We Think Grand Seiko Just Made the Best Watch EVER!

[@watchfinder]

We know you want more watches…. click here: linktr.ee/watchfinder

[@-chris-n-lucy]

The man who designed the movement was a musician before going to grand Seiko. Apparently the sound of the movement was somewhat important to him from the start. He spent 10 years perfecting this movement.

[@999NINE99]

"The dress watch of a Yakuza wife," another instant classic.

[@nigelnuj]

Yakuzas will be pawning off their grand seikos now. They’re in decline.

[@いいいん]

i think yakuza boss and his wife dress rolex .

[@steelsteez6118]

@@いいいん I highly doubt they're that tasteless.

[@drbobsnightmare2521]

Trophy wife of a Yakuza crime boss

[@marcocarag103]

The way Joe Kirk tells it, Takuma Kawauchiya (who designed the movement starting ten years ago) is a guitarist, and the "sixteenth note" metronome-like ticks of the Kodo movement were intentional and important to him. As a musician who often plays in "common time," this was a source of minor confusion as the 8 ticks per beat sound of the movement was more akin to how I'd count 32nd notes. But I digress -- recordings of the movement sound as spectacular as you'd expect for something of this caliber. I hope to be so lucky to see (and hear) this watch in person someday.

[@thatguitarist9340]

That Grand Seiko is simply incredible. I am so glad we are now seeing a further step from Seiko into the 0.1% of watch making. Seiko have long been my favourite watch company as what they offer is hard to beat. They have credibility oozing out of even the cheapest of the 5 sport line. What a company, bravo. P.S if someone has the new constant force kicking about in a drawer or cupboard, and doesn't know what to do with it, I'll be happy to take it off your hands.

[@Laz_Arus]

The exploded parts animation is a work of art in itself. That is not something you can throw together easily or quickly. 👍

[@GroppeljohannKlotenkempe-vr6oh]

That is quite easily done when you have tha Watch-CAD

[@Sabundy]

That tourbillion is absolutely jaw dropping. The engineering on that watch is incredible.

[@Nikolaj2702]

The designer was a classical musician for most of his life. The "heartbeat" is indeed intended

[@mrlong6267]

I think if GS kept their sizes between 39-41mm especially with their divers, I would definitely pick one up. My lil bro has a snowflake and the movement is amazing. Ultra smooth

[@spencerhan7995]

I have their diver. It's huge...47mm but I did crack a huge barracuda in the head with it when he got too close. I'm 6 foot, if I were any smaller... that watch would look like a gshock on me.

[@louiscyfer6944]

the only reason i like them is because they are not the tiny 40-41mm size for pencil wristed people.

[@BOBGAR6]

I will never understand why Seiko, Citizen and the japanese etc produce such big and thick watches. They are not even big, i mean the asian people in general. It justs doesnt make sence even the Europeans, the biggest males wont fit these Japanese watches, around 44mm etc is just laughable

[@mad0uche]

@@BOBGAR6 It's actually extremely simple, the movements are big, the markers are large to fit lume and be seen underwater, it's just overall cheaper to build larger, takes a lot of adjustment and technology to make things smaller and smaller. As long as they use the same generic movements, they will remain the same size to compensate for that movements size.

[@jamesrobert4106]

@@spencerhan7995 47mm That is a grandfather clock with a strap 😄

[@evh4611]

I expect that within about 20 years or so Grand Seiko will be so expensive that it's really going into a absolutely top tier brand price range. No other brand is as innovative as Grand Seiko

[@ed7384]

Agreed get into it now and hold.

[@evh4611]

@@ed7384 I will hold on to my SBGW001.

[@BluishHuntress]

I think A. Lange & Söhne is innovative as well, especially with their double and triple split watches.

[@hlee2]

“It’s still a seiko”

[@2bitmarketanarchist337]

I hope not. I'm in my early 20s and would like to be able to afford a snowflake by the time I'm 30.

[@walterlee7429]

I am a watch collector with over 50 watches in my collection including Rolex, Richard Mille, AP etc. I have started my collection of Grand Seiko because I believe this brand ticks all the boxes, design-quality-technology-collectability is right up there with the top watch brands.

