Cheap Seiko vs Expensive Grand Seiko
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 07. 2024
- You want a dive watch, from Japan, and you’ve got a budget of somewhere between a few hundred dollars and over ten thousand. Do you pick a cheap Seiko or an expensive Grand Seiko? Let’s find out.
Featured Watches:
Seiko 5 Sports SRPD71K1
Grand Seiko SLGA001
Shop now for Grand Seiko watches:
www.watchfinder.com/Grand%20S...
We know you want more watches…. click here: linktr.ee/watchfinder
Watchfinder is the number one place to buy, sell and exchange premium pre-owned timepieces. Discover more exceptional watches at www.watchfinder.com - Jak na to + styl
We know you want more watches…. click here: linktr.ee/watchfinder
I paid $150 for my sea urchin 3 years ago. After some falls, hiting it with everything, water exposure, high and low temperatures, mud, sand, and daily use for work (blue collar job) its still running and loosing just 5 seconds a day. It doesnt matter the price range, seiko never disappoints.
My SKX has 4 years I've worked in the vinewood with it, painted, warehouse job, partying etc.. and the only scratch is in the aftermarket oyster bracelet
I gave my son my Sea Urchin after acquiring my Seiko special edition PADI diver with blue dial. I missed my Sea Urchin so much I ended up finding and buying another one and wear it every day, while my PADI gathers dust. It's my favorite watch ever. The font size on the bezel is equal to the font size GS bezel, and yet my Sea Urchin has a silver framed day/date window. For me it's one of the most underrated Seiko's out there. Good luck finding one for sale.
I own the JDM Pepsi Sea Urchin and one of my best and all time favorite watches ever . I also own the Padi Turtle 🐢, the SBDC033 Sumo/Blumo and the SKX009. With that said the Sea Urchin being the most affordable is still amazing 🤩
Great review / compare. Could you do a Sinn 104 review?
Surely the point is that if you pay $15000 and you know full well that it's not much better than a $150 watch, as well as having none of the romance or history of a classic Swiss timepiece, you will be disappointed...or you should be.
As much as I love Grand Seiko, I think they've gotta overhaul their divers. I actually prefer most of Seiko's divers over GS's if we're talking design and dimensions.
Agreed. I’ve got a Samurai and a SPB153 Willard and would be nailed on for a nice GS diver. But they all have those hideous cathedral hands and dull as ditchwater dials. Ironic when GS mostly trades on it interesting/crazy/beautiful dials elsewhere in their catalogue.
@@ProfessorPesca the real irony is that Grand Seiko has such interesting designs and such a steadfast design language in almost every line they make, and then their divers are just Submariner/Sea Dweller knockoffs with worse specs.
Agreed grand Seiko really only has good dress watches
Same here. Wouldn't trade my SLA047J1 for any of the Grand Seiko divers. Just not as clean in design.
@@Ryan-fh9fh they make good sports watches too! The Snowflake and White Birch may look dressy but their specs are sports watch specs. The sports GMTs look fantastic too. Even their chronographs, while acquired tastes, are still super impressive. It's mostly the divers that are a problem.
The accuracy of spring drive is far better than the specification guidelines. My 9r65 has only gained 2 sec in 3 months. This is the actual level of accuracy. Mind blowing!
Typical Seiko. Always under estimated their accuracy. My 6R15 losses 2 sec per day...
@@AbdulHamid-pi9kp my 6R15 in sarb was dead on for 7 years beating out all my big boy swiss/German brands.
What about my 7s26 in SNKL43 that's gaining only 6 seconds a day for 5 years straight, and it's like the most basic Seiko Movement ever. Seiko NEVER disappoints.
Under promise and over deliver. It is the seiko way 🙏
"If Invicta were bought out by Patek Philippe, this is what would result." Ten out of ten, Sir, ten out of ten.
I recently bought a Seiko SRPD 7 days ago thanks also to your tips and advice. I love it and i think Seiko is truly a unique and different watch brand. Thanks for all your reviews and comparisons!
One of the best finishing lines I have ever heard when comparing two items that are equally good in their own ways, nice!
Seiko's divers are iconic. It's hard to beat them for the price, although in the last few years, the prices have REALLY started to creep northward.
Should Grand Seiko ever start to release divers with their new 9RA2 or updated 9S automatics in smaller, thinner 39-41mm cases, I think Grand Seiko would start selling boatloads of their divers. Right now, they're just extremely big and thick.
