Told the Grand Seiko AD I'm a drummer, he said get a G-Shock : \
I was on tour last week and the last two days I was in NYC, a rare chance to visit watch AD's in person. My goal was to visit the Grand Seiko store and the G-Shock store.
I've realized as I've gotten deeper into this hobby that if I want to feel comfortable playing the drums and wearing a watch, quartz is mostly the way to go. But man oh man, most of the design and fit and finish love goes into automatics so it's been a bit of a journey finding things that I love and I've made too many impulse buys of automatic watches that I don't wear as much.
I'm realizing it doesn't matter if it's expensive and elegant or a fashion style watch, when I'm on stage, I like the watch to be functional but also pop in specific ways for specific reasons. Hence the visit eventually to the G-Shock store to see how things looked.
But first...
Grand Seiko was a curiosity, high end quartz watches? Could I really love them enough to spend the dough?
So I took advantage of being in NYC and tried on what they had, which wasn't much at all unfortunately, they had maybe 4 watches in stock total. When I told why I needed quartz and I said I was a drummer, I got the same, lame response from the Grand Seiko AD - get a G-Shock and be done! But while I do want a G-Shock, I play a lot of different music and wear a lot of different things for gigs including suits sometimes so just get a G-Shock just feels like a lazy response when I say I'm a drummer.
Out of the ones I tried on, my fave was the 37mm one you see in the pic above, simple and elegant and the least expensive at $2200. But I also tried this champagne dial GMT...
As well as this black dial GMT with a nice red hand...
And here they are together with a blue dial one as well
In the end - I just didn't love them enough, felt too much trepidation to spend so much money on something I didn't feel as much love for like I do for example with my Christopher Ward Sealander.
So...ironically...I headed for the G-Shock store and basically got a fashion watch and my first (but not last) G-Shock
;)
But you know what - at my gig Saturday night, full house, it did what I wanted it to, it popped on the wrist in a great way, and I didn't have to worry about it being mechanical. I may at some point re-visit that 37mm Grand Seiko - but I think preowned is just fine thank you very much!
And coming later this week, another yet different quartz watch that will pop on the wrist in its own way, is brew-ing in the works.....pics soon!
For now that's it, and here's a snowy tree NYC pic (I'm back in California now, no more cold like that for a while)
Midlife crisis is hitting me in the watch face. Wife and daughter have zero interest in watches so here I am. Crisis started with a cheap HMT watch from eBay, then a spin of the dreaded “wheel” got me...
Could be worse. When you said you were a drummer he could have said "beat it".
That white GShock looks great on a drummer!
I've tried so hard to like Grand Seiko, I appreciate the incredible workmanship but I'm yet to find one that speaks to me. The G-Shock is awesome.
That’s a really interesting problem to solve, great post! I play guitar and I’ve a limited set of watches I’d wear on stage, mostly due to sweat and bumping into things. I strum with my right and wear my watch on my left, so I’ve not had to worry about bracelets gouging the body of the guitar 🤞
I’d say drummers would go through mechanical watches like hot dinners by comparison! Imagine the human equivalent of moving that many directions at that speed!
As an occasional drummer myself, I would hesitate to wear an expensive quartz or automatic I was worried about damaging even in such basic ways as maybe catching the bracelet on a rim or whatever. I play in formal and casual occasions, the formal ones being more restrained physically so I wear a my Invicta Pro Diver cos it looks presentable but damaging it isn't a worry cos it's sturdy and cheap. I wear a G Shock for the harder stuff. Hope you get the GS. I just bought a Longines Conquest VHP which is around $1000 which seems to be a bargain for a highly accurate quartz, not sure I'd gig with it though😂
That’s a really interesting problem to solve, great post! I play guitar and I’ve a limited set of watches I’d wear on stage, mostly due to sweat and bumping into things. I strum with my right and wear my watch on my left, so I’ve not had to worry about bracelets gouging the body of the guitar 🤞
I’d say drummers would go through mechanical watches like hot dinners by comparison! Imagine the human equivalent of moving that many directions at that speed!
Sometimes I’ve noticed the bracelet clasp or the watch strap buckle will hit against the rim of the drum, so that’s been one of the bigger issues with wearing a watch and playing drums when I play side stick style. And it took some getting used to having that wait on the wrist but I feel a lot easier about it now which is nice :-)
Maybe check out the now discontinued SBGN003 (black/orange - pictured) or the SBGN005 (blue/red).