[@jamesrobert4106]

Those who know...Know. You have fine taste sir. 👌

[@slavoexploresamerica4495]

Lexus of watches

[@samuellangdon3287]

Its not up there whit them in my mind it is better made then rolex

[@Heist1000]

Quality and technology, yes. Design, no. How many times does Seiko have to hear people say for them to tone down all of the obtuse branding all over the face of the watch (do I really need GS, Grant Seiko, and Seiko, all on the face?) which begins look like graffiti and to remove the ugly power indicator! It consistently turns people away and Seiko will not listen and simply remove it or put it on the case back.

[@atodaso1668]

@@jamesrobert4106 He has a Richard Mille, that is not fine taste.

[@evh4611]

Two things Grand Seiko needs to address. One is a 40 or 41 mm dive watch. Two is a micro adjustment clasp.

[@siongheeleong8078]

Grand Seiko has officially stated the accuracy of the Kodo Constant Force Tourbillon as +5/-3 seconds per day - that's just the standard Grand Seiko accuracy which they have slapped on. In reality, it runs at around +1/-1 second per day. This was disclosed by a Grand Seiko representative in one of the interviews recorded at Watches & Wonders.

[@victorma990]

i'm certain that any single gs runs well beyond rolex standards, and that rolexs probably can't manage to run within +2/-2 per day

[@ams914]

@@victorma990 Rolex definitely can, but doesn't matter. A lot of brands can. The GS is great.

[@topshelfdustin3300]

if they won't put their money where their mouth is, that's not good enough.

[@gossipopithecus]

The thing is, usually, turbillon watches cannot run with precision. Seiko is exception from the rule.

[@vktravellog1242]

Grand Seiko has knocked it out of the park and is showing the world that it can compete with the best and I love it! Another thing is I like and prefer larger watches because its more legible and easier to read. If the dial is too small you lose a lot of the dial intricacies as well as legibility which is why the diver for an example is large. Its made large for divers to be able to see deep under water and is a functional tool and not a piece that is geared towards watch collectors and their preference of size. Perhaps the solution is to make watches in two sizes, but that will increase cost. I am sure once the brand grows to a certain point, they will be able to offer two sizes if the demand is there.

[@fVNzO]

With a piece like this, I'm sure you're buying it primarily for the movement and not the time keeping so i really don't mind the tiny dial and skeletonized movement. And in general i think that size is not the only measure of legibility. Even more important is just the design, how cluttered it is, how it's polished etc. to provide a legible experience. Sizing is not the primary factor imo.

[@vktravellog1242]

@@fVNzO i agree but most people like the 40mm size but I am fine with 44mm and it fits my wrist perfectly which is 7 1/4 inches. If the dial is too small it starts to look like a woman's watch

[@fVNzO]

@@vktravellog1242 Don't agree with that at all. There are watches made to appeal women who like shiny things and watches made for people with smaller wrists which women generally have. But i never understood the dislike for anyone with larger wrists wearing a small watch. It's just there to tell the time. If you're going for that magazine look where everything has to be proportioned up to look all manly or you just have shotty eyesight etc. That's also fine. But a small watch doth not a womans watch make. It makes no sense. Tis but a watch sire. Innit.

[@GabrielSchlaefer]

Grand Seiko doesn’t need to compete with the best, they simply are the best.

[@chookchack]

Kodo is like 310k USD MSRP, limited to 20pcs and is made by only one person. Crazy.

[@atodaso1668]

Still less than a plastic Richard Mille

[@chookchack]

@@atodaso1668 lol. Not a fan of rm design either.

[@kpkost]

Jesus Christ I want one so hard if there were any way I was wealthy enough for those. Favorite watch Ive ever seen

[@sonnymorgan4680]

A man walks into a bar with a giraffe. They both get pissed. The giraffe falls over. The man goes to leave and the bartender says, 'Oi. You can't leave that lyin' there.' And the man says, 'No. It's not a lion. It's a giraffe.'

