An Introduction To Grand Seiko - Collection Overview, Movement Tech & More with Joe Kirk

Written Content: www.teddybaldassarre.com/blog
I recently traveled to New York for Grand Seiko's second GS9 Club event. After the party, I sat down with Joe Kirk, Grand Seiko's Brand Curator, for an in-depth look at the major model families within the collection, a detailed look at some of the brand's incredible movement tech, and a whole lot more. What are your thoughts on Grand Seiko?
Videos Mentioned:
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0:00 - Introduction
1:23 - Grand Seiko Movements
4:25 - Elegance Collection
14:17 - Heritage Collection
19:48 - Sports Collection
23:35 - Evolution 9 Collection

[@PretzelLogic88]

Joe seems like such a fantastic rep for GS-a consummate enthusiast and a nice guy to boot!

[@te86a]

He's great, and super helpful too. I had a question regarding GS and honestly I didn't think he'd respond and not only did he respond but was super nice and helpful too.

[@wc6502]

He definitely is. Met him in person a few times at various GS events and he is awesome.

[@aselkularatne3287]

He is absolutely sincere and seems to be genuine. A pleasure to listen to!!!

[@aross924]

Super nice guy.

[@HRM.H]

Hope Grand Seiko continues to refine and slim down their timepieces ! They have released lovely stuff the last couple of years

[@alexabney7913]

Am ultra thin around drive would be cool achievement to see

[@joshuadarrington.]

They have been getting ever more slim. I think by 2024-25 will be their real coming out year

[@HRM.H]

@@joshuadarrington. yeah i hope by then we will see sub 11mm automatic divers. Grand Seiko desperately needs slim and smaller diameter divers in their line up in my opinion

[@bdegrds]

@@HRM.H nothing wrong with a man's size watch

[@joshuadarrington.]

@@HRM.H mines too. They wear small after a while, but initial specs need to be on point

[@baxoutthebox5682]

This guy is the best salesperson I’ve seen. An incredible rep for the brand, I hope he ascends the corporate ladder at GS and is given the recognition he deserves. Bought the SBGM221 for myself last XMAS. Now own 3 GS’. It is truly a disease but, I’m happy to be among a sick group of sick people.

[@JJPanozzo1]

Joe is an absolute All Star for the brand. I really appreciate your knowledge and ability to deliver the message so eloquently

[@TagmatonDomestikon]

Joe is so knowledgeable and passionate about Grand Seiko. Really great to see employees that know all there is to know about the watches and speaking like they're watchmakers rather than just memorising the brochures. Grand Seiko should take pride in this kind of quality and excellence across their organisation.

[@rtotheizzle]

You can tell he's passionate by the fact that he's wearing a watch on each wrist lol

[@Swiss_Army_Knife1780]

Joe Kirk is the most impressive ⌚ industry representative that I have seen represent his brand. I do not know his background, but his grasp of movements is quite proficient to the point where he can explain complex mechanical engineering in plain terms. Great video.

[@SilverStartUp]

I have fallen in love with GS this year. Such attention to detail and insane levels of execution and quality! I have the SBGX259, SBGP015, SBGA465 and SBGN003 and won’t be stopping there! Such a great, under appreciated brand.

[@danray3166]

@@mybrainlikesthings i have the 465 im a sucker for a champagne dial absolutely beatiful

[@piffCo_]

I could listen to Mr. Kirk for hours. Pure pleasure. And with every year I understand GS better and better. Maybe one day it will find its way to my drawer

[@TeddyBaldassarre]

Joe demonstrates what it means to be truly GREAT at your job.

[@skunkwerx9674]

Joe is chill, he leaves very little up to speculation once he has finished explaining the use and process. I just love that.

[@konadora]

I saw the title and I was super excited, and then I freaked out because this is going to raise demand for GS even more before I can buy one 😂 but this is a much needed video for all watch fans! Thanks Teddy!

[@gordtulk]

I’ve worked with thousands of businesses and their employees over the years. I’ve seen Joe Kirk in many presentations including at horological society events. Mr. Kirk might be one of the ‘great hires’ ever. Just a perfect spokesperson for all that Grand Seiko is and stands for in the North American market. My compliments to GS and Mr. Kirk.

