I have a love hate relationship with Seiko...

I don't mind Seiko trying to move up market if the quality matched the price. IMO Zelos, Baltic, Lorier, Vario, etc. offer better value than most of Seiko's higher priced offerings. At least their quartz pieces are still reasonably priced, and with sapphire!

In recent years it does seem like Seiko prices have gone up. While their quality control has gone down, sadly. I have an ambivalent view of them too. 😕

I started my interest with mechanical watches because I unknowningly ordered a Seiko SNK back in 2015. But the prices today are waaay off from yesteryears.

Which is why I've moved away from Seiko as a brand too.I feel buying used is the route that makes sense to me.

That said, this Prospex model in particular is lovely and I wouldn't fault anyone for getting it at the price it fetches. Watches make no logical sense 😵‍💫

I love Seikos, but I think that price is pretty stiff for what you get in return. And prices taking the high road while quality control/specs take the low road is concerning to me as well.

Seikos prices have gone up especially on the 6R movements which I don’t think is a great move.

It looks good. If you are into more expensive Seikos then the value is there. Not everything should be value for money; go for emotion for money once.

For a watch company that’s been with me longer than I can remember, I’ve spent hardly any time thinking about it.

All I know is that my collection isn’t complete without one. It mustn’t be fancy, and my tiny brain can’t grasp how a Seiko can cost four figures. The little voice in my head asks, “What are those things?”

I’ve also tried Epson stablemates Orient and Grand Seiko, but neither make me feel as warm and fuzzy as a modestly priced Seiko.

Give Citizen a deeper look imo.

I think most seikos are %20-30 more expensive then what they should be

Nice want one buy pre owned or wait for discounts,there pricing isn't confusing you want better quality you pay more just like anything else 👍

Yeah, some models, like the Willard, are quite expensive. That's why I buy only when there is a sale and avoid new releases.

Seiko prices have definitely gone up.

Still remember the original SBDX001 MM300 I got back in 2015 or so that cost about USD1,950. What a bargain given the historic design and the undecorated GS-level 8L35! Accuracy was decent at +7spd.

Nevertheless no point dreaming of a past that no longer exists.

Do you like the design well enough to wear it for months and years? If so then go ahead and get it.

If you can wait, getting a nice preowned would provide better value.

Good luck 👍

There really is no money in the specs. I'm not even talking about quality control, but that I have used an SPB-style case for mods before. The aftermarket case is nice, but not cheap. You'd have to use a 4R34 instead of a 6R54, but these are all matters of degrees. The color alignment between bezel insert, chapter ring and dial would probably be hardest to recreate.

But the distance to a Seiko 5 GMT watch is not that great, and this includes specs and design.

If you look what type of unique designs $1300 can buy you, the value proposition of some of Seiko's Prospex watches are not that clear, at least to me.

Seiko offers such a range; 5, Prospex, Presage, King Seiko(?), Grand Seiko (yes, I know, different beast.) Despite the price increases in some ranges, I thinks there’s something attainable for most. I have two 5’s, and some older quartz models. As for me, I tend to look for the most affordable things by respected brands. I’ll never have a Grand Seiko but that’s okay because they build other ranges for me.

Quality control does not match the price! That’s why I don’t buy Seiko anymore! I go to citizen instead.

Yeah brother, he’s one of the better channels out there, even if you don’t agree with everything he says — a refreshing break from some of the nonesense on some of the more popular channels ✋✋. If I remember correctly he’s a brand strategist or something like that, hence the logical take; just discovered him a week ago and I personally align with much (not all) of his opinion. 🍻

Me too, but without the love part lol

I am currently wearing the black version and have had it for about 6 months now. Any AD will most likely give you a discount. I got mine for $1300 and can say without any hesitation it is worth that price. Unbelievable watch. You really should go handle one. You’ll see what I mean.

