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Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
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Author:  kircheis7 [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:23 am ]
Post subject:  Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
I am planning to add a GMT in the coming few months. Tried a new white dial Explorer II at local AD. It just looks too plain.
The limited GS GMT is my first choice for now. It will be released in June. Limited edition of 700 pieces (500 in Japan).
What do you think of it? IMO, it looks far more better than Explorer II.

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Caliber 9S66: 28,800vph, GMT hand, 72 hour power reserve, self-winding with manual winding capability, blue titanium and tungsten rotor
Case: Stainless steel
See-through screw case back with sapphire crystal
39.2 mm in diameter
Band: Solid stainless steel with three-fold clasp with push button release
Glass: High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 10,000 A/m
Author:  Driver8 [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Well, aesthetics are a very personal thing, but Seikos GS models are very good peices of kit. Fully in-house movement and great build quality. the only thing that lets them down in many people's eyes is the fact they are Japanese made, or rather more to the point, that they aren't Swiss made. So much in the watch world is based on heritage, perceived status and branding..... and it's here that Seiko falls down for many people.
Author:  Scott [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
At first glance, far more of a dress watch than the Rolex with respective differences, like little or no lume and and sized under 40mm. I like the dial color and yellow accents. I haven't spent any time with a Grand Seiko to examine the quality of the pieces, in part because they are harder to find where I live. I know from prior mentions that there is a feeling Seiko makes a very good higher-end movement. Sounds like you are not hung up on the name or 'non-swiss' origins of the movement, so if it fits your quality and appearance requirements, and you want more of a dress watch, looks, good.


While typing this, I just noted Driver's comments. You may not get a lot of response for that reason. Frankly I think there's another layer to it. After flooding of the U.S. market with Seiko products for 40 years, people here are slow to wrap their heads around a high-quality piece with the name Seiko and place it at a competitive level with the traditional Swiss brands. For what it matters, people will look at your watch and assume the "Grand" part is a $400 Seiko as opposed to the $200 model they see every day, or may be presently wearing. I'll skip the sociological discussion for now, but for now, outside of Asia, I suspect it's a great a stealth watch (nobody put off by my nice watch) as you can have.
Author:  kircheis7 [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Hi Driver/Scott,

Thank you for your comments. I do agree that most people wont spent this amount of money on a Japanese watch.
I actually don't care about this country thing. Most of the watch I own are not Swiss-Made :lol: . Two Germany, one Japanese, two Swiss (Zenith and Breitling). And the GS I own has the most wrist time, because it fits the business formal dress code most. The detail on the dial and hands are comparable to any watch.

My friend and I are trying to pre-order this limited GS GMT (5 pieces!) for the past few days. Hong Kong Seiko boutique doesn't accept pre-order. So we are actually trying to get from US. Hopefully we can get confirmation tomorrow.

Cheers
Author:  Scott [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Good luck. It would be instructive if you get a chance sometime to comment on your experience with your GS as opposed to your other watches. You have something most of us know with the CSO, a couple of other good brands (not everybody likes Chronoswiss but I do) and the GOs which are great pieces. I'm thinking in terms of finishing, weighting, quality feel, bracelet composition, that sort of thing, and obviously timekeeping. One of my favorite things about this site is the willingness to think outside the Breitling box. Most of us have other brands and for better or worse, aren't done collecting.
Author:  boogiebot [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
i agree with driver. i know that grand seiko makes a good watch, but for the money i would rather buy swiss.

how much is this model by the way?
Author:  kircheis7 [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Sure, I am more than happy to write something about GS. My GS collector friend will be visiting Hong Kong this weekend. Not sure which one he will be wearing.

boogiebot, this one's retail price will be around $6700 in US or 504,000JPY in Japan. The discount wont be as good as normal GS watches.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Funnily enough, I just saw the Explorer II in the steel for the first time yesterday, as well, and I was none too impressed with it, either. I'm not sure this GS hits the sweet spot for me, either, but generally I do like GS watches. Their SBGH005 is on a short list of my faves.

Speaking of which, does anybody know of a good US AD for the GS line? I didn't see either Seiko or Grand Seiko on either Govberg's or Provident's websites.
Author:  Scott [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
We have supposedly one of the leading GS dealers in the country in AZ, a place called Arizona Fine Time, near the Scottsdale airport. I have never visited but I know they had a big GS function earlier this year. Don't know if Tom's ever gone up there or anybody else who frequents this site.

Need to check it out some weekend.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Thanks, Scott. I'll be interested to hear about it if you do.
Author:  RJRJRJ [ Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
It looks like a $50 Seiko to me.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
RJRJRJ wrote:
It looks like a $50 Seiko to me.

I see what you mean, with that bezel. A Blog To Read's review of the SBGH005 shows some pretty good views of that watch, though, demonstrating just how much attention to detail Seiko puts into this line.
Author:  Roffensian [ Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
The problem that I have with Grand Seikos is that they look so mainstream. Marvenlous build quality, and they deserve to do well, but just way too conservative in their designs for my liking.
Author:  nr123 [ Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
Kind of reminds me of Hyundai trying the luxury market - I can't imagine spending that much on a Seiko.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Limited GS GMT! Better looking than Rolex Explorer II?
nr123 wrote:
Kind of reminds me of Hyundai trying the luxury market - I can't imagine spending that much on a Seiko.

The Watch Snob addressed that very issue recently.

"Lexus automobiles are seen as the convergence of high luxury, performance and reliability. Yet often the first thing you’ll hear a Lexus dealer talking about is how it compares to a Mercedes or BMW. You’ll never hear a Benz dealer comparing the S-Class to a Lexus. Why is this? Because only a generation or two ago, the same company that builds the LS460 was touting its tinny Corolla for its affordability and fuel economy. The identity crisis lives on, no matter how good the Lexus is. In fact, Toyota had to create a whole new name for its luxury line.

"The same holds true for Seiko. The brand revolutionized watchmaking with the quartz movement in the 1970s but at the same time created an image for itself as a maker of cheap battery-powered watches. Even with the word 'Grand' in front of Seiko, most people outside of Japan will never see this line as anything close to what the Swiss build. And that’s a shame because Grand Seiko watches are some of the finest in the world, easily contending with the best from Switzerland or Germany."

That said, he also acknowledges he wouldn't buy one, because he still prefers Swiss and German watches.

Read more: http://ca.askmen.com/fashion/mens-watches_700/760_watch-dials.html#ixzz1tCoZ2eHZ
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