All Rise: Victims of Seiko QC issues!

I always read, hear about or get to watch YT videos of Seiko quality control issues. I own 5 Seiko pieces but haven't experienced any of these sad stories in any of my own. I have to accept the veracity of these claims just by the mere number of testimonials. I am just curious if I am one of the "very few" exceptions or is it the other way around with these horror stories. So once and for all let us see what all Crunchers would say.
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The most expensive Seiko that I own is also the one with the most QC problems. The SPB147 has a slight misaligned bezel and the movement is drifting by quite a lot. It used to be about +20 sec a day and now it can be anything between 40 to 90 seconds.

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Catskinner

The most expensive Seiko that I own is also the one with the most QC problems. The SPB147 has a slight misaligned bezel and the movement is drifting by quite a lot. It used to be about +20 sec a day and now it can be anything between 40 to 90 seconds.

Sad to hear that sir. I own the same reference. Everything is working fine with my piece. After more than one and a half years of ownership it is now running about +4spd. I remember when it was quite new I was getting higher deviations of +10-15spd. I guess it just needed time to settle down. 😊

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I have 22 different Seiko references in the collection and none of them have issues.

Obviously, I believe there are QC issues with Seikos as I've seen the numerous videos pointing them out.

However, I would not accept one in the collection. So far, I have been lucky I guess. But if I did get one that had issues, back it would go immediately.

As a matter of fact, I just sent back a Zodiac today with a chronograph reset deficiency (aligned to 11 instead of 12 on the reset) together with a defective bracelet.

My favorite Seikos are modded references...known as the Fifty Five Fathoms...

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Not exactly qc but just bad parts or a bad design. The pushers on the popular sna411 destroy themselves often within a few days or weeks of getting the watch. Many people have had this issue.

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ChronoGuy

I have 22 different Seiko references in the collection and none of them have issues.

Obviously, I believe there are QC issues with Seikos as I've seen the numerous videos pointing them out.

However, I would not accept one in the collection. So far, I have been lucky I guess. But if I did get one that had issues, back it would go immediately.

As a matter of fact, I just sent back a Zodiac today with a chronograph reset deficiency (aligned to 11 instead of 12 on the reset) together with a defective bracelet.

My favorite Seikos are modded references...known as the Fifty Five Fathoms...

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Congratulations! We'll see if we are just the minority in this poll. I really hope not. 😕

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CitizenKale

Not exactly qc but just bad parts or a bad design. The pushers on the popular sna411 destroy themselves often within a few days or weeks of getting the watch. Many people have had this issue.

Is that so?! First time to know about this about the Flighty. 😒

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I really haven't had QC issues with my Seikos, at least none that weren't the result of my own modding. 😉

That being said, I take that in context of what I paid for a watch. A Seiko 5 is not a luxury brand, and will only be finished to a certain degree. And getting high accuracy out of a 4R35 without regulating it yourself is also most likely not going to happen.

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hbein2022

I really haven't had QC issues with my Seikos, at least none that weren't the result of my own modding. 😉

That being said, I take that in context of what I paid for a watch. A Seiko 5 is not a luxury brand, and will only be finished to a certain degree. And getting high accuracy out of a 4R35 without regulating it yourself is also most likely not going to happen.

Well said sir! Moreover, as most Seiko specs would state accuracy of +25/-15spd, as long as the watch is within those parameters I won't take it against the brand.

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I own 4 Seikos and have never noticed any problems.

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OlDirtyBezel

I own 4 Seikos and have never noticed any problems.

Congratulations sir! We are on the same boat. 😄

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Seiko Turtle SRP777K1. Severe QC issues; misaligned handset and bezel.

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5 Seiko’s from 5 series to Prospex in 10 years… more problems with my expensive pieces than with Seiko. 6R35 movement some years ago was almost +20 spd but had it regulated to about +2 fairly easily at a watch repair shop. Maybe I’m just lucky too. 

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coldkey

Seiko Turtle SRP777K1. Severe QC issues; misaligned handset and bezel.

That's really sad to hear sir. 😪

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valleykilmers

5 Seiko’s from 5 series to Prospex in 10 years… more problems with my expensive pieces than with Seiko. 6R35 movement some years ago was almost +20 spd but had it regulated to about +2 fairly easily at a watch repair shop. Maybe I’m just lucky too. 

Agree with you sir. I did experience a complete stop on a brand new higher priced brand after only a week of usage. I had to have it full serviced all at once.

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I've got only one Seiko (SPB153 aka Green Willard) and it has a slightly misaligned bezel and a misaligned handset. Still love Seiko, though, but the quality is definitely not great. Especially for something relatively expensive (1000 EUR) and made in Japan.

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neomatik

I've got only one Seiko (SPB153 aka Green Willard) and it has a slightly misaligned bezel and a misaligned handset. Still love Seiko, though, but the quality is definitely not great. Especially for something relatively expensive (1000 EUR) and made in Japan.

Sorry to hear that sir. These are the most common complaints about Seiko. It really pays to buy from an AD to check out these potential QC issues. Otherwise, they are built like tanks and will last a lifetime with minimal and low cost service. 😊

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rodeenski

Sorry to hear that sir. These are the most common complaints about Seiko. It really pays to buy from an AD to check out these potential QC issues. Otherwise, they are built like tanks and will last a lifetime with minimal and low cost service. 😊

I know, I know. Sadly, the local ADs didn't have SPB153 and I had to order it online. I didn't care much about the bezel and I noticed the hand alignment problem a bit too late, so that's on me. Still love Seiko, though, and I would be happy to buy more watches from them. But they should really up their game given the prices most Prospex models have these days.

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neomatik

I know, I know. Sadly, the local ADs didn't have SPB153 and I had to order it online. I didn't care much about the bezel and I noticed the hand alignment problem a bit too late, so that's on me. Still love Seiko, though, and I would be happy to buy more watches from them. But they should really up their game given the prices most Prospex models have these days.

Yup! Good ol' Seiko. Love 'em or hate 'em. My faith in them mainly lies in their longevity and durability as a timekeeper. Everything else is gravy. 😉