Which do you prefer: Swiss or Japanese? Trading away my Swiss Omega Chronoscope & Breitling AVI 1953 for the Grand Seiko SBGA463 & SBGW289

IMHO, there's room for love for both.  My collection is mostly Swiss right now, but I have a couple of Chinese pieces in there and my next major luxury purchase is likely to be a GS Spring Drive.

TBF Zangief is Russian so you kinda took down Vostok. 😂

Anyway, I think the waters are so muddled now (since everything's made in China anyway), it mosty boils down to which design you like. Right now I think the Swiss watches talk to me more than the Japanese ones do.

I have been underwhelmed by the GS that I’ve seen and tried on so far, at least as far as matching the hype that surrounds the brand and certain models.  They’re nice but their styling reminds me of 80’s mall watches.  I feel GS is super expensive for what they are and I haven’t bought into the Spring Drive hype machine.

I visited my local Seiko dealer last week and tried a bunch of popular models.  I’m more likely to buy a Seiko over a GS.  I like the styling better on some models.  What has held me back is my disappointment with my two SKX models considering the hype that surrounded those (every collector must have an SKX, etc.).  Many Seiko models simply disappoint on specs, accuracy or fit and feel.

I have a Seikoholic friend locally so I’ll keep trying but I haven’t seen any that make me want to jump at the prices any particular model is set. 

I hate Seiko!! especially Grand Seiko!! Their dials are under par and movements are the same!! How dare you trade a fine Swiss watch for a lousy Seiko??!!…

pssst…someone told me this before…

also…thinking about this instead of the Tudor BB bronze…

I keep hearing that Rolex makes so many more watches then Omega. Checked the numbers and the were not double, but close for 2021(i think). Why don't everybody in here have several Rolexes? I think I have seen 2, maybe 3 Rollies IRL. How!?

Come on!  I know he's Russian!  But, you know, Street Fighter II doesn't have an actual gorilla.  It's supposed to be an analogy for an "800 pound gorilla"!

By the way, I was there when Street Fighter II first came out.  Hung out at this local arcade all the time.  I remember one evening, my buddy Mike and I were playing Street Fighter II late into the evening...  it was Thanksgiving!  And we both looked at each other and started laughing.  Everyone else's families...  sitting around the dining room table, cutting into the turkey, smiling lovingly at one another...  and here we were, Guile versus Blanka!

Swiss made is at least 60%, I think it was 50% until recently. Grand seiko is pretty much alla inhouse, yeah?

@Davemcc summed up my thoughts on Seiko, and GS quite well. They look like mall watches to me, and every single one I have encountered in real life has failed to match the online hype for me. The one exception to my above statement is the SBGA429 posted above. I quite liked the look and feel of it when I had a chance to see one in person, I wouldn't buy one, but it was nice. 

The nice thing about watch collecting is that there is a brand, and style for everyone. While I have no love for Seiko, I can respect that others do.

My biggest issue with the online Seiko love-in is that it sucks up all the oxygen in the room when it comes to other affordable, and respectable watch brands like Citizen, Timex, Swatch, etc.. 

As much as I adore GS, that one won't patina well at all 😉

@Omeganut aka Seikonut, I thought all of the 289s were gone?!  I was thinking about getting one for my partner.  

Yeah, it's crazy!  Like, it really is binary, isn't it?  I totally get what you mean.

I was an absolutely dedicated Omega...  nut.  And my buddy kept talking to me about Grand Seiko, craftsmanship, Zaratsu polishing...  blah, blah, blah.

And every time he'd open his EFF'ing mouth, this image would pop into my head:

And, of course, the obligatory (credit to @OutOfWind)...

I had ZERO interest in GS and Seiko...  and then...  It's like my wife's uncle.  All these years, dude's been happily married, had a couple of kids...  and then out of the blue, he and wife announce a totally amicable separation / divorce, and he's now happily married to another dude.  I mean, when I've asked him about it, he says, "Yeah, man, it's funny, but I was the last person to suspect that I was gay!"

I had no idea that I was a Seikoholic!

Damn it!! I know!! … also your bronze bb it’s a 43mm right and that’s what your using for 1WC right, honest opinion how is it? Do you find it a bit heavy for everyday? 

Dude!  Definitely try it on in person first.  When I was first looking at GS, the SBGA427 was top of my list, and came really close to pulling the trigger on several occasions, without having seen it in person.  But, when I went in, somehow the sports models captured my attention instead.  Like, all GS are so idiosyncratic that you only really know your reaction once you see it in person, yeah?

But...  obligatory...

As asked already above, when are you changing your call sign from @Omeganut to @Seikonut?

All love for GS here, but can I ask why the SMP300 and ‘57 were sent packing? Just not worn enough or truly fell out of love? 

So for reference, I am 6'7" (2 meters for the international crowd) and not what you would call svelte (or as @Max would say, I'm thic).  And my wrist is just over 7".  That said, this is my thiccest watch, and I can tell.  But because it doesn't come on a bracelet, it doesn't feel heavy to me personally.  It is 43mm, so it's not small, and I think the lug to lug is around 52mm, so it's a big boy, but so am I 😀

I havent found my seiko yet but the new king seiko looks pretty nice and i also like the Marinemaster alot but its soooo chunky. I allways thought id like swiss watches the most but everthing im buying recently is german and i hope to get hold of a Laco Erbstück soon😍.

