Grand Seiko is open to your Feedback
I've had my Sbga415 winter edition for a couple years and as amazing as this watch is, I had some bones to pick - mostly design wise.
This new blue SLGA007 has fixed most of my complaints, almost like GS has their ears to the ground.
Has it been perfected now? What do you think they should focus on next?
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Captain Crunch
Co-founder of WatchCrunch; Inventor of the Zero Pass strap.
United States
Member since
Last active: 2 hrs ago
16.51 cm
I know I say this every day about something, but you're killing me here. Now I desperately want yet another watch.
Guys, I’m open to a trade. Either your left arm or your first-born. Lemme know if any takers! Have always wanted a left arm mounted over the fireplace!
Guys, I’m open to a trade. Either your left arm or your first-born. Lemme know if any takers! Have always wanted a left arm mounted over the fireplace!
I need my left arm to wear the watch, but I'll give you my firstborn if you take my secondborn as well. Deal?
When I collected my Oris BCPD from service last week, I tried on this 37mm quartz beauty from GS. My only wish would be: fit THIS with the 9RA2 (while also adding that sweet, broad White Birch hour hand) - we know that GS can make spring drive small; and with the SLGA007 they've show that they can also make it thin(-ish). I'm a simple man and this could cure me from lusting after a DJ 36 silver tuxedo forever.
i hope they improve the clasp
100% they need to up their bracelet game and knock it off with the odd lug width numbers. It took me WAY to long to find a decent strap at 19mm.
Personally, I’d like to see them step into the anti-magnetism game a bit more. I know they think silicon is brittle and that’s why they keep developing new generations of Spron, but with the increasing potential in todays world with more magnets in everything around us magnetizing our watches, that would provide some great peace of mind.
Guys, I’m open to a trade. Either your left arm or your first-born. Lemme know if any takers! Have always wanted a left arm mounted over the fireplace!
Ooo nice strap pairing 👏👏
When I collected my Oris BCPD from service last week, I tried on this 37mm quartz beauty from GS. My only wish would be: fit THIS with the 9RA2 (while also adding that sweet, broad White Birch hour hand) - we know that GS can make spring drive small; and with the SLGA007 they've show that they can also make it thin(-ish). I'm a simple man and this could cure me from lusting after a DJ 36 silver tuxedo forever.
That is clean 🤌
100% they need to up their bracelet game and knock it off with the odd lug width numbers. It took me WAY to long to find a decent strap at 19mm.
Personally, I’d like to see them step into the anti-magnetism game a bit more. I know they think silicon is brittle and that’s why they keep developing new generations of Spron, but with the increasing potential in todays world with more magnets in everything around us magnetizing our watches, that would provide some great peace of mind.
Good point. From their website,
Magnetic resistance:
4,800 A/m
Is that not a lot? I'm not well versed in magnets
Very nice review, thanks for posting.
Good point. From their website,
Magnetic resistance:
4,800 A/m
Is that not a lot? I'm not well versed in magnets
4,800 A/m is not very impressive. To put that in context Omega’s metas movements is resistant to 15,000 gauss. 1 gauss = approx 80 A/m. So the latest Speedy will be around 1,200,000 A/m compared to Ball, GS, and a lot of other manufacturers touting 4,800 A/m (60 gauss). While it is not inaccurate it might give the average person a false sense of assurance.
4,800 A/m is not very impressive. To put that in context Omega’s metas movements is resistant to 15,000 gauss. 1 gauss = approx 80 A/m. So the latest Speedy will be around 1,200,000 A/m compared to Ball, GS, and a lot of other manufacturers touting 4,800 A/m (60 gauss). While it is not inaccurate it might give the average person a false sense of assurance.
I agree it couldn’t hurt. Does it need to withstand MRI-level 1.5 Tesla/15k Gauss?? Prob not, but more is always better.
Some of the improvements other than the power reserve indicator location are not exclusive to Evolution 9. My SBGA429 has the watermark and, it seems, the bracelet improvements.
Biggest downside of the power indicator on the front is that the watch keeps asking for wrist time every other day. I did like the snowflake without the indicator better, but on the 429, I think it fits just fine, and saved quite a lot for it. Good deals on GS if you just want to scratch the spring drive itch.
Great vid. Love that they put the power reserve on the back.
Guys, I’m open to a trade. Either your left arm or your first-born. Lemme know if any takers! Have always wanted a left arm mounted over the fireplace!
Arm AND kid are in the mail! 😃
(how will I break this to wifey 🤔)
Had the opportunity to buy the Minamo back when it was released, but turned it down when putting it on my wrist and comparing it side by side… wasnt a fan of the gold accents. made it look ”old” for a modern watch imo.
the updated 22mm bracelet is great for what it is, but it does not seem well proportioned to its case. And the rectangular mid-links just made it seem even more bigger.
perfect dial and even more perfect movement, just not enough value proposition if we’re challenging the Taisetsu IMO.