[@wc6502]

I think he has almost single handedly made GS what it is in North America. He is everywhere, all the time.

[@gordtulk]

@@wc6502 he definitely influenced my decision to acquire a snowflake this past September.

[@tasmaniancaptain7768]

Mr Joseph kirk should be elevated to the highest of levels within the grand seiko company, his presentation within the whole branding and his appearance is outstanding ,teddy a great gentleman also watch his segments alot keep up the great work gentleman, il be saving up for a grand seiko as my next purchase

[@DigitalPRCourses]

Wow. I mean this Joe guy. “The” most knowledgeable and enthusiastic brand rep I’ve ever seen. What a fantastic video and I never knew that the quartz models were such high end. I always wrote them off as just crappy quartz. Really made me sit up with the way Joe described those. GS is infinitely more interesting to me than any other volume Swiss manufacturer. Joe I hope you see this comment and thank you Teddy for making this video.

[@willyforbin58]

This guy is just a Grand Seiko bible, thank you Joe and thank you Teddy. For a while I was thinking about extending my collection with GS, after Omega Rolex and IWC, now I have a better view and accurate idea of which one will be my next time keeper. All the best guys and best wishes to you Teddy for your channel!

[@chrismuz]

One of the best, if not THE best, interview of a watch brand representative I have seen!

[@mikederasmo7621]

Excellent ❤video. Iam going to japan November 28th I can't wait to visit the GS in japan and buy my very own snowflake !!!!!

[@Beeker0420]

I always liked Grand Seiko...but after this episode, I have fallen IN LOVE with Grand Seiko! Beautiful timepieces that are so high quality for the money! Thanks Teddy!

[@SilverStartUp]

Yep, once you witness the sheer brilliance of their pieces, you fall hard ❤

[@brandonjoseph3422]

Being a deep sea welder, Casio has always been savior for the last 19 years. After retiring Grand seiko skyflake is my first luxury watch. I bought it in October this year. And it’s December, I bought two more GS watches. I am not a watch nerd by any means, still learning, but being a guy who doesn’t chase status symbols and attention, I think the GS watches are the most reliable and gorgeous time pieces at those price points.

[@tubingforever]

Literally the only watch brand i care about anymore

[@philippeh1277]

Obviously a sponsored video extremely well prepared. A very good insight into this brand though. Love it.

[@cdeaker]

I looked at length of video & initially thought I would have to fast forward… watched the whole thing through & was fascinated. Great video

[@bonvivantviveur]

Great educative clip from Joe going into depth of some of GS spectacular movements and watch designs. The finishing touch of GS in general is in my opinion on another level compared to many watch brands. Its getting about time GS receiving the watch market appreciation it deserves.

[@TourbYourEnthusiasm]

This video has inspired me to get my first GS. I went for the "Shunbun" cherry blossom, the dial is simply breathtaking and the watch wears super comfortably. Joe Kirk is an amazing ambassador for the brand! Teddy, your opinion is the only one that truly matters to me. Keep at it! #GrandSeiko #SBGA413G #PureHorlogerie

[@MrJnrc]

I bought the SBGA413 shunbun 🌸 after watching a review on this piece by Teddy some time ago. I put a custom hand made ox blood red leather strap on it to lift the colour out of the dial. It is incredible, so glad I saw the review and recommendation by Teddy. Great video on GS. SBGM221 next I think. I believe GS should capitalise on the naming of there watches as opposed to the numbering system they have, Snowflake, Skyflake and Cherry Blossom sound much better than a number from a marketing perspective.

[@James-pl2oy]

Been waiting for this! Glad to see GS is finally getting the recognition it deserves!

[@kbeightyseven1783]

The quartz is what brought me to grand seiko, i love and enjoy watches but my day to day job as an engineer i cannot wear a watch so my automatic watches get annoying when i have to reset them and wind them everytime i wear them, and the 9F is the greatest quartz movement ever made

[@dranzerkai6051]

Grand Seiko was the brand that got me into watches in the first place and abandon smart watches. The artistry and innovation captivated me and the fact that at that time, it had it’s fanbase but not a household name like Rolex made me more interested in getting one. I got my grail piece, the Shunbun this year and it was my 4th watch but my most treasured piece I wear. Thank you for this video Teddy! Keel up the great content!

