Hi Beat v Spring Drive

Grand Seiko create some of the best watches in the world often powered by their two most prolific movements - the Hi-Beat and Spring Drive. But what’s the difference between their two highly accurate calibre lines and how do they stack up against each other? From accuracy to accessibility, we put them head-to-head and explain how each one works.
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[@panydavid]

Spring Drive is the true trademark for GS movements, it's a real innovation and a breakthroughh in bringing the best of Quartz and mechanical movements together. I think it is also attached to the brand forever in terms of perception, in the sense that no other brand will produce a movement that's comparable. I visited the GS boutique here in Paris a few days ago, and servicing a Spring drive watch is in fact cheaper than for an Omega Speedmaster. They send them to the Netherlands. Spring Drive all day!

[@Momo_8k]

What is the cost and timetable for spring drive service?

[@panydavid]

@@Momo_8k between 7 and 10 years if needed, and it is charged 650€ here in France for a complete service (no polishing)

[@Momo_8k]

@@panydavid that’s reasonable. Thank you!

[@Mysteryboy0007]

Whats your favorite top 3 watches?

[@JimIBobIJones]

At its heart though, its just a quartz movement. Yes a quartz movement that's been meticulously re-worked to be as mechanical as possible and its more complex than most mechanical movements, but having that quartz regulator driving the oscillating wheel removes the "magic" and wonder of a mechanical movement. The beauty of a mechanical movement is that something as archaic as a collection of gears, springs and other assorted bits of metal and stones can come together to tell the time. To me, that's the "soul" of a mechanical watch that makes it appealing despite the technical redundancy compared to quartz. If you add a motor and quartz regulator, the archaic "magic" is replaced by modern science.

[@ddp3000]

that smoothness of the spring drive. I can look at it for hours and it is so relaxing

[@just88]

I have the hi-beat, spring drive and quartz. I am now suffering from poverty.

[@thachnguyen5836]

=))))

[@cd1934]

But you know what time it is 🤔!.

[@prstito]

small note about the description of the Spring Drive. When you began discussing the Tri-synchro regulator, you did so when the graphic was showing the magic lever winding system. The regulator component is actually the illuminated circuit at the end of the graphic. I'm sure it is a simple oversight, but given the precision and intentionality of grand seiko timepieces, that clarification is needed as to not confuse anyone on the brilliance of the movement.

[@klching4741]

Spring drive is the only movement with true sweeping unlike other watches which use high frequency to simulate the sweep. This means that you can take a video at any fps and it still sweep.

[@PETERJOHN101]

Not correct, as no movement can eliminate the pulsation of kinetic energy entirely. The fact you cannot discern this effect visually doesn't mean it's not happening.

[@derkatzenfuerst6077]

​@@PETERJOHN101I'm not sure what you mean, in the Spring Drive, there is no pulsating. There is only regulated rotation.

[@klching4741]

Yes, since it does not oscillate,there is no ticking noise as well.

[@c2pascual]

nah. spring drive still uses a quartz crystal to regulate the sweeping of the hand. 32768 Hz. i dont know how many beats per second that is, but find a fast enough camera and you can capture the pulsation.

[@derkatzenfuerst6077]

@@c2pascual sounds like you don't understand the mechanism. The frequency of the crystal is used to measure the speed of the glide wheel, which is rotating. The glide wheel is constantly regulated by a magnetic field. So the frequency of the crystal is only used as a reference to adjust the strength of the magnetic field, it does not directly move or stop the seconds hand. In conclusion, if you would look at the watch with a high speed camera, there would be no micro-ticking. It's actually gliding.

[@Unlucky1776]

Man all Grand Seiko movements are so BEAUTIFUL

[@darylwardsnyder4406]

I own one of each. My Spring Drive 5 Day Power Reserve gains on average about two seconds a month. It’s extraordinarily accurate. Mind blowing really.

[@StrikeWarlock]

If you have OCD which makes you anal about accuracy, there's really only one answer when it comes to mechanical watches without having to lift the wool over your eyes and realize quartz and smartwatches exist. To quote our man, TGV: All roads lead to Grand Seiko.

