It is sad to see a "watch reviewer" pass on all the details that make a watch exceptionally well made: - The applied markers are multi-faceted to reflect light in incredible ways - The hands are not "like other Seiko watches" they are brushed, the seconds hand is black mirror finished. Quote a Seiko watch that has this work done - The bezel is not ceramic (due to the shattering that can occur with that material) rather Diamond-Like Carbon coated (DLC) with exceptional hardness (not matching ceramic but not shattering either) - Failure to understand the genius of Spring Drive - Failure to spot that the bracelet edges are chamfered and polished (extra cost) and very nice on the wrist - Failure to spot that (unlike the Rolex) the bezel edges are polished on the inside and brushed on the outside (a lot of work) - Failure to understand that a case such as the Rolex is just a press metal cut vs the rounded case sides on this watch that require a lot of time and effort to achieve let alone polish to this level - Failure to spot that the dial is not just painted but has a rough textured surface achieved by mouth-spraying paint to better absorb light The list is endless. When "reviewing" a watch one can't just look at it at say what he sees/understands but rather have the knowledge to see what work is involved in achieving the resulting product. Really, really low-level work, sorry.

Fantastic review. I've been looking forward to this vid for a while, this GS is one of my absolute favorites.

Really enjoy your perspective and reviews. Keep up the great work. Have a happy 2020!

Great video. Glad you’re back, Guy.

at 28:00, GS anti-reflective certainly works well, GS black dial looks so much darker.

Guy this is a fantastic review and comparison. Thank you for this.

As a owner of the snowflake I can say this thing is a marvel of a movement

Thanks for the informative review. It’s always good to see your enthusiasm for various watches. Like you, I like the power reserve indicator however, thanks again!

Another well rounded, complete and through review Guy. Not a big GS fan myself, but an outstanding job as always.

Amazing watch. Wish they made this in 39-40mm.

As always awesome honest review. Great looking GS Diver beastie.

It’s gorgeous

Great review as usual. I'm personally curious if the finish is better on the GS under a loop. Is there a macro lens in your future...?

Saratzu is the Japanese name for the Sallaz polishing technique created and perfected by ... Swiss and German watchmakers. Saratzu comes from the German word for Sallaz: "Saratz". Some brands other than Seiko, use it (including Citizen and Minase) but Seiko is just hyping it more, even making some people think they are the only one using this "Japanese traditional technique". From Fratello: "It is a substrate preparation technique for achieving accurate mirror surface processing. It is a rare hand polishing technique that few craftsmen can perform well. Sallaz polishing is the pinnacle of delicate work requiring about 50 processes taking no less than 15 hours to complete a single watch".

Great review as always

Honest review. Thank you.

Your video of the Seamaster is a very useful one. Thank you. Let's see this Grand Seiko.

Unrelated: Guy, since you said you also love the piece it may interest you to know that I just bought the outgoing waveless Omega SMPc in blue as my new daily and now only mechanical watch. Absolutely brilliant piece all around. One heck of a watch, and although I love the Speedy I felt it would have been more of a drawer-warrior. So, I went for the SMP. Couldn’t be happier. Thanks for all the great content as always.

Just bought mine yesterday. Love GS

Hi Guy. Do you have an Amazon.ca affiliate link? Some think in the US version cannot ship to Canada.

You make great videos.

That inch of adjustment in the clasp is not really meant for micro adjusting daily, it's meant for diving. As you put on your neoprene diving suit, you can open up the adjustment so you can shove the watch over the thick neoprene sleeve. Sadly, many diver's watches nowadays don't have this function (such as the SKX) as the diver's watch has become fashionable instead of functional. The function of a diver's watch has been taken over by a diving computer, although diver's watches are still used as backup by some. I think it's good to see it on this watch, showing that the designers still recognize the roots of this style of watch.

I appreciate the honest review.. As for the bezel alignment being off, it's likely why it is the last stock of that piece that the AD carries. It's best to see these watches in person prior to buying.

Nice review

Beautiful piece!

Glad to see you back, Guy! I do think the Grand Seiko is a better value and I actually like the older GS with the Seiko logo. I’ve always heard that they wear much smaller than their dimensions and you could definitely see that on your wrist. I really don’t think you could go wrong with either the Rolex or GS.

Hello Guy, I'm a subscriber from germany and I like your reviews very much. You kind of remind me a little bit of Silent Bob. That's very sympathetic! :-) Keep going!

