Longines VHP vs Grand Seiko 9F - a show down of modern Quartz movements?!

I guess Seiko has growing their own quartz thing going for them as well! Plus it looks classier than the Longines, although the Longines also looks great as an everyday watch.

I went through this decision a couple years ago when wanting to break down and add a quartz piece and added GS SBGP015 (9F85). The Longines is a nice watch, but not in the same class. Start with the movements; The GS is finished to a much higher standard with tighter tolerances. Newer 9Fs are spec’d to 5 seconds, but most owners report 1-2 seconds a year. Just as Porsche always under reports HP, GS always provides conservative accuracy figures. Mine is 1s after 2 years of ownership. Then there is the finishing, quality of materials, and build process. Lastly, while the GS bracelet won’t beat the higher end Swiss brands, it’s still better than any Omega bracelet I own, and a significant upgrade vs. the Longines.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you value. For $700-$1000 the Longines is a decent watch with a good quartz movement. If you place greater value on craftsmanship and finishing, a GS with a 9F is one of the best values in watches.

price justified for both. 

that being said, i‘d go GS. its the attention to details and finishing that just do it for me. 

ive Tried on the longines, and it just didn’t feel right buying a quartz longines. 

I'm weird. Cost aside I think for quartz I will always choose Japanese AKA Seiko, Citizen, Bulova (also Citizen) over swiss quartz. I think Swiss watches are suppose to be Automatic in my opinion. Don't get me wrong If I find a Omega or Longines quartz for a good price I'm breaking the piggy bank.

Longines is a superb watch, GS is a luxury watch.

Agreed, while both watches are accurate they are quite different in their design approach and positioning in the market. I also wouldn't directly compare a Longines VHP to a Bulova Precionist for the very same reason.

Just for the sake of throwing more alcohol on the fire, I strongly suggest you take a look into the new line of Citizen's high-end-solar-powered-quartz-movement.

Here are a few photos:

Nice review:

https://watchesbysjx.com/2022/02/citizen-iconic-nature-collection-eco-drive.html

It is basically the same price of these entry level GS but it is better in so many ways...

I hope that is useful

That date window makes it look like the data is at the end of a tunnel. Great watch, not a fan of that however.

I think that is because of the solar sensors that have to be close to the dial so the day wheel had to be put further back. 

I picked up a SBGN013 for $2300 on Crown & Caliber. The amount of hand assembly and decoration makes the GS stand out to me.  

I really love these. 

I have a medium Santos too, great watch. speaking of round edges, that each can use some!

Show us a wrist shot!

That’s a nice wrist shot! 😍

That’s a nice wrist shot! 😍 Also what a bargain for your watch.

The longines is amazing i had the gmt version,you set the time with an app and flash on the phone,theirs a small hole in the 1 at 12 o'clock that captures the flashes and sets time for the country youve picked. Amazing build quality too only sold mine cause I had a dark dial and found time hard to read  so go for blue or silver dial. Imo just as good as the grand seiko 👍

The VHP only has 50 meters water resistance, which is hard to understand and really unforgivable when there is an automatic conquest non-dive watch with 300 meters WR. This lack of water resistance for the VHP makes no sense. This is a sports watch design after all. Should be at least 100 meters WR. 

Interesting. I'd compare the VHP and Precisionists.

That’s probably my biggest issue with the Longines. 

You are not missing anything. The Longines dial and case is easily the equal of the Seiko. The accuracy of the movement is the equal as well. The only realistic difference is the “finishing” of the Seiko movement. When you are talking quartz, for me, finishing is not relevant. You are talking about technology and accuracy.

The Longines is far more than a decent watch. The GS only beats it in terms of movement finishing, not accuracy. The quality of the dial, hands, case, etc., is the equal of the GS. I almost bought a GS. When I saw the price I realized how overpriced it was.

Apologies, if decent was taken as a slight against it (unintended), but they are in two different leagues and that is okay. The beauty of this is we can appreciate both at different price points and politely disagree on the overall quality. One is built and finished largely by machine, the other by hand. Where you put value in that is up to you. To me, it is worth the 3X delta and it is cool if you disagree with that.