Is Seiko GS better finished than a Rolex?

[Jim Smyth]

That hand at the 7 o'clock position is called a gas gauge. It shows you how much spring reserve is left in the automatic feature. Some people dont like it because they think it clutters the face. I like it since it tells me if it needs a wind when I switch watches when it sits for a few days. However with my GS model I get 72 hours reserve.

[TimeToWatch]

Perhaps. At the end of the day, however, it’s still a Seiko and a Rolex is well, Rolex.

[Raza_actual]

Having looked at the two up close—and before I was a Rolex owner—I don’t think I can say so. I mean, sure, the dial and hands are very pretty on GS, but it’s not like Rolex is any less flawless in that department. I’ve looked at my Submariner through a macro lens and it’s shocking to me how I can’t find any imperfections.

If you ask me, and technically you did, I think the fact that GS bracelets never seem to fit properly to the case—Tudor does it better, let alone Rolex—takes it out of contention for me. There was that video making the rounds where that British guy compares a GS to a Rolex GMTII and it’s plain as day that the bracelet just doesn’t fit to the case very well. My 40 year old, folded link Speedmaster 1171 bracelet fits about the same. That’s a major problem for me.

So while GS may execute some details in a finer fashion (like the dial finishing), I can’t say overall that they’re better finished than Rolex. At least not the ones I’ve seen. Don’t get me wrong—GS makes excellent watches. They’re not to my taste aesthetically, but that’s neither here nor there. I think there’s a bit of David and Goliath here, where people feel the need to wax poetically about GS because it’s the underdog compared to Rolex and that’s sort of caught on.

[Raza_actual]

Originally Posted by farscott

In my view, the average Grand Seiko is better finished than the average Rolex. But Rolex almost never spends a lot of time on movement finish because the average customer will never see the movement. If Rolex wants to do so, they can finish as well as anyone. Here is an example (stock photo).

The white gold version of that sets my heart aflame.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Raza_actual

Having looked at the two up close—and before I was a Rolex owner—I don’t think I can say so. I mean, sure, the dial and hands are very pretty on GS, but it’s not like Rolex is any less flawless in that department. I’ve looked at my Submariner through a macro lens and it’s shocking to me how I can’t find any imperfections.

If you ask me, and technically you did, I think the fact that GS bracelets never seem to fit properly to the case—Tudor does it better, let alone Rolex—takes it out of contention for me. There was that video making the rounds where that British guy compares a GS to a Rolex GMTII and it’s plain as day that the bracelet just doesn’t fit to the case very well. My 40 year old, folded link Speedmaster 1171 bracelet fits about the same. That’s a major problem for me.

So while GS may execute some details in a finer fashion (like the dial finishing), I can’t say overall that they’re better finished than Rolex. At least not the ones I’ve seen. Don’t get me wrong—GS makes excellent watches. They’re not to my taste aesthetically, but that’s neither here nor there. I think there’s a bit of David and Goliath here, where people feel the need to wax poetically about GS because it’s the underdog compared to Rolex and that’s sort of caught on.

There was a discussion about GS bracelets here the other day. https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=590338

[HogwldFLTR]

Really I have no interest in owning GS. Zero, zilch, none. Sorry, very pretty but they do nothing for me from a visceral POV. Good lick with your GSs to all the forum owners!!!!

[cht]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Yes. Not even close. Dials and hands are where GS really shines but also bests Rolex in movement finishing...

Doesn’t matter because many of their offerings are overly thick and aesthetically uninspired.

If Rolex could hire all the people at GS and retain their classic designs and proportions we’d be in the money!

Agree, I think it's also a QC issue too at this point, Rolex focus is profit, marketing and volume, quality has taken a slight backseat to these unfortunately.

Has anyone seen QC issues on a GS yet?

Maybe the production numbers are too low, but I haven't seen one yet.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by Jim Smyth

That hand at the 7 o'clock position is called a gas gauge. It shows you how much spring reserve is left in the automatic feature. Some people dont like it because they think it clutters the face. I like it since it tells me if it needs a wind when I switch watches when it sits for a few days. However with my GS model I get 72 hours reserve.

IMO, I think this complication is more useful on a manual winding watch than an automatic one.

A GS without this complication will look cleaner, and I'm a big fan of simplicity on a watch