Hi Guy, yep bezel is acrylic and I had the same watch for a year and scratches super easy. I found my one was .3 fast regardless what I did to it.. beautiful watch

Great comparison of the two. It’s hard to put anything up against a spring drive on accuracy. I get your point on the clasp but I never have to let my bracelets out even in AL. (Ok. Maybe once or twice). It is a great Rolex alternative to stay bellow the radar. You can even get a second Seiko dress watch and a field watch (sarbo17) for the same price as the Rolly.

Thx for the information, you are always thorough in your reviews. I was wondering about Seiko's repair. Is it true they are sent to Japan? If so what time frame do they quote. I really liked the GS on the wrist. I would miss the Cyclops though, my eyes love that feature.

That's a really nice smooth seconds hand tbh.

The GS looks great on your wrist!

Is it true that spring drive movement can do 50-60 yrs without service?

brill watch.. i really like... i want one... cheers

One of the reasons I love Grand Seiko watches is their exquisitely finished hands, with crazy reflections and sharp design.. Sadly, the hands on this watch simply remind me of a normal sub-500$ Seiko diver.

The sliding adjustment on the GS is really an adjustable dive extension. My divers with dive extensions are of fixed length and when extended don’t really look as good as the GS. I do not think GS was thinking that the dive extension was to be used like a micro adjustment. The Rolex system looks very nice for micro adjustment, but does it give enough length for going over a dive suit? I have never used a dive suit, so maybe someone with actual experience could weigh in.

Great review. That Grand Seiko is very impressive. The Spring Drive Movement is something no one else is doing. This watch does look a lot like the Submariner, especially from the front. The Grand Seiko Ho Beat and the Marinemaster 600 Spring Drive have more of the Seiko look with a 4 o’clock crown. That would be interesting to see. A comparison between this Grand Seikonand the Marinemaster 600 Spring Drive.

Love those hands!!! The Grand Seiko hands Guy; your hands are alright ;-)

The benefit of the diver extension on the GS is the ability to adjust on the fly... One does not have to remove the watch to adjust it to fit over a wetsuit or jacket.

A really good review as usual. Agree with all you say. I had a Seiko a bought the micro adjust clasp same as this for my watch cost £65 but was not happy with the quality at all and ruined the watch for me. I know only a small thing ( my ocd ) again but now have a Omega with uprated clasp and this is much better quality.

The GS logo on the bottom half of the dial is also applied

I’ll be dead before seiko gets a bracelet right .

You are so correct. Bracelet looks lot like Speedmaster’s

I saw a video, and the guy said that submariner gets scratched very easily, is that true?

If people had a Sub and a GS side by side.....what would they choose .

Interesting as always. To me the GS is, on paper, far superior to the Sub. From the finishing to the more interesting and arguably better movement to the added functionality of the power reserve. But I’d still rather have the Submariner, not because it says Rolex on the dial, but because of the history and the overall classic aesthetic of the Submariner. It’s the one watch I think about, when I think about a wristwatch and to me it has an undeniable charm. The GS just doesn’t do that for me.

Nice review - thank you. I personally prefer the Seiko clasp "action" as I can open it to fit a wetsuit without taking off the watch. That said, I agree with many that a stamped action just should not be on a luxury watch. Without stereo typing the Japanese like Germans just favor function over form.

The Spring Drive movement is very attractive. But at that price point I would go with a Planet Ocean. The Grand Seikos I like tend to be the sporty/dress type. The Snowflake looks like a masterpiece. This one as a "superior dive watch" doesn't cut it. Or at least doesn't seem to. Congrats on the review,

Good review, good job man.. I'd be hard pressed to cough up 6k for that to be honest.. seems like a nice dial and movement though.

For me, out of the Rolex, GS and Omega 300m. my last choice would be the Rolex. The lugs on the sub just don't do it for me. Love the Seamaster look/dial, but to me would look better without the escape valve. Is it really necessary? Also the Seamaster does not have a tapered bracelet. GS in titanium is lovely, but it looks like it wears bigger than the Omega. I'm still saving up, so got plenty of time to drive myself insane hehe.

The special band expansion is for expanding large enough to go over top of your wetsuit and gloves.

Great review. With real world prices about $1000 less than what you listed, the titanium model is a serious consideration. That said, I would much prefer the GMT Spring Drive models as I'd actually use that function and they are good to 100 meters which is more than enough for me. If I were getting a dive watch, it would be the current Omega Seamaster which I think beats both this and the Rolex.

As well as the SBGA071 limited edition of 200 with a blue face in stainless steel.

