The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Seiko's new Ananta watches. Their first attempt at marketing luxury high end watches outside of japan, One word: AWESOME!!!

http://www.seiko-ananta.com/#/collection

I just read an article in ME Watch magazine and reportedly the case construction and movement decoration far exceed any European watch in the same price range, which means these should be a vey good deal!

I also noticed on their webpage that ALL their watches are a universal 46MM in diameter, perfect!

No dought, as soon as they are available I am getting one! probably the Spring Drive Chrono, as it is the only chrono that measures time precicely rather than to the closest fraction!

Judging by Grand Seiko prices, these watches should range from 4-6K USD as my guess.

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Certified watch nut.

I have been looking at those watches since I bought my super avenger. George at govberg sent me a magizine with my watch and the seikos were featured. They are stunning. I love the horn shaped (excuse my description) pushers. 46 mm just around what im looking for. Thanks for the reminder definetely on my wish list.
Not that I would ever ignore my Breitlings...

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Breitling Bentley 6.75
White Baton Super Avenger
Rolex DSSD

Seiko watches have had a real following with some collectors for years. It will be interesting to see how popular they can become in parts of the world that associate Seiko with cheap quartz watches, but Seiko has a tremendous history of mechanical watchmaking and have played a very big role in advancing the industry.

These are undoubtedly extremely well made watches and I personally alike the style, though not sure that I like them enough to buy. I hope they do have success because they bring something completely different to the market. German watchmakers have overcome the traditional view that all good watches come from Switzerland and it would be good to see Seiko show that the far east can also be a source of 'serious' watches. My only fear is that they aren't aesthetically different enough to stand out.

Those are true beauties, especially the chrono and GMT with Spring Drive. I agree with Ravenloff about the pushers on the chrono, they look great. Whenever I am at my AD, I spend time gazing at the smooth Spring Drive movement. For me, the 46mm size is just too big, especially since I am downsizing the more recent watches I got.
For me, my big fascination is with the Perrelet models right now, and I have spent countless hours the last couple of days looking at them.
I hope that my AD will get these new Seikos so that I can see them in person.
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

Well I just got confirmed prices for the watches. And they are very reasonable!

The Multi hand Automatic is a measely 1800 USD street, fantastic value! I really like the white on bracellet.

Prices gradually go up to the monsterous Spring Drive Chronograph, with its 430 parts and a whopping 50 jewels! Price is a reasonable 6000USD. Anyone know of any Europian watch company that can deliver a watch with that level of finish, movement complexity, and build quality at twise the price? I don't. Well maybe the JLC Grande GMT at twice the price, but nothing in its price range for sure!

The only semi issue is that their design, as Roff stated, is not very original nor classic. Kind of like a "hey me too!" feel

I cant help but draw paralels to the Japanese electronics and automotive industry, not to generalize but the similarities are striking.

I remember when I was a kid and my family had an American built TV, with a large elaborately decorated wood exterior and high quality brushed steel surfaces, really something to look at! Then the Japanese buried that market with their mass produced and infinitely more reliable and affordable alternatives. Then theres the lexus, a decidedly Japanese alternative to the Europian luxury car market. I liked the first LS400 but I never thought I would own a Lexus as they just didnt have the soul or driving charactristics of a BMW or a Mercedes plus I desliked how they copied Mercedes designs generation to generation. Guess what I drive now?

Those Seikos seem to be very much in the same vein, not as elegant or soulfull, but much better designed and engineered and promise better value and reliability.

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Certified watch nut.

To add to your craving list i guess!!

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Mat

Breitling Navitimer 01
Omega Seamaster 300mc
Omega Speedmaster Pro "Mitsukoshi Mod"
Seiko Prospek Orange Samurai

Myabe Gotta spend a week on my mind before it is officially on The List

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Certified watch nut.

Hi,

Wow these watches are beautifull!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday i was at mine AD and saw this springdrive beauty and it really gets mine attention.
I've gaved it a shot and mine AD put one on mine wrist, and i honostly have to say that the feel of this watch is amazing!.

