! The way it catches the light and the detail is amazing. The pin and collar is a negative and no micro adjustment is my only complaint.

Seiko make great watches and GS are is if not better than anything from Switzerland,and the clasps are getting better every yr,thanks

Thanks for the honest review, maintenance of the spring drive is something I didn't think about and is the deal breaker for me, still love Grand Seiko though.

Great review. I’m definitely going to pick one up. I like the tech more than I don’t the the quartz. LOVE that when ( non watch ) people see it they think it’s a $300. watch. Purchased 3 watches from you so far....will this be the 4th? :-).

fair, honest recap. I think if you have the doubt about GS that many do, its hard to get past it and I am not sure that will change for them anytime soon. I have that same feeling so even though the quality is competitive at a $$ point, there is just that connection factor that you mentioned. Fortunately for them and their shareholders, there are enough people who do not have the same feeling.

I really like GS but have heard horror stories about getting them serviced. For me, that’s a deal killer.

I love grand seiko and it’s definitely my dream luxury watch. I’ve been a fan of seiko for years but the grand seiko spring drives are a thing of beauty.

This is what I like about Grand Seiko. Even their quartz entry level watches are finished to the same standard as their most expensive ones.

Maybe you'd like one of their dressier options on leather. I didn't like the bracelet on my SBGA413 so I swapped it for a honey colored ostrich strap and it's now the classiest looking watch I own.

Good job Fed. All anyone can ask is you try something with an open mind. Personally I think you might like the Hi-Beat GMT a bit more. I love my SBGJ227, it feels like a cross between a Date Just and GMT.

Hi Frederico. I understand your experience with the watch. I want to buy a Grand Seiko myself but it is not top of my list. I like Seiko and the Grand Seiko is the top of the line. The finishing is superb and for me a Grand Seiko needs an open caseback to see the movement. The problem with Grand Seiko for you is probably the fact that the watch is not recognizable as an expensive watch. Only watch people will know what it is and for most people this is just an ordinary Seiko. If you think it is important for you to wear a watch that is more of a status symbol then Grand Seiko is probably not your brand. The SKX is more cult and recognized as a beater watch for people that are into watches. So at this price point the watch is not a status symbol. For me the Spring drive tech is fantastic and sets Grand Seiko apart from other brands. The sweep of the seconds hand is so beautiful with spring drive. The fact that the watch need to be serviced in Japan is not an issue for me. When you buy expensive watches, and 5K is expensive for 95% of the people in the world, then the service costs is part of the deal. When I have to service my JLC or Panerai watches they go back to Switzerland and will return 8 weeks later. Annoying but a fact when a watchmaker has to overhaul the watch completely. I agree that Grand Seiko has a few flaws. The bracelet and or clasp is not on par with Rolex and for me the real competition for Rolex is Grand Seiko and maybe Omega. People often compare Rolex and Omega but I think that Seiko is probably more of a competion (if they really step it up and make some fundamental changes). Grand Seiko can be so good/perfect that sometimes it is a little bit detached or distant. Hard to explain but I understand why you can't connect with the watch. I think that deep down you want a watch that you can show off with (not in a negative way). Something to be proud of. At least to yourself. This is not a problem because a lot of people have this. For me this is also a factor that plays a part when buying an expensive watch. Would people buy a Rolex watch when the brand on the Rolex watch was different with another symbol? People like the watch because it is a Rolex. A lot of people don't buy the watch because they like it and the brand is not important. I think you should sell it and buy Rolex again (New Pepsi or Batman). Better for you. Just my two cents. Greetings from Amsterdam.

I suppose you deserve kudos for trying a spring drive when you knew you probably wouldn't connect with it, but clearly I think you'd have a better chance at liking one of their autos, be it a 'plain' automatic or a high beat.

Also Federico some people just has only one watch (spring drive) and are very happy with it since it doesn't need Time consuming battery charging, and or winding. Also divers are happy to have diver spring drive because it doesn't require much opening for service which in turn could be prone to watch flooding. This has happened to me despite the "authorized citizen" watch technician pressure testing after changing battery and gasgtets. Grand Seiko has a good alternative where they have developed a Grand Seiko spring drive diver watch where not much opening is required. Very good alternative for divers working in remote areas, where there isn't much service watch alternative. So it pretty much broils down to what you use the watch for, and your personal circumstances. Thanks interesting video.

Hi Fed any further update on your GS GMT? Been thinking about one myself.... I love it but like you I’m struggling with the poor clasp..... it’s between this and the Omega Seamaster.... but feel this is too common.

So you should change with GS with 9F automatic movement and strap instead? That solves several current problems. But yeah, I think you should keep wearing it.

Hey Federico just wondering why you didn’t go for a fully automatic model? Also just wondering for future reference can you get the GS automatic models serviced by an independent watchmaker or would they have to go back to Japan to the Seiko factory?

Looks like a great watch, definitely caught my eye about considering a Rolex explorer II but the lack of bracelet adjustment and serviceability take it off my list. especially the service issue. It’s going to affect its value retention. nobody wants an older watch that runs the risk of having to be sent away for a $900 service.

Brilliant content Fed. You really put yourself out there in describing the 'personal' purchase and emotions that drive it. This is the essence of enjoying and collecting watches. All the best for the new year!

When GS start making tapered bracelets with microadjustments, I’ll buy one.

I agree with some of the points made. From an emotional point of view, most of us have grown to accept Seiko as an under $200 watch. From a marketing point, they should have called it something other than Grand Seiko. Would anybody buy a luxury Lexus for $80,000 if it was called a Toyota? Same thing here. The Japanese are learning from the Swiss, like Rolex. They only want their GS watches serviced by their watchmakers in Japan. This means that they will derive additional income as the watch ages. This is the concept with a Porsche or Tesla car. There are not too many user serviceable parts on those vehicles and they require a dealer shop with specialized equipment. Having said that, I think it a revolutionary watch and it is a technological marvel. The spring drive system is far more accurate than any mechanical watch and the snowflake dial model is a piece of art.

Despite the fact that I don't agree with your opinions... I agree with the facts and I appreciate a VERY honest review. Great content.

Thank you Fed!