Seiko

I discussed this question today with Riley, the cheerful product specialist at World Lux, the authorized GS dealer in Seattle.

The GS customer is a man. He usually comes in knowing about the brand and knowing what he wants. Other mid-level Swiss products they carry (MLC, Ball, Rado, Mont Blanc etc) are not competition for GS.



Watch loving "purists" like the automatic, hand wind or hi-beat movements. More adventurous types like the Spring Drives.

World Lux have sold lots of titanium chronographs, but when US list prices crept up above $10k, buyers balked and would not buy here. They'd go overseas mail order or not buy at all.

The most frequent questions asked revolve around straps - why are they so thin/fragile and why can't we buy a variety of factory straps in colors, materials and thicknesses?



The most popular/desirable GS at their store is the Spring Drive "Snowflake". Beautiful white dial, blue hands, titanium case - perfect combination of desire able features.

Riley apologized that he didn't have one to show me - they are only made in small quantities and sell out quickly. No problem, I know the watch - I have one:



We talked about a GS boutique opening in NYC. Riley asked "Who will work that store? Where will they find people passionate enough about the brand to work there? And will there be enough customers?"

I had a great hour in the store and I thank the folks there for taking time to share their thoughts about Grand Seiko.

So Purists -- What do you think?

Owners, do you fit the sketchy profile?

Do you agree about straps?

What about a GS-only boutique?

Cheers,

Cazalea

Here is who I think buys a GS.  Someone that appreciates quality, someone who is non-pretentious and does not want to be the center of attention but rather that quiet person that listens and analyzes the room.  Someone who enjoys things that are carefully made and that the attention to detail is not missed.  Someone that smiles knowing that he found true value in something the layperson would not a bat an eye to.  This of course is who I feel the GS collector may be.  World Lux is a great dealer I enjoy talking to Todd, Marsha and Logan when I go in there.  Good post by the way!

I bought my 44GS there, and I upgraded the strap with one I sourced here in Los Angeles! (I also bought a Grand Seiko deployant from Japan for the heck of it.) So yes, I guess I sort of fit their profile!

. . . pretty much, down to puzzlement over the discrepancy with regard to straps, which doesn't quite make sense (and, remarkably, parallels Glashütte's proclivity for supplying overly long straps).  

I don't know this model but I like it!

Can you tell us more?

Cheers,

Cazalea

Model number should be SBGH031G. Pardon for the bad mobile phone picture. A good picture should shows the multiple lion logo on the dial.

... it is becoming more common to give the broom-to-be Grand Seiko or other watch of choice in return of the engagement ring from the bride-to-be.  So, more and more young guys are wearing Grand Seiko.  In other words, when you see a young guy wearing Grand Seiko, you could assume that it was the gift from his now-wife

I remember that in the shop we discussed the only women buying GS were buying for boyfriend or husband.

I guess my wife is rare to be the owner of her own GS.

Who are experienced, been widely exposed to the Swiss Watchmaking Industry and its whole Machinery and who can discern Intrinsic Value from Perceived Value. They are also indifferent to the general consensus of what is In or Out. Also has an affinity for Asian Cultures and Traditions. So Well Travelled and Open Minded. Still Waters Run Deep type of Personality.

but I'm happy and amused to read we (GS owners) describing ourselves so clinically (and entertainingly).

I guess we want to describe ourselves in a completely neutral ( but complementary) manner.

Thanks so much for adding to the discussion.

Are there any other thoughts on the type of guy that buys a Grand Seiko??

But I wasn't describing myself, I just shared the qualities I have observed over the years, very rarely do you find all of them in one person

I spoke at length with the Seiko AD in Kuwait about opening a GS Boutique, he did share that there has been some indication from Seiko that they would like that and have asked the AD if they are interested. The AD is so far not interested due to the following:

Your points expand and extend the conversation I had with the Seattle AD.

It doesn't do the local dealer much good if the serious watch guys (often PuristS) buy their watches overseas or second-hand.

So how does the dealer compete?

How does he or she get our local business?