If the Grand Seiko was a 41mm with the thickness of a submariner. It would be the best diver in the world..Its phenomenal
Yep, spot on. They'll get there eventually as they did with taking power reserves off the dial (not here granted). Whoever designs their watches needs some re-education it seems. Though the new SBGH289 is going in the right direction.
@@leepenney6104 I did like very much that Grand Seiko took customers' feedback regarding the power reserve and started implementing them on the back, rather than saving that for their high-end *limited* models that were upwards of $20,000+.
The new SLGA009 coming out is an absolute beauty.
Which sucks really. Don't get me wrong I'm a huge, HUGE Seiko fanboy, but their noticeable drop in QC for some diver model among some other persistent issue or questionable decision (Hardlex) rubs me the wrong way
6:11 had me laughing til my eyes were running.
That Invicta Patek Philippe reference was just amazing. Loved that! 👍🏽
Can you please explain?
I love your seiko educational videos,you are so informative.
Thanks so much for this video, I've always wondered what a SKX level watch looked like under the lenses you use for high end watches. It's amazing how Seiko puts so much quality and mechanical repeatable processes to make a fine inexpensive watch. So amazing.
They are making them for so long it would be a shame if they weren't high quality. :D
I bought the SLGA001 when it came out and I have no regrets. If you have smaller wrists I recommend wearing it on the silicon strap it comes with which makes it lighter to wear too. It's not the first watch in a collection I would buy but its definetly an interesting watch.
Loved the video! Thanks!!!
The final line is borderline epic.
As fine as a review gets, although a wearing them while diving sequence, wouldn't be bad.
Thanks and best of luck in hitting the 1M subscriptions mark.
What a great review. Thanks so much, I really enjoy your brilliant humor.
Do not ever change That Music!
It's always nice to inaugurate a Watchfinder video! 😊
Love love the Seiko coverage keep it up . For $500 you'll get a even better Seiko diver and for around $1000 you'll get a watch that matches Tudor
I always look forward to Saturdays, on which my Seiko Diver's has the DotW in lovely sky-blue lettering!
Love the closing note! Clever concise and true, I would not sell my SRPD, you get attached to it because it looks really good.
I have owned this very SRPD in the video for the last month and it has quickly become my favourite. I enjoy it more than my TAG quartz Aquaracer and similar styled Movado. It looks great, wears great and the accuracy is acceptable. It is mechanical after all. At it’s price point it offers fantastic value.
what color variant did u choose?
@@garynico9872 the blue dial. The very model shown at the video’s open.
I have one too in green dial and bezel. I really love this watch, and yes, I do have a Rolex too.
Mine only gains 8 seconds per day, which very acceptable to say the least.
Three of my favourite watches are my SKX007, SRPD71K1 and my (almost) mint Pogue 6139-6005. My SKX is still my daily go to... I'm thinking of getting a snowflake next, unless I grab the new Cartier Tank Must 41mm instead (another great value watch) but there is definitely nothing wrong with a Seiko or two in your collection!!!
My Srpd21 is my favorite watch, and I’m mostly a citizen guy. I get lost in the textured blue ocean waves on the dial. It’s a joy to wear. I’m lusting over that Grand seiko but I’m happy with what I’ve got right now.
Omega speed and sea masters are a good way to go, if you don't want to spend as much, they can go for 3k to 5k used.
I adore the SLGA001, one of my favourite GS watches and a dream watch of mine.
That smooth sweeping hand of the Grand Seiko is mesmerizing.
What a beautiful and informative video. Bravo!
The beautiful second-hand movement of GS was super smooth!
One of the BEST review...well said!
Spring drive Grand Seiko marvelous....
OMG that sweeping seconds hand... so nice...
This channel needs a million subs. Absolutely top level 👏👏👏
That closing statement is just beautiful!
That’s the beauty of Seiko: you can spend $80 on Amazon for an SNK (my first mechanical was the SNK807) and get just as fine a quality there as you would on a $700+ baby Alpinist. The fact that you can progressively climb the ladder of the brand as your budget allows, without compromising anything in the process is remarkable.
It would be like if Ferrari put the same quality and level of detail into an FT86 fighter as a LaFerrari and nobody held it against them.
Few brands in any industry can make such a claim. It’s why most of my collection is made up of Seiko and Seiko-powered watches. You read “Seiko” anywhere in the description of the watch, be it made by Seiko themselves or a third party that bought a Seiko movement, you know you’re going to get a solid timepiece.
What would you recommend in a budget Seiko made watch, for the uninitiated? Non-seiko too, if possible. Thanks
The second hand on the spring drive is something else.