Unbeatable Quartz True-GMT watches. Mine gained about 2 seconds over 6 months. And it will survive the drumming.
As an occasional drummer myself, I would hesitate to wear an expensive quartz or automatic I was worried about damaging even in such basic ways as maybe catching the bracelet on a rim or whatever. I play in formal and casual occasions, the formal ones being more restrained physically so I wear a my Invicta Pro Diver cos it looks presentable but damaging it isn't a worry cos it's sturdy and cheap. I wear a G Shock for the harder stuff. Hope you get the GS. I just bought a Longines Conquest VHP which is around $1000 which seems to be a bargain for a highly accurate quartz, not sure I'd gig with it though😂
I think the VHP is a great choice for this! Unlike the GS 9Fs, the ETA E56.111 movement hands are on servos (positionally-monitored). If the hands get “shocked” into the wrong position, the movement will move them back — that’s the same functionality as the Casio “Tough” line of movements
I think the VHP is a great choice for this! Unlike the GS 9Fs, the ETA E56.111 movement hands are on servos (positionally-monitored). If the hands get “shocked” into the wrong position, the movement will move them back — that’s the same functionality as the Casio “Tough” line of movements
Yes, it's a surprisingly well thought out watch. I'm pleased with it so far.
Hey, that used to be my workplace! I now work at the library across the street.
When you say Grand Seiko AD, where did you go? If you went to one of the two brand boutiques, count em, I surprised you say they didn't have much. The one on Madison in particular just reopened in their new space, which is palatial; they say it's the biggest GS boutique in the world. The G-Shock store is in Soho, so did you go to the boutique on Spring Street? Or did you go to Watches of Switzerland (which has Grand Seiko just a few blocks away)?
Hey, that used to be my workplace! I now work at the library across the street.
When you say Grand Seiko AD, where did you go? If you went to one of the two brand boutiques, count em, I surprised you say they didn't have much. The one on Madison in particular just reopened in their new space, which is palatial; they say it's the biggest GS boutique in the world. The G-Shock store is in Soho, so did you go to the boutique on Spring Street? Or did you go to Watches of Switzerland (which has Grand Seiko just a few blocks away)?
I actually went to the new palatial one believe it or not. Maybe he was reticent to show me more stuff. But in terms of the heritage models anyways, that’s what he showed me. He said that in general, even though the quartz models always sell well, they don’t restock them as much as they do with the automatic or hand wound ones and he wasn’t sure why.
I did eventually trek my way all the way down to Soho to the G-Shock store. :-)
If you’re patient I think pre-owned is a good way to go. I have seen several clean watches at sizeable discounts to RRP. Get to know the dealers near you so you can go see one when they post it. Given the cost (even pre-owned) I would aim to handle it before buying.
I live just less than an hour from a very affluent area and I do see a couple of dealers there who pass through dozens of Rolexes but probably also two or three GSs per month between them. So I keep an eye out and am pretty confident that I could find what I was after there … eventually.
Appreciate that patience and time are involved but for the savings involved I am okay with that.
Have you looked at Sinn?
Thanks for your history on this. Definitely a unique perspective. 99% of all mechanical watches just aren't designed to take the kind of beating a drummer will be exposed to every day. Similar to how some construction jobs are (jackhammer for example). But even with a quartz watch there are still gears involved that the motor is moving. I'd be interested to hear how a good quartz will hold up to your playing over time. Wishing you good luck with all this.
Could be worse. When you said you were a drummer he could have said "beat it".
Or “ Scat” 😂
Just be glad you didn't have to decide on the new quartz "baby snowflake", given it is twice the price (roughly). Hmmm, wonder what new watch you have perculating? 🤔
I think for worry free and durability Gshock is the way to go. Sure a mechanical or high polish quartz looks elegant but for your use case, nothing beats gshock. Keep the gs for the afterparty? 🥳
I think for worry free and durability Gshock is the way to go. Sure a mechanical or high polish quartz looks elegant but for your use case, nothing beats gshock. Keep the gs for the afterparty? 🥳
The G-Shock is fun, but sometimes I wear a suit and tie to gigs and other times something else - so I like variety, plus I don't play metal or stadium pop gigs - mostly jazz based stuff. For more formal attire gigs I now have a Junghans Max Bill quartz which is great. I have the Seiko solar Speedtimer for something more casual. A couple of more watches and I'll have a nice selection of quartz to pick from for different gigs!
Just be glad you didn't have to decide on the new quartz "baby snowflake", given it is twice the price (roughly). Hmmm, wonder what new watch you have perculating? 🤔
I would have been in trouble had they brought that out.