[@mitchmitchell9588]

When I read your joke, I laughed out loud. Literally. But I'm an old man and you should be ashamed of yourself for such a terrible dad joke ("oyaji gag" in Japanese).

[@BradyToons]

Grand Seiko continues to innovate and create mind blowing watches unlike I’ve ever seen. Their quality and finishing is unmatched, and the fact you can pick up a snowflake for around just $5,000 excites me on what’s to come next from the brand.

[@Sabundy]

Absolutely!!

[@MostafaTurk90]

5k for a Snowflake? Are you sure it’s genuine?

[@BradyToons]

@@MostafaTurk90 Yep! There’s been multiple snowflakes for sale across watch forums (used of course) but great condition with Box and Papers.

[@MostafaTurk90]

@@BradyToons ok, used

[@ravenoushydra7948]

@@MostafaTurk90 There arent much fakes for Grand seiko. especially not spring drive which is impossible to replicate. other watches u can replicate the whole mechanical movement and only an expert can tell the difference.

[@fenianlewis]

"Title your watches or we will do it for you and will be some type of soft drink" haha this articulates the exact level of annoyance perfectly, had me laughing

[@ScottADunn]

I believe you said it best several months ago. Grand Seiko keeps certain companies in check. I believe that GS will push towards what the big 3 accomplish. That is also a cultural identity, the Japanese strive for perfection in the fields they operate in. If GS really does aim for the Tier that VC, AP and Patek are in, things will be interesting a decade from now.

[@lifeislikeabrokenpencil8796]

The same story with Toyota keeping the bloated European luxury car manufacturers in check in the late 80s with the arrival of the Lexus.

[@backpackmc]

Is it just me, or does it feel like GS is sending not very subtle messages to ALS, AP, PP that there is a serious new participant at the pinnacle of the art and science of watch making? Also, the Koda design with the hours/minutes dial as a subset of the whole face, has distinct echoes of one of the most beautiful Seiko Arctura (SNL001) designed by Jorg Hysek in the 90s. Everyone is weak at the knees nowadays for SpringDrive: but the SNL001 featured a sweeping second hand, in 1997!

[@evh4611]

Yes they are

[@MarcYanOfficial]

I believe they've been here all along. It's just never garnered the attention because it's not a hyped brand like the rest. It's kind of a brand of if you know you know.

[@arapaimagold8088]

And what's the point of having Credor?

[@MrJffranco5777]

The "chattering teeth" analogy absolutely killed me! I love this new format, British humor at its best!

[@melbguy1]

The Kodo is an amazing accomplishment when you consider that no other watch maker in the world has succeeded in building a Constant force tourbillon on the same axis like the 9ST1 calibre

[@joe5boost]

thanks for showing more Seiko , keep up the good work

[@ZenithKappa]

I really like this year’s SBGW285. Love the small case size, the manual winding movement and the absence of the date window on the green dial.

[@christophergan71]

What good is all that zaratsu polishing if it is not legible at night without lume?

[@spslayback]

Do the bracelets still lack micro adjustments or on the wrist adjustments?

[@tonywheelybarrow]

Wow, how sick is that ‘blown’ apart kodo! It’s like a Haynes manual in video for watch repair 😆👍🏼

[@WrongTimeWatch]

I totally agree. GS offers way too many watches, and half of them are too big in diameter. Also most of them are too thick. I have a 36 mm GS and it is 13.5 mm thick, which is too thick.

[@spazz27]

…according to another report, one of the main engineers is also a musician and specifically wanted to add something musical to this watch, hence the 16th note… it was not an accident, it was intentional and very very cool!

[@bfeltovi]

That tourbillon is incredible. I agree with the comment in the pod about naming models. I’m wearing a GS spring drive watch now and I can’t remember the model number. I like that the newly released watches have engraved rehauts, a nice added touch.

[@fao8147]

The sound of the CF tourby is out of this world!!! Sooo peaceful. To me it is a mix of a hi-tech, frenetic 36,000 bpm and the tranquility of my grandfather clock. This is the best of both worlds to me.

