Are Swiss Watches Really Better Than Japanese Watches?

Swiss watches better than Japanese watches? Swiss movement, Japanese movement. Seiko. Rolex. Omega
Are Swiss Watches Really Better Than Japanese Watches?
For a long time, the Swiss were historically considered to be the best watchmakers, but this narrative changed greatly during the mid-twentieth century. Had the Japanese not proven their mettle as skillful watchmaking people, the Swiss monopoly over the watchmaking industry would have been impossible to overthrow. Today, watch lovers all across the world are in the market seeking either a Swiss or Japanese watch, and often being indecisive about which watchmaker to settle for.
In today's video we look at whether Swiss watches are actually better than Japanese watches looking at popular watch makers such as Seiko, Miyota, Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe.
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[@miken2076]

I recently visited a friend of mine who is a Patek/Rolex watchmaker. After looking at my Grand Seiko with a loupe, he said that if Seiko can do such good finishing of the dial on an $8500 watch, it is inexcusable for Patek to do inferior finishing on watches that cost 10 times as much.

[@JakeyDill]

Seiko really are kings of dials, that’s what they do really good. Obviously Grand Seiko would be on a pinnacle level.

[@_Napoletano_]

Thats because the cost of manufacturing in Switzerland is higher. Also, seiko is a huge corporation compared to Patek and rolex. I will say rolex holds back manufacturing in order to control pricing.

[@cerita-waktu]

People who can afford Patek/Rolex can surely afford Grand Seiko. However, they buy Patek not solely because of its superior finishing, but rather because they can.

[@Akinbowale-nw4tn]

I think that japanese are good at quartz watches and swiss are are good in mechanical watches,the more reason swiss manufacturer don't want to venture into quartz watch manufacturing.

[@jessebb193]

Do you have examples of this “inferior finishing” i cant find any complaints or comparisons all just word of mouth

[@TheGrenadier97]

Japanese brands like Orient, Casio, Seiko and Citizen are pragmatic enough to offer good quality at good prices. Swiss brands have heritage, but not reach.

[@lukespector5550]

Swatch is on the uprising.

[@miken2076]

Seiko started making clocks in 1891, watches in 1895, and wrist watches in 1913. The first “Seiko” branded watch was in 1924. They remained concentrated in Asia until the Viet Nam war, when American soldiers started buying them and bringing them back to the US. Seiko competed in in the Neuchatel Observatory competition in 1967, where it placed second and third. The competition was canceled after that year. They are not new in the world of quality watches.

[@zillsburyy1]

and they still use stamped clasps and mineral glass

[@thomasnguyen5295]

@@zillsburyy1 and they cater to budget enthusiasts, not a bad thing when you can get people excited for these mechanical timepiece, make it affordable, and attainable. This can only lead to better timepieces in the future.

[@MrERLoner]

​@@zillsburyy1 as if a milled clasp and sapphire alone warrant the ridiculous mark ups swiss marques warrant

[@stevepick9527]

I have a Seiko Q sport 100 watch that I bought in 1980 on our honeymoon. I’ve never had it serviced other than a battery every five years and it keeps almost perfect time. amazing. I just bought myself a Grand Seiko and I already like it better than my 1986 Rolex submariner. For $6200 I’m getting a better watch in every detail and I love the spring sweep movement.

[@lukespector5550]

Promise me you'll never sell the Rolex, my friend. It's like Japanese .vs. European cars. That Swiss classic of yours is all heart.

[@KakavashaForever]

@@lukespector5550 Oof you're not gonna want to hear what happened to my vintage watch collection a couple years ago.

[@lukespector5550]

Go on then........ I hate my Rolex Daytona! Too small by modern wrist size & finishing inferior to Grand Seiko.

[@Angelito_Noreaga]

Its interesting that Japan pioneered in-house movements as a way to make the watch much less expensive. The question then would be why are Swiss watches often much more expensive despite also building their movements in-house??

[@burningphoneix]

They made great savings and passed on these savings to their pocketbook. 🤣

[@agar2134]

Marketing 🎉

[@vladmircea3174]

Heritage, brand name, human labor very expensive

[@lukespector5550]

Because Switzerland has better employee treatment & Union protection than Japan.

[@newtonlee7849]

Japanese watches really are more for budget minded & practical buyers, while Swiss watches have moved further upmarket. Luxury Swiss watches generally are as practical as using a Bugatti sports car to drive daily to work in a busy downtown city; while most Japanese watches are as practical as instead driving a Honda, Toyota or Subaru. Lets face it, Swiss can't compete dollar for dollar, so they have gone upmarket, catering to those that love the cachet of the "Swiss Made" watch. Honestly, I can't imagine the hassle of servicing Swiss brands like Arnold & Son, F.P. Journe, Etienne Schwartz, & other micro lux brands with in house movements.