[@lindboknifeandtool]

Oh man I can’t wait until I can get a shunbun. Such an incredible piece, I’d be staring at it all day.

[@TomJones-tx7pb]

Love the Shunbun.

[@josezerpa8177]

Thanks again for another piece of brilliant content, Teddy. I enjoyed it thoroughly. You and Joe did an impeccable presentation.

[@hkkyau]

Thanks Teddy, another amazing video with such informative content. Grand Seiko is a brand to nerd out about, because the details are the most impressive part about it. I loved the conversation and the showcasing of all the popular styles as well. Keep up the great work!

[@clintonshiells3095]

Thank you both for a much needed overview of Grand Seiko‘s collection. I now own both 9SA5 and 9F86 watches and love them both. My wife has a spring drive. This is such a unique and captivating product. I look forward to seeing how the brand evolves in the future.

[@okiali6381]

Love this episode. Joe is the man and fortunate to meet him a few times. So true when one thinks of GS the spring drive comes to mind. My 1st GS was the SBGA285 then the Soko SBGA427. Followed up with the quartz SBGN005. Its true I set all my other watches to it. Been torn between the SBGW231 and the SBGK007. Decision decision. Great job Teddy. Keep up the quality work.

[@tarasmathers7423]

So much respect and admiration for you, Teddy, for your overall love and appreciation of, what is my all-time favorite brand and watchmaker. To me, Grand Seiko is just awe inspiring. If given the option to own and wear only one watch, for the remainder of my life ( irrespective of price), my choice would be the SLGH005, handsdown. Cheers, Teddy....

[@curtbrown7718]

I could listen to Joe all day! His passion really comes through. And, he seems like a great person. I am now convinced that I need a GS in my collection!

[@PaladinJenkis]

Joe is a fantastic rep for Seiko, well done and such an enjoyable episode!

[@abhishekananth]

Incredible innovation, engineering, finishing and attention to detail. One of the few watch brands that is innovating on movement technology at an attainable price point (compared to other luxury watch brands). In love with the brand and what it stands for and the story behind every watch and it’s inspiration. Keep innovating and pushing the boundaries!

[@FromNoob2Pro]

Mid-way in, loving every min of this. Thanks for the exclusive and insightful video!

[@robertschriek1353]

This man is not a salesman but an ambassador

[@vicnyse5315]

Awesome introduction and breakdown into GS. Your combined knowledge and expertise is much appreciated.

[@bonsaipiper3773]

Enjoyed this video as a owner of the spring dial from the seasons collection.

[@EduardoHenrique-nd1ro]

Another amazing video, Teddy! Thanks for sharing with us! Just found your channel and I can't stop watching! Cheers from Brazil!

[@HenryDarr]

I cannot wait to be able to add the SLGA015 to my collection ! Thanks for bringing this wonderful collection to my attention. Stay blessed 🙌🏾

[@A_Tempest]

It's so great to have somebody with such in depth knowledge and passion for the inner workings of the watch, it has helped me learn and gain appreciation for these watches. I'd love to see more of this from other brands as sometimes it's hard to understand differing price points beyond just label.

[@NateHurwitzBikes]

Wearing my grand seiko right now as I watch this. Great video and thanks for showing love to such a great brand!

[@robertp5123]

Great video, Teddy. I appreciate the knowledge that Joe has with this wonderful brand. The Snowflake…..pink dial is absolutely stunning. The pink is so subtle and an elegant timepiece. Thank you for providing excellent content.

[@jpvansplunder]

Loved the chemistry between you guys in the first video, love it again here!

[@edmiller873]

Absolutely fantastic video! I learned so much more about Grand Seikos than I thought was there.

[@SerbanDragne]

The video really ramped up towards the end with Joe really hitting his stride geeking out over the tech in the movements. Good man

[@inova11901]

Teddy, your vids inspired me to go from an apple watch to a 60th Anniversary SBGP015 for my everyday. 1 second accuracy in a year. A spring drive is on the horizon. In 1978 I bought a girl an elegant blue face quartz Seiko. The nostalgia was baked in.

