Reply With QuoteI think poor man needs to be taken in context, I did wonder on seeing them both on the Jura site.
I'm trying to figure out who Seiko are targeting with their Ananta line. Prices range from £1500 to something north of 6K (Spring drive GMT chronograph). The finsih, build quality and movements seem to rival some of the lower end Grand Seiko [s:12n6xal4]and the designs have an understated yet refined appeal.[/s:12n6xal4] what was I thinking
What makes this: http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/seiko-anan ... 1j1-se-012
Inferior to this: http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/grand-seik ... 1j-gsk-001
Or am I missing something blindingly obvious?[s:12n6xal4][/s:12n6xal4]
I think poor man needs to be taken in context, I did wonder on seeing them both on the Jura site.
I thought the Anantas were less conservative in design and also larger.
The GS looks so much more refined. Well worth to pay that bit extra. The Ananta looks a bit cheap/vulgar looking to me...would almost expect it to be a Quartz.
I bet the resale value will be piss poor comparing to the GS.
Exactly. They're not going after those who are looking for something 'classic' in size and design. And I guess, as the decades pass, that I'm one of them.Originally Posted by andyb
All the junk on the dial??
In my opinion Seikos were much better when they were plain - I find the little springdrive pointer offensive (not that I'm in the market at the moment).
Andrew
Ananta = "yoof" market.
GS = "mature" market.
YMMV.
______
Jim.
Now I feel old.......
Mark
There's nothing wrong with being "mature". If you're a young fogey then there may be an issue :wink:Now I feel old.......
Mark
To clarify: I meant market position of the relative sub brands.
______
Jim.
You could always go for one of these i love it
Rich poor mans GS, perhaps :) -I wouldn't call it cheap.
Finish, build, movements etc aren't worth much if the watch looks like gash, as many of these do IMO. The silver dial is less "Max Power" but oh! Those pushers!
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
From another forum:
Src: http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php?topic=12504.0Aside from certain cosmetic differences (Shape of rotors, etc), the caliber 5r and GS 9r Spring Drives are exactly the same. Even Seiko Japan acknowledged to this on an inquiry email sent by a forum member at the time. I'll try to look it up. The price diff between Ananta and GS watches comes primarily from market positioning, finishing of case, dials, bracelets and other cosmetic details. And trust me, the Anantas are not that far away from GS SD offerings as you have pointed out.
Personally, I thought Ananta line was very interesting with the special case shape etc. Though the linked in the OP example is not the best imo.
Order both, wear one on each wrist and decide for yourself then return them :)
Ananta, I really don't get.
I think Seiko has a real problem with their branding.
It's just a matter of time...
Interesting. I think this is perhaps a "European" viewpoint. Coming from Europe, this is completely fair :lol:. Both GS and Ananta are largely aimed at the Japanese markets though, where I don't perceive a branding problem. To use the miserable device of a motoring analogy ( the shame the shame) : In Japan, both the Nissan GT-R ( Ananta .. ? ) and Lexus LS ( Grand Seiko ? ) are deemed stylish, and strong brands, but by quite different audiences.
The GT-R is much admired outside Japan of course, but can seem a bit de trop for Europeans used to say, Porsche or Aston Martin designs. The Lexus, while acknowledged globally as a very fine piece of engineering, can be viewed as a little ... stylistically dull. The same could be said of the Ananta and GS range respectively, when viewed from outside Japan, but one's location ( and associated cultural upbringing ) may affect that view ...
Paul
I'm not a fan under any circumstances.. But if they dropped the dashboard off the dial and kept the interesting case with a plainer format it would be much improved.. Nice, even.
The quality of GS is way higher than the Ananta line!! The GS is better executed in every aspect!
Cheers
Much nicer lugs, and prominent but sensible pushers on that one. Doesn't quite gel for me personally (the instrument-panel dial has too much going on for me) but it's better looking than this one:You could always go for one of these i love it
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
The Ananta's definitley look a bit tacky to me and I agree with a previous post that they almost look as if they should be quartz. :(
Although the recent Grand Seiko models are getting a bit blingy and fussy for my liking anyway.
OMG I dont like either of them...
I like the anniversary GS that is coming out...
The huge pushers on the side make the watch look cheap!
The Ananta is not a Japan model. It was created for the global market.Interesting. I think this is perhaps a "European" viewpoint. Coming from Europe, this is completely fair :lol:. Both GS and Ananta are largely aimed at the Japanese markets though, where I don't perceive a branding problem. .....................
