Grand Seiko reliability durability

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Panerai7
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Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by Panerai7 » Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:34 am

How are the automatics in the Grand Seiko
Are they reliable and tough as ETA and Rolex movements, or their own SKX type where you don't have to service it for 10 years and it's still running fine?
Or do you have to baby sit it like Haute Horlogerie where you bump it against the desk and then have to send it to Swiss Alps for 6 months?

Any first hand testimonies would be greatly appreciated, not interested in the Spring Drive but strictly GS Auto mov'ts :thumbsup:

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dukerules
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by dukerules » Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:44 am

Well, mine is only a few years old, and I've only owned it for a couple of years, but it has been completely reliable (9s65). The 72-hour PR is really nice as well.

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rockmastermike
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by rockmastermike » Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:45 am

I've gad two but didn't keep them long enough to speak on durability :banghead:
flipped for no there reason but to rent other watches.

while I did have them they were very accurate :shrug:

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Panerai7
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by Panerai7 » Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:10 am

Thanks guys, It's funny I'm actually looking at the same model (same watch?) that you both had/have SBGR261 (newer variant of SBGR061)

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dukerules
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by dukerules » Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:25 am

Art, I'd say it's going to wear small on your wrist, and it's an unassuming watch, but it really is an underrated gem. I've always said that it's basically a cool Seiko riff on a Datejust.

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JP Chestnut
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by JP Chestnut » Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:12 pm

Seiko tells you (or at least used to in the not so distant past) not to golf with the mechanicals on, and not to use a winder with the spring drives. That doesn't scream "total rock solid reliability that you can depend on".

Someone had the indices on their dial start to look terrible. It turns out that they're plated, not solid like most other expensive watches, and the plating started to come off. That was disconcerting.

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Panerai7
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by Panerai7 » Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:32 pm

That's not good, they're not cheap to be using plated indices

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JP Chestnut
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by JP Chestnut » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:14 pm

Panerai7 wrote:
Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:32 pm
That's not good, they're not cheap to be using plated indices
I've only seen the one complaint thread, but it was a doozy. Let me see if I can find it.

I was all set to buy one and that made me cool my jets for a while.

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dukerules
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by dukerules » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:21 pm

I worry about long term parts availability, but none of us keep most of these watches long enough for that to be a factor.

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JP Chestnut
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by JP Chestnut » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:23 pm

dukerules wrote:
Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:21 pm
I worry about long term parts availability, but none of us keep most of these watches long enough for that to be a factor.
Even so, I think it makes sense to buy from brands who care about that stuff.

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Panerai7
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by Panerai7 » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:27 pm

JP Chestnut wrote:
Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:23 pm
dukerules wrote:
Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:21 pm
I worry about long term parts availability, but none of us keep most of these watches long enough for that to be a factor.
Even so, I think it makes sense to buy from brands who care about that stuff.
I'm less worried about parts. Seiko is big and my AD is really good at doing whatever it takes, I'd be buying with US warranty and all that not from Japanese Hibachi website where I'd have to send it to them to fix.

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JP Chestnut
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Re: Grand Seiko reliability durability

Post by JP Chestnut » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:29 pm

I bet I wouldn’t be able to get an insert for my blue tuna.

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