What is the difference in quality between a Rolex and a Seiko automatic watch?

[RolexRog]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Funny thing.
Both of my Superlative Rolex watches run the worst out of any that came before them except my 5513 which was my gateway Rolex from way back in the day.
My current watches are still within the Superlative tolerance, but the others that were COSC were much much better.
But i'm still very happy with them.

Out of all my Rolex watches, the one that keeps the best time (besides the Oysterquartz, of course) is a 1966 Oyster perpetual. The rest run a little fast or a little slow.

[~Ocho1~]

I'm late to the game here, & I'm sure as hell not reading all previous post, so I apologize if it's been said, but it's like asking what's the difference in quality between a Toyota & Mercedes.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by ~Ocho1~

I'm late to the game here, & I'm sure as hell not reading all previous post, so I apologize if it's been said, but it's like asking what's the difference in quality between a Toyota & Mercedes.

Do you mean the Grand Seiko must be like a Toyota ?
Toyota outclasses Mercedes in every quality/ reliability list available on the web and not by a little bit.
More prestige is not necessarily better.

[TheMethod]

Originally Posted by BraveBold

Exactly.

Still a great movement but not mechanically regulated.

Mechanical vs mechanical, Rolex movements are superior.

What about the Hi-Beat 36000 movement? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXScB5mY6e0

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by RolexRog

Out of all my Rolex watches, the one that keeps the best time (besides the Oysterquartz, of course) is a 1966 Oyster perpetual. The rest run a little fast or a little slow.

Cool story. I have a 1958 OP, that runs very well, after servicing. My son wears it. The size is great for him, at 34 mm. He likes that it’s smaller, light weight, and does not interfere with his professional Sax playing, which is his full time USAF gig.

Kat


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[S’portEye]

Originally Posted by joli160

Do you mean the Grand Seiko must be like a Toyota ?
Toyota outclasses Mercedes in every quality/ reliability list available on the web and not by a little bit.
More prestige is not necessarily better.

Come on buddy. Toyota is no Mercedes. Interior design and ride comfort is not even comparable.

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by S’portEye

Come on buddy. Toyota is no Mercedes. Interior design and ride comfort is not even comparable.

Google the Toyota Century, they sell for around $200k and are comparable to Rolls Royce

[BraveBold]

Originally Posted by TheMethod

What about the Hi-Beat 36000 movement? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXScB5mY6e0

Yes, the 9SA5 movement is inferior to Rolex movements. That is actually a good example of how superior Rolex movements are…

The 9SA5 is relatively unreliable, has extensive documented issues with accuracy and consistency, and in terms of performance specs (often not met) is inferior in its timekeeping ability +8/-1 or +5/-3.

[thegrandseirolexguy]

Where Rolex is qualitatively better:

1) bracelets
2) daily accuracy
3) completeness & quality of movement finish (both decorative & functional)
4) manufacturing tolerances of bracelet end link to case
5) after sales service network
6) Quality and ease of servicing of the watch itself at an RSC
7) bezel alignment
8) daily precision

Where Grand Seiko is qualitatively better

1) case finishing
2) dial finishing
3) dial markers
4) hands
5) 9SA5 movement finish (functional & decorative) has improved over the previous generation 9S85, on the surface level anyway. I’d say it is comparable to a Rolex 32xx now (on the surface, anyway).

Having seen the 9S85 stripped down before, it’s definitely not as well as or as completely finished as a Rolex 32xx series.

No mention of the cheaper Seiko range which is competing in a completely different target market and price bracket. They’re nowhere near the qualitative standards of GS and Rolex.


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[~Ocho1~]

Originally Posted by joli160

Do you mean the Grand Seiko must be like a Toyota ?
Toyota outclasses Mercedes in every quality/ reliability list available on the web and not by a little bit.
More prestige is not necessarily better.

What I mean is that Seiko, just like Toyota make great watches. Anytime a non-watch person ask my advice on what budget watch to purchase I always say Seiko.

And who the hell in their right mind would pay $200k for a Toyota?!?!?

[dtwer]

I really don't think one can compare Rolex with Seiko. The prices being so different that no brand can realistically overcome that gap. Seiko can't build something with $100 margin to compete with one that has $5K margin; financially it doesn't work.

The more appropriate comparison would have been Rolex vs GS. In this game, I think GS is giving Rolex a run for its money.

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by ~Ocho1~

And who the hell in their right mind would pay $200k for a Toyota?!?!?

Lots of people, probably not in the US where flash is king, look at the Century specs

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have to agree and in many ways the Seiko Grand range was superior to any of the Rolex range.Thats why todays Swiss COSC was founded because the Grand Seiko watches were winning all the competitions. But it's almost impossible to find any detail about the last few years of the Observatory Chronometer competition held in Neuchatel from 1967 on, probably because Seiko destroyed the Swiss, and the competition was never held again. Girard-Perregaux won the competition with a specially constructed one off movement, and Seiko came second with a standard straight of production Grand Seiko and following years came first.

In 1971 observatory competitions in Neuchâtel were suspended indefinitely after a petition and then the threat of boycott by several prestigious Swiss wristwatch manufacturers, because Seiko had begun to dominate the results, winning two years in succession. It wasn't the arrival of quartz which brought mechanical accuracy competitions in Switzerland to an end, but IMHO losing a fair fight to Japan Seiko in 1972 the Swiss COSC was founded for testing Swiss made watches only.

Brilliant summary of history Peter, thanks

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by ~Ocho1~

What I mean is that Seiko, just like Toyota make great watches. Anytime a non-watch person ask my advice on what budget watch to purchase I always say Seiko.

And who the hell in their right mind would pay $200k for a Toyota?!?!?

Google the specs on Toyota Century

[S’portEye]

Originally Posted by East of Eden

Google the Toyota Century, they sell for around $200k and are comparable to Rolls Royce

Yes, I know about it. To my knowledge it’s not available in the US. Even still, I stand by my comment.

[Victor Cohen]

Originally Posted by amphr1

Like comparing a Toyota Camry to a Porsch 911, a hot dog to prime ribs, a flip phone to an iphone.

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It's funny the way we all perceive watchmakers and the analogy we can draw with the automotive world.

Rolex is a brand I love with great models, but what comes to mind when I think of Rolex is rather robustness, comfort, longevity, classic design, measured innovation, industrial power and mass production.

I'd compare Rolex to the Volkswagen of watchmakers rather than Porsche, which would go better with Richard Mille, for example.

Again, this is just a personal view.

[sgt10p]

More trashing 32xx movements. Mine runs better than my Seiko Kinetic over a month. Any variation is down to position associated with activity which balances out. Superb.

[gamingdoctor]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have to agree and in many ways the Seiko Grand range was superior to any of the Rolex range.Thats why todays Swiss COSC was founded because the Grand Seiko watches were winning all the competitions. But it's almost impossible to find any detail about the last few years of the Observatory Chronometer competition held in Neuchatel from 1967 on, probably because Seiko destroyed the Swiss, and the competition was never held again. Girard-Perregaux won the competition with a specially constructed one off movement, and Seiko came second with a standard straight of production Grand Seiko and following years came first.

In 1971 observatory competitions in Neuchâtel were suspended indefinitely after a petition and then the threat of boycott by several prestigious Swiss wristwatch manufacturers, because Seiko had begun to dominate the results, winning two years in succession. It wasn't the arrival of quartz which brought mechanical accuracy competitions in Switzerland to an end, but IMHO losing a fair fight to Japan Seiko in 1972 the Swiss COSC was founded for testing Swiss made watches only.

This is good to know.

Basically the equivalent of taking the ball and going home.