Seiko
Bought a Seiko Arnie, figured it would be made in Japan. It’s not, it’s made in China.
So how much do I have to spend to get a Seiko that’s made in Japan? Is there a series of Seikos that I should be looking for? Thanks!
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Jesse
My addiction is up and running again. Met someone on deployment who’s into watches…. So I’ve got the itch again after 2 years. 😝
Shafter CA
Member since
Last active: 10 months ago
To be sure, it'll be the cost of a plane ticket to Japan to find a Seiko AD there.
Well, it really depends on the price point and only certain models are made in Japan. The Prospex and Presage models above $700 are generally made in Japan. It will say Japan on the dial at 6'o clock. The lower-end models are either made in Malaysia (the quartz movement comes from Japan and automatic movements are made in the same factory), China (both quartz and automatic movement from Japan but cased in China) and Japan. Some market gets Seiko 5 that are Made in Japan but the rest get the ones made in Malaysia or China. The Arnie models are made in China these days, there is no Made in Japan variant currently.
If you are looking for lower-end models that Seiko makes in Japan, you should look for JDM variants (JDM models have different reference numbers) and it will say MADE IN JAPAN in bold letters. The rest of the models that Seiko always makes in Japan will only say JAPAN in bold letters they cost $700 or more plus the reference number for the model ends with J1 (example is SPB143J1). The cost for the lower-end models that are made in Japan cost roughly the same or lower depending on the Yen value of your currency, don't forget the shipping and taxes. Certain market-specific models that are sought after may cost slightly more and you need to find a seller on websites like chorno24 and so on.
Well, it really depends on the price point and only certain models are made in Japan. The Prospex and Presage models above $700 are generally made in Japan. It will say Japan on the dial at 6'o clock. The lower-end models are either made in Malaysia (the quartz movement comes from Japan and automatic movements are made in the same factory), China (both quartz and automatic movement from Japan but cased in China) and Japan. Some market gets Seiko 5 that are Made in Japan but the rest get the ones made in Malaysia or China. The Arnie models are made in China these days, there is no Made in Japan variant currently.
If you are looking for lower-end models that Seiko makes in Japan, you should look for JDM variants (JDM models have different reference numbers) and it will say MADE IN JAPAN in bold letters. The rest of the models that Seiko always makes in Japan will only say JAPAN in bold letters they cost $700 or more plus the reference number for the model ends with J1 (example is SPB143J1). The cost for the lower-end models that are made in Japan cost roughly the same or lower depending on the Yen value of your currency, don't forget the shipping and taxes. Certain market-specific models that are sought after may cost slightly more and you need to find a seller on websites like chorno24 and so on.
Thank you for all this information.
Is there a website that you can recommend?
Most Seiko watches over $700 can be picked up locally from an authorised dealer or local online websites, it just had to say JAPAN on the dial.
The other JDM variants, you can find in Gnomon, Sakurawatches and a few other websites. I have experience with these two websited for JDM models and the service is excellent.