JAPAN vs SWISS round 2 (dress watches)

I'd take the JLC, it has a date, moon phase, and a less "fussy" dial. 

It's also more versatile based on the complications, and the colour. 

The JLC. The reasons are: the date complication & the moon phase complication; which I presently do not have and want one. That makes the dial more interesting to me over the GS. 

I have never seen a JLC in person.  I'm gonna head over to the AD on Friday.  But, in the meantime, since my handle is GrandSeikoNut, obviously, I'd go for the Omiwatari!!!

I have not handled either.  Based on the photo I would lean towards the JLC, due to its versatility and the complications.  However, because of the complications it is likely that you will use the crown more often.  JLC seems to have made the crown very small.

JLC because I love complications (the more the better) and it gives me an excuse to try and pronounce the name in a suave manner.

Definitely the JLC.  It’s awesome on my wrist.  I haven’t been a big fan of GS and this particular model isn’t going to be the one to convert me. 

I remember begging for a spring drive less than 40mm. Then comes along Omiwatari with all its glory and perfect dimensions. 

JLC for date and moon phase on a simple dial. Someone else also mentioned the versatility based on color too which is huge. Timeless design and brand. 

Grand Seiko for me due to the simplicity. If it's a dress watch, I want to just be able to wind it, set the date and be off on my way. 

However if it was a Memovox I would choose it because of the contrasting bezel and indices which makes it easier to view.

That Omiwatari dial is absolute class, have to go with that, I get lost just staring at it. The JLC is obviously very nice and classy, but doesn’t move me like the GS.

My son likes the JLC and kept it for work. I prefer the GS but in 44GS guise. 😉😊

GS without any hesitation. 

I love the JLC, it is the better watch technically. However, in a watch box, I’d probably grab the GS far more often due to being less complicated and more versatile.

Of these specifically, the JLC.  I think the dial will age more gracefully and I like the dimensions slightly more.  I also prefer autos to manual wind.

In the context of my collection, some of the value of a spring drive is just how tanky they are in real life.  You don't take a dress watch into situations where you're going to knock it around (unless you're me in the stupid 1WC challenge) so some of the value is lost.  I like my spring drives in sportier cases as a result.

JLC. Grand Seiko tends to win me over with their dial designs but loses me on their case profiles. 
 

Also, I love pointer dates.

It's a difficult choice. Both, in their own ways, are incredible technical marvels. I own a GS spring drive dress watch (not the manual wind), and I have had the JLC on my wrist.

Personally, I would go with the JLC. I love the complications, and they are the watchmaker's watchmaker, so you not only get an incredible watch, but you get a tone of heritage as well.

This is a question I’ve thought about a lot since I recently bought the JLC Ultra Thin Moon (with the blue sunburst dial) and I tried on the Omiwatari a few weeks before when I was making my purchasing decision. Obviously, as demonstrated by my choice, I think the JLC is superior. 

The Omiwatari is impressive, but its greatest strength, the dial, is less impressive in person than it is in a video or picture with a macro lens. I do not deny that making that dial involves real artistry. But that artistry can only be appreciated up close—very close. When I viewed it at arms length (the distance that watches are made for) I could not really see or appreciate the texture of the dial. In fact, on the arm, the dial of the blue Ultra Thin Moon is more impressive because you can see and appreciate the light play.

As for the polishing, I thought they were basically equal. I know zaratsu polishing is supposed to be special, but I thought JLC’s was equal to my eye.

Then, JLC has two distinct, noticeable advantages. The first is thinness. The two watches are about equal in overall thickness (not sure of the exact measure), but the Ultra Thin Moon is an automatic (the Omiwatari is a manual wind) and it has a moonphase and date. For JLC to pack all that into a package of incredible thinness is a true marvel of engineering.

And, finally, the coup de grace is the moonphase. Personally, I can‘t think of another moonphase of any watch on the market that is so well executed—especially on the blue dial. (Though the rose gold version is pretty damn nice too!)

So, to summarize, I like Grand Seiko, and I love what they are doing. I suspect I will own one in the next few years because they are getting better all the time. But for now, I think the JLC Ultra Thin Moon is in a different class. It is the favorite watch in my collection, and when I wear it I spend half the day just staring at it with my mouth agape. 

I am going to say JLC. This was was hard choice for me. It came down to taking clients and my wife out for lunch or dinner. The GS is a no mess dial, very clean and the movement is smooth. However, the complications on the JLC encompass the elegances of watch. Let’s be honest, I have three clients who are into watches and my wife will notice after while.

JLC.  

And why not consider the Reverso Duo (I realize it is rectangular) here and is approximately same price range but the same clean and classic aesthetics? 

The smallish looking crown on the JLC looks like it might annoy me with my big hands. I also love the simplicity of the GS. 

As much as I adore the dials and Spring drive movements (the mechanical movements are quite nice, too) on GS; they're simply way too thick for me to even consider them a viable dress watch sadly.  Now Credor on the other hand.....

Very hard choice, as I could do either.

Swiss because they don't use the souped up quartz. Heck they invented elegant watches

JLC MUT without a doubt. I have two GS and a Reverso Duoface. At this point I wouldn’t even think of buying another dress watch since I own the JLC.  In my mind no other watch could out class my Reverso. 

For me, JLC is the epitome of class and sophistication.  I find them to be the best for formal/dressy attire. 
 

I adore my Grand Seikos, and my SLGH009 gets more wrist time than any other watch I own. It’s my new daily ride or die. But I feel the most special when I‘m rocking my Reverso 🥰

Second post on this thread.  
 

I happened to visit watches of switzerland shop in my city this afternoon (I had a business meeting next door).  They had the Omiwatari and a few other Grand Seikos.  Absolutely gorgeous watches. I tried them on my wrist and I will have one in my collection…as long as my money tree works with me😉

However, at this stage of my nascent watch collecting journey, JLC Reverso (which I already have and hence the cognitive dissonance 😊) or  the MC still speaks to me way more.  If I had the money I would have both but I have made my choice and hopefully Grand Seiko will follow soon. 

Sometimes, I think, we are trying to force a decision.  Is there really a bad choice?  We decide, we enjoy.  It is all good 😊 

You can’t miss with either.  

JLC, more classically elegant.  I'd say timeless.  The GS dial is interesting but nowhere near as classical.

Oh man, I held both of these within the last month and I think they now haunt my dreams 🥰. Different approaches, same wetness 

I want that JLC Master Chrono in the worst way…..

I'm curious about the servicing costs for the 2 brands. Does anyone know if they are similar? JLC for me, tyvm.