Looks good indeed. Price tag a bit too high for the movement inside. But seiko boutiques give like 20-25% discount all the time don't they? They do in the Philippines at least if you do an in-store purchase. 1,200 usd is acceptable.

Are you the same watchcris on youtube? I'm subbed to your channel ☺️

My deep appreciation for their dial work and design language in general isn't keeping pace with the upmarket pricing. It simply isn't the first maker I think of if I'm going to drop a couple grand.

To you saw the the watch in real life?

I had a try on and I liked it a lot.

It feels like a high quality watch and Feld more expensive.

Few weeks before i tried 3 tudors. And the Seiko Feld very Close. Just the Seiko clasp in this price range is a Seiko clasp and not close to Tudor

I recommend to have look at at the AD

Seiko seem to be becoming far more expensive without a proportional (or any) increase in quality. Orient seem to be seikos way of upping the value of the seiko name whilst still having great value watches via their sister brand

That watch looks incredible, so much more so irl

Thanks for opening this topic Chris.

Actually Seiko doesn't stays alone with this strange product- and pricing policy. We can see similarities on other Japanese watch brands as like Casio.

One part of the problem is rooted in a total different market culture and brand awareness in Japan compared to western driven markets and policies.

I once wrote a column about Casios product and pricing strategy, which is actually similar to Seiko in many points.

https://www.watchcrunch.com/Uhrologe/posts/column-the-end-of-casio-35178

It is always hard to justify higher prices for a brand if they offer in a very wide price range.

While we are used to have for every price level an own brand even within the same group, in Japan it is all same branded. Which is actually comfusing for us.

Especially if you come to a price range, where to competition is already established.

To be honest, in that price range Seiko was never an option for me.

Not just because of swiss or german competitors. Even in Japan Citizen starts to fill the gap of Seiko.

Just as an example the Series 8. For around 1K you get a hell lot of watch, even as a gmt.

As long Seiko delivers for 1.5K very good quality, it could be still acceptable. But we can see with some releases that Seiko tries to reach much higher price levels which doesn't make any sense by my opinion.

When some Chinese and Micro brand manufacturers are producing watches of the same quality (and better bracelets) for less money you do have to question their value for money if not their designs.

Absolutely worth it the finishing and overall quality is as good anything twice the price

Have you held this watch or worn it? It's worth every bit of the $1,500 in my mind. It's a stunning piece in the metal.

Have it and love it - not worth $1500 IMO but at $1k I think it'd be an awesome pick up.

The clasp is classic Seiko, aka disappointing.

I have swapped out the clasp for a generic 18mm clasp and enjoy it a lot more - but again, $1500 watch with a cheap unsigned clasp replacement is not what I thought I'd end up with.

For you gmt diver owners, I'm curious if you agree with me on this: the way Seiko designed the lugs on this watch, it looks weird on anything other than the original bracelet - it looks weird with a leather strap...

Just picked up the black version for 30% off a couple weeks ago. I'd say it's worth it at 30% off; less so at MSRP. It really comes down to what you value in a watch - it's easily the best looking diver in its price range IMHO, with a better bezel, bracelet, and proportions than its non-GMT predecessor (SPB185/187). The GMT function is a bonus for me. However, the tolerances are quite poor for the price range - bezel mostly lines up, but there's a touch of backplay, there's a gap between the endlinks and the lugs (which is more prominent on one side than the other), and I find the clasp very rattly. Would have also really liked to see on-the-fly microadjust or screw links, but Seiko doesn't seem to have either on even more expensive models. I ultimately decided its looks outweighed its shortcomings (even for my puny 6.25" wrist).

I have 13 Seikos priced from $60 to $180 and they are all little gems, except my bread and butter chrono SE-SSB089, which is a BIG 45mm gem.

That's right on. But you left out my favorite range, the one NO ONE ever mentions or seems to care about, even (especially?) here on WC, the not-even-officially named Essentials line. Check out anything with the SUP or SUR prefix. Beautiful dials and metalwork, often sapphire, and for less than $200.