New Hodinkee Article About GS Direction in the USA

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

SBGR 305, I‘ve just sold mine

It is a beauty! My only GS currently but damn its nice.

[locutus49]

Thank you very much. I now crave a Credor.

Originally Posted by SUPERDOC

credor is a separate line altogether - tudor-rolex is a fair analogy, but it is more like Mercedes and Maybach..

Credor represents the pinnacle in Japanese watch making.. on par with ALS, and PP grand complications...

in Credor you get enamel dials, minute repeaters, tourbillons , and 6 figure prices...

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by imperio

That is interesting. Where did you get the info on GS production numbers?

Oh, from a good few years ago.
Back then (2014?), I read something by someone who’d managed to meet with Hattori san, and in the Q&A it was mentioned that Seiko was working towards increasing production (by training more watchmakers) over the course of the following years. A figure of 16K was mentioned*, as what they were aiming for — so take the number I mentioned as an extrapolation and guesstimate.
The main thing to take away from it is that GS will never be at the sort of production numbers those other 5 mentioned, and possibly not even at Patek level either.
If my number is remotely accurate, then they’re still behind Vacheron’s output, which is around half that of Patek.

* At the time, that would’ve encompassed GS, Credor, Galante, and LEs from the MarineMaster range, as Ananta (the precursor to GSes being exported officially) had been discontinued.
All those were assembled by hand, everything else being mostly machine assembled.
I’ve always presumed the quartz GSes numbers are not included and the figures referring to mechanicals only, inc. Spring Drive.

[benlee]

I have bought 4 Grand Seiko within the last 2 years. They are spectacular quality timepiece for their price. I am confident they will do well as they have quality. But quality is often not sufficient for success in luxury watch business. They also need the marketing, and better dealership and infrastructure support in certain markets.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by PJ S

Oh, from a good few years ago.
Back then (2014?), I read something by someone who’d managed to meet with Hattori san, and in the Q&A it was mentioned that Seiko was working towards increasing production (by training more watchmakers) over the course of the following years. A figure of 16K was mentioned*, as what they were aiming for — so take the number I mentioned as an extrapolation and guesstimate.
The main thing to take away from it is that GS will never be at the sort of production numbers those other 5 mentioned, and possibly not even at Patek level either.
If my number is remotely accurate, then they’re still behind Vacheron’s output, which is around half that of Patek.

* At the time, that would’ve encompassed GS, Credor, Galante, and LEs from the MarineMaster range, as Ananta (the precursor to GSes being exported officially) had been discontinued.
All those were assembled by hand, everything else being mostly machine assembled.
I’ve always presumed the quartz GSes numbers are not included and the figures referring to mechanicals only, inc. Spring Drive.

One of the things I really appreciate about GS is their low production numbers- to me this indicates greater hands on manufacturing versus machine .
Quality hands on craftsmanship, to me, makes for a truly high end timepiece.
The Hodinkee article was very interesting!

[tyler1980]

seems as they are already expanding the dealer network. Ben Bridge (in Houston anyway) started carrying them. Tried some on a few weeks ago.

How they are displayed however, when its probably in the top 2 brands the location even carries is another story. You can get one more easily now, but that image is still there just in how the AD decided to display it.... In the back sharing display space with TAG or something

[Homo Sapien X]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Sounds like ROlex's marketing worked.

After owning a few Rolexes, I started to drool over GS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[YMII]

My entry into the world of luxury watches was Rolex. But since my first Grand Seiko I'm excited about GS. Here are people who love detail are much more commanding and that comparatively (still) extremely cheap prices.

[the_natural]

Originally Posted by Homo Sapien X

After owning a few Rolexes, I started to drool over GS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ditto. Sold my Rolex and no going back anytime soon (though I haven't gotten a GS yet). GS ruined Rolex for me.

[psv]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Sounds like ROlex's marketing worked.

Funny enough comment, but this was way before I was exposed to most of any Rolex marketing. Rolex Submariner was the coolest watch I knew and that is why I wanted one. That first love doesn’t change, even after I’ve own/owned various Patek, AP, Seiko, JLC, IWC, and many more. I’m sure I’ll own and appreciate a Grand Seiko at some point, but that doesn’t change the fact it has never been a watch/brand that I dreamed about owning. Make sense?

