My GS quartz doesn’t hit the markers. Doesn’t bother me but it is a myth they always hit the markers.
BTW, paler blue is much less appealing.
All the ones I’ve had have been 110% spot on!
Mind you the above photos are a non working watch. All Seiko and Grand Seiko exhibition models show 8 past 10 and 43 seconds. Date is always the 6th.
Same goes for renders on their web site.
My GS quartz doesn’t hit the markers. Doesn’t bother me but it is a myth they always hit the markers.
BTW, paler blue is much less appealing.
If you've ever seen one of the early model (pre-'decking dial') quartz Omega Aqua Terras then you'll know what a quartz that doesn't hit the markers really looks like - the long, heavy second hand had a lot of momentum and was more or less random in where it landed. What GS did is added something to the movement to damp this kind behaviour down, even when there's a nice long second hand, and mentioned it as a selling point. Consequently everyone is obsessed with the idea that they hit the markers perfectly. In my experience they don't always, it's just a lot better than a movement without this feature, so it's not an issue you notice in the way you did with old Aqua Terras. The later AT movements actually added magnets to sort out this damping problem, but they didn't shout about it so no one talks about this. Perhaps because they're not perfect either, but as with GS they are good enough that it's not really an issue in practice. Sometimes a knock throws it out, but it tends to drift back to the markers.
If you really want a watch that hits the markers perfectly, buy a Rolex Oysterquartz. But you'll be paying for the very mechanical system that makes that happen when it's time to service it. It's also not a problem on smaller quartz watches with lighter plastic second hands, the problem arises when you create 'luxury' watches with large dials and long metal hands, quartz wasn't really designed for that job. GS solves it with a twin pulse and backlash adjustment. There's some info on this here.
I like this new GS but know from experience it would be too large for me, the 44GS case is lovely but you need the wrists for it. Good to see a gold star 9F with an interesting dial though, they don't come around too often.
I like the idea of a GS quartz more and more.
The one I hesitated on, SBGV245, is now known as the Grey Beast (jaysus...), and sells for over rrp.
The sister version has a black dial, North Face- esque, and cheaper on the used market.
I also like the sporty white dial one currently available. Doesn't seem as popular:
4 new models launched today - very limited (250 - 500 pieces each.
Taken from Seiko on FB which put the launch on yesterday when there are no watches left
Says about the second hand hitting the spots.
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I managed to get one, just paid for it now.
Bit of a gamble for me not seeing one in the flesh, but I'm 99% sure I'll love it when it arrives.
EDIT: There were none left at the Boutique.
Last edited by al1991; 10th June 2022 at 11:32.
The movement runs at 2 beats a second. I wonder if your photo has captured the hand at an intermediate stage?
From their website:
Moving broad Grand Seiko hands with the Twin Pulse Control Motor
Unable to match the high torque of mechanical watches, quartz watches generally make use of lighter and thinner watch hands. Grand Seiko quartz models defy this limitation, bearing the same broad hand design as on every Grand Seiko watch. The 9F quartz caliber makes this possible through its Twin Pulse Control Motor, a system capable of turning longer and heavier hands while preserving battery power.
In a normal quartz movement, the second hand moves in a single step from one second to the next. In the 9F quartz movement, the second hand instead makes two consecutive steps per second, triggered by two successive pulse signals. Increasing the number of pulse signals augments the output torque from the rotor, enabling the use of heavier hour, minute, and second hands. This two-step process is undetectable by the naked eye and appears as a single step no different from standard quartz timepieces.
If not - I wouldn’t accept that. I’ve had many quartz watches where the second hand hits all markers - like Omega X-33, Breitling B-1 etc
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 11th June 2022 at 08:43.
“ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG
Yes these were pics sent by GS London Boutique and once I saw the promotional images from other sources I realised it was a non working model. I am looking forward to seeing the dial shade in person and hoping for something a little bolder than pale sky blue.
Quite a few of the 9F models at my local GS AD don't hit the markers accurately, it would be a problem for me at this price point.
AMJ have got it on their website to pre order, if you want one get it ordered as they only got 3 (well shall we say 2 left)
It’s all speculation on the exact finish. We have ordered and paid for them regardless, either we are happy or not. I am betting happy.
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Likewise! Thanks strell! Love the dial of this one and the dimensions look to be spot on.
Strange that AMJ charge Ł60 more than Seiko.