You totally missed the point of the bracelet lengthening system of the Grand Seiko. The Rolex glide lock is a shortening system which means you can shorten it from the initial links you've put in as a micro adjustment. For diving, you'd have to pre-install more links than your original fit. With the Grand Seiko, it's a feature that elongates the bracelet from your original link setup. Yes it's ugly but it's also a professional diver's feature where you can slap the thing over a wide variety of wetsuit thickness. Since I don't own those watches, would you try and measure how much longer each watch can get with their bracelet? The one that offers the longest bracelet extension is the most suitable for professional use.

Not sure who is better for service quality. I’ve heard good and bad about both Rolex and GS after sale servicing and warranty repair work.

Sold my both of my Grand Seiko Sbgr101 sbgx115, the only reason I sold them because I afraid to scratch the beautiful Zurastsu polish while wore them daily. I purchase a used Omega Aqua Terra as a beater now. The quality between The GS and Omega is night and day. The Grand Seiko is much more superior in every way. BTW I'm a Omega fan growing up.

I like the more formal looking grand seiko. I think the snowflake is grand seiko, and I am also drawn to the quartz. I expect the submariner to crush this. Nice review.

The power reserve gauge should be on the back of the case like other watches have done.

I like the older version of this watch (which is the one you are showing) , but your friends website has it priced the same as the newer version. 6k for both. How would that watch look with a really cool Nato/Zulu or even a rubber band. If you could show the looks in an other video that would be fantastic. Thanks for the video. The change of look would of course be my opinion and what I say about his friends website is too.

I love the look of the bezel but the alignment issue is inexcusable

And there was a very limited edition SBGA143 in stainless steel. It was a purple-blue face.

I want to like this watch so much . Yet it just doesn’t speak to me . Love the movement And the look of the bezel . Hate the hands the date window and the bracelet just send so so ... great review. perhaps they will update this one day and I’ll be a player .

Generous and quite favourable review/comparison of Seiko SBGA029. Some minor complaints aside it is Spring Drive that is an absolute highlight of the whole Grand Seiko brand !!! That movement sweeps the board of all classical mechanical movements ! It's precision is quite astonishing !!! The main problem of Grand Seiko watches is their perceived value ! I really hope that will change over time as Grand Seiko are quite simply impeccable time pieces !

Nothing wrong with a quartz crystal IMO. I get the hate towards battery watches (counting towards their death), but the idea of a crystal keeping time is just as fascinating to me as a balance wheel doing it. It's a physical process, one much more reliable than the other. Most people just think of the old one as "having soul", and the best one as something invisible happening behind the curtains, because they can't understand or see it. Considering the superior practicality it gives, Spring Drive is the perfect mix of no battery and proper accuracy. It's so good to know your watch is surely and safely accurate for months, not just days. (The 15s/month specified for SD is a conservative understatement, just like it is in other quartz watches. A well calibrated one will run closer to 30 seconds fast a year than it will to 15s/month.)

The bracelet looks very similar to the Orient Ray II.

Great review. That bracelet needs a lot of work it looks bad. Also that buckle looks really thick.

Can someone tell me why Seiko and Grand Seiko rarely rate a dive watch to anymore than 200m?

Great review... The issues I have observed with the GS are servicing, too large case size, bezel, clasp, uniform high polish on the case & plummeting preowned values. You can purchase one for $2600-3300 USD everyday of the week where I'm from on the preowned market.

Hiya.This is the opportunity I have being waiting to "air" Most watch guys dislike a quartz movement.They prefer a mechanical.To me these spring drives are a contradiction. Superb frankly but they have no mechanical escapement with a hairspring.Very clever but ultimately regulated by quartz? They are their own power station and that's superb.Decent anologue movements still have moving parts quartz powered ? I think the mechanical versus quartz age old argument need to yield swords and go into battle?Apologise for maybe thinking too much but that's me? Cheers.Len.

Truthfully to me it looks too much like any other Seiko Diver, and you’re right about that hideous clasp which is basically the same as the marinemaster clasp! Love the accuracy but sorry Rolex wins! ( and I am a Seiko fanboy too) good Review as usual!

I have the SBGA029 and it is accurate to +5 seconds/month. NO other brand can come close to that accuracy.

The Seiko looks like well a Seiko!

There bezels are very nicely done steel inserts not sapphire. Personally I like the GS bracelet better just because I can adjust it without taking off the bracelet.

I love the GS, but I'd get sick of explaining what GS is when people say how much?? For a seiko?

