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Are folks liquidating their pensions?
It do be like this sometimes

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Complimentary corgi with the JLC.

My iPhone camera really makes this look intense!

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Chief
I’m definitely amongst the GS fans here! I’ve owned a number of Grand Seikos and the Zaratsu definitely holds up over time. I don’t baby my watches either so they’ve had their fair share of scratches, scuffs and nicks. The watch still holds up in those cases - it’s very different than say the bezel on the Cartier santos where over time the scratches affect the finishing. Hope you end up getting one - GS makes great watches!
Still looks amazing. The indices look like they're made of precious metal
What do you think
Wasn’t intended as a flex, PwC1 — my point was that there’s a lot more to Seiko than just Grand Seiko. They make a lot of cool stuff.
Chief
Had the Matrix, SBGJ241, for a little over a year now. Still special, still looks great, and the case / hands / indices polishing is extremely nice for the price.
Movement finishing is pretty average for the price, but their movements are awesome. Mine has a hi beat (36k bph) GMT.
Visual Storyteller
My favorite GS dial!!
Chief
I’ve only had my skyflake for 2 years but it looks like the day I bought it. Bamboo is newer and hard to get in a picture but this gets noticed more than my yachtmaster
Chief
I’m debating if I should get a brown leather strap as an alternate look or for when I don’t want to wear the bracelet but can’t find any good examples online
Rising Star
Not an aficianado but about to pick one up too - an SBGX261 or 263. Finishing looks outrageous.
Funny thing about Zaratsu is people act like it’s some ancient Japanese technique. But really it’s named after a German or Swiss machine that does the polishing lol. Zaratsu is just the Japanese way of writing the machine name 🤣. Doesn’t make the finishing any less cool though
Sallaz Brothers was the name of the German company that made the machines. GEBR.SALLAZ is printed on them.
And it’s not a hand finishing technique — it literally can’t be, since there are machines involved. Swiss “black polishing” is a hand finishing technique. Zaratsu is totally different. The secret to the zaratsu technique is that the side, rather than the edge, of the polishing wheel is used to finish the surface. That lets you polish incredibly flat and allows for very crisp edges to meet. It was a technique invented to satisfy the “Grammar of design” language tenets, it’s specifically a Seiko technique.
Visual Storyteller
I gotta be honest, outside of a few heritage models, most Grand Seiko watches look terrible
Visual Storyteller
I personally think they’re highly undervalued. They’re the most loved pieces in my collection. I have more expensive watches, but I think these have the most character and wearability (from the two that I have) is so easy for everyday. The shine has stayed there, their staying power is solid from my experience
Visual Storyteller
Also the crew at the Copley location is second to none
Pro
Seems to be a bit of an even split on here: some who really don’t get the hype and some who think they’re highly undervalued.
Yeah like all brands Grand Seiko does some things well and some things not so well. Dial is best in its class, spring drive is as well, and movement finishing is on par with or better than most of the brands in the same price range. But it could do some work on getting some of the little details right (case, bracelet, etc.) to make it seem more like a fully premium product.
That being said, there are those who don't get it and I usually can't be bothered to convince them otherwise 😅😅
Rising Star
🙋♂️
Second it holds up. I don’t think I have a scratch on my skyflake or white birch but I’m not super rough on them. My wife has more scratches on her SBGW289, but it doesn’t distract from the flash.
They are a little too “formal” for my taste but the design is impressive. I nearly picked up a Heritage White Birch just because of how cool the face was
SBGA465. Absolutely love it. Even comparing under a loupe next to a Rolex I'm blown away by the finishing.
Pro
Had an sbgm221 and sold it after about a year. Great watch just didn’t get as much wrist time