[@mattshaffer5935]

I’m drooling over here!!! Thank you for the deeper dive.

[@cylentone]

Beautiful timepieces - and all with a story, which makes them even more fascinating. Thank you for sharing.

[@jhatgotagat300]

Lol seeing Teddy and Christian next to each other on stage made me chuckle a lil!

[@andreaiacolina]

With this video you read in my mind Teddy. This year will be the year for me to add a GS in my collection, so this video arrived at the perfect time. Thanks!

[@user-yc1wi9de3t]

It's good to reward ourselves sometimes . While I'm not one to spend on high-end watch (I spend too much money on travel, lol), I can appreciate your gorgeous and timeless watch. I love how it's a symbol of all your hard work.And i choose NKUWAN every time honestly

[@marcgirard7551]

Fantastic video again Teddy. I have really been enjoying these deep-dives with the brands! FPJ was stunning and this is so cool for the engineering! One thing that would be great to hear from GS is what the servicing is like on their movements. Does a Spring Drive need service? How often? Does Hi-beat need more service than regular? etc.

[@dgdave2673]

Wow the knowledge of GS, heritage, models and the mechanics of the movement etc by Joe just shows how passionate he is about the brand he is representing and a great representative for GS in USA

[@timetowatch_francois]

Ohhh those Grand Seiko watches ... 🥰 Thanks for this interview. Great interaction, very articulate and comprehensive 🙂👍🏼

[@eddybax1]

Great video! Love to see you and Joe go in depth in a longer video!

[@DavidHolliday]

Loved this video. I recently acquired a White Birch 009, the Spring Drive version - what a fantastic watch! Sometimes simplicity is best, even knowing that there is so much technology inside. Great to see a brand rep that clearly knows and loves the brand.

[@96corvette9]

Wow incredible video. This dude has so much knowledge about the brand and is great on camera. Loved watching this

[@toddm6999]

I love Grand Seiko I remember seeing my first one back in the early 90' s in Japan it was worn by a CEO driving a Nissan President Car...sublime Japanese workmanship culture and workmanship ..I never forgot that logo and knew I was looking at Royalty.Wonderfully explained engineering by Joe!

[@philw4053]

Well Joe is the real star here isn't he! What a great guy. And such an in depth knowledge of his subject. Great video.

[@paulcochrane1028]

Great line! “It’s a watch you can set your other watches to.”

[@kangzta1]

You and Joe were great. Such an educational experience listening in on your discussion of the product lines. Makes me want an sbga211 even more! 😭😭

[@ElK1LLA]

Great video. Started buying expensive watches in 2021, I'm on number 3 now and 2 of them are GS. Love their dials, movement and quality!!

[@kimcoulter4203]

I too initially had the same reluctance to buy GS but Karan talked me into it and now I have 4 pieces including the OmiWatari and both the Hi-Beats and Spring Drive Burch models. But my newest piece is far and away my favorite... the Peacock! Awesome!!

[@Incognito_alien]

I really appreciate this video and appreciate GS even more now. This is the exciting part of mechanical watches and watch making , the innovation while retaining that heritage.

[@superfast30]

Great video, Teddy. Absolutely love Grand Seiko!

[@Andrew8126]

Thanks for this! So much information, and beautiful video.

[@bto7779]

Talk about loving the company one works for. Great session. The passion for watches was real.

[@SeanTTS]

Been really interested in Grand Seiko, but have no idea where to begin with. This video is absolutely brilliant and very helpful. And Joe is really very impressive.. I could listen to Joe and Teddy talking about Grand Seiko all day 😄

[@LectioDivina33]

Great video, thanks Teddy & Joe!

[@calvinchann1996]

Fascinating video. As a snowflake owner, my question is about the if’s in spring drive models. From another hobby, I know that ic’s have a finite life and will eventually die. Just ask film photographers who own vintage cameras that turn into bricks when the ic’s die. Does Grand Seiko have plans for this? I wouldn’t want my snowflake to become unrepairable, even though it won’t likely happen in my lifetime.