[@randallhill7979]

I like that

[@Treviscoe]

@@StrikeWarlock It's not just about being "anal" - if you're absent-minded as I am and don't have a very accurate watch, you can forget about setting the watch until it's drifted away from the correct time by an amount which makes you liable to miss buses etc. My daily watch is a Timex Indiglo quartz. A lot of people are sniffy about Timex, but it's great for me because it's accurate to within 5 seconds a month (although I accept I was lucky, not all Timexes are that accurate).

[@jacc88888]

Wow! What about the hi-beat?

[@willh.2155]

This is why JCB had been arguing that spring drive watches are essentially quartz watches, not the mechanical watch in the traditional sense. HiBeat would be a true comparison.

[@HouseNuova500]

Having the chrono/GMT SpringDrive since 2020 (it was the last watch that my father, a watch lover, has bought before his death), I really love it. It’s accuracy, the precision level of all the finitions of the watch make it really perfect for me. At a point that I’m thinking when possible to buy another SpringDrive, the famous SnowFlake.

[@OracleTimeTV]

Lovely story.

[@pwr1990]

I prefer the spring drive simply because the second hand moves ever so slightly smoother

[@drewsleyy3836]

it's not even slight, one moves in steps and the other doesn't! So tempted by a spring drive model, but sadly so far I like some of the hi beat designs more

[@pwr1990]

@@drewsleyy3836The high beats are lovely for sure. Though I have my eye on the Heritage Shunbun Spring Drive model. It has a off pink hue that looks stunning!

[@googleuser7632]

I've just bought the new Hotaka mountains green and white GMT spring drive. And love it. But I'm aiming to get a Hi-Beat as well.

[@OracleTimeTV]

Very nice, which Hi-Beat are you going for?

[@randallhill7979]

I like both spring drive and hi-beat. I went for the GS quartz watch.

[@werner134897]

Me too, but only for financial reasons. I would want the springdrive most due to its awesomeness as a movement and being the trademark of GS, but I cannot justify the money unless I was rich or living by myself.

[@amiesports]

@@werner134897 I'll go for the Sping movement myself. Can buy an aluminum frame quartz watch from 5euros realistically. No way am I spending 5600,-EUR for this movement, if I can get a spring movement for 10.000,-EUR. For me, the GS Spring movement servicing place is 500kms away, making it my instant pick bang/buck.

[@kresimirpleic]

I think you made the right choice. I also like mechanical movements but quartz is king.

[@amiesports]

@@kresimirpleic >6k is a price for a watch that moves without battery, despite the worse accuracy. I have a 0,3k Skagen(Fossil) aluminum Quartz watch and thats perfectly fine while looking as decent.

[@radidoc4832]

I bought a 1976 Seiko Marvel which has high beat for around 300 dollars and still runs great!!

[@garyboyle695]

The accuracy is the stated tolerances but both are consistently much more accurate than stated.

[@philmoody2445]

Absolutely not true. Just google reviews for the 9SA5. I am owing a SLGH013 and the accuracy is really bad, around 10 sec+. And that´s not an exception...sadly

[@stretchmarklol]

I have the Seiko LX Landmaster Spring Drive, and it dominates my wrist time as my daily driver. I know it ain’t supposed to be in a Seiko but it is!

[@jacc88888]

Spring Drive as a preference but admire the GS hi-beat movement enormously.

[@marcuslieberman3577]

I am "jonesing" for a SpringDrive, for all the reasons you mentioned.

[@phillippugh2161]

All grand Seiko watches can be serviced righr here in the states in new Jersey

[@Unlucky1776]

That's awesome

[@buffalo182]

I learned today. Thank you

[@jimblack8104]

My spring drive doesn’t miss lose or gain time

[@dazjackson1972]

Same goes for my Citizen eco-drive. Still wish I had the cash for a GS though.

[@StrikeWarlock]

I don't think that's the right comparison to make here since Eco-Drive still essentially runs on a battery while the Spring Drive can operate with just a mainspring. If we're talking Citizen, the main comparison to Seiko's Spring Drive is the Caliber 0200. Seiko themselves also have their own Solar watches that also run on Quartz.

[@Zoot_Troop]

What ref. Is your spring drive

[@jimblack8104]

@@Zoot_Troop not sure, it the snowflake

[@jimblack8104]

@@Zoot_Troop just checked and it’s close to 2 seconds fast now since march (bst)

[@whodeycinbengals]

I’ve always been team high beat as I always prefer full mechanical to hybrids or quartz

[@hewster1]

I love my rolexes and their movements but the spring drive in my cherry blossom is just unmatched. It's by far my favorite even over my panda simply because of the movement.