[@achoaiidi4022]

Thanks for this excellent comparision between the swiss and the japanese watches. I really learned a lot from this video

[@lotifakhatn6357]

This is very amazing video. Thank you for sharing these Swiss Watches information.

[@agar2134]

I still have my grandfather seiko watch with no repair nor maintenance fine working till now

[@arunchandran1360]

This is the best informative video which is clearly described the difference between Swiss Watches and Japanese Watches. Very helpful information.

[@jenipherhilda1992]

Swiss watches have tried to maintain a good reputation but Japanese revolutionized the watches which are way better.

[@derekfox6752]

Seiko covers nearly all bases no one can compete with them.

[@zillsburyy1]

shitko

[@agar2134]

​@@zillsburyy1 hater😂😂

[@zolitompa]

Hey, I love it and I want more! Count me as one of your fans and keep up the good work! I've also subscribed to your channel!

[@davidjames3259]

such a valuable content, thank you a lot.

[@jorgerobles628]

I am lucky that I can get good models from both Japan and Switzerland at good prices new or used, and I have many from both countries. Right now I am wearing a Omega Speedmaster 3861, and a Seiko Bullhead 6138 Chrono, one on each wrist. The next one I want is the GS Tentagraph to replace the Seiko Bullhead.

[@19761999]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@maylengomez9608]

It is a good question, both Swiss and Japanese watches are manufactured in the best way and with versatile designs and excellent quality materials.

[@nielwilliams4687]

The Citizen AQ4030-51L, must rate as one of the best watches ever made. The most accurate watch ever made with quality equal to the very best the Swiss can make.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

😂

[@soroladas697]

Exellent review about Are Swiss Watches Really Better Than Japanese Watches. The video is very useful and innovative. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@forsdykemontague1017]

Swiss watches are jewellery and Seiko are accurate, elegant watches. The significant price differences are about branding of course !

[@Sumerdini]

Seiko is not accurate, ETAs are accurate...

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

You are clueless. Seiko mechanical movements are not accurate.

[@Sumerdini]

@@whereRbearsTeeth I mean, Seiko mechanical...

[@TruthDefender]

Very informative 🎉

[@maxyanez944]

when it comes to precise time keeping and why else would you have a watch? Japan reigns supreme i have an Omega, rarely wear it several Seikos which i wear all the time

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

BS

[@lubovkotsar5099]

It was educational! After all, both countries make great watches!

[@rl7487]

Yes they do but the Swiss have a cartel and are full of scams like rolex

[@garydalegimotea7834]

RELIABILITY AND ACCURACY ARE THE BEST WATCH QUALITIES. FASHION COMES NEXT... WHO IS BETTER?

[@lunam7249]

japan

[@agar2134]

These deserves more views

[@yuumetal2363]

similar to Japanese cars and European cars. Japan makes practical and reliable cars, and European companies makes higher image.

[@vishalshah7043]

please make a video on German watch brands as well !

[@sonchaeyoung2423]

Oh so are mostly the differences of swiss and japanese watches. I think they're both good depending on the taste of the person who's gonna wear it. Thanks for sharing this!

Este es el mejor video que he visto de comparación entre ambas industrias.

[@rib7maroc]

I'd say that the most iconic Japanese movement out there (simply by volume) is the Seiko NH35A. That's a far more refined movement than the Miyota 8000-series.

[@rl7487]

Is it really better than the miyota 8203-04-05?

[@rl7487]

I didn’t know that.

[@lunam7249]

yes, thats a fine movement,

[@e28forever30]

I disagree. Lots of owners reported that the 8203 is extremely accurate for a budget movement. Own one now, after owning a series of 4R35/4R36 watches. The Seiko’s were very variable in performance, to say the least.

[@apa1103]

To think that Seiko pioneered Quartz would place then at the top manufacturer. They are so innovative and pioneered movements and escapements such as Kinetic, Spring Drive and their newest constant force tourbillon that powers their newest 2024 watch.

[@carloskissoondhan9641]

Toyota vs Mercedes. Choose well!

[@greenerick]

Money for Mercedes because it keeps breaking down having to take it to the shop to get repaired

[@aravindwarner6733]

well explained and detailed comparison video about the features of Swiss Watches and Japanese Watches. I am personally a big fan of Swiss Watches

[@vladchan]

Correction the original Mecca of watchmaking was England and France. Production began to move to Switzerland a poor country at the time to cut costs. Swiss fakes were a thing too.

