Seiko - It's complicated!
As a budget watch collector and still very much a beginner in this hobby, I have come to love and hate Seiko at the same time. They are the king of large watches as well as for less than desirable bracelets. Yet, there is so much value in them by offering some of the most amazing dials and reliable/affordable movements (unfinished and loosely regulated but good value). Take my watch above, the Seiko Presage Sharp Edge GMT. Why are they not using this movement in other watches of all sizes? To be fair, the date wheel sucks but that is an easy enough change. If Seiko is charging $1,000+ for their pieces, put a movement like this in the watch with sapphire glass. I cannot stomach buying watches with loose regulation like the Seiko 6R35 in watches over $1,000. Even with all the complaining, Seiko is still one my favorite watch brands. When you think you are fed up with them, they release an amazing watch to make you fall back into the Seiko trap. Happy Thursday folks!
My name is Antwan and I have been collecting watches since 2020. I am here to gain knowledge and to learn more about watches in general, as well as vintage pieces.
There is so much to pick apart here… so, so much. I don’t want to go in studs-high, but do yourself a favour and stop buying Seiko if you feel you are getting poor value, especially at that price range, for your own sanity.
I agree with you that some of the Seiko bracelets are not as good as they should be. Fortunately, it is often possible to turn to the aftermarket for an acceptable solution if necessary.
There are other options from reputable companies that are better value than most Seikos these days. The notion of Seiko as the "value king" comes from the golden age of grey market Seiko watches selling well below MSRP, that age has long since passed.
The only reason those watches ended up cheap on the Grey market is nobody would pay full price for them...
There is so much to pick apart here… so, so much. I don’t want to go in studs-high, but do yourself a favour and stop buying Seiko if you feel you are getting poor value, especially at that price range, for your own sanity.
Muahahaha!!! When I read this earlier I was going to tag you on it, but I reserved my comment just for you to be the first one!!! 😂
Muahahaha!!! When I read this earlier I was going to tag you on it, but I reserved my comment just for you to be the first one!!! 😂
I’m still unsure what I just read. Username also references another brand, so in hindsight I’m thinking this is satirical, otherwise I’m lost.
I have talked myself out of buying many Seikos - for all the reasons you mention.
I think Seiko still offers great value. Their bracelets don’t bother me because I almost always change it out for a strap anyways and I change the strap on most of my watches frequently.
I just recently picked up a cocktail time Mojito and a blue baby Alpinist. What other company is offering automatic watches with that nice of a dial at that price? And with the lineage of one of the greatest watch makers ever? The value is still there if you look for it.