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Why I’m Considering About Shopping for a Watch in Japan
We’re going to do one thing totally different at this time. I’m type of available in the market for a watch – nicely, probably not. It’s somewhat difficult. I’m going to move over to Tokyo in a few month from now. When in Tokyo, what else is there to do apart from purchase a watch, proper?
Right here’s the problem I’ve in the intervening time: I’m probably not available in the market to purchase something proper now. I’m very content material with my assortment, however I’m having somewhat little bit of FOMO simply because the change charges are at present in favor of the greenback.
I really feel like I’m lacking out on one thing and have to buy one thing. Why not treatment that by shopping for a Grand Seiko in Japan?
The Grand Seiko Dilemma: High quality vs Determination Paralysis
I’m simply going to discover some choices that I may be interested by whereas I’m there. The obvious alternative goes to be Grand Seiko.
I’m all the time speaking about Grand Seiko with my buddies, and I truly received a variety of them to choose up a Grand Seiko of their very own. Two of them truly got here again from Japan not too way back and picked up the Shunbun and the Omiwatari.
The issue I’ve with Grand Seiko, and a variety of different lovers as nicely, is a couple of issues. One is the bracelets – it’s type of nitpicking on the watch, however in comparison with Rolex and truly in comparison with a variety of different producers, even like IWC and JLC, they’re type of lackluster and never so feature-rich as a variety of different manufacturers which might be providing, together with micro manufacturers as nicely.
I actually love Grand Seiko and would like to personal one, and this may be the time to really decide one up for an inexpensive value. Not like manufacturers like Patek Philippe and Rolex that basically retain their worth, Grand Seiko is on the full reverse spectrum of that.
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Most individuals are shopping for Grand Seiko to not impress others however actually to impress themselves, which can be a testomony to the model as being a watch fanatic degree watch.
The second purpose why I’ve by no means owned a Grand Seiko, and albeit it is a actually massive one for me, is each time I try to take a look at a Grand Seiko and am available in the market to really buy one, I all the time have a problem with choosing which one to get.
Presently, I’m not within the place to simply purchase the whole lot that I like, however each single time I take a look at Grand Seiko’s catalog, I’ve some sense of resolution fatigue and resolution paralysis.
It’s type of like The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility – in case you’re aware of that restaurant, there’s so many various kinds of delicacies that I actually don’t know what to get, versus one thing like In-N-Out Burger the place they simply have a cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, fries, and shakes.
Only a quite simple menu the place I do know what to anticipate. Grand Seiko, then again, has so many various dial variations, a number of case choices, and a number of other actions you may select from.
I’ve all the time tried my hardest to slim down my ideas on what I would like from Grand Seiko. I’m going to aim to decide on a watch at this time or hold a couple of watches in thoughts, and if I find yourself seeing them in Tokyo and choosing them up, then cool.
There’s one thing about – I’ve seen so many Uranos which have come throughout as lovely as they’re, I simply can’t get round to personal one among my very own, however for the suitable value, possibly. Not less than for me, if I’m buying one thing, I actually need to be in love with it, and actually, that’s the way it needs to be.
Let’s dive proper into the web site. That is the Grand Seiko USA web site, and we’re going to move over to the collections web page.
Wanting on the Class Assortment
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I’m going to begin from the underside up – we’re going to move over to the Class assortment, and I type of have an thought of what I already like from right here.
Certainly one of which is, for the longest time, I’ve been eyeing the SBGM221. One thing about it – it’s only a very classical wanting watch with a GMT performance, which after all, I simply love GMTs.
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They’re very helpful particularly in case you’re touring on a regular basis, and even when not, it’s an additional complication that may find yourself being helpful sooner or later.
There are a number of choices right here except for this cream dial. We’ve this restricted version sky blue, the SBGM253, and it is a twenty fifth anniversary mannequin, however I don’t anticipate this to be very exhausting to get, particularly in Japan.
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My buddy that was over there mentioned that he swore he noticed this at one of many boutiques he was at. Oh yeah, let me point out that too – in Japan proper now, they provide reductions in case you store at department shops. On prime of the low cost, you’re additionally getting a tax refund, and naturally that candy change fee with the greenback. I’m anticipating to get this at a particularly reasonable value.
Right here’s the factor with price range in thoughts – like I mentioned, I’m not available in the market to at present purchase a watch, which isn’t a great mindset to have to purchase one thing prefer to FOMO into one thing. However on this case, if I’m getting a deal on one thing and I’m in Japan, I would as nicely simply get one thing, or possibly I gained’t.