And re residuals this has generated so much demand and completely sold out in the US, plus is inexpensive by GS standards with an incredible dial that I'm pretty sure these won't trade below RRP on the secondary market any time soon
As an aside does anyone else feel that GS has a 'problem' in so far as their Ltd editions are frequently so incredible that it makes their standard range look a bit dull? Like why would you buy a standard black dial spring drive when for Ł200 more you can get a limited edition with an incredible dial as part of one of their limited editions?
Particularly as a huge selling point for GS is their dials.
In response to your post before this one Ryan, it seems that a lot of AD's selling this watch are quoting the extra Ł60 compared to the boutique, no idea why that is.
In response to your post I have quoted, I don't know if I would go as far to say that GS has a problem as I think there is something for everyone, but I do share the thinking that I personally would rather have one of the ltd edition dials over the standard range, especially when the margin can be as small as a Ł200 or so as you said.
It's almost like the standard range is there to highlight the LEs and provide a counterpoint to the highly textured dials. Perhaps one of the intentions is to make the pricing of the LEs seem decent value.
It's been said before but I think it would be good if they would slow the pace of LE releases a bit. One of the reasons I haven't bought a GS for a while is because if I've been slightly unsure about a model, it's likely another will be released a week later. And whilst I appreciate they need a marketing story, I sometimes think they could make a bit less of the inspirations for certain dials, especially when it's just a new colourway for an existing dial texture. The most noticeable was when the tree ring pattern was placed at an angle and became an "orbit".
I tend to agree with this. Some of the stories/connections to the 'nature of time' marketing seem like a bit of a stretch.
I can see the 'cherry blossom' imagery of the Shunbun, I find it very poetic. The 'Lake Suwa' works for me too, the dial tells a story linked to the history of Seiko. This edition seems like just a nice blue dial (although it might be too light a blue for me). I guess it all depends on whether the story associated with a watch resonates and has meaning for you.
Last edited by Rocket Man; 12th June 2022 at 12:45.
They should have called for it really is - Lion Mane Tiffany dial
I wonder why Seiko don’t make bracelets that actually fit the watches they are supplied with. As in most Seiko’s there is a huge gap between the end link and the lugs. On that picture, I can see the spring bar and the blue fabric behind the watch clearly.
Same with every GS I have tried on. I have been put off buying because I can see my arm clearly through the gaps. The end links are half a millimetre too narrow. It must be intentional because it isn’t difficult to make the bracelet the correct size as nearly every other brand does. For me it is unacceptably sloppy.
I’m not sure that’s what you are seeing. The ‘gap’ is a bevelled edge and the ‘spring bar’ is a reflection that appears in a different place on the other side. I have owned three GS and currently own two, and there is no gap at all on mine. I have seen a gap on a titanium model though, which I think may have been due to titanium’s tendency to fuse, meaning the end link could become bonded to the watch if they fit tightly, making the bracelet impossible to remove.
What a stunning looking watch. Email from grand seiko today tells me that they are all sold out
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This does look gorgeous. I know its more money but is the pink spring cherry blossom a similar style of dial?
Yep I think it is, lions mane pattern, or something like that. Also I think called rock pattern, GS are rather inventive with new names for patterns that are the same : )
No two ways about it, GS create some fabulous dials. To me, the snowflake and skyflake take a lot of beating.
I was invited to a GS Event this evening.
The Sea of Clouds SPGP017 was on display and I grabbed it to take some quick shots which were not in ideal lighting conditions but do give a fairly accurate representation of the dial shade.
It will wear beautifully imo, in these shots it was a little loose as the bracelet had the full set of links but it is slim and light. I would say it wears a little larger than 40mm probably due to the highly polished and pronounced shoulders. I have always been a big admirer of the 44GS case architecture and it does catch the light dramatically.
The top pic is the best I could get in terms of the dial shade I was seeing on the wrist but I suspect it will look a bit paler in natural light.
Last edited by petay993; 17th June 2022 at 08:36.
Appreciate the pics. Its a little lighter than I thought and probably not for me as a result so I think I'll cancel my order
I think it looks great but maybe the dial is a bit too fancy so not that versatile for a small collection?
That's a problem I have with a lot of GS limited editions - stunning but maybe not everyday pieces?
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Last edited by Rocket Man; 17th June 2022 at 09:29.