[@capmidnite]

I believe the Swiss used to copy American railroad watches in the late 1800s and early 1900s?

[@herrrotkappchen7816]

Too much generalisation. How to compare the Grand Seiko watch with the plastic Swatch watch or the quartz Casio Watch for 100$ with the mechanical Omega watch for 10000$?

[@rideteller]

Japanese automatic watches are not even close to Swiss watches. Seiko movements are not as precise as Swiss ones. My Seiko alpinist looses 20 secs per day, my chepaest Swiis watch with Eta looses max 5 secs.

[@sathishrao7926]

My 25+ Casios are screaming “VFM” !

[@someoneelse95]

What Japanese watch would be at the same level of an Omega Seamaster 300, for example?

[@stormshadow5555]

Are Swiss and Japan the only two games in town or are there other nations who make top quality time pieces? Thanks

[@francoaleman1520]

Germany with A.Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original, Junghans, Sinn Italy with Panerai, Bulgari

[@mrjackbagginz]

I have a cheap earnshaw which costed me 50 bucks but it as good looking as a high end maurice lacroix

[@randyreynolds1045]

❤ my Longines! affordable and very accurate.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

Interestingly the first wrist watch was from a French company, Breguet, which produced what were considered the finest watches in the world, they pioneered the self winding watch, and invented the tourbillon movement that increased accuracy. Since 1999 Breguet have been a part of the Swiss Swatch Group so are now a Swiss/French watchmaker.

[@Ercan-cy3we]

Interesting

[@lukespector5550]

Have a look at the history of Graham brand watches. The original founders go back to the 1600's!

[@mirandahotspring4019]

@@lukespector5550 Graham watches were a London company that went out of business in the early 1900s. The name was revived by a British and a Swiss businessmen in 1995 in Switzerland, it's a new company trading off an old name.

[@vitorsantos1319]

Obrigado por ter feito esta excelente comparação, difícil escolher entre o Russo e o Japonês, acho que cada um deles tem suas peculiaridades que os tornam relógios diferenciados dos demais.

[@bajifarkhanda]

This is an in depth analysis of swiss and japanese watches and gives the viewers information of a valuable nature.

[@AliasHSW]

Agree 100% on aesthetics proposition. Until recently Japanese analog watches, apart from the divers, were a bit incoherent, missing the mark and stale in the over all design.

[@rolandlickert2904]

I had around 18 watches all japanes brands and most well known swiss brands all of them had some plus points and minus points in the end i gave most away to my Family members.

[@onlinebestellen]

rolex or omega are big brands and not really accessible. for me.Nevertheless, I think both Japan and Switzerland are the same

[@happinesscompilation5252]

If you want to make money, buy Japanese. If you want to spend money, buy Swiss.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

?

[@zillsburyy1]

the japanese do make great watches but overall the swiss watches are higher end and provide more features with possibly A LANGE & SONNE the best for hand finishing.

[@agar2134]

Price ranges =

[@e28forever30]

More features? That’s debatable..

[@dominicj7977]

features are debatable. I just saw a mechanical Seiko that is Solar powered and GPS enabled How many swiss watches provide the same feature. A diamond stud on the dial is not a feature.

[@dokkoishountoko5203]

I wonder why only two countries can produce decent watches.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

Yes

[@agar2134]

Swiss watches company do their best in marketing because they cannot compete with japanese watches in price ranges

[@ik-ye6hj]

I love my Lexus and i wear my Swiss watches

[@gwcrispi]

Would people pay 100 times as much if there was NO writing on any of the watches?

[@carlibrown1208]

S E I K O

[@kindface]

The simple answer to the question posed in the video title: “of course NOT!”. What are you - crazy?

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

The cost of Swiss watches I'll be buying japanese watches.

[@tikaramlitule7270]

Sir namaste

[@francoaleman1520]

I like the High End japanese Watches more then overhyped Swiss Watches like Rolex or AP Grand Seiko can easy compete with the Quality of Rolex and AP. IMHO Rolex Watches are not so Special that the Hype and No1 Status is justified, Rolex has the best Marketing and a clean Lineup which never changed much since the 70s. I can respect that. For a solid Watch under 500€ I would go allways for a japanese Watch like a Seiko Presage, Orient Star or Citizen. If I want a High End Daily Watch I go with a Grand Seiko SLGA007, if I want a Diver ill stick to a Blancpain Fithy Fathoms, If I want something really expencive with Fancy Design and Complications I would go for a Vacheron Constantin or Breguet.

