Has anyone started making rep grand seiko’s? I’ve seen a few floating around in here. Even if you can’t rep the spring drive movement I think the finishing and designs they have are really nice, would love to add them into the rotation.
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Grand Seiko
- Thread starter ArsenalFan1972
- Start date
Afaik no TD has (yet?) access to GS high-end reps. Some Ali vendors do, but I can't speak about the quality.
You can find some info here:
You can find some info here:
The Ali pieces are quite horrible. Wrong case shapes, cheap movements ... But some of the dials are pretty, not necessarily close to gen, but still nice looking. The problem is though that some Ali merchants ask up to $300, as if they are higher tier reps. In reality, that's approximately $270 too much.Afaik no TD has (yet?) access to GS high-end reps. Some Ali vendors do, but I can't speak about the quality.
You can find some info here:
The lack of high end GS reps has two main reasons: No. 1 the GS finishing is next level, not comparable with an Omega or Rolex. That still doesn't mean that better reps than those Ali pieces are not possible. But then there's reason No. 2, which I think is the main reason: The demand for GS in markets that dictate rep availability (for example: Shanghai, HK or Singapore etc.) is still relatively low. This is slowly changing, so better reps could be on the horizon. But it will be a tough nut for the factories to crack. Not necessarily because of the Spring Drive, GS has Quartz and Automatics too, but simply due to the GS build quality being on a very high level and thus harder to convincingly replicate....
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But then again, there's always the option to bankrupt yourse... I mean, to go gen. 
What does yours have that mine doesn't?But then again, there's always the option to bankrupt yourse... I mean, to go gen.
I like that kind of humor!What does yours have that mine doesn't?
DDD
Grand Seiko's value comes mainly from their high-end movements and from an overall finishing quality rather than an iconic design or aspirational marketing ; so I'd agree that even if there was a market for reps, it would be a challenge to bring some value to the game... But as Grand Seiko keeps on raising prices going for the "luxury" market (when only a few years ago they could be bought at "reasonable" prices given their intrinsic value, especially on the used market) it might open a window...
There are already GS inspired modding options out there (for instance : https://luciusatelier.com/products/shirakaba-white-birch-tree-dial-no-date) - but it's interesting to see that for their "white birch" and "snowflake" dials, there is a disclaimer saying "Due to difficulty working with this dial, this dial is ONLY recommended for professional watchmakers and highly skilled/experienced modders with great level of finesse." It ain't easy going after the Grand...
There are already GS inspired modding options out there (for instance : https://luciusatelier.com/products/shirakaba-white-birch-tree-dial-no-date) - but it's interesting to see that for their "white birch" and "snowflake" dials, there is a disclaimer saying "Due to difficulty working with this dial, this dial is ONLY recommended for professional watchmakers and highly skilled/experienced modders with great level of finesse." It ain't easy going after the Grand...
Until last Thursday, I thought the same thing. Then I bought my first GS and learned what 44GS, 62GS etc. cases are all about. Definitely iconic! The difference between APRO or PPN is that the GS designs are pure understatement, the exact opposite of those two Swiss iconic designs, but they still carry a whole design philosophy: Taro Tanaka, the father of the 44GS case, called it "the grammar of design".
The Art of Time: Taro Tanaka and Seiko's "Grammar of Design" - Worn & Wound
Welcome to the second installment of “The Art of Time,” w&w’s ongoing series exploring iconic designers within the watch world. Last time, we discussed the value of the outsider’s perspective in watch design through the lens of Giorgetto Giugiaro. While a non-watch designer can breathe...
wornandwound.com
went to an AD today to check out some GS, had a look at the springflake, snowflake and skyflake. The dials were absolutely stunning and the finish on case/hands are next level. What I did not like were bracelet and clasp, feels a bit filmsy.
The spring drive movement moves very nice, sadly it makes no sound at all. The mechanical movement is something you can hear but also very subtle.
Will be going back next tuesday when they have the white birch in stock.
The spring drive movement moves very nice, sadly it makes no sound at all. The mechanical movement is something you can hear but also very subtle.
Will be going back next tuesday when they have the white birch in stock.
I'm consistently mesmerized by their hands and dials, better offerings than a lot of Rolex's imo.
I concurr : I replaced the bracelet on my snowflake SBGA211 with a strap - since there is no micro-ajust it was never really fitted for me.
White birch is very cool but I don't like the broader hands nor the direction taken of making it a bit "flashier" and less understated / refined.
I wish they had their greatest dials in more compact cases like the Elegance series - and at pre-Covid prices...
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So Aliexress is the only place I know and my finger i itching lol.
But anyone knows the difference between 25 and 225 Eur difference?
Is the quality of 200+ eur GS clone any good? Compared say 300+ Omega/Rolex trade by Trusted dealers?
But anyone knows the difference between 25 and 225 Eur difference?
Is the quality of 200+ eur GS clone any good? Compared say 300+ Omega/Rolex trade by Trusted dealers?
Quite agree with you and thanks for sharing the link, very helpful and informative.