Yeah, German watches have a really cool aesthetic and got their own groove going on.  Laco is awesome in that they offer incredibly utilitarian watches that have fantastic solidity!

Both GS pieces are fantastic! Personally  I'm more of a sports watch guy and The Grand Seiko Diver SBGA463 in an absolute stunner, definitely one of my grails! 

Yeah!  Weirdly enough, I think it's become my favorite watch of all!!!

Holy cow! this is stunning!

There are still new examples of the SBGP017 available on Chrono24.  And with the dollar as strong as it is, you can get it from Japanese ADs for less than MSRP!

Alternately, this was announced recently too!

I personally can't decide between Swiss & Japanese.  I love #seiko especially their divers, for me #seiko would be a near perfect brand if they improved their QC issues in terms of bezel & chapter ring alignment and if they produced more accurate movements with tighter tolerances for their entry level watches.  I love swiss watches too as the first watch I fell in love with is my dad's Rolex Datejust 1603 which I inherited when I turned 21.  I've had the watch for nearly 10 years now and it hasn't been serviced since my dad passed it down to me & it's running great.  you can't deny the robustness and reliability of a Rolex.  With regard to other brands I appreciate that the swiss offer more reliable and accurate entry level movements than Seiko.  Granted, most entry level Swiss movements aren't in-house but I've learned to not be a movement snob because a chronometer certified ETA or Selita movement is fantastic and will run like a champ for years.  So... in my opinion I can't decide, I love and appreciate both swiss & japanese 

Would you ever do a GS diver?  Reactions to their divers tend to be bi-modal - either you absolutely love 'em or you hate 'em...  and 99% of folks seem to hate 'em!

When I saw a GS diver for the first time, I was utterly repulsed.  

But, now, because of how weird it looks, it's become my absolute favorite watch of all time!

What a topic. First, let me say that I like, own, and am attracted to watches, from a wide array of design demographics. Primarily contemporary pieces. I'm not too much into vintage. At least at this point in my life, of almost 42 years. 

I must admit....I was not immediately attracted to the general styling, and design ethos, of Japanese watchmakers. Thinking back, I now know that there were many other more subtle influences, that sub- consciously conditioned me. For the sake of time, I won't delve into all of that. I'll save that for another discussion.

It was primarily the release, of one single model, that "opened my eyes to the truth." And no.....it was not the "Snowflake," as many of you may have already guessed, rather impatiently!!! It was "the King," himself.......the SLGH005 "White Birch." 

I know, shocker.....but something about this design, was so perfect, in my eyes, that I could no longer see past it. Up to this point in my life, had you asked me what my favorite watch was, I really wasn't sure, as I'd never seen a specific model or design, that without certainty, truly moved me. The design, and proportions of this model, coupled w/ the finishing and impressive specifications made this model my one "true"grail in my mind. That still has not changed to this day, might I add.

So, in spite of the fact, that I could not see past this model, and find anything other, more wholly perfect, it did however cast a light down on the design ethos, of Japanese watchmaking as a whole. Shown to me, in a way that I had never before appreciated. I had failed to see the complexity, of the different designs, and various finishing techniques, regularly used on even some of the more basic models from brands like Orient. Yet and still, true perfection can be found, in the intricacies of the details, of more elite collections by the different manufacturers, like "Evolution 9 Series," and "Chronomaster" (as it's known colloquially in "the states.") Truly "vertically integrated manufacturers," that produce, refine, and assemble, everything except for the raw materials.

This awareness stretches beyond the shores of Japan for me, as well. Sort of an appreciation for "Eastern design and influence" in watchmaking all together. Interest in brands in China, and Hong Kong. Brands like "Peacock," and "Sea-gull." It's opened a whole new world of watches, that I never even knew existed. Yet and still, to me, Grand Seiko, are "the masters." 

If I were to guess, I would say maybe a result of mass-hoarding. At almost 42 yrs of age, I can say pretty much the same thing...... 2 maybe 3??? I will say that these are ravenously collected in the Asian market as well though. It also has to do w/ how affluent of an area you live in as well. Erie, PA, though urban, would not be considered "affluent" (just sayin). Just speculation though. I can't say for sure

Sound plausible 👍 And I do live in a working-/middleclass environment. 

It's still considered bad form and tasteless to flash your wealth in Norway, even though it's seems like it might be changing.

Interesting. If you don't mind me asking....how popular are higher-end Japanese watch brands in Norwegian culture??? Have you spotted many Grand Seiko models, or Citizen, "Chronomaster" (referred  to as "The Citizen" on the Japanese mainland)??? 

I think this question is directed at @mjosamannen?

Mostly smartwatches of course here aswell. I see very few high end watches. Mostly Tag, Omega, Breitling and Rolex if I see any at all.

Some entry level swiss. Especially Tissot. But mostly Japanese watches if people wear anything other than smart watch. Seiko, Citizen and Casio/G-Shock.

I know from sosial media that Norwegian watch nerds like GS. But that is all. 

Thanks for taking the time to share that. I can definitely understand the attraction to Tissot. As I'm sure you're aware, the value proposition w/ a good many Tissot models, is quite high. Some of the best "bang for-buck" models on the market period. I quite like some of Casio's "Oceanus" line. Particularly their "S100" model. The only caveat to that statement being that it's a full titanium build. Considering how impressively it's finished, for the price, I may have to give that a pass. 

Other than that, I would say that your general description would match that of what I generally encounter, here in "the State's."