Omega SeaMaster 300, hands down! The Grand Seiko looks great, but that bracelet looks tinny and cheap. Thanks for the review!

I prefer the 029 dial over the 229. More classic imho.

Just wanted to comment on a couple points made in the video... I agree that a power reserve meter can detract from the overall aesthetics of a watch’s face. However, the additional functionality it provides more than makes up for it. I was also thinking, right before it was said, that even Rolex alignment isn’t 100% perfect 100% of the time. Lastly, I understand when paying good money for any premium product, you’d want everything to be perfect, but I always chuckle a bit to myself when people make a big deal analyzing and criticizing the feel of a watch’s bezel. Maybe these people are all divers who use always use their bezel track how much time they have underwater, but I doubt it. Or maybe they just cook a lot of eggs, but on all my watches the bezel gets turned once when I get it and never again.

I think you kinda misunderstood the clasp.

I saw it at an AD a few days ago. It is a really good looking watch. What bothers me is its water resistance. From a watch of this size I would have expected at least 300 m.

Bracelet links continue the case design motif.

Enjoyed the review. Side by side comparison, the GS is more polished and refined that you just don't get from the submariner. Unless you're one of those OG's that's turning into your dad, the Rolex with the cyclops is so outdated!

Strangely enough, the Seiko has the bold commanding presence while the Rolex flies more under the radar. Seiko is really going for the throat of the watch industry

Guy's back!!! (Cue sounds of peasants rejoicing)

Ya, these are all opinions. Mine is, that clasp on GS wins rolex all day long. You just cant beat adjustment whilst on the wrist. And spring drive is modern and accurate whereas that swiss escapement starts to be bit old with all that unnecessary friction. In my opinion, its funny how clearly superior this GS is over any diver watch, but people are just not seeing it because ROLEX. Hour indexes on this GS could be slightly larger and crown could be more responsive while screwing it in.

The Seiko case is better designed. Luggs are better proportioned. How does Titanium behave when aged? That Seiko is a real good option.

Has anyone even noticed that the GS clasp extention is actaully capable of extending over a wetsuit or a drysuit. As a diver, to me this makes it an actual dive watch where as if I wanted to dive with a Submariner I would need to change to an alterative strap. Win for GS. (IMHO)

I would buy a used sub or seamaster before the seiko.

I heard only old retired youtubers buy Grand Seiko Divers as a watch.

Nice review! For the price and function the Omega SeaMaster is the best watch hands down.

If I were willing to spend money on a grand seiko, I would not go for a diver. Not GS unique enough

Metamortphis of Narcissus Dalí , Mason , knew about MK Ultra Very deep stuff surrounding you

Patek use pin and collar

Guy, great review as always. A couple things: 1) The bezel is not ceramic as far as I know; 2) Another advantage to the pins and pipes is the fact that the pin can free wheel which results in less wear to the links over time; 3) The clasp does take a few weeks for the benefits to become clear. At first I didn't like it much but now I love the extension. Also the four micro adjustments means most users will only need to size the links once and can then do fine tuning with the micro adjustments when their wrist changes a little with temps, etc. I change mine in the fall and then again in the spring. www.craigshipp.com/grandseiko

They need a 40-42mm and 12mm thick version. Preferably no date, better clasp, better micro adjust, and better bezel.

Hi Guy, great video as usual I can't understand Seiko yes at the more affordable level you get what you pay for but at GS level you don't expect the small issues that you pointed out, and I can't imagine it would be that costly to resolve. As time goes on I am increasely having the feeling that Seiko always make watches that give you the impression of nearly/almost/not 100% kind of feeling.

Your criticisms on the bracelet I find harsh as it’s a functional divers watch most divers wear a dive suit and that is what the sliding adjustment is for why would you worry about appearance when you are under water.if you are wearing it as a dress watch giving you the egoistic look at me I’m a diver look you would not have to use the slider.

FYI, the bezel insert is not ceramic.

The perfect mechanical watch.

if i want to show off i buy Rolex, but if i play low profile, i go for GS, i am not going into the deep sea anyway !

I would like this GS more with another, less flashy bracelet TBH. Regarding Zaratsu polishing, I learned about this only recently: it is the japanized moniker for *Gebr. Sallaz* (Sallaz Brothers) polishing machines they used when perfecting the technique in the 60s. Gebr. Sallaz was a machine manufacturer out of Grenchen, Switzerland, home of Breitling and Fortis. I find it funny how many of us westerners thought it was an ancient polishing technique used for centuries in samurai sword polishing lol.