Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

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david.tan
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Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by david.tan » 10 Dec 2012 12:01

For the first time, writing a small review (sorry for my poor english), more like my personal feeling towards the watch after having it for a week, most pleasant watch compare to some swiss watch i acquire before.

Grand Seiko is highest range of Seiko (not to mention Credor), one of the finest hand made and best quality in Seiko. The brand itself is not so famous for most people but those who known well in watch will understand how good and how well worthy it can be, Seiko brand name is always the low range affordable watch yet very reliable in quartz or automatic. Spring Drive, a movement came into market not too long ago, based on Seiko they had spend years in prototype to manufacture the best accuracy and best reliability for mechanism watch. Some says its not a 100% mechanism watch due to some electronic parts were used in the movement, for me, reliable and long lasting watch are always my concern because eventually, you are paying for a worth every penny watch instead of the brand name itself, at least for me who loves stuff that can last long :)

I've been eying on the GS diver titanium since back to 2007 when i'm still in my college time, the watch is only can be dream and never though the dream came true earlier than i expected :p I've tried or own mid range swiss watch like omg, roc, pam, br, ball and etc, each watches have their own style, feeling and characteristic. Until i have it on hold of GS, i told myself, there is no longer for me the need to keep so many watch, GS (for now) is the only watch i'll keep

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GS SBGA071, originally announced to have 150 limited pieces at Basel Fair 2012, due to demand they had increased to 200 pieces limited. I'm pretty lucky to hunt it down since i'm been waiting a good chance to own one, and the LE with blue face launched in market just right in time for me to grab one. The first feeling when holding on hand is like, wow, solid piece of steel, and i started to touch the smoothness of the watch itself, before hand, I've actually tried Joseph one of the MWF member here and been my very best consultant (as know as bad poisoner too, LOL) and getting know him for quite some times via photography interests. He is kind enough to lend me the GS chrono to molest.... and yes, the smooth of the polish is unbelievable! GS use the Zaratsu or so call Japanese's Katana polishing method on the watch case itself, impressive...

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the great blue face, interesting enough, it reflect different color in different lighting situation, under bright sunlight it looks like a royal blue while in the dim light it turns to a navy dark blue alike (as you can see in the pix 1 and 2)

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another interesting idea, a second hand with two done, the blue and the gold mix. 72 hour power reserve with a texture behind clearly show the separation and easy read in any light condition. a 3D looks on Seiko and GS words but not sure if its pure gold or gold plated. with the iconic Grand Seiko wording follow by the use of Spring drive movement with 200m water resistance. Somehow 200m is consider quite low compare to most of the diver watch which rated at least 300m above, but hack, i'm not gonna bring this to swim anyway :p

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nice crowd, function like a charm, very smooth to operate with not much tension and quick adjustment on date and minute hand. the logo is very detail and fine made, my camera is not strong enough to capture the macro since its only a small PnS. The uni-directional bezel as well easy turning with a very nice contrast and shiny harden black coated.

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is pretty hard for me to take a pix of the polished area, it always reflect myself into it, so i just put it on my micro fiber jacket and you can see the mirror alike polish reflect every single micro fiber so clearly. like i mention before, GS are very well in details and finishing, the case polishing used Zaratsu method at its best.

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bright lume are well known in many Seiko diver watch like those monster, sumo, marine master, tuna and etc. read from one of the review and it say it all "The proprietary Lumi Brite luminescence is the same utilized in the highly acclaimed Seiko Space Walk. This is some of the brightest natural lume you can find in the watch world." From the pix, it shows bright even with a little shade in indoor

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last but not least, the case back, the Lion Logo and the limited edition numbered. Some fren told me why not go for a see thru back case since paying so much for a watch. As for me, i'd love to see the Lion case because its a logo of truly high end quality watch.

I'm still consider new in watch world, so i cant tell much in terms of the movement, it use Spring Drive model 9R65 and till today (7 days of use on hand) the accuracy is just +6 different ! Another impressive invention from Seiko i'd say, two thumbs up !

