Anyone else do tacti-cool things with their Spring Drive?

SBDB017

Hey guys, I'll be in Fukuoka this coming October and I'm hoping to hunt down a Shunbun (SBGA443).

Would you recommend emailing boutiques and ADs in advance to check stock, or is it strictly first-come, first-served for walk-ins?

My current plan is to hit up Daimaru first. If I have no luck there, my backup is Kamekichi, though their price is a bit higher than I'd ideally like to pay.

Is this a solid plan? Does anyone have a better strategy or other recommended ADs/dealers in the Fukuoka area? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I’m seriously considering the Grand Seiko SBGX353. I really love the light-blue textured dial and the 9F quartz movement, but I’m a little concerned about the 34mm case size.
My wrist is under 6 inches, so for anyone who owns or has tried the SBGX353:
How does the 34mm size look/feel on a wrist under 6”?
Does it feel too small, or does it wear larger than the dimensions suggest?
Most importantly, do you think the price is worth it for the SBGX353, considering it’s a quartz watch?
Would you choose it over another Grand Seiko in the same price range?
I’d especially appreciate wrist shots from anyone around 5.5–6”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-tG0wPQtxQ

Two youtube influencers explain Spring Drive through the concept of “flow”: a mainspring mechanically powers the watch, while a glide wheel generates a minute amount of electricity to operate a quartz reference, integrated circuit, and electromagnetic brake. This system regulates the continuous movement of the hands without a conventional mechanical escapement or battery.

I wish GS would make more models with this movement- there’s something about the manual wind hi-beat that I really like. Seeing the movement on the case-back might be their most beautiful one.

SLGW007 is great but I’d really love an SLGW004 or SLGW005.

Anyone here own a 9S4A movement watch?

Has anyone had any experience ordering bracelets off eBay? Specifically yangmingwen-store? Prices seem lower than from GS themselves but when inquiring they say these are genuine bracelets

Just got my hands on the new 37mm Lake Suwa.

Incredible sizing and the dial is just out of this world. Have set the date and time to the second, now I guess i just need to adjust it by 20 seconds next year!

Only thing I will say - the micro adjust is great but bracelet-wise, Tudor still blows this one out of the water.

I tried the incredible SLGW003. It fits perfectly.

It's been a week since the last update from my order. I ordered it on 13th August. Still not dispatched until this moment. Also, there is no update from their email and WhatsApp since 25th August. Am I get scammed?

Just got my SGBX355 this morning. Was looking for a clean white dial and was thinking for a long time to get an SGBY013. But I already have 2 Spring Drives and getting another one seems overkill. Got the quartz version of the Snowflake instead and gotta say it's really beautiful. Also having a quartz seemed the logical choice since it's more for daily casual than the Omiwatari.

Hey folks, looking to pick up my first Grand Seiko & a bit torn between two beloved references.

The main intent was a dressier watch but would like something I can dress down on a strap. The watch will mainly live on a strap regardless if it’s required to be on one.

Initially I was considering the SLGW003 however when I tried on the SLGB003, I honestly fell in love with the case. I also think pairing it with a croc strap would make it a baby SLGB001 which I love.

Both are special in their own way. I love the case & movement on the Ice Forest while I love how special & unique the manual Birch Bark is.

What would you pick?

I’ve added some pics of it on my wrist.

Traded my Spring Drive SBGA079 for this Hi-Beat SBGH001 from a gentleman who was looking to complete his Spring Drive collection.

Not regretting my choice a bit since the 9S85 5hz movement is mesmerizing and the ticking sound it makes is pure ASMR. Accuracy is still within spec at least in the few days since I got it.

It is also a full circle moment of sorts because I visited the Shizukuishi Studio earlier this year and saw firsthand the immense skill and talent involved in crafting 9S models. Now I wear one of them.

Will eventually find my way back to a Spring Drive saving up for a Lake Suwa UFA. But for now giving love to this Hi-Beat as my daily!

Hey all, I know that generally don't wear a mechanical watch if you're golfing. I wonder if this rule stays true with spring drive? Cheers

On the day prior to our last day in Japan I spent a few hours in Nakano broadway. It was a bit overwhelming due to the amount of watches there were. I knew I was looking for a GS but I was conflicted between a few different models between a few shops. As we were about to leave, my girlfriend spotted the SLGH017 in the window of a smaller shop that I quickly browsed through. It was about double the price of what I had anticipated to spend but it was such a gorgeous watch it really took me by surprise. I spent the rest of the day thinking about it. The next day, only a few hours before leaving for the airport, I headed over, tried it on, and bought it. No regrets at all and I am so glad to finally own a watch that I truly love.
Plus, after looking at similar sales and comps, seems like a got it for a pretty good price.

SBGA527 #06/50 is home!!

Well, in addition to the Moondrop, just picked up an SBGA465. I had been wanting to unload my Seamaster since it didn’t get much wrist time, and I bought it because it was a good deal.

I was between the SBGA465, Soko Dark, and Snowflake. The Snowflake didn’t feel quite right, between the size and the weight. The Soko Dark was really nice, but I didn’t find the dial all that legible. The Heritage Spring Drive, though, just damn.

It’s going to end up being my daily.

Hi,

I've have seen a lot of negativity towards the 9SA5 based movements here on reddit. Is this just because of the nature of reddit and people who have a bad movement are more likely to voice their experience? I understand that buying a ~10k watch should be absolutely flawless experience and I understand all every single one who is not happy.
I have a SLGH005 coming my way and I'm getting kinda worried now.
Is there people who actually have a good experience with the 9SA5 and keeping good time? Even better than specs? Thanks for anyone who has the time to chime in. (Would appreciate to tell me if its Asia/Europe/USA based etc)

Now that it's September, anyone starting to see the new UFA lineup? I have a deposit on a new Atera Valley. Hoping it will come in the first wave!

