Jay (Eire)
12346
Interesting for sure.
Initial comment is obviously you need to ensure the owners of the forum support any official Purists design/watch.
Second, if that was not the case for whatever reason I would clarify if the owners are OK with the project still advancing but utilizing the forum for aggregation of ideas, determining interest and update on the process.
With those issues out of the way I wonder the following:
1) can designs be mocked up so that they can be shown to the group? If so, perhaps one could run two to three different designs on different models in parallel. Present all three and take a poll for the winner. At that point either there is enough interest to order or not.
2) re the design process best to keep a small circle, hopefully including someone with a professional eye for these things. I would also ensure someone with a deep passion and knowledge of Seiko is part of this group. With a small group hopefully consensus will be more easily reached.
3) price point as you noted will be key. Any project needs to be in the hundreds of US dollars. This will give you the best shot at compliling orders as with a lower price point not everything will need to be perfect for everyone in order for them to purchase.
4) re shipping, can Seiko take responsibility for shipping each order or can a local (Japanese) exporter be engaged to handle the logistics? This may be the biggest pain in the bum.
It's an exciting project, one with some potential and so worth a little more investigation.
Are there a minimum of 100 Purists?
Are there a minimum of 100 Purists who would be willing to fund a CUSTOM made watch from Seiko Japan? Seiko Japan have a service called "Original Watch" where customers can, with the help of a Seiko designer assigned to them, design their own watch: case,...
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Great strategy from Seiko. 1. You get paid 2. You can check what people actually like and are willing to pay for. Alter your own designs et voila.
hmm...
perhaps a vote for certain attributes might be better to come to an agreement on configuration?
This post is just to gauge interest in such an endeavor (and it's going to be work)
We aren't designing or voting for any watches now.
Im in semi in ish with some questions that need answers..Do we all have to have the same custom made piece or can each member have his own design? The price tag is another consideration....
as it would really be a downer if we ended up having to pay GS price tag on a seiko 5. Too many questions so far from me lol 😆 it also states minimum quantity 300 ? Does that mean some models need more or less to order ?
Very interested
As mentioned, the final design will either draw or repel participation. As a Purists watch, it should answer the question; what is a purist? Dictionaries would say it is a person who adheres strictly, even excessively, to a tradition. So what are the trad...
2023 Hope “Springs” eternal?
Will Seiko up their game (Citizen, Omega,Tudor, others... ) have passed them on QC long ago!
It's like herding cats
LOL! I don't have any definitive answers to many of the early questions yet, but I think I can safely answer a few. In regards to whether we can design and build multiple watches the answer is YES. But for each watch design you need a minimum order of 100...
Is there ANY possible configuration of case & dial that Seiko hasn't already made and sold?
We just have to look through the 100,000 or so choices and pick one or two. 🙁 However, beyond that we would have a myriad of shipping, import and taxation issues which Bill can probably speak to, as he did the Zenith P15 handling in the USA. Cazalea
I guess this one will be the 100,001st?
The purpose is customization how far that goes is the question. Maybe something as simple as a Purist logo on the dial or caseback of an existing design? Maybe something a little more ambitious. If that's not of interest, then no one is forced to go throu...
In terms of importation, definitely that is an issue
From what I read the watches must be picked up in Japan. So if we do end up finishing the project, then the watches would most likely ship from there. So shipping costs from Japan must be factored in as well. Again, this is still just in proposal or vapor...
I understand how you feel about that but it doesn't work that way
We need 100 members (I hope it's not actually 300, it it is then it's a no go before it starts) to go in on the project proposal to pay for the design and manufacture. The watch doesn't get designed for free by Seiko's service. You have to pay for the ser...
Thank you for explaining this point.
I missed it above. This is hard, because as much as I respect the members here, we all have varying preferences. What some love others do not. It scares me a bit to commit to something and then have it not be my taste. Thank you for looking into this idea...
Interesting for sure.
Initial comment is obviously you need to ensure the owners of the forum support any official Purists design/watch. Second, if that was not the case for whatever reason I would clarify if the owners are OK with the project still advancing but utilizing the...
I'm in.
I'm thinking a pilot-style watch with a 1st class movement like that found in the Marinemaster would be cool. RM
Hi from your Seiko moderator
We’ve concluded it’s not possible at this point to please everybody’s taste AND deliver custom Seikos around the world, given our global membership. We’ll continue to think on it. Cazalea