Grand Seiko vs GS Killer Citizen HAQ

[@johnvandeven2188]

You are definitely a bigger Grand Seiko fan and that's OK. The smaller crown on the Citizen is perfect. It never needs winding, the date never needs updating as it is a perpetual date and the accuracy on this movement is accurate to 5 seconds per year. It is an eco-drive so no replacement batteries are needed. So, tell me again why the crown needs to be bigger. The cons for the Seiko are the price and the hefty weight and perhaps resale value. Citizen also do a white dial for this model.

[@babafagucchi2446]

That Citizen is a beauty. More I look at it, the more I want to look at it.

[@DesignReviews]

It's one of the most beautiful watches in the world. Contemporary yet timeless. And not referential to some retro model unlike some other watch makers.

[@BosworthMcG]

I recently bought this exact citizen. I have a GS 9F (SBGV223) too, and think I ever so slightly prefer the GS. I like the bracelet and case design more on the GS, and I also prefer the more mechanical nature of the 9F quartz. However the convenience of the citizen is indisputable, and also this shade of sunburst blue dial is nicer than the blue sunburst on GS’s quartz models. I love the fact that I’ll never have to change the battery or the date on the citizen. They’re both incredibly well built watches , with each company taking a unique approach to their product and I think both brands would make a purchaser very happy.

[@lucaorru6872]

That Citizen is really cool!

[@DesignReviews]

Thanks! It is an amazing watch, and I rate it higher than any of my legacy Swiss watches.

[@MB-jn5zi]

Very helpful review thank you. I want the Citizen because it's Eco drive too but I think it's slightly too small for my tastes

[@gilbertrose7147]

Thank you for this comparison! One comment I would make is that Grand Seiko bracelets are not as good as Rolex bracelets and some others when it comes to micro adjustments.

[@DesignReviews]

Very true. The lack of micro adjust is frustrating. Drink too much and have salty food, and your watch will suddenly fit tighter than it did in the morning.

[@gilbertrose7147]

@@DesignReviews lol! True that! All kidding aside, Grand Seiko has majorly taken advantage of the alienation that many Rolex fanboys feel because of the unavailability of their sport watches and the crazy increases in prices in the secondary market. Two years ago I tried to trade my 30-year old Submariner in on a new GMT Master II, and I am still on “the list” at my AD. In these two years I have spent far too much time on KZbin educating myself on horology. My wife calls it watch porn-and she has a point! Rolex has committed a very serious strategic miscalculation here-and the winner will be Grand Seiko!

[@DesignReviews]

I have always like the aluminium bezel on the old subs. I have a 16610 and it was my daily for a few years and I abused it as much as I could. The scratched bezel made it look more like a Seiko and most people thought it was a replica (and I was happy to have them think that)

[@hjander]

Enjoyed your video.

[@DesignReviews]

Thanks.

[@ludasa6]

thanks for your video, should be interesting compare the new citizen caliber 0100 vs new model Spring Drive, same price range

[@DesignReviews]

I am yet to find a GS that matches my Calibre 0100. It's simplicity with no date and White Gold clean modern design with no flourishes whatsoever is something GS does not have as the GS will make it clear to the viewer that the watch cost money. The Citizen turns no heads.

[@gotflute123]

Interesting how the Grand Seiko seemed to already have some scratches on it (look at buckle area when you rotate it), while I didn't see any on the Citizen--> at least on paper, the Citizen seems to have much harder surface finishing... what is your opinion on how these would look 5-10 years from now with daily wear? I know you can have these re-polished, but that means the watch has to go back to Japan (local watchmakers can't do it)...

[@DesignReviews]

Actually the GS is 16 yr old and I think it's in amazing shape for the use it has seen. Its the earliest GS Spring drive SBGA series and was worn as a daily for 10+ years till I sort of moved on to other watches. In the early 2000s GS watches were uncommon, unlike nowadays. The Citizen is obviously much newer and doesn't see as much use because it's a quartz and keeps time whether it's on the wrist or not. I sometimes keep wearing my automatic watches just so I don't have to correct the time if it stays off the wrist for a while. With quartz, the convenience makes me forget to wear them unless I am looking for a specific watch. The precision of a quartz movement beats the smooth sweep if the spring drive for me.

[@gotflute123]

@@DesignReviews Thanks for the reply. The GS does look great for 16 years old (mine wouldn't look so good...). A question: is your Citizen stainless or Titanium? If it is Titanium, I believe Citizen uses its newest hardening on their "The Citizen" line, which, if you believe the marketing, is as scratch resistant as the Saphire crystal. If this is the case, I just wanted to bring it up, as your video didn't seem to cover it, making it seem link the GS was more scratch resistant (which, theoretically, it would not be). I'm trying to consider a GS vs Citizen, but both in quartz. Not having to send the watch back to Japan if I don't baby the watch is a huge consideration for me. Thank you again for making the video!