Paul
Basically, the Ananta was created for blind non-Japanese people. It's a stupid design and it doesn't work (weird case-making very rarely works). The extra money is worth it for a GS.
john
THIN is the new BLACK
^ It's a Japanese model, made and available here widely. It's certainly marketed outside Japan ( and also heavily in Japan ) in the same way that the GT-R is marketed globally too. Not convinced that makes either of them "not a Japan model" ! As for it's design influences, well, the usual Seiko Ananta blurb is ...
I think this is entirely relevant to my point that ones view of the Ananta style depends on one's own cultural background and influences.The Ananta Collection is new, but its roots lie deep in Japan's culture and history. The design of Ananta is inspired by Katana, the ancient Japanese art of sword making. The Katana sword was first developed more than 800 years ago and symbolizes the high value that the Japanese culture places on traditional skills and innovative manufacture, and is therefore the perfect inspiration for Ananta
Cheers
Paul
@bazza
What's that model?
There is nothing poor in Ananta watches.
Hi chap its the sps003 LE only 300 were made
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f304/seiko ... 29904.html
Atanta = chavvy
GS = sartorial elegance
Maybe they took their quest for that certain japanese something too far in regards to the sword-like lugs, that they made a big deal out of in their promotion.
To me it was just a version of ... What car/gun/sword/knife goes with what watch? And mixing things that don't really mix, or the kind of approach you expect to see from lesser beings.Maybe they took their quest for that certain japanese something too far in regards to the sword-like lugs, that they made a big deal out of in their promotion.
john
THIN is the new BLACK
Nothing to do with the Ananta range but I have to get it out of my system. I fine none of the SD chronos of interest ... if anything, this one is the nearest but could you live with those buttons?
Every time I see them I'll be thinking of this ... or I suppose, that's how 'normal people' would see them. :(
john
THIN is the new BLACK
I remarked upon that back when we first discussed the Ananta and I have not changed my mind; not big on chronos and I think those pushers would catch on something and bend, were I to wear that watch.
Those pushers stick out WAY too far.
Really?
I do not think, that you should put too much into the watch/knife thread.
It is really just a bit of fun. Why? Because we can on this forum as opposed to other PC infected forums. I can not speak for others, but for me it is not a quest to mix things - it is just about a departure from the usual "See my new XX watch" - just a bit of harmsless fun. Others must have thought so too, as there are several pages of everything from watches with nail clippers to watches with alien ray guns. Hardly something to trigger that statement :lol:
Ananta chrono + those posting in watch/knife/car threads = lesser beings!
Really, John? :shock:
Are we using the REALLY BIG brush this friday!? :P
They are just watches - it is not like it is somehting really vital :wink:
[img]http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachments/f29/539788d1319197077-fs-smith-wesson-field-watch-*price-drop*-multiple-straps-sw3l.jpg[/img]
Really?
I do not think, that you should put too much into the watch/knife thread.
It is really just a bit of fun. Why? Because we can on this forum as opposed to other PC infected forums. I can not speak for others, but for me it is not a quest to mix things - it is just about a departure from the usual "See my new XX watch" - just a bit of harmsless fun. Others must have thought so too, as there are several pages of everything from watches with nail clippers to watches with alien ray guns. Hardly something to trigger that statement :lol:
Ananta chrono + those posting in watch/knife/car threads = lesser beings!
Really, John? :shock:
Are we using the REALLY BIG brush this friday!? :P
They are just watches - it is not like it is somehting really vital :wink:
Oops, that not what I said. My reference to lesser beings was, lesser beings than Seiko, and not lesser beings as in 'people'. I was actually thinking of Smith and Wesson watches.
john
THIN is the new BLACK
Haha, got it, John :lol: :lol: Sorry, I misunderstood.
Yes, everything that is "tactical" sells better.
I am about fed up with the "tacticool" theme too.
But as long as the stuff sells like hotcakes, manufacturers will churn it out.
Even Seiko themselves have given up on the sword lugs. This is the shape of the new Ananta auto chrono. Neat or what?
Poor man's GS? I don't think so. I'd call it a young man's GS.
john
THIN is the new BLACK
Case looks better on that one.
Pushers are more restrained on this compared to the prior outlandish looking model
Very elegant indeed.
But the new one just seems so ... ordinary.
Tried one at an AD a little while back. Was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the finish on the Ananta. Only problem was the bulkyness on the wrist. If I had the choice between an Ananta, and a GS I would, without a doubt, go for a GS. The just look a bit more timeless, and high end than the Ananta's, but that is, of course, just an opinion ;)
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