At $5,600 for this, I believe it’s a fairly engaging value level, particularly in case you’re going to get a reduction on prime with tax refund.
Diving into the Heritage Assortment: 44GS vs 62GS
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No, I don’t suppose there’s something on this Sport assortment that basically tickles my fancy, so we’re going to maneuver on to the Heritage assortment.
Now we’re introduced with this web page which is fairly good on Seiko’s half, introducing the 2 well-known instances: the 44GS and the 62GS. For me, once I consider Grand Seiko, I routinely revert to the 44GS and the traditional Grammar of Design that you simply search for.
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Once more, the issue I’ve – simply too many choices. Like if we click on into this, what can we see? For me at the least, it’s simply an excessive amount of to take a look at, it’s an excessive amount of to think about as a result of they’re all very lovely in their very own proper and I might like to personal all of them.
But when that is going to be my first Grand Seiko, not my first watch specifically, do I would like one thing refined or do I would like one thing somewhat bit extra particular with somewhat extra pizzazz like a extra colourful dial? Or do I’m going with one thing that I can put on each single day – the lotions, blacks, and grays?
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There are a pair that I’ve been contemplating within the 44GS line, one among which, which a variety of you may discover boring, is the SBGP003. It has the whole lot {that a} Grand Seiko case would have for the 44GS with its mirror-like sides and Zaratsu sharpening, however you’re getting a quartz motion.
I’m certain all of that the Grand Seiko quartz motion is in contrast to some other – correct to a ridiculous 10 seconds per 12 months. Lots of people would say it’s a really overpriced look ahead to what you’re getting, however for me, the 9F quartz motion is the head of quartz expertise, pioneered by Grand Seiko.
Actually, the motion itself doesn’t hassle me with the price – you’re nonetheless getting the identical degree of ending throughout all their 44GS watches. This goes into the realm of “is this too boring? Is this what I want when I’m over in Japan?” I imply, once more at $3,200 with the reductions on prime, you’re going to get a ridiculous value for this. It may be an possibility.
These traces of watches on the 9F quartz for the 44GS, I must say, are very underrated as a result of they’re principally overshadowed by the Spring Drive motion, after all, and I don’t blame you – the Spring Drives are actually cool and that’s additionally a factor I would contemplate.
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With the SBGA375, SBGA373 with a blue and cream dial, or blue and champagne dial moderately, for some purpose that doesn’t excite me as a lot. I believe possibly simply the dials are just a bit too subdued for my liking.
So possibly if we step as much as the SBGA471, possibly that’s one thing I’ll contemplate simply because it’s somewhat bit extra particular, however I already know if I find yourself seeing this in individual, I’m not going to actually be in love with this man.
Transferring on to a different 44GS case that I used to be contemplating is the SBGY011. This one continues to be subdued, however the dial has some texturing occurring which provides somewhat extra curiosity to the watch. To be trustworthy, I type of choose the 44GS with the bracelet.
I believe it actually shines on the straps till you may see actually these lugs – these lugs, although they’re type of lengthy and protrude outdoors of the case, I believe it wears completely on the wrist. Particularly for this one, rocking their 9R31, which is their hand-wound Spring Drive, type of slims issues down somewhat bit, so this may be one thing to think about as nicely.
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These are the one ones from the 44GS that basically pique my curiosity. Now if we transfer on to the 62GS, after all their hero picture on this web page is the Shunbun, and it’s – I imply, for good purpose – it’s a stupendous dial, very Dynamic.
It goes from typically a white dial to somewhat pinkish hue and typically to even a grey tone, which is one thing very nice.
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Quite a lot of males may type of steer away from this, nevertheless it’s dynamic sufficient to not all the time appear to be a shade of pink. It’s probably the greatest sellers for a purpose.
For me, there’s one thing concerning the 62GS case that I’m probably not a fan of. I imply, it’s a stupendous case regardless, however I believe I’m simply so used to seeing the 44GS exhibiting off their Zaratsu sharpening with the faceted edges.
However the benefit of the 62GS, as a result of there are brushed components on the case, it’s not liable to scratching on that mirror-like floor you’ll get with the 44GS. So there’s somewhat trade-off between the 2 instances.