[@DesignReviews]

My citizen is SS and it's been fairly scratch resistant. Usually it's the buckle that gets scratched most through regular use. I still think GS bands are a cut above the Citizen band, but in terms of case they are the same. I have a few GS watches and they all hold up pretty well over the years. The one reason I like the Citizen is the solar charging as my large watch collection means my quartz watches sometimes run out of battery without having been worn in years, which is frustrating for me and bad for the watch as batteries can leak. The Citizen effectively has a 20-25 yr life before it needs a battery change and really needs no servicing otherwise. If GS had a solar watch, I would consider it but the 5 second accuracy swings the scale in favor of the Citizen (I have gotten +1 second a year so far). Not that it matters much in real terms. I would also add that I am impressed enough with the Citizen that I am buying another Citizen HAQ (the 1 second accuracy) model which was a limited edition. The only people who seem to notice my watches are other watch people and they all are in awe of Citizen HAQs.

[@charlesdesurne4696]

@@DesignReviews same thoughts and same experience here !

[@dudN8R]

Great comparison. Thank you. What model is the Citizen? Also, you mentioned that the Citizen (Eagle) is a step up from the Chronomaster. Is that for the movement and the finishing or just one or the other? How do the model numbers indicate whether it is Chronomaster or Eagle?

[@DesignReviews]

It's the AQ4080-52L. The Citizen and the Chronomaster have the same movement and are really the same watch, but the main difference is the lack of signed crown in the Chronomaster which is Citizen's way of charging a few hundred dollars more for the dress watch. For some reason they think men in suits spend more money than other men. In terms of models numbers, there is no specific range for the Chronomasters. I have seen them vary from AB90xx to AQ10/40/50.

[@gotflute123]

@@DesignReviews Is not another different that the one have you listed is solar powered and the first "Chronomasters" were battery powered?

[@DesignReviews]

@@gotflute123 they have both battery and solar powered versions, depending on the dial. The jet black and metal dials are all battery

[@klausnielsen7102]

The Citizen eagle(chicken) well I preferrer the Cronomaster logo by far! The same for the chicken on the crown, no thanks!

[@DesignReviews]

In person it looks sharp on the crown. I am not that much if a fan of it on the dial. The Chronomaster really needs a signed crown.

[@beherit98]

on a macro level with dial finishing, how would you compare the citizen to GS ?

[@DesignReviews]

At a Macro level, exactly the same. If I were nitpicking, I don't like the printed Citizen logo compared to applied GS logos. Plus the translucency of the eco-drive versions give it a specific material look whereas the GS watches have a more metallic look.

[@mattmcgriff5952]

You seem to be much more critical of the Citizen in this video than you were in the previous ones.

[@DesignReviews]

Quite possible, but that's probably because of the large number of GS watches I own. The Citizen is a an amazing watch and I just took it out since it's been stored away for quite a few months. There's really no watch in my collection that stands above the Citizen in design and finish.

[@DesignReviews]

Your comment helped create a new video.

[@mattmcgriff5952]

Thank you! I ordered this watch due to your glowing reviews. Then to see your comments on this video-made me reconsider! But I’ll hopefully get it tomorrow and see for myself!

[@DesignReviews]

@@mattmcgriff5952 it's an amazing watch really. You will have no regrets once you get it in hand. I remember I had some qualms when I got my first Citizen chronomaster, but I was extremely impressed after getting it in hand and every citizen since has been the same.

[@mattmcgriff5952]

Have the box sitting on my desk, will be opening it as soon as I get home.

[@sonnyyombo2230]

apples and pears

[@DesignReviews]

In what way?

[@KabobHope]

Nothing comes close to the smooth sweep of the GS. The only thing that comes close is the Bulova Precisionist.

[@DesignReviews]

Or an old Bulova Accutron.

[@hughming]

The Citizen has NO LUME! When I was small, I quite enjoy the lumed dinosaurs stick to my room's wall. I don't need strong lume but basic functional lume will do. There is complete lack of lume and I consider this watch dressy and sporty with 100m water resistance. Quite disappointing for no lume at all.

[@DesignReviews]

Thanks for the comment. The lack of lume distinguishes it from the lesser priced chronomaster line, even though they are the same watch otherwise.

[@shawngwynne9488]

Dude you can't say this citizen is a grand seiko killer- the watches are totally different. you're comparing a quartz watch to an automatic!

[@DesignReviews]

I don't have any GS quartz in my collection right now. Had to use a spring drive. The Citizen more than matches any of my GS/JLC/PP watches in fit and finish. I give it the highest rating.