Cazalea

So how does the dealer compete? How does he or she get our local business? This message has been edited by SALMANQ8 on 2014-08-04 00:16:47 This message has been edited by SALMANQ8 on 2014-08-04 00:27:16 This message has been edited by SALMANQ8 on 2014-08-04 00:32:44

I share your sentiments with respect to the somewhat confusing strategy employed for their high end lines: GS, Ananta, Credor, Galante. To my mind, the presence of so many sub-brands adds unnecessary complication to international distribution and retail of the product; add to this there are Japan domestic only versus export market models within each sub-brand.

I mean that in a general sense and not considering Japan, of course.

I agree with what SalmanQ8 wrote.

Exposure to Swiss brands educate and refine the horological palate and equips us with some knowledge and confidence to go out and explore beyond "Swiss Made".

And so GS becomes that piece that you purchase after probably having gone through the different tiers of Swiss choices over a period of time.

To be honest, the GS models that I like are the simple ones that still retain some visual ties with Western design.  So it's not easy to shirk off totally Swiss/Western aesthetics when looking at a GS or judging some of its design aspects.

So if and when I see a guy wearing a GS, I'd really be intrigued over somebody wearing, say, a Patek... well, unless it's a minute repeater 

I sold a Paul Gerber piece to buy my first GS -- I had had at least 50 Swiss watches up to that point.

But buying after the first one (Quartz "Milgauss") I think I've had about 20 Grand Seikos; I have 12 still.

I haven't stopped buying Swiss watches but since I've had some many GSs it take a very special Seiko / GS / Credor watch to catch my eye (and checkbook).



Cheers,

Cazalea

I still remember the chimes from their minute repeater from some wav file.  Absolutely fantastic.

On a different note, coming from SalmanQ8's AD conversation, I can understand how challenging it must be to create the GS identity and market it as something that is not a, well, Seiko 5.  Of course, I do wonder if they want to sell GS like Rolex and have that kind of a volume.  Over here in Manila, they silently offered the GS in one of their Seiko stores (note how I didn't say boutique).  So it has it's own display area (very small, more like a display shelf) but done in a way that makes the GS look like any other Seiko offering. Maybe a step in the right direction would have been to go through an established AD and get their pieces displayed in the same areas as Omega and Rolex.

Of course, the likes of us enjoy this situation because it really just undervalues GS from a pricing and image standpoint making it a real connoisseur piece... for now

Hopefully, I get to experience a GS one of these days.  Would be nice to be able to personally compare the disparity between a GS and my Seiko Samurais!

 

I appreciate their appeal. In fact, I think it's a watch that turned out way better than they intended or expected!

Some GS models are stunning like the Samurai and a few, sadly, are so boring one can't understand why one bought it in the first place.

Thanks for the observations about your Seiko dealer and the displays.

It was the same at World Luxe. Five watches, half a display cabinet, quiet signage and modest presence. The LA dealer has a similar but larger display - nice but more discreet than most of the Swiss brands.

.....

Do you have photos of your Samurais?



I think I recall a thread on the Samurai some months ago.

Cheers,

Cazalea

but for some reason or the other they slip away, buying my GS SBGA031 was easier than buying one of them, same goes for the Landmaster L.E pieces, hard to buy and my grail right now is definitely the Kinetic Flightmaster but just impossible to find one.

as well as the orange version.  We made a group buy of the orange ones from Japan via a gentleman named Higuchi.  Logistics was a bit complicated at that time but it did reach us eventually.  One of our friends egged me on to get that same model as yours while we were at it (on a Ti bracelet) and so being the weak person that I am, said yes

I think these are the Samurais that look really good.  The other variants we have at home just didn't cut it for me. 

I'll scour my HDs at home for pics.

Best,

Echi

that you get to walk into a store and see some pieces on display, I have to go to the Offices of the AD to order a GS piece, the stares of astonishment I saw from the Accounting Department when I wanted to order one and the price I was willing to pay conveyed amazement and a touch of ridicule that I must be mad

GS is a right choice, especially Rolex price likes Rocket!
In terms of qualify, GS could be beaten down by no other in the price range.