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Wanting on the different choices as nicely except for the Shunbun, I’ve thought-about the grey model or the SBGA415, however once more, it’s a kind of issues that I don’t know if it’s particular sufficient.
It’s type of just like the Snowflake, which I actually love the primary time I noticed it in all places over the web years in the past.
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After seeing that flow into everywhere in the web loads of occasions, I simply type of grew somewhat jaded from seeing that in all places, so I believe I would like one thing totally different.
Yeah, there’s the Snowflake – it’s a really lovely watch, however there’s one thing about it, possibly as a result of I’ve simply seen it so many occasions. Within the case after doing somewhat bit extra analysis on Grand Seiko through the years, it’s probably not that thrilling to me.
Fast Have a look at the Sport Line (Even Although It’s Not My Factor)
Is that each one I selected from Grand Seiko? Only for giggles, let’s take a look at the Sport assortment. I’m probably not a fan of their Sport line, however there was one which I used to be actually interested by on the time – their Spring Drive GMTs.
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This SBGE257 inexperienced dial variant, I actually like this, and once I had it in hand, I knew it wasn’t for me. It was a really thick watch, so I didn’t actually take pleasure in it a lot.
It doesn’t put on very nicely, and that’s a giant factor for me.
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So no, I’m not contemplating that man. I imply, yeah, there are these 9F quartz GMTs of their Sport line – the SGN027, which everyone knows appears to be like like an Explorer 2, which is admittedly cool, however once I consider Grand Seiko, I consider the 44GS and extra of their Class and Heritage line assortment.
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Till they will make a very killer sport watch. If they will make a GS model of an Alpinist, I believe everybody would go loopy over these. I might at the least. So yeah, it’s going to be a no for the Sport line for Grand Seiko.
Watch This Evaluation
The Evolution 9 Line and Remaining Ideas
Lastly, now we have the Evolution 9s. I completely love the dial format, I really like how the case appears to be like – it’s type of like an up to date 62GS case. The one I used to be eyeballing was both the GMT Spring Drive or their Lake Suwa. The Lake Suwa is only a beautiful watch in comparison with their GMT.
It is available in titanium, and though I’ve nothing in opposition to titanium, I similar to the sensation of a hefty watch on my wrist. With this watch, with its metal bezel taking a variety of design cues from an Explorer 2, I don’t suppose I’d actually go for this, however I do type of dig the look with the case.
However this one, a traditional three-hander date, SBGA021, the Lake Suwa, is one thing I would contemplate. The dial is type of just like the Omiwatari however a extra navy blue ripple impact that you simply’re getting on the dial, which I keep in mind seeing on my wrist and I believe it wore very nicely.
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Coming in chrome steel, it has that heft on the wrist that I actually take pleasure in, in order that’s undoubtedly one thing that I’ll contemplate.
However , Japan just isn’t all about Grand Seiko, however Grand Seiko has all the time been behind my thoughts. I believe I’ve to separate this into a couple of half collection as a result of there are much more watches than Grand Seiko in Japan.
In fact there’s Seiko, there’s totally different traces throughout the Seiko group – Prospex, the LX, their 5 line collection, and watches which might be JDM particular. So possibly we’ll discover that in one other article.
Lastly, there’s different manufacturers like Kurono Tokyo, which at present in the intervening time, I don’t suppose they’ve something on sale at their salon. Most likely give it a cease by there and see what they’ve and possibly play somewhat bit with their watches.
Anywho, want me luck shopping for a Grand Seiko in Japan! Hope to see you all quickly!
From a younger age, I used to be hooked on watches. My dad and uncle have been each collectors, and I couldn’t resist the attract of their timepieces. But it surely wasn’t till I stumbled upon a Casio digital calculator watch in faculty that I actually fell in love. (I initially purchased the watch to finish my Again to the Future costume for an 80’s-themed social gathering)
It wasn’t till the discharge of the Swatch Moonswatch watches that Clicky Bezel got here to fruition. My spouse (bless her coronary heart) had been bugging me for years to begin a YouTube channel, and I lastly caved in with my first video protecting my expertise tenting over 16 hours for the hyped-up Moonswatches.
In a comparatively brief time, I’ve been fortunate sufficient to attach and collaborate with some massive gamers within the trade, together with Nomos Glashütte, Jomashop, Minase, and now Fashionbeans. To be taught extra about my ardour, discover my content material right here on fashionbeans.com, observe my Youtube web page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ClickyBezel or go to my web site at: https://clickybezel.com/