The finishing is stunning at this price range and i kept looking at the second hand because of his alegent glide motion.
You can literly see the influence of the katana sword on the case and on the rotor if you turn teh watch.
I like it, and i like it A LOT!!!! .

Are there more people out there how had the same experience as me?

Bryan

Wrong forum for the seiko's i quess

Bryan

I love the Spring Drive. There is some really fantastic information out there about how the movement works and it''s just gorgeous...

A total breakdown of the movement at Timezone:

http://www.timezone.com/library/rdnotebook/200509073623

Seiko's videos are brilliant as well:

http://www.seikospringdrive.com/

Now, that being said, Seiko does suffer from the same old Japanese pitfall; there is no sex appeal to their brands. There is a sterile, coldly efficient feel that is so uniquely Japanese...

We often draw parallels between cars and watches here, but I think in this case the comparison is more apt than ever. Compare a Ferrari Enzo or a Lamborghini Murcielago to a Lexus LFA or an Acura NSX and there's no comparison. Technically the NSX and LFA have the "right stuff" but there is no real visceral reaction to the Japanese offerings. In their pursuit of absolute perfection, they effectively drive away the allure and mystique that we all truly enjoy.

Just my 0.02 USD

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

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Omega21

Their 8R28 movement is by COSC standard, not particularly accurate. +25 / -15 seconds per day. Whatever the cost, I'd want better accuracy than that from any watch. That said the 5R86 Spring Drive at +/- 1 sec per day is awesome - COSC or no COSC!

That is an excellent observation, and I would agree if it was not for the most recent changes in the way the Japanese have started catering to world taste.

I have been buying German cars for decades, BMW and Mercedes being my go-to brands. They have always offered a mix of luxury, drivability, and over all feel that I have found very attractive. My brother owned an old Lexus LS400 and then upgraded to an LS430, both of which I always found drab and sterile. Amazing dependability and resale value was always excellent, wheras I spent a small fortune repairing my German cars and resale was always horendous, but I found the price to pay tolerable since there was no alternative.

Enter the new LX 460L, the best of both worlds! The new Lexus offers a sport mode that drives very close to my German cars, looks like an interesting mix of styles that does not come across as a copy nor simply functional, unbelievable technological excellence, and the renowned Lexus dependability and safety features. And it was 50K less than the S class I was considering! It was a no brainer for someone who never thought he would own a Japanese car!

Similarly I see Seiko's attempts are moving in the same direction. They are not quite there I must admit. I saw them in person in Dubai and spent some time examining them and for all intents and purpouses they are fantastic watches both in terms of movement, finish, and tremendous value! If they where a Swiss brand they would sell for 4 times as much.

However they did feel a bit soulless, almost as if someone applied a formula and executed the result impeccably. The watches are a very obvious result of market study, large cases, multi finished and with sufficient bling (diamond-like markers, ceramics etc) and with a dial layout that is both efficient and to the point.

I think these first batch of designs are very good for a first attempt, and as the brand picks up on the market they are targeting they will start to deliver more appealing designs and over all packages, just like Lexus.

That said I might still pick one up, as I might not be able to be that patient! The price I was quoted was 3400 for the high end GMT model, and that is one heck of a deal! Compare it to say the Zenith Defy Classic Open, which has substantially more visual interest and over all appeal, but at over 2X the cost and with what I believe to be an inferior movement (both in terms of finish and technology) and you can surely see why it is an attractive prospect.

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Certified watch nut.

Hi,

I know exactly what you guy's mean about the car comparison, but if i had to choose i will definitly pic the NSX because i'm a honda fanatic and it will go on forever.

I started like seiko when i was a kid and i'm still a fan because of there reliability and making good looking watches at a normal pricerange.
Maybe seiko has less soul then the swiss but has a quite big history and started in 1881 under the name seikosha.
I know what you guy's mean because a few months ago i wouldnt even consider to think about spending 5000 euro's on a seiko.
That sad i still love my breitling and this one will never leave period!!!!

Bryan