Choose my next watch!
Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I've been saving up some money for my next watch, but I'm having a hard time narrowing down my options. I feel like my top 3 choices are very different from each other, and all 3 would equally suit my lifestyle and what I usually wear. Please share your thoughts on these watches and how you would rank them.
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Tom
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
San Francisco, CA, USA
Member since
Last active: 1 week ago
6.50” / 16.51 cm
all those very nice watches but the Cartier Santos uffff I love it
It doesn't work this way. You need to decide for yourself. Nobody, especially a bunch of random internet strangers, knows you as well as you do.
I like the Cartier out of the bunch.
Nice options. I don't think they are so different. The GS maybe the most different. The Carier I think is most versatile but all are sporty enough. The Zenith less dressy than the other two.
It doesn't work this way. You need to decide for yourself. Nobody, especially a bunch of random internet strangers, knows you as well as you do.
I totally agree with that sentiment... ultimately I'll choose whatever speaks to me most. However, I'm mostly posting this for fun to see what others think about these watches, whether they've owned them or not.
I totally agree with that sentiment... ultimately I'll choose whatever speaks to me most. However, I'm mostly posting this for fun to see what others think about these watches, whether they've owned them or not.
What kinda lifestyle you lead? What’s in the current collection? How are you planning to use the watch? Too many variables.
I voted Grand Seiko just because I am fascinated by the spring drive. The Cartier would have been my vote if the GS was not a spring drive.
I picked the Santos because it is beautiful in person and versatile with easy strap changes. You can wear it on leather with a suit or a bracelet with jeans. It is a fantastic watch.
Beteeen these 3 the Santos is a clear favorite for me, the GS second and I don’t like the defy skeleton which feels kinda hollow (very light) on the wrist and also was difficult to read for me.
Love my 2 tone santos
Beteeen these 3 the Santos is a clear favorite for me, the GS second and I don’t like the defy skeleton which feels kinda hollow (very light) on the wrist and also was difficult to read for me.
Love my 2 tone santos
Thanks for sharing! I love the look of the two-tone but unfortunately yellow gold doesn’t typically suit my skin tone. The Santos definitely had the most comfortable bracelet of the three.
I posted and then deleted my comment within about 30 seconds, so you are impressively quick on the uptake. Had I known you’d seen it, and that you’d had time to reply, I would have left it up in the name of fairness to you and the other readers of this thread, but oddly, word of your reply didn’t reach me
until hours after I made my deletion. I am generally grateful for what both you and @foghorn post on WC, and appreciate that you’re here.
I'd go for a Spring Drive myself. Failing that, go for the Santos.
I love that GS especially in spring drive with the 5 day power reserve
I own and love the Santos, but I’m voting Zenith. All 3 options are quite discrete watches, noting flashy, so I must assume that’s your genre. So for the sake of diversification, get the skeletonized Zenith. I guess?
I Only own the steel version of the grand seiko lake suwa (slga021). I cannot speak for the other two since i havent had any hands on experience on them. I will just offer up my opinion on the GS and hopefully it helps in your decision.
If you value accuracy in timekeeping, the 9RA2 spring drive inside this GS will keep time very well. My example kept an accuracy of -0.5 seconds after 1 month on wrist. That's total, and not daily deviation.
The color and texture of the dial is very stunning and dynamic especially if you are a fan of blue. It will change from dark to electric blue depending on lighting conditions.
The fit of the evolution 9 case is very comfortable on my 7 inch wrist. I imagine much better since this model is titanium and mine was steel. This would be much lighter and adds to the comfort in wearability.
The spring drive smooth seconds sweep is great to look at.
For negatives, i would say that if you care about resale value GS probably loses the most money, but if this purchase is for keeps then you dont have to worry about that.
Spring drive cannot be serviced outside of japan (i have heard theyre starting a spring drive service center in New jersey u.s.a.)
Zaratsu polish picks up scratches easily but thankfully this model is mostly brushed finished.
No micro adjustment on the clasp at all. I would suggest wear it a little loose if your wrists have a tendency to swell.
Non watch enthusiasts and watch snobs might judge you for "paying this much for a seiko". My family does, but it doesnt bother me 😆
That's about all i could think of right now. I hope it helps you. Take care.
That's particular GS dial is an art piece in is own right.
I Only own the steel version of the grand seiko lake suwa (slga021). I cannot speak for the other two since i havent had any hands on experience on them. I will just offer up my opinion on the GS and hopefully it helps in your decision.
If you value accuracy in timekeeping, the 9RA2 spring drive inside this GS will keep time very well. My example kept an accuracy of -0.5 seconds after 1 month on wrist. That's total, and not daily deviation.
The color and texture of the dial is very stunning and dynamic especially if you are a fan of blue. It will change from dark to electric blue depending on lighting conditions.
The fit of the evolution 9 case is very comfortable on my 7 inch wrist. I imagine much better since this model is titanium and mine was steel. This would be much lighter and adds to the comfort in wearability.
The spring drive smooth seconds sweep is great to look at.
For negatives, i would say that if you care about resale value GS probably loses the most money, but if this purchase is for keeps then you dont have to worry about that.
Spring drive cannot be serviced outside of japan (i have heard theyre starting a spring drive service center in New jersey u.s.a.)
Zaratsu polish picks up scratches easily but thankfully this model is mostly brushed finished.
No micro adjustment on the clasp at all. I would suggest wear it a little loose if your wrists have a tendency to swell.
Non watch enthusiasts and watch snobs might judge you for "paying this much for a seiko". My family does, but it doesnt bother me 😆
That's about all i could think of right now. I hope it helps you. Take care.
IF your family only KNEW! :)
Gotta pick the OG, the Santos. Different league...
The GS wins hands down in my opinion. The Cartier is a good second option though. Personally not much of a fan of the Zenith.
I’m sure as hell not the principal, and am sorry you won’t be weighing in anymore. Your call, of course.
Depends what you have and like, I'm torn between the cartier and the grand seiko