+ or - 6R35 experience? Would you take the same watch that has a 6R35 with a 4R35 if it may save you maybe around $400-500?

I am making this poll to see where people stand on this specific question. This stems from my recent less than positive experience with my SBDC111 that has the 6R35. I had another negative experience (to start) with a SBDC105 also with a 6R35. So, out of the box from Seiko, that's 0 out of 2. I have had far more positive experience with the tried and true 4R35(&36) out of the box. Regulated properly, they can have amazing performance, if you weren't lucky to get one running pretty darn good out of the box to start. Being that the various Seiko watches that have the 6R35 often cost around $900-1200, give or take, would you be content to have the older 4R35 in those watches if it may also cost you $400-500 (+/-) less if they were the only difference in the movement? I know I would. Besides my meh 6R35 experience do far, I see little point in higher power reserve if the movement fails to keep and hold a respectable consistent time keeping record.. which in my experience they rarely hold good time once off my wrist.. oddly(?) they usually hold a lot better if I keep them on wrist longer. That's why I wear mine nearly all the time To be clear, I actually believe the 6R35 is a solid movement and can be reliable and accurate. However, it seems Seiko fails their own movement by not putting in the proper attention and care when assembling and producing watches that have them... over lubrication seems to be a commonly botched area leading to inconsistent and erratic behavior.
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I’m with you on this. I’ve got a couple of 6R35s and they are both all over the place.

I took one to a local watchmaker  for regulation and the handed it back after 2 weeks  (no charge!) saying they couldn’t keep the movement regulated and it would probably need rebuilding to get anywhere near decent timekeeping. 

I would definitely think twice before buying another 6R35 movement.

In the meantime, I love the watches, so I’ve convinced myself that the irregular timekeeping is just a charming ‘quirk’ of these pieces 

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My 6R35 needed regulation as it was out of spec by factory standards 

So sent it in free of charge and it’s running like a COSC since then.  And a 70 hour power reserve is pretty nice.  

My 4R35s are +\- about 8 or so seconds, good enough for me.  Power reserve touch short though.

My spring drive is at 0.1 and I love checking it for that reason. 🤪 🥰

I guess I’ll buy any of the Seiko movements if I fall in love with a particular Seiko, but still check it to make sure it’s honest.  
 

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I have only one 6R35 (Ginza Alpinist), the movement was very fast (+15s or more) in the beginning, but after regulation, it is running quite reliably and accurately, so I guess it depends on luck (which isn’t great)

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Fieldwalker

My 6R35 needed regulation as it was out of spec by factory standards 

So sent it in free of charge and it’s running like a COSC since then.  And a 70 hour power reserve is pretty nice.  

My 4R35s are +\- about 8 or so seconds, good enough for me.  Power reserve touch short though.

My spring drive is at 0.1 and I love checking it for that reason. 🤪 🥰

I guess I’ll buy any of the Seiko movements if I fall in love with a particular Seiko, but still check it to make sure it’s honest.  
 

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I did manage to regulate my sbdc105 myself to within +/-1to2 s/d max and it held. But, out of box it was -25 s/d. So,I believe and have made a positive experience with the 6R35. 

However, my most recent sbdc111 is wildly eratic and greater deviation. Can't save by simple regulation. I plan to remedy with a complete "heart transplant" to something I feel more confident I can depend on... And, without costing too much.

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Seiko has a weird problem of wanting to be both entry level and affordable luxury. I think the organization as a whole needs to restructure its models and performance. 
 

  • First, they need to regulate all 6R movements to a good standard…NLT +/- 10s at worst. 
  • Next would be to keep the 4R movements in the 5 series and hold the 6R for the ProSpex/Presage series. Seems this would really only add about 20% to the total cost of the watch, and would be a better market separation. 
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I have the same thought. 6R35 does not seem to perform a lot better than 4R family apart from longer power reserve.

Why bother buy 6R watch when I can use 4R and replace with NH movement once it is time for movement overhaul? 🤷🤷

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Yuquilibrium

I have the same thought. 6R35 does not seem to perform a lot better than 4R family apart from longer power reserve.

Why bother buy 6R watch when I can use 4R and replace with NH movement once it is time for movement overhaul? 🤷🤷

I am already planning to replace my 6R35 with an NH35.

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It's all good. I've pretty much set the bar pretty low for any future Seiko's with the 6R35, if there will be any. It's just my experience. And, I know there are quite a strong number of others that share similar sentiment.

What else can I say other than it shows the inconsistent quality of this particular movement. A lot may have pretty good experience, a lot may also have pretty bad.

I'm technically 50/50.. though, it's maybe tilting towards the negative half weighing heavier. Both 6R35 watches I've had started off shitty. I was able to make right one and it became damn accurate. The latter as complained here was a lost cause.. at least I was not willing to pay a watchmaker what it takes to fix it when I could make an effective repair of sorts myself for around $40 and change.

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Fieldwalker

My 6R35 needed regulation as it was out of spec by factory standards 

So sent it in free of charge and it’s running like a COSC since then.  And a 70 hour power reserve is pretty nice.  

My 4R35s are +\- about 8 or so seconds, good enough for me.  Power reserve touch short though.

My spring drive is at 0.1 and I love checking it for that reason. 🤪 🥰

I guess I’ll buy any of the Seiko movements if I fall in love with a particular Seiko, but still check it to make sure it’s honest.  
 

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What app is that?

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loveGS413

What app is that?

It’s called Twixt- great app with the several bucks it cost 👍

Great way to keep track of my favourites:

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