[@pincer2885]

@@hewster1 agreed. I have a white birch that I recently got, it beats all of my other watches, just because of the movement and finishing. I have a JLC, Glashutte, Vacheron, and a vintage Breguet, and this rivals the JLC and Glashutte and almost the VC

[@amiesports]

​@@pincer2885 didn't know an unevolved pincher could be this rich. u lucky mf. I wanted to order the white birch spring movement but forgot I just invested 20k in bonds 🥲Got swindled in investing money but forgot to enjoy life. Don't make my mistake bro. Watch onnn! 😭

[@Bear_Arms]

Spring Drive is the gold standard.

[@Mysteryboy0007]

spring drive so an awexome invention.

[@toms8517]

Spring drive movements no longer have to go back to Japan for servicing but do need to go to the official Seiko service centre.

[@JohnBuckmaster-sw3wm]

Spring Drive is an awesome mechanical quartz movement… it should not cost more than high beat movements. They’ve made their R&D back… Over priced now… I’ll stick with the high beat movements instead of the over engineered courts movement, otherwise known as Spring Drive.

[@willh.2155]

I agree that spring drive is a "hybrid" argument, and would prefer HiBeat except hibeat service costs about 2x of the spring drive.

[@PETERJOHN101]

My Seiko NH35 powered Technomarine diver cost me $80 and is accurate to within 5 seconds per day, proof that regulation is the only high technology you need in an automatic watch. ⌚

[@wozmac771]

Thx for clarifying. The forums do not address these differences.

[@drbobsnightmare2521]

GS HiBeat and a Spring Drive Seiko Tuna would be my pick.

[@markhpluygers2226]

I am sure there were advertising campeigns years ago asking, are you this or that?..... I am both!.....Each watch is profound. That's a simple answer.

[@OracleTimeTV]

Fair Enough!

[@christiantosumbung5791]

Everytime I look to purchase either type, I am always struck by how thick the watch is compared to its competitors. Shave off a couple of millimeters on the thickness and you will have me as a customer.

[@cd1934]

Don’t forget about the awesome Seiko ASTRON GPS Line !, Time Machines ( time set to the National Bureau of standard/ using 7 ~8 Antenna Tracking System utilizing satellites all around the globe)!, excellent example is the 7X52-0AK0 🤫

[@rideteller]

If you are looking for accuracy, any smart watch will work for you or any simple a few jewelled quartz watch is accurate enough. Therefore spring drive can never replace a true mechanical watch elegancy.

[@edjack1993]

Great video! Not sure about your quoted pricing toward the end though. For example, I can pick up a Shunbun at retail here in NZ for GBP5k equivalent.

[@estern001]

The Tourbillon was invented to give a more accurate time. The Spring Drive destroys it. Grand Seiko, "Job done."

[@naxalhim]

As far as accuracy is concerned Hi Beat < Spring Drive < Quartz. Just because Quartz is not glamourous as the other two its not even mentioned in this video. I would just avoid the faf and just go for Quartz which is most reliable and most accurate and easiest to maintain long term.

[@Alfa_Holic]

Service interval on my GS quartz is 50yrs.....

[@DeepsGnome]

​@@Alfa_Holicthe battery will need replacing every 5-6 years, so that's your service intervals.

[@DeepsGnome]

There is something much more satisfying about not having a battery, and having a watch charge by your movement...

[@TheRealBZ]

If you are going to buy a GS. You have to go Spring-drive. Its a no brainer

[@JanPBtest]

2:56 The older spring drive caliber looked much better. I don't know why this new one is so completely covered by an opaque plate. It looks McCheap as hell.

[@derkatzenfuerst6077]

I agree, but I think this is only a problem for the caliber with the 5 day power reserve. I think you can see more of the wheels in the other calibers. But in terms of looks, the high beat caliber is the clear winner.

[@JanPBtest]

@@derkatzenfuerst6077 Yes, it's only the _new_ spring drive caliber that looks awful. The older ones are fine.

[@JayzBeerz]

Spring Drive for the Win!

