Grand Seiko Snowflake ❄️

It'a classic and to a lot of people it's the model that had them going ga ga over dial design. 

Talk dial design and even that snob Nico Leonard will admit Grand Seiko got it going on. 

Interestingly my brother is a clock and Watch collector however never had an opportunity to see GSs in the flesh until yesterday. He said he was blown away by the quality and wearability of them.  These guys are growing stronger at street level. 

It’s a great watch. Definitely put a lot more emphasis on finishing of hands/dials in the sort of mid-tier range, but I wouldn’t call it legend. 

I was torn between classic and legendary, but in the end clicked classic. It certainly is talked a lot about, it changed the way a lot of people started looking at watches. But the power reserve. Aaah!!!

Honestly, I'd prefer a plain dial than the spackle one. Most Grand Seiko are too grand; Baby Grands are needed. I'm with conventional wisdom that the power reserve indicator is a turd on the fresh snowfall. Otherwise, it's fantastic!

IMO most GS‘s will be future classics, icons even. 

Confession time: When I first heard about a Grand Seiko Snowflake I thought it was a big Seiko with a snowflake hand. 🤦‍♂️

I voted Classic. Even if I find the GS dials amazing I’m hesitant to many of them since I’m afraid they will be too overwhelming in the long run. This has a great balance by standing out but not too much imo.

I'd vote for Classic only because that's the only option left. Doesn't a "Classic" have to be around for a long time? SBGA211 is still only a several years old now (introduced in 2017).

As a proud owner of a Snowflake, I believe it will become collector's first foray into the Grand Seiko brand. It is quickly becoming the more "affordable" model in the brand with the newer Evolution 9 line of watches all being $8400 and up.

I would say it is a classic, even though I'm not that much into textured dials myself. But you have to give GS credit for developing their very own style.

It's definitely a classic. It's also the model that I associate GS with.

Classic/future classic 😊 Maybe I'll own a GS someday too... Enjoy your future classic 😉

Good to hear all camps are represented here 💪

Never a boring day with you active on the WC 😜

It's a very nice watch, but I never quite understood why the WIS internet lost their collective sh*t over it a few years ago (but I guess we're like that with a few watches a year...).

It has stayed popular a lot longer than some others, at least.

I chose classic, though I'm not sure what the difference between classic and legend is. It put Grand Seiko on the map, it's been a staple of their catalog for close to 20 years, and I suspect will continue to be for years to come. I suspect it has already entered the annals of watch history as one of the notable watches of all time. Other, to my mind more interesting watches have come and gone, but so far none have unseated it as the brand icon. I also think it's good for a brand that releases a new watch every other week to have an anchor; it's so easy to get lost in the catalog. If people know one watch from Grand Seiko, it's the Snowflake.

It's funny, on multiple occasions, when I've worn the Shunbun at an AD that doesn't sell Grand Seiko, the salesperson says, "Nice watch, is that a Snowflake?" Then I get to explain my watch, which is fun. Sometimes they're just making conversation, but sometimes they seem genuinely curious. 

I know. GS could release a watch with the hands on back to front and I'd still drool over it. I can forgive all their shortcomings due to the sheer brilliance of their engineering and insane attention to detail.

Now if they were to make better bracelets, I'd burst..!

Legendary: An ICON that is on the very top of the list of watches of importance to the watch world and the nerds within. Maybe even know outside the hard core watch circle.

Classic: A staple of a brand or category. Looked on with fondness despite it might not be that iconic? Still important in it's own way.

Something like that?

I voted legend status because I’m thinking about it’s future and where it’s significance will fall.  

Those categories are a bit murky. The Snowflake is a bit of both. It's a classic in that it has endured and will endure for a long time, and will continue to be remembered even when it's gone. And it's certainly iconic, if you want to say that means legendary, both for the brand and beyond. It gets talked about all the time well beyond Grand Seiko aficionados. I don't know that it's made it past watch enthusiasts, but very few watches have, if any. Sure, everyone knows Rolex, but I don't know how many could name a Submariner. 

I don't think it's very murky. The answers are arranged from top to bottom in decenting degree of importance. How could I make it any clearer?

Tried it on at my AD, knowing all too well that a 40mm GS would wear too big for my taste. Surely, surely my wallet was in no real danger.

Nope, wore super comfy. Damnit.

It's like with me and the thickness of the Black Bay Pro 😅 I managed to shake of the worst of it luckily (for now).

I vote over rated.  On my wrist, I thought it was meh.  The design reminds me of 80’s mall watches.

It's easily legend status. Ask anyone who follows watches, like the type of person who knows what A Lange and Sohne even is... and they will know what "The Snowflake" is.  They will be able to describe it to you in detail, the dial, the movement, and even the type of finishing. 
 

Im sure it's not for everyone. personally, I can't stand most Rolex models. The cyclops is ugly and I cant get over the Mercedes's hands (dont like arrow-pointy hands either)... but I get the appeal of the Sub, Daytona, and Explorer.

While I admire the Snowflake, I've never actually seen one in person... maybe that's for the best... as I might have got that one rather than my Omiwatari.  ;)

 

I owned a Snowflake and find it to be the only GS Textured Dial I like. I'd love an Evolution 9 variation = a lot less over bling Zaratsu finish,  use that Zaratsu to amaze us not overwhelm, keep the case to 40 maybe 39mm max, and a decent bracelet. The Titanium case/bracelet is cool just give us a better bracelet & toss the power reserve on the back like a White Birch

Classic got my vote. This model attracted me to GS, although I preferred and bought a Skyflake as my first (of three) from the brand. 

The Snowflake is an iconic legend. This watch turned the world on to Spring Drive , Zaratsu finish and refined Titanium metal that was the hue of prison bars at the county jail until GS. Who knew a textured dial could look so good? Titanium could be polished like silver? Or a Sub 10K somewhat mechanical watch could be so accurate? Whatever Grand Seiko was before the Snowflake it's much more today because of it. 

I'd love to own a Snowflake Evolution 9 variant. Zaratsu on the case , a brushed tapered bracelet with screws versus pins, and the power reserve indicator or the back. Pack a 9RA5 movement in a Titanium 40mm or sub case and it's a winner! Also other GS dials with simple colored dials in the same configuration would be great. (If anything the Snowflake is guilty  of is too many GS textured dials based off the Snowflake's success. ) Asking for a better claps would be asking too much BUT that would be a Spring Drive Titanium monster! 

I wanted it so bad.  Bought it.  Gone something like 4, maybe 6, months later.

Didn't hate it, just not for me.  Still a classic though.