Grand Seiko service in US

[ctkjjk]

I Purchased secondhand but in great condition an SBGJ237, and it still has a year and a half on the warranty card. Got a great deal of Nakano Broadway for about 45% off MSRP, a watched looked like it had never been worn.

I have the warranty card and the crown was sticking so I reached out to GrandSeiko US service. They told me I have to send in the watch, the original warranty card, and when I sent a picture of my warranty card bingo. They said that card is only valid in Japan and I should’ve been given an international warranty card.

A couple of questions to anyone who has used GrandSeiko service in the US.

Have you had a good experience? I’m afraid they will lose my warranty card if I send it in but I don’t have a choice.

The service website seems confusing. It doesn’t have an option to send in the watch for warranty service, you check boxes to pay say $550 for a movement work over and check up. I don’t even see an option for warranty service. I guess I have to pay to send the watch to them in New Jersey.

Has anyone run into this issue with the “international“ warranty card?

Customer Service did reply in email to me saying they will update the warranty status when I mail it in Seems a little complicated for what should be an international watch brand.

Any and all advice appreciated. Thanks from Texas.

Ps. I absolutely love the watch.
I’m no good at uploading pictures

[bondtoys]

Ask your japanese seller for an international Warranty card?

[Old Expat Beast]

The JDM Grand Seiko SBGT235 I bought in Japan in 2018 came with a three year international warranty (as stated on the paperwork). It should say on yours (in English) if it's Japan only or international.

[Gebbeth]

Word of warning on GS US Service Center. I believe this is located in New Jersey.

I do not know what they do and don't do. I sent my brand new Night Birch to my AD for a repair. They said they sent it to NJ. Then NJ sent it to Japan. No explanation was given as to why, and I was not notified of the status of the watch at any point in the process (i.e., no notice that they received the watch, that they were sending it to Japan, nor any ETA about how long it would take).

It ended up being a 6 month process. No joke.

I have the SBGJ239, which is the green dial version of your watch. The warranty documentation I got with that watch does not match the information requirements that you find on the GS website. They've switched up how the warranty paperwork looks and the information required to be inputed in the site, so I have no idea how the whole process is supposed to work anymore for watches with the older warranty paperwork and information.

It's been a really confusing, and frustrating, process. But if your watch needs work, then I don't know how else you can get any work done on a GS.

[SoTaxLaw]

I have 2 GS watches that are new enough to not need servicing. I remember the dealer saying that NJ was indeed the US service center and that those services are limited. For example, no zaratsu polishing is done there. I think you’ll eventually have to look to Japan for service on most of these watches.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by SoTaxLaw

I have 2 GS watches that are new enough to not need servicing. I remember the dealer saying that NJ was indeed the US service center and that those services are limited. For example, no zaratsu polishing is done there. I think you’ll eventually have to look to Japan for service on most of these watches.

It's one of the considerations I took on board when I purchased my first GS here in OZ.
The movement service is only performed in Japan which is fine by me and I hope their service work is as good as their manufacture. To my way of thinking, having all work performed at the mothership is somewhat comforting.
Zaratsu polishing is indeed only performed in Japan, although i understand that a sympathetic freshen up of the polishing is possible in the US service center along with movement servicing

Back on topic.
It seems the OP has no other option but to pay up regardless and if the watch could do with a Zaratsu polish then I would personally not hesitate to go with the Japanese connection and be done with it.

[ctkjjk]

Thank you. It sounds like all I can do is mail it into New Jersey as they mentioned and hope for the best. Apparently the warranty is Japan only. Did not get an international warranty card.

But it’s a minor repair and can wait, I’ll probably do it just before the end of the warranty expiration Next year, that way, if it’s something major and Hass to be sent back to Japan at least I won’t have to pay for it!

Definitely a downside of GrandSeiko that I did not foresee. But I love the watch so it’s such a great value for a high-quality watch. I’ll take the hassle! It was great find in Nakano Broadway in Feb trip to Tokyo, so when are nice watches, ever easy! This is definitely not a sport for the weak at heart