[@FFL3001]

If you want a self-winding quartz you can get a Seiko Kinetic. My brother has one and got it serviced for $50 last year including strap change. First service in 15 years. Or you can get a Citizen or Casio solar powered watch for a couple of hundred bucks. If you want a premium Quartz you can get a Grand Seiko with a 9f quartz movement for half the price of a Spring Drive and 10x the accuracy. Spring Drive is the worst of both worlds. A watch you have to wind and set if you forget to use it for a few days and instead of the beating heart of fine mechanical watchmaking you get a PCB with a microchip and a quartz crystal.

[@jackiechan8840]

Woah woah woah. 9F85 wants a word fella

[@hafeth6093]

Greetings to you... In the sixties of the last century.. we had small Swiss watches called Anker.. and a watch called Falka... and a watch called Born Bettina.. and a watch called Sur.. and a watch called Nevada.. Are there collections of them at the present time? .. Thanks..

[@colinubeh1180]

Oh boy the spring drive is EXPENSIVE.

[@RyanCedeno-d3i]

Ever since I bought a watch from amzwatch , My question is if it's this hard to tell them apart, what is the point of owning an authentic watch?

[@UncleHoCM]

Seiko musts: Chronograph and divers in Spring Drive, Hi-Beat,

[@LucaDinhNguyen]

Do we have information on shock resistance, and magnetic resistence for the 2 movements? Thanks

[@AK-ct9pd]

My old Lord Marvel 36000 only cost $800 adjusted for inflation in 1968. Watch collecting used to be a lot easier...

[@junaidmogal1081]

Hello Oracle? Can you make a Vid on GS Hi-Beat 36000 Dual Impulse vs Omega Co-Axial Movement? I mean both of them have Escaped the Typical Swiss Escapment Mechanical Movement lol

[@johannoren2787]

Thanks! Great video!

[@gergoratku7341]

Why did you show the magic lever when you were talking about the spring drive? It's like speaking about an engine and showing how to fuel a car

[@Tunnelsnakes]

There are manual spring drives that are more decorated, so you get the best of both worlds with that.

[@Deez_Nutz510]

Spring drive all the way. That sweep is insane...

[@calindor19]

If i would buy gs is spring dive but the price isnt rigth

[@teddd2009]

One of each, please! :)

[@petera.b8240]

Is the blue dial the Evolution 9?

[@calindor19]

I would buy gs but will stay in box those wacth stay in box is for sell but sell a gs is super hard

[@werner134897]

The GS quartz is another order of magnitude more accurate than the springdrive at

[@amiesports]

but anyone can pick up an aluminum frame quartz watch (

[@isbestlizard]

2:50 Is that the power reserve dial on the BACK where it belongs? FUCK YES!! Grand Seiko that is EXACTLY where it should be you beauties

[@CaramelMochi239]

what is the name of the two watches mentioned in the video?

[@OracleTimeTV]

Grand Seiko ‘Snowscape’ HI-BEAT 44GS and the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Lake Suwa Before Dawn SPRING DRIVE 40MM SLGA021

[@thedolt9215]

I’ll take one of each thank you… Oh, wait, I can’t afford either!

[@ShalisaDume]

All dat amzwatch watches sssssoooooooo gorgeous！

[@Dazulolwarrior]

Eh but i like the dials on the hi-beat watches more than the spring drive so ill go with them

[@deanvanlaarhoven1413]

Spring drive

[@omahenbarosh]

I've always wanted a luxury watch but couldn't justify the price. That's why I turned to gussl, and I'm so glad I did. Their replica watches look and feel just like the real thing, but at a fraction of the cost.

[@davidmason8212]

Hi beat

[@rickvdsteen]

What’s the point of a high beat, when it’s not even as accurate as an chronometer. Or are all chronometers high beat?

[@PabloTBrave]

People obviously dont know ehat horology means if they dont think spring drive is horology. In fa t spring drive has added more to horology than 99% of mechanical watches in the last 100 years.

[@stephen729]

spring drive is very accurate, but they need to find a way to reduce the thickness of their watches, Grand Seiko watches are so thick

[@Ohle39]

Ich liebe beide, Spring Drive und Hi Beat. Gruß Matze

[@everydaybiker]

Go team high drive

[@stevedabs5273]

High Beat all day

[@allenlark]

someday ill get a springdrive not a status symbol, an engineering appreciation purchase

[@OracleTimeTV]

Wise idea!