[@Gersberms]

I like the power reserve because it's not busy looking or labeled with numbers and divisions. The swoop marking is perfectly understandable and minimalist.

[@PaddyMcMe]

Can someone explain to me why anybody would want the HI-BEAT 36000 White Birch over the inimitable Spring Drive White Birch? I know it's subjective and all but I sincerely believe more than 90% of buyers would consider the dimensions on the Spring Drive version to be more attractive too! I must say though I do love the fact that GS hasn't made the White Birch super exclusive, there's a lot of people like me who have that White Birch as their primary Grail Watch under $10k and I can speak for all of us in saying we're glad that we'll actually be able to find one when we eventually pull the trigger. Unlike SOME brands... ... ...

[@wabalaka1565]

The movement and price

[@bryane2857]

This was made by a X Muscian Master Watch maker. The sound was on purpose from the beginning. He replaced a part of the watch with titanium that makes the ticking sound louder. something like that. No shanigans.

[@SS-rz1oc]

Nice show Any chance we could hear this GS by recording? Thanks

[@finnandrei5745]

Seiko should focus more on Credor. Top tier watch brand that can rival Patek and ALS.

[@WasatchBDC]

That new diver is one of the best looking watches on the market today. Pare it down to even a 41mm (preferably 39 or 40mm) and I'd buy it tomorrow.

[@direng]

Where does Credor fit now?

[@brunors1595]

On the Horological Society of New York channel there is a video called Kodo from a year ago that explains the T0 movement in details, and the 16th note from its designer's musical background

[@romanmechetnerful]

They missed one thing for the constant force tourbillon, the shock protection for the cages. That would have looked much cleaner than seeing the pivot and better. But that just my opinion.

[@beemeotv3866]

i own just a seiko 5 and i wish to God that maybe He could give an opportunity to own even just a second hand grand seiko or a seiko brand that looks so good like the GS...i really like seiko brands because in aesthetic department i think all of its watch belongs to it and the quality is really good...

[@kesfitzgerald1084]

This is a great format. Thank you Chaps.

[@Wafflelover344]

What does the swiss say at 15:03?

[@marcusaurelius49]

Nice chat and stunning images of these divine watches. Now I just need to win the lotto to afford one.

[@WatchDanReviews]

I sort of wonder if the split lugs somehow help to reverberate/enhance that “heartbeat”?

[@duckmcf]

Just great, more GMT’s from GS with fixed bezels. Would it kill them to put a rotating bezel on at least some of the smaller cased models? Fixed bezels would make sense If the GS GMT movements had an independent 24hr hand, but they don’t. So to change the 24 hour hand time zone you have to hack the watch, change the 24 hr hand and then adjust the 12 hr hand to your local time zone. If it had a rotating bezel, you’d keep the 24hr hand on the GMT / UTC / Zulu time zone, and just spin the bezel if you need to know the time in, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, etc., etc. I’ve had a Rolex 16710 GMT-II for ~20 years and it’s perfect for me in terms of fit and function, but I’m fed up with Rolex and I’d love to retire it from daily duty, but not for just any watch. GS almost makes my personal perfect watch. Take a SBGN005, put a rotating 24hr bezel on it, and we’re done. It’d be the perfect diameter, thin as hell, with a HAQ movement that’s good for +/- 10 seconds per year, and I’m not even put off by the battery changes every three years as it’d be the perfect interval for a water resistance test. GS, if you’re reading this, just DO IT… kind regards, someone that just wants to give you some money…

[@suheilkaspar8885]

Beside the ingenuity. And one of the main reasons why Seiko is the best watch maker, is that they still respect the original purpose of wearing a watch, namely to keep track of the time. And that's why they make long Minute Hands that cover the full length of the endicies when they pass over them. I love that, because Legibility is very important. At the same time I hate Casio among others, for using short Minute Hands, for which I can't find any reason, except stupidity.

[@agar2134]

The GS kodo ticks sounds like EYE OF THE TIGER 🐯🐯

[@realalexmackenzie]

What do you mean the GS Diver is too big?? 44mm is perfect for a diver. Even up to 45mm! I have large wrists and I'm quite tall, so a 41mm looks comical on me.

