A quarter century on this planet: Which one?
Celebrated my 25th recently! I bought a Tisell Explorer and it just isn't cutting it. Want to get something really nice to compliment my Seiko solar diver. And, as always, I love asking strangers on the Internet to validate my poor financial decisions.
In the case of the GS, it's a 9F quartz; arguably the coolest quartz movement out there. Insanely accurate, well-finished, hand-made, reliable and serviceable. Housed in a 37mm case, it's simple but elegant and versatile. It's also a luxury brand; the Lexus of the watch world. However, there's no micro-adjust on the bracelet. Also, the seller is based in Japan on Chrono24. If the seconds hand doesn't line up with the marker (there's a chance), then I'll be paying at least $300 to ship it back to Japan.
Oh yeah, and it's nearly double the price of the competitor.
In the case of the CW, it's an absolute beast of a small tool watch. I owned a white dial one a few years ago (I sold it because I hated spending that much money on a watch), so I know how it wears. It has outstanding value for the money and has great features like a Sellita auto movement, on-the-fly adjustment clasp, LUME, screw down crown, all the sports watch goodies in a small case. Oh, and it's nearly half the price of the GS. I know it will last me for ages, as well.
I'd be pushing my budget a lot with the GS, and obviously less with the CW. What would you folks do?
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Jared
Apart from stainless steel sports watches, I'm a huge aerospace fan and have a passion for anything with a jet or rocket engine strapped to it.
Albany
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6.50” / 16.51 cm
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As much as I love GS with its heritage and craftsmanship, at your age, I’d recommend the CW. It’s slightly more sporty and will be more versatile overall. Plus GS’s are so well polished, they are a scratch magnet and you will feel the pain during the initial months of owning one.
Cheers on the birthday. I’d go with the CW and it really sounds like that’s where your heart is.
As much as I love GS with its heritage and craftsmanship, at your age, I’d recommend the CW. It’s slightly more sporty and will be more versatile overall. Plus GS’s are so well polished, they are a scratch magnet and you will feel the pain during the initial months of owning one.
That is good feedback on the GS. When you buy one have you to be able to accept the scratches. There is no way to avoid it with that high of a polish. You will scratch it by just looking at it.
I would go with GS, do try to find one in preown.
I had the chance to own both GS and CW, and GS do sparkle in a way that make it more enjoyable.
$1,438 usd https://chrono24.app/seiko/grand-seiko-heritage-collection-sbgx265--id31753203.htm
Hmm, you are asking us to choose between a Grand Seiko and a CWard. Is it even a choice?
Kidding aside, if the second hand is slightly of, can't you just get a local watch shop to fix that? I can't imagine it to be that hard!
Furthermore, worth noting that quartz is quite a bit more resilient than hairspring. The old advice is to avoid playing sport, particularly golf and tennis, with mechanical watches. To be fair, I totally played tennis with my Orient, and it survived intact. But beware. GS has this reputation of scratchability (looking at it wrong and scratches will materialize). Otherwise, I completely expect a quartz watch to outlast and under-spend (for service and stuff) a mechanical watch.
I really like GS, but for the money right now I’d go CW. CW is also a brand I like very much.
What size of Tisell explorer did you get? I got the 39mm, and now I kinda regret not getting the 36mm.
What size of Tisell explorer did you get? I got the 39mm, and now I kinda regret not getting the 36mm.
A 36mm! I have the model with the “fake female end links.” If you check my profile, I have a review on it. It’s been sitting in my drawer for a few days.
A 36mm! I have the model with the “fake female end links.” If you check my profile, I have a review on it. It’s been sitting in my drawer for a few days.
Ah, looks like I'm just fussing over small differences then. I like my explorer in general, and I can't really justify buying another one that has many of the same issues with the bracelet (lack of taper specifically. Thankfully, my wrist is big enough to just rely on the glide lock)
I think the CW is a better option.
I think GS is a bit overrated in the watch enthusiast community. Lots of companies make great quartz watches.
You sound like you would be more comfortable with the CW. Just continue to weigh out the pros and cons and go with what you feel good about. I am going to share a pic of my CW that came last Monday now.
At least you’re realistic… 😉
From my perspective, CW.
In any case, impressive accomplishment at that (any?) age. Wear whichever one you get in good health. 🍻
Another factor is magnetism. Quartz isn’t affected, but the Sellita on CWard might. Then again, after the 60-month warranty any watchmaker should be able to service that Sellita, but only Seiko Japan will service 9F. I bet GS will have more future value in second hand market due to more widely recognized brand.
Personally I’d go CWard, but I have my reasons and you need yours.
I'd go secret option C the CW celest with aventurine dial
I'd go secret option C the CW celest with aventurine dial
It was a STRONG contender, but the lack of minute markers on the dial was a dealbreaker for me. It is an absolutely beautiful watch, though.
It was a STRONG contender, but the lack of minute markers on the dial was a dealbreaker for me. It is an absolutely beautiful watch, though.
I've never really needed a watch to be that accurate as far as hand positioning (obviously I do want it to be accurate keeping time)
I personally would always opt for the mechanical, but that's just me....
Between the two watches you shared I'd go with the GS but that's primarily because I like it's look more. At double the price I'd probably reconsider. If the question would be GS quartz Vs CW mechanical id probably go with the CW if I didn't have many other watches
voted GS, its a better watch
also dont like CW logo and the sec hands (trident) but thats personal opinion
A 36mm! I have the model with the “fake female end links.” If you check my profile, I have a review on it. It’s been sitting in my drawer for a few days.
I have that one too. I've had it for a year and only now I'm restless and longing to get a Seiko Alpinist. The thing is, it's great on a NATO strap, but I'm a bracelet guy and a bracelet is basically integral to the Explorer. Still, no regrets, I couldn't have decided otherwise last year. I wanted a small versatile watch and I got precisely that.
Get the GS. You will buy the CW later anyway. 😉
Grand Seiko. Sorry, what was the question? 😂