I may be in the minority, but I think GS's power reserve distinctly sets them apart from the other brands. It was a unique feature that was instantly recognizable as not only a GS, but a GS Spring Drive; the most unique innovation to the watch world in a very long time. By listening to customers too much, I think brands lose a clear point of view that makes the brand, THE Brand. - Example: Rolex stuck with their cyclops date magnifier. Many complain that the cyclops is unnecessary and ruins the sleekness of the overall dial-side experience, but now it's THE thing that is instantly recognizable as Rolex, even from a distance.
Creating a heritage that people accept and understand is only achieved by sticking to the differentiating points of view that make the brand unique. With the frequency of models being released by GS (limited edition models at that), I think they are hurting the longterm success of the brand because nothing sticks around long enough for people to love and when looking through the models as a newcomer they get overwhelmed.
Having said all of this, I love my GS watches and have focused on celebrating their brand uniqueness by owning a 9F GMT (SBGN003) and a 44GS case Spring Drive (SBGA375).
4,800 A/m is not very impressive. To put that in context Omega’s metas movements is resistant to 15,000 gauss. 1 gauss = approx 80 A/m. So the latest Speedy will be around 1,200,000 A/m compared to Ball, GS, and a lot of other manufacturers touting 4,800 A/m (60 gauss). While it is not inaccurate it might give the average person a false sense of assurance.
Wow, the importance of paying attention to units! Thanks for the background
I think that translates to about 60 gauss, which is a minimum. But most iPads could cause issues at that level. They say Spron is rated higher than that, but as Seiko and GS are known to do they only list the fact that they meet industry certification levels.
Talking to GS reps, it’s not unheard of for their movements to become magnetized. That said, I’ve heard their spring drives fair better than their completely mechanical movements.
It would be nice to see them do something like Oris and their caliber 400, and build their movements to withstand 2,250 gauss.
Makes sense when spring drive doesn't have a hair spring to worry about correct?
I’d like to see a sportswatch, with fat numerals on 12, 6, and 9 at least. Perhaps in conjunction with a F1 race team or the Artemis Moon Mission? Maybe develop a different sporty logo, maybe give it some kudos, get endorsed by yakuza gang members? LOL
Haha, really bringing different segments of the community together 😂
Great info! Sounds like we shouldn't be holding our breath for a 38mm spring drive 😭
Makes sense when spring drive doesn't have a hair spring to worry about correct?
Correct.
Always was curious why the collection of Spring Drive watches was rather large (for my taste). Thanks for passing this along!
Lake Suwa is such a beauty. If I had to have only one GS, this would be it. Elegant and tasteful. Still searching for a brand new unworn condition. Worst case will settle for Sbgy007.
Guys, I’m open to a trade. Either your left arm or your first-born. Lemme know if any takers! Have always wanted a left arm mounted over the fireplace!
What about a Spaghetti Scameti? I've got them coming out of my ears right now
What about a Spaghetti Scameti? I've got them coming out of my ears right now
LOVE your videos, man!!! Keep the amazing content coming, sir!!!
I agree with a lot of these points but a couple things I don't like on the new generation:
1. The hour hand. To me the old hands were perfection and this new one looks bad. Very bad. I hope they don't put this on all the new GS models because it ruins the design for me.
2. the bead blasted finish seems like a huge step down from the beautiful machined stripes on my whirlpool.
Speaking of my whirlpool, my only two gripes with it are the thickness and the fact that the rotor covers the movement.
I may be in the minority, but I think GS's power reserve distinctly sets them apart from the other brands. It was a unique feature that was instantly recognizable as not only a GS, but a GS Spring Drive; the most unique innovation to the watch world in a very long time. By listening to customers too much, I think brands lose a clear point of view that makes the brand, THE Brand. - Example: Rolex stuck with their cyclops date magnifier. Many complain that the cyclops is unnecessary and ruins the sleekness of the overall dial-side experience, but now it's THE thing that is instantly recognizable as Rolex, even from a distance.
Creating a heritage that people accept and understand is only achieved by sticking to the differentiating points of view that make the brand unique. With the frequency of models being released by GS (limited edition models at that), I think they are hurting the longterm success of the brand because nothing sticks around long enough for people to love and when looking through the models as a newcomer they get overwhelmed.
Having said all of this, I love my GS watches and have focused on celebrating their brand uniqueness by owning a 9F GMT (SBGN003) and a 44GS case Spring Drive (SBGA375).
I agree with you. I love the power reserve on the dial of a spring drive.
I was initially looking at getting the cherry blossom. After being shown the white birch spring drive I had to get that instead due to the reasons explained in the video.
Got the white birch last month. With my other automatic mechanical watches i need to give them a bit of a wind each morning i wear them to prevent them stopping. (I guess I don’t move around enough to wind them.)
With the white birch spring drive it will last 2 weeks with me wearing it without needing to wind it more. Plus my other mechanical watches gain a couple of seconds a day. After 2 weeks the white birch is still bang on time.
@Max I bought the SBGA415 winter after watching your review on YT :). The gray dial brings up a lot of fond memories back when I was in Seattle.