Shopping for a Grand Seiko in Japan: Change Charges & Fashions ft. Resolution Paralysis | FashionBeans

Why I’m Considering About Shopping for a Watch in Japan

We’re going to do one thing totally different at the moment. I’m type of available in the market for a watch – effectively, probably not. It’s slightly sophisticated. I’m going to go over to Tokyo in a couple of month from now. When in Tokyo, what else is there to do moreover purchase a watch, proper?

Right here’s the difficulty I’ve for the time being: 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 slightly little bit of FOMO simply because the change charges are at the moment 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 Resolution Paralysis

I’m simply going to discover some choices that I could be involved in whereas I’m there. The obvious alternative goes to be Grand Seiko.

I’m at all times speaking about Grand Seiko with my mates, and I truly acquired a variety of them to select 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 fans as effectively, is a number of issues. One is the bracelets – it’s type of nitpicking on the watch, however in comparison with Rolex and really 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 are providing, together with micro manufacturers as effectively.

I actually love Grand Seiko and would like to personal one, and this could be the time to truly choose one up for an inexpensive value. In contrast to manufacturers like Patek Philippe and Rolex that basically retain their worth, Grand Seiko is on the overall reverse spectrum of that.

Most individuals are shopping for Grand Seiko to not impress others however actually to impress themselves, which is mostly a testomony to the model as being a watch fanatic stage watch.

The second purpose why I’ve by no means owned a Grand Seiko, and admittedly it is a actually massive one for me, is at any time when I try to take a look at a Grand Seiko and am available in the market to truly buy one, I at all times have a problem with selecting which one to get.

At present, I’m not within the place to simply purchase all the pieces 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 – for those who’re aware of that restaurant, there’s so many several types 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, however, has so many alternative dial variations, a number of case choices, and a number of other actions you may select from.

I’ve at all times tried my hardest to slim down my ideas on what I would like from Grand Seiko. I’m going to try to decide on a watch at the moment or hold a number of watches in thoughts, and if I find yourself seeing them in Tokyo and selecting them up, then cool.

There’s one thing about – I’ve seen so many Uranos which have come throughout as stunning as they’re, I simply can’t get round to personal one among my very own, however for the suitable value, perhaps. No 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 must be.

Let’s dive proper into the web site. That is the Grand Seiko USA web site, and we’re going to go over to the collections web page.

Wanting on the Class Assortment

I’m going to begin from the underside up – we’re going to go over to the Class assortment, and I type of have an concept of what I already like from right here.

One in every 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 in fact, I simply love GMTs.

They’re very helpful particularly for those who’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 have now this restricted version sky blue, the SBGM253, and it is a twenty fifth anniversary mannequin, however I don’t anticipate this to be very onerous to get, particularly in Japan.

My pal 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 for those who store at department shops. On high of the low cost, you’re additionally getting a tax refund, and naturally that candy change charge with the greenback. I’m anticipating to get this at a particularly reasonable value.

Right here’s the factor with funds in thoughts – like I mentioned, I’m not available in the market to at the moment 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’d as effectively simply get one thing, or perhaps I gained’t.

At $5,600 for this, I feel it’s a fairly enticing value level, particularly for those who’re going to get a reduction on high with tax refund.

Diving into the Heritage Assortment: 44GS vs 62GS

No, I don’t assume 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 offered 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 robotically revert to the 44GS and the basic Grammar of Design that you just search for.

Once more, the issue I’ve – simply too many choices. Like if we click on into this, what can we see? For me a minimum of, it’s simply an excessive amount of to take a look at, it’s an excessive amount of to contemplate as a result of they’re all very stunning in their very own proper and I’d like to personal all of them.

But when that is going to be my first Grand Seiko, not my first watch particularly, do I would like one thing refined or do I would like one thing slightly bit extra particular with slightly 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?

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 all the pieces {that a} Grand Seiko case would have for the 44GS with its mirror-like aspects and Zaratsu sprucing, however you’re getting a quartz motion.

I’m certain all of you realize that the Grand Seiko quartz motion is not like every other – correct to a ridiculous 10 seconds per yr. 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 top of quartz know-how, pioneered by Grand Seiko.