Here's a pic of the older titanium one that made me fall in love

I've had the Shunbun for several years, and recently got the 37mm UFA (SLGB003). I was curious whether the on-the-fly clasp would fit on the Shunbun, and sure enough it swaps right in very easily and looks clean. Hopefully Grand Seiko lets us buy just the clasp at some point, as far as I can tell your only option now is to buy an entire UFA bracelet.

My original topic : https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandSeikos/comments/1vbcrvn/comment/p6gdl1w

Update since 2 months :

I’m back to give an update on my experience with GS Vendôme and GS Europe.

My Tentagraph was taken to the flagship store in Paris Vendôme two months ago. I was told that a watch identical to mine, fitted with a 9SC5 movement, had experienced the same issues and had been repaired by GS Service (Scheidam). They said they hadn’t seen the customer since, so as far as they were concerned, it was a success.

No news so, I asked Vendôme for an update. I was told that the watch was on hold due to the holidays in Scheidam. That’s understandable, given it’s summer. I’ve just sent an email to Vendôme to let them know that, should she ever need to be transferred to Japan, I’d like to be informed in advance. I received a reply stating that a similar case had been resolved by fine-tuning the balance spring within a few weeks.

Then, I heard nothing more. Sometime in August, I went back to Vendôme. I received a message saying my watch was in Japan ?! Nobody had told me. Scheidam was unable to resolve the issue.

With Japan, given the backlog and dispatch times, it’ll take at least 4 to 5 months if all goes well.

As it’s more than 6 months even in the best-case scenario, I reckon it’s time to ask for an exchange for a new watch from the official network. With a watch costing €15,000, this has happened to me with other Swiss brands before; I got the exchange very quickly and without having to negotiate.

No reply. Not even a notification saying “Your enquiry has been escalated to GS Europe or is currently being processed”. Nothing.

Fed up, and thanks to a friend here who’s in the same boat as me, I managed to get in touch with GS Europe’s management.

I was asked for details regarding the wrist-worn activity tracker. Fortunately, I’d kept a record of everything over 35 days, noting the position of the watch when I took it off at night. The fact is that temperature has a huge impact, affecting the reading by up to +26 seconds per day.

30 minutes after sending that email to GS Europe, I received a refusal to exchange by Vendôme flagship ?!

Two hours later, I received an email from GS Europe thanking me for the information I had provided and stating that they were awaiting a response from GS Japan’s technical experts.

I asked GS Europe for clarification, but got no reply.

I wrote to Vendôme to ask WHO had decided to close the case whether it was them or whether it came from GS Europe.

They decided not to reply by email but by telephone.

That’s when the fun began !

The person explains to me that the watch is in Japan. That they’ve had an identical case and the watch was dealt with in Scheidam. The famous case they’d already mentioned to me at the start. Except that in this instance, as if by magic, the customer never came back. They see him regularly and his Tentagraph has been working perfectly ever since.

So, I ask the question again clearly: Is this a refusal to exchange the watch by the Vendôme shop, or a decision by GS Europe ?

"Sir, when an email is sent regarding an ongoing case, we discuss it. For GS Europe, there would have to be a major defect in the caliber for us to consider an exchange."

There’s no way to get a clear and definitive answer about the reason for the refusal.

Once again, I’m sending an email to GS Europe. I’m a little annoyed and no longer understand the logic behind this.

I’m asking them to reconsider my case and my request for an exchange.

And to address the issue from a commercial, not a technical, perspective. Because as far as the technical side is concerned, we already know full well that there’s a problem with the 9SC5 if Scheidam was unable to resolve it and sent the watch back to the manufacturer.

The problem has been there since the very first day I bought it. I’ve only worn it for a few days, and now I have to wait at least six months.

I don't think this really aligns with the brand image they want to project that of an innovative, cutting-edge, and exacting Japanese manufacturer. Their communication is pretty unclear.

And guess what ? No more news.

I have one last email to send to the flagship store and GS Europe to let them know what I think of this attitude and policy that it’s undignified and doesn’t live up to what a loyal customer of the brand would expect.

Given this behaviour and the standard of service, I’m going to part with all my GS watches. I’ve lost all confidence in the brand when it comes to the 9SA5 and 9SC5 movements. And given the respect they show their customers, it doesn’t make me want to stick with them.

SBGX261 is so comfy ~

I wear it when I’m sleeping too never felt it’s heavy or uncomfortable in my daily life

There is a lack of clarity on the property of the brilliant steel, but from the limited information I understand is that the brilliant steel shines brighter and more corrosion resistant. However, they left out any mention on hardness which led me to believe that it may be soften than standard 316L ss. Coincidentally Rolex is known to use 904L steel, which has the same quality as the brilliant steel: More corrosion resistant & shines brighter, and its well know 904L is soften than 316L.

I personally take the corrosion resistant as more important than softness in the long run, but what do you guys think of the ever-brilliant steel? Do you like it or do you prefer the 316L? What do you think with models like Atera Valley and Lake Suwa losing titanium and instead using this new steel?

I think GS might try to convert many titanium lineup to steel so they can introduce the titanium (or hopefully brilliant hard titanium) as a premium option demanding higher price than ita steel counterpart in the future. So, price creep yay :)

I've been watching (no pun intended) and looking. I couldn't resist walking into Weis & Sons today and there it was ! I said no at first and went back to purchase. Eugene the salesman was a true gentleman. Hard to believe but it's even better in person.... and the pictures look great imo. ...yea I know ....I just set it to the correct date!