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GRAND SEIKO ELEGANCE GMT SS GSF (ICE BLUE DIAL ON BROWN LEATHER STRAP)

ogh gee

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17/5/24
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Review: Grand Seiko Elegance GMT SS GSF GMT Blue Dial

I recently received my Grand Seiko Elegance GMT SS GSF GMT blue dial from Puretime, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. First and foremost, a big thank you to Puretime's team for their outstanding customer service and to the RWI community for all the valuable insights and support.

This watch is truly a stunning piece for the price. With a reliable Seiko movement, it was a no-brainer for me. The beautiful sunburst dial and the reflections off the hands and hour markers, complemented by the thick crystal, make this watch truly pop. The craftsmanship is exceptional, and it shows in every detail.

The heart of this watch, the Japanese Seiko NH34 automatic movement, is renowned for its reliability and precision. Here are some key perks of the NH34 movement:

- **Precision and Accuracy:** The NH34 movement operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour (bph), ensuring a smooth and precise movement of the hands. This level of precision is perfect for everyday use and professional settings.

- **Durability:** Seiko movements are known for their robust construction, making them highly durable and reliable over the long term. The NH34 is no exception, offering consistent performance.

- **GMT Functionality:** The NH34 includes a GMT function, allowing the wearer to track a second time zone, which is especially useful for frequent travelers or those with business contacts in different parts of the world.
- **Automatic Winding:** This movement features automatic winding, meaning it harnesses the kinetic energy from your wrist movements to keep the watch powered. It also has a manual winding option for added convenience.
- **Power Reserve:** The NH34 provides a respectable power reserve, ensuring the watch continues to run accurately even when not worn for a day or two.

The strap, while a bit stiff initially, is still quite stunning. I’m hopeful that with daily use, it will shape to my wrist more comfortably. Some might say it’s a bit thick for a dress watch, but I find that it adds a unique touch, depending on what you’re wearing. The GMT function works flawlessly, and the date print, along with all other prints on the dial, is surprisingly neat.

I did notice that the 12 and 6-hour markers seem ever so slightly off, but it could just be my mind playing tricks on me. Here are the specifications for those interested:

- **Size:** 39.5mm x 13.7mm
- **Movement:** Japanese Seiko NH34 automatic movement, 21600 bph
- **Functions:** Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, and date display
- **Case:** 1:1 replicated solid stainless steel case
- **Crystal:** Scratch-proof sapphire crystal with AR coating
- **Dial:** Ice blue dial
- **Strap:** Brown leather strap
- **Clasp:** Deployant clasp

Overall, I’m thrilled with this watch. The quality and attention to detail are evident, making it an excellent addition to my collection. Thanks again to Puretime for their exceptional service and to the RWI community for all the guidance and support. This watch is a real gem, and I’m excited to see how it holds up over time.

Hope this Helps 😊✌️
 

pam63C

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@ogh gee

I am not sure how the NH34 movement works.......but can the hour hand be set independently of the GMT hand ? That is, the GMT hand is always set to your home time and as you travel to a new place, you set the hour hand to the local time.
 
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gigi77

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Wow, if the measures are corrct it is gen thickness.

Anymore pics? Side, back, …
 
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LPhiE

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@ogh gee

I am not sure how the NH34 movement works.......but can the hour hand be set independently of the GMT hand ? That is, the GMT hand is always set to your home time and as you travel to a new place, you set the hour hand to the local time.
No, not for the NH34 movement. It's a caller GMT movement, where the 24 hour hand is set independently, not the local hour hand as per gen.
 
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pam63C

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No, not for the NH34 movement. It's a caller GMT movement, where the 24 hour hand is set independently, not the local hour hand as per gen.
Well, that is not how the gen works.

The Grand Seiko 9S caliber is a true (aka traveler) GMT watch where the local time is shown by adjusting the hour hand in one-hour increments, not the GMT hand.
 
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ogh gee

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Great question!

Unfortunately not, The NH34 movement in the replica Grand Seiko GMT works differently from the genuine Grand Seiko movement. The NH34 is a caller GMT, meaning the 24-hour GMT hand is set independently from the main hour hand. So, you set the GMT hand to your home time, and when you travel, you adjust the main hour hand to local time.

In contrast, the genuine Grand Seiko GMT (like the 9S caliber) is a traveler GMT. This means you can adjust the local hour hand in one-hour increments without stopping the watch or changing the GMT hand. This feature is super handy for frequent travelers since you can quickly update the local time while the GMT hand stays on home time.

So, while the NH34 offers good functionality, it doesn’t match the convenience of the true traveler GMT in the genuine Grand Seiko.

Hope that clears things up!
😊✌️
@ogh gee

I am not sure how the NH34 movement works.......but can the hour hand be set independently of the GMT hand ? That is, the GMT hand is always set to your home time and as you travel to a new place, you set the hour hand to the local time.
 
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Jackster

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That's a nice looking watch.... needs to be here...

 
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ogh gee

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For those interested in the size of the watch, here is a side by side comparison next to a Daytona 126500.

It looks large, but with the thickness of the strap on the Daytona actually makes the Daytona a more bulky watch.
It's pretty much only the crystal that actually sticks out. If a Daytona had a curved crystal it would probably be the same size surprisingly.
The size seems to be pretty spot on. I didn't want to push to hard against the scrytal since my callipers are tungsten tipped and don't was to scratch the crystal. And these measures to 0.01mm so unless its a perfect center it's hard to tell. But roughly it's spot on to gen size.

The genuine Grand Seiko Elegance GMT typically comes in a case size of 39.5mm in diameter and around 14mm in thickness, though slight variations might exist depending on the specific model.

 
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ogh gee

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17/5/24
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@ogh gee

I am not sure how the NH34 movement works.......but can the hour hand be set independently of the GMT hand ? That is, the GMT hand is always set to your home time and as you travel to a new place, you set the hour hand to the local time.
After playing with the time adjustment functions, I just wanted to share my experience with setting the GMT function on my Grand Seiko Elegance GMT. The process is surprisingly straightforward. When you pull the crown to the first position, you can adjust the GMT hand by turning the crown forward. A neat feature I discovered is that if you roll the crown backward, it adjusts the date without altering the GMT hand.

To set the time, I found it easiest to first pull the crown to the second position and set your local or overseas time using the hour and minute hands. Once that’s set, push the crown back to the first position and adjust the GMT hand and date.

This functionality is quite handy and makes setting the date much more convenient. Unlike some watches where you have to wind the crown for what feels like forever to set the date, this method is quick and efficient. I hope this method is gentle on the movement, as it saves a lot of time and effort. I hope it doesn't damage the movment by doing so though 😅
Hope that clears things up.
😊✌️
 
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Triceps

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thanks for the write up and review!
would you say the date wheel looks pure white or does it have hint of silver?
 
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