UPDATED : tested another 1 week using time.is website, accuracy till date is 0 second diff ! :D

conclusion, no regret spending so much on a "Seiko" watch :p it worth paying every single cent compare to most of other watches i have so far, its total in-house made from every single little small parts, quality control on every single GS are much more tougher, just like PP and Lange, hand made at this point of price GS watch is really reasonable.
Last edited by david.tan on 19 Dec 2012 11:03, edited 1 time in total.
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roo7
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by roo7 » 10 Dec 2012 12:44

Hi David,

Again, welcome to the forum and thanks for the detailed review on the GS diver. Enjoyed it a lot, I can feel your emotions through it.

It's very clear from your review why we all love to own a GS... :lol:
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david.tan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by david.tan » 11 Dec 2012 14:42

roo7 wrote:Hi David,

Again, welcome to the forum and thanks for the detailed review on the GS diver. Enjoyed it a lot, I can feel your emotions through it.

It's very clear from your review why we all love to own a GS... :lol:
Thanks roo7, yes this is the watch i enjoy and keep looking at it most of time compare with my other watch :p
dragonboat02
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by dragonboat02 » 11 Dec 2012 21:42

Nice personal feel abt ur new watch! Can't help but keep staring at the pics to admire its top quality finishes..

Makes me recall those time when i wld just stood over the showcase to mesmerise the smooth sweeping of spring drive's second hands at TS :oops:
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004
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by 004 » 11 Dec 2012 22:36

What a awesome Grand Seiko you have , be proud of the watch its a master piece . Your review was good & i totally agree with your comment regarding "you get what you pay for" with a Grand Seiko & not paying for a advertising campaign or George Clooneys over the top fee etc .
I am glad you can appreciate a finely hand crafted watch that the GS is & yes you did pay alot of $$ but they were worth every cent . "congratulations" i hope to one day join you , as proud Grand Seiko owner . :D
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lunarin79
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by lunarin79 » 12 Dec 2012 11:06

awesome review david :mrgreen:
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MeePokMan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by MeePokMan » 12 Dec 2012 13:08

Nice review and make me wanna be a GS owner one day. Welcome to the forum, David! ;)
david.tan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by david.tan » 12 Dec 2012 13:56

dragonboat02 - thanks ! u should get one and appreciate, i've been keep looking non stop till today.... :p

MIKER - yup, its a watch that not paying for brand but top quality from Japan can be made. finishing is def a big wow.

lunarin79 - thanks CEO :)

meepok - u may try sell rolex for it :p glad to see u here too :)
david.tan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by david.tan » 19 Dec 2012 11:03

UPDATED : tested another 1 week using time.is website, accuracy till date is 0 second diff ! :)
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Jeryltan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Jeryltan » 01 Jan 2013 18:58

Hi. Can i know where you bought it from and how much? Am keen to get smth similar. Tks
david.tan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by david.tan » 02 Jan 2013 10:41

Jeryltan wrote:Hi. Can i know where you bought it from and how much? Am keen to get smth similar. Tks
you may try thong sia at orchard or the Seiko boutique at Vivo :)
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Jeryltan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Jeryltan » 02 Jan 2013 11:32

david.tan wrote:
Jeryltan wrote:Hi. Can i know where you bought it from and how much? Am keen to get smth similar. Tks
you may try thong sia at orchard or the Seiko boutique at Vivo :)
Ok tks. Will check it out
kqxrseiko

Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by kqxrseiko » 03 Jan 2013 19:11

Waaah. That blue dial is stunning...congrats on your purchase!
Odrbenz

Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Odrbenz » 03 Jan 2013 21:36

Super nice...drool..... :o
Dsbf
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Dsbf » 07 Jan 2013 19:48

Very nice purchase! Congrats! Wear it in good health.


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Watchman

Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Watchman » 16 Apr 2013 21:17

Well done to your review with beautiful pictures!
snip3r

Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by snip3r » 04 May 2013 07:45

Wah damn nice the dark blue and orange theme :)
Congrats
david.tan
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Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by david.tan » 30 May 2013 09:45

thanks guys :) till date i'm still really in love with this piece altho i have few other swiss brand watch

saving up for second GS, not sure which to get yet, high beat, snowflake or the new model...
Seamonster

Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Seamonster » 14 Nov 2013 19:33

Nice looking blue dial.
Seamonster

Re: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE SBGA071

Post by Seamonster » 14 Nov 2013 19:39

Does this wears bigger than a submariner? Nice blue dial!
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