[@Unlucky1776]

Most people wouldn't even be impressed unless it's a Rolex or omega. And it's kinda sad

[@good2goskee]

11k lbs? Wtf? At duty-free in Korea I paid 4600CAD or 2650 GBP for my skyflake springdrive

[@Unlucky1776]

Damn you got a deal!

[@good2goskee]

@Unlucky1776 Yes, I did! In (non-Japan) Asia, they do not covet GS. I went to one of the many duty-free shops in DT Seoul. I did not think it was allowed to discount luxury watches. However, the Sky Flake was on for 40% off ... and no tax b/c it was duty-free. So, when traveling out of Europe or N.America, ask if the shops have a discount for GS at duty-free. I will go to Tokyo this Fall and will see if I can get inexpensive GS watch bands to swap out.

[@Unlucky1776]

@@good2goskee bro whatttt it's different here in the Philippines lol. Even Seiko 5s are seen as expensive. I'd love to visit Seoul when I have money to shop for watches now lol

[@Unlucky1776]

@@good2goskee bro whatttt it's different here in the Philippines lol. Even Seiko 5s are seen as expensive. I'd love to visit Seoul when I have money to shop for watches now lol

[@Unlucky1776]

bro whatttt it's different here in the Philippines lol. Even Seiko 5s are seen as expensive. I'd love to visit Seoul when I have money to shop for watches now lol​@@good2goskee

[@falkenvir]

OK. Even hi-beat cannot compete with the smoothness of the spring drive

[@kd3446]

Imagine if any other big brand had created spring drive…..say Rolex it would be the only standard and in my opinion GS have nailed it….better than the rest.

[@richardlocke7264]

Spring drive is a quartz movement, save your money get a solar powered quartz movement. Hi Beat is a real mechanical movement, like a Zenith- Nice.

[@vktravellog1242]

Hate to say it but hi beat sucks. About 18 months my balance wheel got misaligned so I sent it to the shitty GS service center under warranty and the accuracy is so bad. Running from +5 to + 12 with an avg about 8. They say their standard is +8 to -1. For a watch costing 7k this is soooo annoying and I will never buy a high beat ever again. The spring drive is robust and no issues

[@jmosch]

Is it just me, but does the Hibeat also have a noticeable rhythm to it? The sweep doesn't seem smooth to me, but a very little bit jumpy? I thought I was seeing things at the dealer, but I seem to notice it on some of the videos now too

[@willh.2155]

@@jmosch of couse! hibeat is just beating faster than typical mechanical watches.. 5hz vs 3 to 4hz (times per second).

[@jmosch]

For sure, I just meant it seems to be unevenly jumpy, like not a steady beat. I have some watches that beat at 21k and 25k that feel smoother to me? @@willh.2155

[@dl703]

Grand Seiko = Spring Drive. Period.

[@universalflame7996]

i will not die truly happy and at peace if i cannot acquire a grand seiko spring drive watch before that time comes...ok joke but a serious one

[@desaturated6049]

simple, Hi-beat is 30 fps and Spring Drive is 60fps

[@ekimandersom4478]

For my feeling, spring drive will one day be in every simple Seiko. Same as kinetic before. Automatic is still and will always be heritage watchmaking

[@googleuser7632]

I can't see that happening. That'll cheapen every GS and damage the luxury reputation they're aiming for.

[@ekimandersom4478]

@@googleuser7632 There is already a Seiko with spring drive.

[@medroastt9888]

too bulky for 'sporty' dress watch

[@prstito]

not meant to be a dress watch. the hi beat falls under the Heritage collection which is like a classic every day piece that is versatile. The spring drive on is evolution 9, a further refining of heritage in a way.

[@photon623]

Your videos are so informative, but please try to avoid that fake accent, which turns incomprehensible in most parts.

[@JohnBuckmaster-sw3wm]

Don’t you mean quartz versus mechanical????!!!! I can hear the comments now! IT’S NOT QUARTZ MFer!!!! Yes…yes it is!

[@klching4741]

Yes, it’s a quartz movement which does not require battery and perfect sweep. Tell me which other watch can do that.

[@litan114]

dont waste your $$$ on Spring Drive it's just a fancy name of kinetic movt it's QRTZ

[@TyreAlmasri]

As a broke boy and actual enthusiast who wants watch’s prices to crater, MAMACOO is a good choice.

[@gackerman99]

frequency != accuracy. who told you that

[@jaimerivera2545]

Hi beat

[@troywilkinson5585]

The purists preference.