[@drosophilamelanogaster4262]

What do people have against power reserve on the dial? I quite like it.

[@markiangooley]

I understand that is physically possible to fit a highly accurate atomic clock into a watch case. Seiko should give it a try.

[@ralph332]

Thanks again guys for a great vid

[@SRADracer]

@4:00. So many choices that look very similar. That is the Japanese way of perfection. Non Japanese people don’t understand that.

[@mattc3929]

Biggest watch regret is not buying a GS at 35% off from an AD 3 years ago before they became boutique exclusive.

[@stormyb3739]

This is like the Lexus LFA of watches

[@endautrestermes]

As much as I like the casial conversations around specific events such as the moonswatch, I am sort of missing the original format here...

[@GhostJohnson]

I believe the artist behind it is also a musician so it was very important to him that the sound of the watch is comforting, so that's why it makes that sound.

[@gunstarhero8028]

I don't watch your channel much. But this format is a lot of fun to watch/listen to.

[@gordonfreeman4491]

In every episode, I press "like" within 3 sec and I have never been disappointed. Good job!

[@201950201950]

I hope you guys make a few episodes of the watches featured in this episode.

[@enriquealvarez4702]

Having an 8 inch wrist, I like the fact that these watches actually fit my wrist. That diver looks amazing.

[@leander9263]

why does a power reserve ruin a dial? I would like to know the story / reasons as it's intreguing please!

[@stevefox8605]

GS never disappoint. Awesome. Thanks Gentlemen 👍🏻👍🏻

[@richdell1]

GS hit a homerun with WW and this piece. Love their brand, love their culture, and cannot wait to buy another!

[@jasonsmith4114]

The Kodo constant force might the most beautiful watch I've ever seen.

[@moneymikz]

Not like it matters unless GS starts accepting mortgage applications, but I would gladly sacrifice a few days of power reserve for a nice sweeping secondhand. The actual time telling feel secondary on the Kodo, beautiful as it is

[@AvroBellow]

Ok, so Tom's just hanging around but what's the chrome-dome's name? LOL

[@artbanks27]

I just noticed the kodo barrels are shaped in a tomoe symbol. Great attention to detail by seiko.

[@artbanks27]

Also the movement got it's own symbol. Neat

[@conork325]

The pencil and digital renderings were nice. Now I'll have a look for an actual pic of the real thing.

[@brianmccarthy7768]

There is a video on KZbin of the sound the movement makes. It sounds great, a 16th note rhythmic pattern, like Nile Rodgers playing a muted guitar. If my heart sounded like that I would be straight down the cardiologist's

[@joea6662]

It’s very exciting times for Seiko. I’m in the market for a pre-owned GS and there are a ton of nice models, but it is overwhelming and they all look the same after a while. Keep up the great content!

[@kennetha.1937]

let me know if you need any help deciding on a model! I'd love to help out!

[@liquidtunes]

@@kennetha.1937 I’ll take you up on the offer. I like the SBGV245, SBGA415/3. All light dials, the former for the case design and colour, the latter ones for being beautifully charming. I’m in no rush though and am wondering when the next releases will be. Missed the boat on buying the SBGV245 new. Do you have any recommendations? Not too warmed up to sunburst/solid faces.

[@shadyyam2488]

grand Seiko might as well just be the greatest watchmaker of all time with the way they rolling

[@ronochow]

Saw the constant force video, and was completely captivated by how it looked

[@akinigiri]

Turns out the watchmaker that made the Kodo was a world touring musician, so the sound was seriously considered by him. According to a Teddy video

[@insiditious6203]

That Grand Seiko tourbillon skeleton is hands down the nicest watch I have ever seen.. if I ever have money to the point where I don’t know what to do with it, I will track one of these down and buy it

[@sinantuna2859]

Constant force tourbillon isn't ground-breaking, but it is true high horology. Also, the watch is very handsome, looks complex, and that has to be one of the best looking tourbillons I've seen aesthetically.