[tom2517]

I got a mixed feelings about this. On one hand, yes it's great for GS to move even more upscale, but I am questioning some of the pricing of the watches now.

As some of you may know I have the GS platinum 8 days and is a fan of the Credor Eichi II. Both watch has superlative finishing and one can easily argue that's why they were priced as such, 50k+. But the recent platinum VFA and USA limited edition had me scratching my head. Both are also priced at 50k+. Neither watch has the Dufour level finishing. Yes I read some literature that said VFA required one month of adjusting, but to me that's hearsay, I have always been suspicious of any marketing talk. There is no third party to verify that it took one month to adjust, it might only took the technician five minutes to adjust for all I know. At least on the 8 days and Eichi II I can see the work put into the beveling and polishing of other parts of the watch. VFA? Not something I can see.

As for the USA limited edition, again the literature said the dial has a special finish, but at same price level as the Eichi II? Must be one heck of a dial.

I don't know, 50k for a Micro Artist Studio produced movement is something I can accept, but 50k for a standard GS movement (granted they were adjusted more finely and one has a fancy dial) is a bit of a reach for me.

But good luck to GS nonetheless, if they can pull it off, it's good for GS owners everywhere.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by psv

Funny enough comment, but this was way before I was exposed to most of any Rolex marketing. Rolex Submariner was the coolest watch I knew and that is why I wanted one. That first love doesn’t change, even after I’ve own/owned various Patek, AP, Seiko, JLC, IWC, and many more. I’m sure I’ll own and appreciate a Grand Seiko at some point, but that doesn’t change the fact it has never been a watch/brand that I dreamed about owning. Make sense?

No, the funny thing about good marketing is that you don’t even know it’s working on you.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by pickettt

No, the funny thing about good marketing is that you don’t even know it’s working on you.

True

[SSCosmo]

I agree with this. I bought my first GS about 4 years ago and at the time, the main reason was they offered a lot more watch for the money compared to other brands. Over the past 4 years, I've watched the prices for their watches slowly start to creep up, including prices for some of the newer Seiko Prospex divers. Seiko/GS still offer a lot of watch for the money and I'm glad it's getting more appreciation around the world, but if the continue to go in this direction, they risk losing the primary appeal they offer for a lot of buyers.

I also don't get the prices they asked for the VFA release. Maybe they just didn't communicate what went into making that watch very well, but I'd much rather get the gold 8-day spring drive for about the same price.

Originally Posted by tom2517

I got a mixed feelings about this. On one hand, yes it's great for GS to move even more upscale, but I am questioning some of the pricing of the watches now.

As some of you may know I have the GS platinum 8 days and is a fan of the Credor Eichi II. Both watch has superlative finishing and one can easily argue that's why they were priced as such, 50k+. But the recent platinum VFA and USA limited edition had me scratching my head. Both are also priced at 50k+. Neither watch has the Dufour level finishing. Yes I read some literature that said VFA required one month of adjusting, but to me that's hearsay, I have always been suspicious of any marketing talk. There is no third party to verify that it took one month to adjust, it might only took the technician five minutes to adjust for all I know. At least on the 8 days and Eichi II I can see the work put into the beveling and polishing of other parts of the watch. VFA? Not something I can see.

As for the USA limited edition, again the literature said the dial has a special finish, but at same price level as the Eichi II? Must be one heck of a dial.

I don't know, 50k for a Micro Artist Studio produced movement is something I can accept, but 50k for a standard GS movement (granted they were adjusted more finely and one has a fancy dial) is a bit of a reach for me.

But good luck to GS nonetheless, if they can pull it off, it's good for GS owners everywhere.

[yannis]

Thanks for sharing Adam, great read, great brand and a well made decision to step up!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

seems as they are already expanding the dealer network. Ben Bridge (in Houston anyway) started carrying them. Tried some on a few weeks ago.

How they are displayed however, when its probably in the top 2 brands the location even carries is another story. You can get one more easily now, but that image is still there just in how the AD decided to display it.... In the back sharing display space with TAG or something

I agree. Fine watches but the “display” marketing needs work