Video Review Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT SBGE001

Japanwatchconnection has shared a video review of his Seiko Spring Drive GMT SBGE001.  See the previous entry for this model HERE.

Click through to see the video of this gorgeous model.

Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Chronograph SBGC001

Compliments of JapanWatchConnection.

Much more after the jump.

SBGA011 -- Grand Seiko "Snowflake"

Japanwatchconnection has been busy lately and doesn't have much time to post. He shared some of his picts of this new Grand Seiko Snowflake SBGA011 with me to share. Fortunately words will only distract from the beauty of this one.

Enjoy.

Many more pictures after the jump!

Nice Article about the Seiko Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater

HauteTime blog has a nice article about the Seiko Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater.  This is a truly special model for Seiko with only 3 produced per year.  Rumor has it that one will find its way to a US Grand Seiko dealer in the next year or two.

HauteTime Blog

Video Review: Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT SBGE001

After 2 months of ownership, it was time to put together a video review of this sublime watch. Hope our loyal readers enjoy!.

New Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT SBGE001 Arrival

I had the pleasure of receiving this beauty just about 2 weeks ago from Mr. Joe Kirk at Arizona Fine Time (www.azfinetime.com). AZFT was the first Grand Seiko dealer to offer these wonderful watches in the US as of late 2010.

This year I set out to get a couple of Seiko Spring Drive grails and decided on the Ananta SPS007 SD Chrono and the GS SGBGE001 SD GMT as "40th birthday" presents. Indeed, once you get over the hill it is crucial to have some fine timepieces for the journey into the golden years :P

In between been very busy in between schedules, I simply did not have the time/tranquility to sit down and immerse myself into this sublime watch.

So... Better later than never, eh?

Much has been said and written about this watch over the years, so I'll let my humble pictures do much of the talking.

And here it goes.... The official unboxing ceremony of the mighty SBGE001 8) :

Jikan Video Review: Seiko Ananta Spring Drive GMT Chronograph SPS007J

Yet another watch video review for the pleasure of our loyal readers. Enjoy!

See how this magnificent watch is put together by Seiko Japan:

Video Friday: Grand Seiko Spring Drive 200m Divers

When you think of Grand Seiko watches, the first thing that comes to mind are classically styled, non-descript and superbly made high end timepieces. However, Grand Seiko was really never associated with sports or active lifestyle watches. That perception began to gradually change back in 2002, when the first ever GMT Grand Seiko was released, the SBGM001 9S mechanical. Then circa 2006 the Spring Drive GMT SBGE001 was released. This model features a 200m steel diver's case, complete with screw down crown at the 4 o'clock position, lumed hands/dial markers and a rotating 24 hour bezel made in sapphire and also lumed. The year 2007 also saw the release of the first ever Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Chronographs from the SBGC series sporting the then all new 9R86 movement.

But even until then, there wasn't a "True" ISO rated diver's watch under the GS umbrella. So in the Spring of 2008 Seiko introduced at the Basel fair the first ever pair of 200m rated Spring Driven ISO divers in both stainless steel and titanium cases and bracelets. Models SBGA029 (Steel) and SBGA031 (Titanium) made their debut and not without criticism from Seiko fans and others alike who perceived these models to be too similar looking to famous watch offerings from Swiss heavyweights such as Rolex and Omega. These models were a departure from the Grand Seiko watch design philosophy with their 44.3mm cases, ceramic rotating timing bezels, big "Cathedral" styled hands, power reserve indicator, and generous amounts of dial lume in the hands and markers. Also the bracelets have pins and collars instead of screws and the sport clasp has the same exact ratchet system diver's wet suit extension as found in tool divers from the Prospex range. And finally a nicely sized sports clasp with multiple micro-adjustment points. In sort, the new GS 200m Spring Drive 9R65 divers were viewed as a wild departure from the core principles of the brand.

Whether you like their styling or not, it is hard to ignore their significance and superb finishing, not too mention the innovative Spring Drive movement that powers them. Are these the ultimate luxury "Desk Divers"?

Seiko Izul Chronograph Video

The Izul chronograph is not mentioned much these days.  Released in 2007 and it is a marvel to look at.  Spring Drive chronograph.  Super cool rotary case design.  Check out the subdial hands.  They are the exact same shape used on Seiko stopwatches from the 1960's.

Video Friday: Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater

Let the magic sounds from this masterpiece engulf your senses. Enjoy!

Seiko Baselworld 2011: Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater

Wow! That is all I can say about this pinnacle of Seiko's haute watchmaking and know how...

A very significant release since the Spring Driven Credor Sonnerie flagship model shown at the 2006 Basel World fair.

SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION is proud to announce the creation of the Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater. It is the first minute repeater watch ever built by SEIKO and, alongside the Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie, marks another milestone in the developing tradition of SEIKO as a leading
manufacturer of ‘complication’ timepieces.

Seiko Spring Drive Master Watchmaker Junya Kamijo In Action

It never ceases to amaze seeing Seiko's top "Meisters' or watchmakers working on these highly intricate Spring Drive movements with such ease. In many instances, they don't even use a jeweler's magnifying eye piece! It looks like a simple and straightforward task to assemble a Spring Drive movement, that on average, has over 400 separate components. But make no mistake... It takes years of complete dedication to achieve the level of watchmaking required and manual prowess to be allowed by Seiko to manufacture and service these movements.

Here you can see Junya Kamijo at a recent Grand Seiko launch event that was hosted in New York City late last year (2010). Kamijo-San is the managing director of the Spring Drive assembly section of the Seiko-Epson Shinshu watch studio in Japan where every Seiko Spring Drive watch (Grand Seiko, Credor, Izul, Ananta and Prospex) is currently manufactured at:

(Videos embedded from YouTube.com)

Part 1



Part 2



Kamijo-San can be seen here assembling and taking apart a Grand Seiko Spring Drive 200m steel diver model SBGA029 with the caliber 9R65 Spring Drive movement.