I’m not super into watches but I absolutely love finely tuned machines. Seiko’s to me are the Nixon’s for people with a few more hundred dollars. Best bang for the buck, accurate, good looks, awesome customer service. Awesome video great camera work
I've had the srpd77 'cactus' for a year, very happy with is as a casual/sporty/watery daily bar the worst abuse reserved for the Gshock.
It's an absolute strap monster, and for me it is a great desk diver as much as a real diver. I had it rafting, swimming, sea sports etc.
Looses a minute or two per week not being worn daily, would every day or two if not worn.
I'll never go near 100m and it was a great first mechanical :)
It's a nice watch. I myself have the gunmetal Grey one. Comfortable and looks clean.
The regular Seiko tells you the day of the week in 2 different languages. I have a winner
I own the Seiko 5 SRPD71 that you have featured in this video. My wife got it for me as a Christmas gift…I picked it out. It’s extremely high quality IMHO. Why spend $11k?
Nice "extras" deep cut. I admit, I'm here as much for the gentle humour as for the oggleable time pieces. I'm never disappointed.
I would get a Seiko LX. Right down the middle
Love your content mate and I really love Seiko. The MM200 and the Snowflake are still two of my grails.
the close-up shots are qualityyyy
I admire the Seiko brand and admire your admiration of it.
Really liked your point about the irony of the Seiko story , pretty deep. Good one 👌🏻
I love GS tot of getting one already have srpd sekio 5 hulk and a rolex but my favorite is still the sekio 5 hulk. Love the colour to be honest my rolex is much precise after I put them together and check it with my handphone clock.
4:21
This is SUPER COOL
I own the SLGA003.. the green dial version of the 001... it wears much smaller than the specs would suggest... and the titanium makes it beyond comfortable... its a pure LUX diver.. favorite diver in my collection bar none... one has to experience it on wrist to understand
Spot on...a breath of fresh air.
Very rational comparison. SRPD in an entry level but command the beauty and respect. Hoping you can feature the Honda Cub collab with Seiko.
I'm wearing that exact "cheap watch" with the black dial/bezel right now. Great tool watch and very versatile with different straps and bracelets. If you're actually scuba diving (you're not) the water resist might put you off, but the timekeeping is appreciably better than advertised (+/-15sec per day) in my opinion.
So Andrew, as you were jumping the shark, did you try to look down and see it? I'm always curious about that when I see it happening; did you see fins swimming around or some toothy jaws? Or were you just concerned about sticking your landing? While you are on this trajectory how about a glowing review of a vintage Epson inkjet printer? One of the Seiko watch manufacturing company's greatest gifts to horology.
Love The Extras reference.
“Super Army Soldiers”. I see what you did there, nice Extras reference.
Hi, what is the microphone you use? Your explanations and voice are clear :)
First time I have ever owned a watch presented on this channel!
Hello, I love and appreciate the content.
Would you please be so kind as to feature the Cartier Pasha XL GMT with the date, and night and day complication?
What are your thoughts on that particular watch?
I have 3 Seiko's SRPD sport 5's, So I'm going to exchange parts between them, to make them unique and different! All of them have different color dials and chapter rings, so it should be a fun project to take on ......
The Seiko watches are excellent. Would love to see a review on the Seiko 5, 55 fathoms (the snzh range)Looks like a beautiful watch for the price
I like the srpd so much I have two of them the quality is awesome and so is the price
Bought the slga001 as my first luxury watch. Took me months to save up for. No regrets whatsoever
With this budget for a dive watch I'd go Seiko but through a dealer/jeweler where I can check QC and alignment (Seiko kryptonite).
Now I'd say Grand Seiko is much much better but not the style I'd be looking for in a dive watch.
I love this channel!
Love my srpd 51k1
I’ve always preferred Citizen Promaster but this Seiko is really nice.
yeah ecodrive is superior and thinner than those pesky automatics.
I'll put it this way:
If I can afford an SLGA001, I will spend some more and get both SRPD71 and SLGA001.
The closing line is glorious
Superlatively done, Sir :)
Sorry, I didn't hear a word you said any time that GS second hand was locked in sync with the camera movement. Damn, I going to have to watch it again.
If you want value you get a seiko. If you want perfection you get a Grand Seiko!
Hey there @watchfinder, can you do a review of the Seiko Emperor Tuna?
SEIKO5sports かっこいいですよね〜!