[@ilikeitalot6955]

Please check out the latest Grand Seiko sbgw 289 with the slightly pink dial. Limited, only 1200 pieces, 36.5 mm. Hope you can make a video of this watch.

[@somedigitalist7681]

The reason that Grand Seiko makes two similar but not the same white birch models is that, under the surface, Grand Seiko is actually basically two watch companies, not one. The part of Grand Seiko that makes mechanical watches is organized under Seiko Instruments Inc. while the part that makes quartz and spring drive models is organized under Seiko Epson. Each half manufacturers its own complete GS models start to finish with little to no crossover, so there would have been no benefit to the spring drive department to use the same dimensions as the mechanical white birch, since they'd be made in a separate manufacturing chain anyway.

[@Heist1000]

Reads like an utter waste of resources and complete economic inefficiency.

[@arapaimagold8088]

Those 2 factories used to compete with their own original idea. Until today a one dial was used by both of them. Remember Snowflake vs Iwate.

[@rpersaud562]

i feel like Grand Seiko and Tudor have the largest social media influencer budget out of all the watchmakers. they are literally everywhere online.

[@xx1j]

@5:06 Patek Philippe pretty much does that for a living 😂

[@wastedaga1n]

The Kodo looks like a Credor watch more so than a Grand Seiko design.

[@Q.Q.]

What about Casio. How did they do at the show?...

[@waiwaitours6167]

Hi Watchfinder I love GS. Many decade ago, Japanese craftsmen made mechanical dolls for local nobles and warlords. This is watch version we call it force tourbillon exposing inner making of the watch. So did GS achieve "Beautiful ness" in Japanese craftsmanship? I must say GS craftsmanship shows each components steal quality/polishing, fitness are all in harmony. The first sight impress cleanness and beautifully comes together like the Japanese sword. Can we meditate on this? Can we say "Beautiful" in poetic way? If so, this is truly the master piece.

[@TheCrumbleOne]

Man, I wish I could get my hands on the Kodo.

[@robertreynolds6725]

Woooo hoooo another vid! Love this channel

[@Leartech81]

350k for a watch? Don't get me wrong- I love watches, and the Kodo is beautiful, but costs more than an entire home here in Indiana.

[@MajeZN]

Please have a look at the video with Joe kirk explaining the design of the Kudo. The sound was thought hard about and not a biproduct 😄 but other than that thank you guys for that amazing content!

[@lazz3107]

One could call the title of this video controversial. Also the GS White lion reminds me of AP Royal oak concept watches.

[@Terry-hf3cn]

If you put your ear to the watch you can hear the beats, Very cool nice watch.

[@Koloherides]

I have 2 seiko and both have day/date sold my white face Daytona. bad time keeper now I have both divers and love them both one is the tuna keeps time to the sec for months the is the small skx013 no longing making. both not for sale.

[@TTTzzzz]

The back outside KODA watch screws are not aligned with the circumference! Disappointing.

[@Foxrock321]

So how much do I need to shell out for a White Lion?

[@menaseven9093]

Awesome Grand Seiko Kodo Constant Force

[@nameyourchannel7844]

That Kodo is gorgeous.

[@anthonystevens8683]

I do wonder if Grand Seiko had anything to do with the latest Mad Max movie as it's all seems to be very steam punk in some areas. I love the mechanical innovation although as mentioned I'm somewhat unsure if the sound of the escapement was by design or err... result.

[@fourlakes]

Can we get rid of the background music? It's so quiet it is a distraction because I'm constantly trying to figure out if the noise is from the video or from elsewhere in my house...

[@tinderella2386]

That is without doubt the most beautiful and incredible watch I’ve ever seen.

[@michaelphillips5263]

You think GS has an overwhelming collection of similar-looking watches? Have you taken a look at the Omega Speedmasters lately? (PS -- Get a great kick out of your website. Cheers!)

[@spencerhan7995]

Did they commission that for the Predator? What a design. I want what he's smokin lol

[@dr.kevinmoore8889]

I don't think you're right about the heartbeat. I think it was deliberate.