Have you looked at Sinn?
I love the 556 RS - may get it some day, but that's not quartz. Can't remember, does Sinn have quartz watches that are under 40 or under in mm?
Chad Smith - I bet you know who he is wears a Daytona and I assume it still works. I would imagine the Grand Seiko would stand up to that "environment" too... Your SA must have been in a bad mood and didn't want to sell you a watch...
Chad Smith - I bet you know who he is wears a Daytona and I assume it still works. I would imagine the Grand Seiko would stand up to that "environment" too... Your SA must have been in a bad mood and didn't want to sell you a watch...
You know, I am always curious when I see drummers rocking automatic watches and Chad Smith plays the drums very hard. Makes me wonder how that Daytona stands up!
But also, up until the quartz crisis, all musicians, and everyone really wore mechanical watches. Sometimes I feel like an idiot focusing on quartz only for drumming but at the same time, I don't make a ton of money so if I can have some great quartz watches, a few automatics and have less repair costs and headaches, that seems to be the direction I'm heading. But you could be totally right, all of this could just be silly. I've heard very conflicting things about shock to watches - pros and cons. It's just hard to know for sure!
The G-Shock is fun, but sometimes I wear a suit and tie to gigs and other times something else - so I like variety, plus I don't play metal or stadium pop gigs - mostly jazz based stuff. For more formal attire gigs I now have a Junghans Max Bill quartz which is great. I have the Seiko solar Speedtimer for something more casual. A couple of more watches and I'll have a nice selection of quartz to pick from for different gigs!
Gotcha. Nice collection 🥰
Mechanical watches can definitely stand shock. I work with a colleague who wore a Rolex GMT Master II on the battlefield. Literally withstood shocks from blasts. Now, not every watch is that robust, but possible? Totally.
A sleeper brand for this IMHO is Ball watches. They make pieces that are specifically designed to be shock resistant and anti-magnetic (more relevant if you're a musician). Check this one out:
Welcome to BALL Watch - Marvelight Chronometer (40mm)
About the same price as a GS quartz, but mechanical, and COSC even. Very nice watches, very nice specs for what you pay. I own this one:
Don't get me wrong, I like GS and own one myself as well. But if I was playing gigs with one of my watches, it would be the Ball or a Casio.
I love the 556 RS - may get it some day, but that's not quartz. Can't remember, does Sinn have quartz watches that are under 40 or under in mm?
I don’t believe they have quartz but they are built strong to take some punishment. I reckon they’d be perfect if working in a commercial kitchen. As a drummer you’d be the battery charger for the auto movement.
Check out seiko solar quartz models and the Casio Oceanus line or for a more premium watch you could look at the citizen chronomaster. If you don't mind a dive style then vaer and Maen do some nice quartz watches. This is my Oceanus t200 on 7.25 wrist.
I feel ya. Professional drummer here as well. My Explorer is actually the only mechanical watch I trust when I'm playing hard. Granted, hard for me is still not metal. I play anything from cocktail jazz to hard funk & wedding/cover band stuff. For lighter stuff I'll not think twice about my know delicate watches.
I feel ya. Professional drummer here as well. My Explorer is actually the only mechanical watch I trust when I'm playing hard. Granted, hard for me is still not metal. I play anything from cocktail jazz to hard funk & wedding/cover band stuff. For lighter stuff I'll not think twice about my know delicate watches.
First off, I think it's a little slice of awesome that you wear your explorer drumming - amazing, first rate watches, that can handle that kind of shock AND mechanical - that's the shizz for sure. I was warned early on here on Watch Crunch by well intentioned members, that wearing a hand wound or automatic watch while drumming or near electronic music equipment was a big no no. So I moved on to thinking mostly about quartz.
Secondly, I have always wondering how watches fared for drummers when everyone wore them all over the world. Especially as jazz moved into early r&b and early rock and on and on - did drummers in the 60's and 70's - pre-quartz - just have to get their watches repaired all the time or.....did they stand up to it?
I have literally watched videos of Steve Gadd play with a watch on a VERY loose bracelet play over and over again, and I think he's wearing a rolex, but I could be wrong. It's a funny topic - how have jobs that have a lot of shocked based movement affected watches over the years - might be a question for a watch maker!
And lastly - I am at some point going to get a Formex Essence 39 with its suspension case thingerbob. I reached out to the company and asked them directly what they thought of their watches and drumming and they were pretty confident!