ベゼルとか作りが細かくてめっちゃ気に入ってます！
Its great to know that there is a Seiko watch that is affordable and at the same time a great watch and The GS is one of a kind indeed 👏👌
Have a Seiko licence built for ~20$ from India. ~25yrs old. I am excited to see, how great those in the vid are....
I like the Hardlex on my Seiko. After three years of abusing my Seiko Mini Turtle, not a scratch. As where the AR coated Sapphire on my Sinn shows micro scratches. Granted Its the coating but nonetheless.
I have the Seiko 5 Sport (SRPD) and I really love it. It is robust yet highly refined. Now my dream watch truly is the SLGA 001. I do have a rare Rolex Datejust as well, so I do love Rolex, but not as much as the snobs who keep Rolex winning against Grand Seiko in their comparisons.
Another great review. One to tempt my wallet at the lower end of the pair.
Heresies a thought: how about watchfinder contact the major dive administrators (ie PADI and the other relevant countrywide services) and ask a simple question; “how many dive certificates have been handed out in the last 10 years?” Just to gain a picture of how many people “actually” dive. It’s one of those inane statistics that would have everyone in shock in reference to how many dive watches actually sold.
This video made me buy an SRPE21. Black face on hybrid leather silicone strap with pin buckle. New without tags on eBay for $200 less than the SRPD in this video allowed me to purchase an aftermarket ss oyster bracelet & still be ahead of every new with tags internet price. The SRP Seiko 5 series share the same 42.5 mm case/ 22mm lugs across the entire line. That makes them highly customizable with straps, bracelets, & bezel inserts available all over the internet. Not COSC but it keeps great time!
If you wanna go completely crazy, hands & dials can also be fount to turn your Seiko into a rolex hulk clone tribute if you prefer. Me, i love the Seiko and will not do more than a possible luminous bezel insert😛
Please do a video on the new 40.5mm SBGE GMTs!
350 is a bit much for a seiko 5 but the 4r35/6 is in the presage line and szsb so maybe they are trying to move it upmarket..id guy did a great video on a cool seiko 5.
Personally I much prefer this format of your videos 👍
I just bought today this Seiko watch hahaha!
I"m tempted.
@@TucsonDude Buy one. Even though it's kinda big in my wrist, it feels nice.
@@finnandrei5745 Where did you find yours?
Got one just before Christmas and haven't really taken it off since, didn't go for blue though, I got it in green and loving it.
@@TucsonDude i got mine here at Dxb. :)
my new turtle is fake - only tested to 5 bar
The GS bracelet on this is one of the better ones they produced
05:57 it's just distortion from the cyclops or the frame outline date window just off
Ive got some of the heaviest hitters in the world in my collection and I still love my Seiko 5 Diver... meaning no offense to others financial situations, its the best 'beater watch' in the world.
Had one of these for a few months. Wasn’t too bad, but bracket was a bit cheap feeling
YES, i do want a dive watch
YES, from japan
YES, with a budget of a few hundred
yesterday i've bought the Seiko PADI monster SRPE27K1
The $350 one looks fantastic under the macro! 😸
That GS is built like a tank. I like a big,, heavy watch but good Lord that thing is nuts.
It was watch finders videos that inspired me to get an automatic watch in 2019, still runs, it's a seiko 5 :)
same with me :)
10 secs a month is an understatement. I've used my SBGA229 for 5weeks & it only gained 2 seconds! Spring drive is AMAZING! even better than most quartz watches. 👏👏👏 GS!
It is a quartz lol.
Always an incredible text!
Man I love that GS. What an absolute beast 💪🏻
How about a showcase of the most relevant spring drive equipped watches?
The 'which is best' closing comment - bam!!
The Grand Seiko SLGA001 doesn't have a chapter ring because... Seiko knows they wouldn't be able to align it.
The Grand Seiko is the best watch in the world. Well, exaggeration..maybe. but its just as good as the best watches in the world. That's a Fact.
I'd say they're about on par with JLC in terms of quality. Their watches' movements are sadly not near as well finished as PP, VC, Lange and so on, but that would quadruple the price. In terms of just dials, they are unequaled.
Not until they make better bracelets.
Love the Chernobyl and sarcophagus reference!
Hope you can review Seiko SNR045 against Grand Seiko dive watches some day.
Both my SRPDs surprise me sometimes with day change - it doesn't change the day, instead - stays on the same day, but... Switches language. Did I break them somehow? Also, the lume on SRPD83K1 is atrocious, contrary to SRPD69K1s glorious light-blue afterglow that lasts quite some time.
Thanks for a great video!
Looking forward to celebrating 1M subscribers!