[@johnrand9799]

I've been a rolex guy for years but, Grand Sieko looks amazing. A Grand Seiko Diver review would be great.

[@patrickwelch5063]

Great video as always. Just purchased my first GS, Hotaka Peaks, and I am in love with spring drive. I plan on visiting the SoHo boutique soon.

[@megasoid]

Excellent video, thanks again for all you do here. Very good.

[@mitchmatic8029]

Great Video and thorough introduction to Grand Seiko. Def. learned a lot-and on my grail list now. Thanks Teddy and Joe!

[@sinjinadams2862]

Great interview! It was very informative and your guest was extremely impressive!

[@darrenjones2070]

Absolutely amazing. Grand seiko is a dream of mine to own one day and hopefully that dream will come true. Definitely amazing time pieces.

[@TheHiddenNarrative]

I was actually surprised to learn that the Shunbun is selling neck and neck with the Snowflake as their best selling model. I bet the GMT SBGM221 is up there as well.

[@mistermikeyjay]

I've liked GS since SBGT003, but my first glimpse of the SBGE285 literally stopped me in my tracks and I let out a 'whoa'. That looks amazing. Thanks for a great watch talk gents, take care.

[@mattrdillon]

Love GS and been waiting for this video! 🎉

[@sumitkar8146]

Absolutely fantastic interview

[@Koishishibaman]

Great video on GS. This is one I will watch again. My journey of watches started with a Seiko skx007, now have 4 GS. The history, technology, connection to nature makes GS special. The sbga413 is special because I grow flw cherries. Sbga429 the shadow. Bamboo ? Grow that also. Love that connection to nature. Special! Thanks again for this video.

[@zetoch]

40mn of pure Grand Seiko goodness. Nicely done.

[@roddunne]

31:46 Hitting max geek out on the 8-tooth escape wheel discussion (it's like a duck bill at the L-end of the tooth). This was a great deep convo about GS - really loved hearing the nuances. The mind now boggles at what other innovations are going on in their design labs which may take years before being seen on the market. Also nice to hear about the Evolution 9 more and the slight tilt towards sportier styles.

[@daddykool9507]

Thanks for awesome content! Truly enjoyable ❤

[@DoyleIstre]

really enjoyed this. I'm new to the watch world and the break downs he gave of the movement and design decisions was super interesting.

[@deanparkes4644]

I have a 4520-8000 from September 1968. Keeps +or- 1 second a day. Beautiful original gold medallion and the movement is stunning.

[@gniffub]

Love this one! Thank you

[@watch_beginer2056]

I really enjoyed this video. Great stuff Teddy

[@hugohernandez3651]

What an amazing video. I decided to buy a SGBJ239. It will be my first GS, so I am very excited. I can see why the brand is getting so much love.

[@allydea]

Very interesting presentation! Thank you!

[@jameshoward9700]

40min of pure GS geek-fest! Awesome! Simply fantastic watches, be they Spring Drive, Quartz or conventional. Looking forward to a pilgrimage to the Bond St boutique in the New Year...

[@SilverStartUp]

Yep, love this video and am looking forward to a Bond Street visit too. Could be dangerous 😂

[@mitchmitchell9588]

Very useful and informative discussion.

[@watchlover1389]

Joe is the best! Really enjoyed this presentation!

[@titohe2481]

Awesome to see you grow in the company Joe!! We met in Kansas City MO when you did a Grand Seiko show at Merrierto and we talked for a while and you showed me some very nice watches in the collection you brought. Keep up the good work!! Oh and I'm still waiting on the GS swag you promised me 😁😁😁

[@mwade6982]

A great interview and that guy is a true GS ambassador 👏👏 I got the White Birch Spring Drive 5-day reserve this October. Each time I wear it I see different angels and the dial changes color and texture depending on the light. A fabulous watch.

[@adxangeles7842]

It still amazes me every time I see that Kodo.

[@timelesssneakersandwatches]

What an excellent video, just confirms why I love GS.

[@williamprestleysamara5553]

love these deep dive videos.