Actually, the motion itself doesn’t hassle me with the price – you’re nonetheless getting the identical stage 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 high, you’re going to get a ridiculous value for this. It could be an choice.

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, in fact, and I don’t blame you – the Spring Drives are actually cool and that’s additionally a factor I’d take into account.

With the SBGA375, SBGA373 with a blue and cream dial, or blue and champagne dial somewhat, for some purpose that doesn’t excite me as a lot. I feel perhaps simply the dials are just a bit too subdued for my liking.

So perhaps if we step as much as the SBGA471, perhaps that’s one thing I’ll take into account simply because it’s slightly bit extra particular, however I already know if I find yourself seeing this in particular person, I’m not going to actually be in love with this man.

Shifting 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 slightly extra curiosity to the watch. To be trustworthy, I type of favor the 44GS with the bracelet.

I feel 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 feel 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 slightly bit, so this could be one thing to contemplate as effectively.

These are the one ones from the 44GS that basically pique my curiosity. Now if we transfer on to the 62GS, in fact their hero picture on this web page is the Shunbun, and it’s – I imply, for good purpose – it’s an exquisite dial, very Dynamic.

It goes from typically a white dial to slightly pinkish hue and typically to even a grey tone, which is one thing very nice.

Loads of males may type of steer away from this, however it’s dynamic sufficient to not at all times appear like a shade of pink. It’s top-of-the-line sellers for a purpose.

For me, there’s one thing in regards to the 62GS case that I’m probably not a fan of. I imply, it’s an exquisite case regardless, however I feel I’m simply so used to seeing the 44GS exhibiting off their Zaratsu sprucing with the faceted edges.

However the advantage 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’d get with the 44GS. So there’s slightly trade-off between the 2 instances.

Wanting on the different choices as effectively except for the Shunbun, I’ve thought-about the grey model or the SBGA415, however once more, it’s a type 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 every single place over the web years in the past.

After seeing that flow into everywhere in the web loads of occasions, I simply type of grew slightly jaded from seeing that in every single place, so I feel I would like one thing totally different.

Yeah, there’s the Snowflake – it’s a really stunning watch, however there’s one thing about it, perhaps as a result of I’ve simply seen it so many occasions. Within the case after doing slightly bit extra analysis on Grand Seiko through the years, it’s probably not that thrilling to me.

Fast Take 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 involved in on the time – their Spring Drive GMTs.

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 effectively, and that’s an enormous factor for me.

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 like an Explorer 2, which is de facto cool, however once I consider Grand Seiko, I consider the 44GS and extra of their Class and Heritage line assortment.

Till they will make a extremely killer sport watch. If they will make a GS model of an Alpinist, I feel everybody would go loopy over these. I’d a minimum of. So yeah, it’s going to be a no for the Sport line for Grand Seiko.

Watch This Evaluate

The Evolution 9 Line and Last Ideas

Lastly, we now have the Evolution 9s. I completely love the dial format, I like how the case appears – 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 attractive watch in comparison with their GMT.

It is available in titanium, and though I’ve nothing towards 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 assume I’d actually go for this, however I do type of dig the look with the case.

However this one, a basic three-hander date, SBGA021, the Lake Suwa, is one thing I’d take into account. The dial is type of just like the Omiwatari however a extra navy blue ripple impact that you just’re getting on the dial, which I keep in mind seeing on my wrist and I feel it wore very effectively.

Coming in stainless-steel, it has that heft on the wrist that I actually take pleasure in, in order that’s undoubtedly one thing that I’ll take into account.

However you realize, Japan shouldn’t be all about Grand Seiko, however Grand Seiko has at all times been behind my thoughts. I feel I’ve to separate this into a number of half collection as a result of there are much more watches than Grand Seiko in Japan.

After all there’s Seiko, there’s totally different traces inside the Seiko group – Prospex, the LX, their 5 line collection, and watches which are JDM particular. So perhaps we’ll discover that in one other article.

Lastly, there’s different manufacturers like Kurono Tokyo, which at the moment for the time being, I don’t assume they’ve something on sale at their salon. In all probability give it a cease by there and see what they’ve and perhaps play slightly bit with their watches.

Anywho, want me luck shopping for a Grand Seiko in Japan! Hope to see you all quickly!