[@wolfgangwinter9210]

Too much cuts scenes. Every second

[@DJGeorgeDisco]

If you want a watch as a piece of jewelry, then buy a Swiss watch. If you need a watch for timekeeping, then get a Japanese watch.

[@hmangaihaahmaa1239]

Want both 😅

[@DJGeorgeDisco]

@@hmangaihaahmaa1239 Get a F-91W and you are halfway there 😋

[@25557813]

@@DJGeorgeDisco Bin Laden's jewel.

[@drgunsmith4099]

Some are better.

[@matthewgates4130]

Every Seiko Sports is meticulously miss aligned to top standards 😂

[@davidoffice9922]

No really but the swiss look good don't they

[@supperhey]

How about German brands like JUNGHANS?

[@rolandlickert2904]

Old Brand I got one when I was 12 years old in 1962

[@jisbinsanjose6231]

watch making technologies employed by the swiss & the japanese stand toe to toe

[@hattaranmd]

BIG ERROR. quartz was first marketed in 1969. it was seiko that drove swiss watches to near extinction. IN 70'S. NOT 50's, 60'sas you stated!!!!

[@mst7806]

'Occult' following? And why the apostrophe in 1950s?

[@EPC-ue2ci]

Japanese watches are objectively better than non trinity swiss watches.

[@DrMARDOC]

On your wedding day, to the girl of your dreams come true…… In front of many honored respected guests…. Would you prefer a Grand Seiko on your wrist or a ROLEX? case closed.

[@awol354]

This video seems full of recycled video snippets. A bit more effort would be appreciated.

[@coffeemarshall3484]

How is this video longer than 4 seconds? Just say "NO."

[@Asterex]

When I see that the second hand on a new Seiko Titanium does not match the lines on the dial, then my question is answered.

[@epi2045]

Better made doesn’t mean better brand. Seiko’s are good but Rolex’s have the X factor.

[@darwinwins]

swiss ... indigenous people ... what?

[@ChromeMan04]

Indigenous = native

[@darwinwins]

@@ChromeMan04 there is no such thing as indigenous swiss.

[@ChromeMan04]

Rolex is NOT Swiss!

[@e28forever30]

Nope.

[@jamesmustin7289]

I am sure the Germans have something to say who is better. The Koreans are also coming up

[@ivelissepena5739]

Swiss watch best wold alberto

[@thofMay]

Swiss watches are shit; everyone thinks the rolex you are wearing is a fake, no matter if it is gen or not...

[@Zotrax1946]

Terrible 😞. So many mistakes!!!!!!

[@tissapathiratna7761]

With my Experience Japanese are better.

[@stevphenrose7820]

Like my Apple Watch

[@jijoious]

🇯🇵 = Less counterfeit , fake & bootleg😉but still buyers beware ! if they can copy straight outta cheap casio why not fot those high end , premium & luxury timepiece...... watch⌚out🧐then sorry😉

[@pedrogomesmendes4753]

Rolex is British 😑

[@dongchen7940]

Come on, Now a day a watch is just a piece of jewry, the most expensive mechanical watch can't tell time as accurate as the cheapest phone. Why care about the accuracy of the moment at all.

[@seanlin1202]

Accuracy is part of the beauty of a mechanical watch and highlights the complexity behind it. You wouldn't want a mechanical watch that's off by 30 minutes a day

[@Maarij_Nomani_]

Swiss watches aren't worth the price. Japanese are!

[@A__SB]

No one can beat Japanese quality. Swiss watches are over priced pieces of jewelry, and often unreliable. Yes, Swiss may be pioneers but Japanese have led the way in innovation and quality. It is like BMW vs Lexus. One is more reliable than the other.

[@keno77]

Japanese watches are made to be used and admired, Swiss made watches are only made to be admired,no one with normal means doesn't wear a $100k+ watch for daily use.

[@alexdenton6586]

No the best are the Chinese that are making 600-700 dollars almost perfect copy of big brands like Rolex etc

[@nodcarillol.6550]

I beg to Differ, I like German made Watches.

[@phouliscostantinou1767]

Japanese Quality, Engineering and Pride are Unsurpassed !!!!

[@muursnorthwestamexem8581]

Swiss people are not indigenous

[@firebearva]

I'm sorry, but I have never felt warm and fuzzy wearing a watch with a battery in it. 🧭🔋🚫

[@lunam7249]

so go seiko automatic or high end china....if you dare says greta thunberg!!!