What Makes Seiko so Special - Chrono24 Magazine (2024)

FAQs

What makes Seiko watches special? ›

The world's first quartz watch, the Seiko Quartz Astron was introduced in Tokyo on December 25, 1969. It delivered unmatched performance. It was accurate to within 5 seconds per month, 100 times more accurate than any other watch, and it ran continuously for a year, or 250 times longer than most mechanical watches.

Quality: Even the lowest-tier Seikos are well-made and will typically outperform their price-point counterparts from other brands. In-House Movement: From bottom to top, Seiko manufactures all of its movements itself.

The limited edition watches are incredibly popular with collectors, making them very desirable timepieces. These watches are often limited in number and therefore hold their value very well. The brand's limited edition timepieces are often collaborations with other companies, designers and charities.

Today, old Seiko watches are highly sought-after by collectors due to their quality craftsmanship and unique design. Depending on the model and condition, an old Seiko watch can be worth anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. What is this?

"Grand Seiko" is a luxury brand that offers timepieces made by master craftsmen in Seiko's two exclusive watchmaking studios, using exclusive movements and the highest grade materials. Each Grand Seiko watch is instantly recognizable because of its simplicity of form and its understated elegance.

In the watch world, Seiko is a well-liked brand, and for good reasons too. The word "Seiko" means "exquisite" in Japanese, which accurately describes how their products are manufactured. Seiko is a pioneer in the watch industry, and their timepieces are known for their dependability, sturdiness, and fine craftsmanship.

This year Grand Seiko has secured its place in the top 10 brands across all men's price bands above $2,000. According to retail analyst NPD, its watches are now ranked number three in the $5,000 to $7,000 price range, up from number six last year.

If you don't mind quartz watches and the extra accuracy the tech brings, Citizen watches might be your best bet. Alternatively, if you prefer the tradition of mechanical watches, with a cost-friendly price, then Seiko watches should be your choice! Either way, it'll be a win.

While Seiko has better models than Citizen, the latter still makes more sales than the former, though the difference isn't huge. With Seiko being more recognized, you'll likely get more when reselling a Seiko watch than a Citizen watch.

Thou shall not expect a positive return. Although many Seiko watches can appreciate in value if bought at the right price, in no way are they safe investment vehicles. A Seiko should always be first and foremost a watch that you buy because you like it and want to wear it.

Why is Grand Seiko more expensive than Seiko? ›

In some instances, both Seiko watch models are made from stainless steel. The difference is that the Grand Seiko watch is made from a higher-quality stainless steel material. In other cases (such as in the creation of custom pieces) higher-quality materials – such as titanium and platinum- are used.

The more rare the watch, the higher the resale value. Rarity is paramount when investing to make profit. Many vintage limited edition timepieces have become coveted by collectors, with some selling for hundreds of thousands.

But at the end of it all, Seiko is more focused on exquisite, complicated dress watches, and its range has always included some gorgeous ones and Haute Horlogerie pieces, such as the SARB065, SARB066, and Presage SSA343J1, whereas Tissot has a much sharper eye for high-end sports watches.

Grand Seiko and Rolex both offer different value propositions to their buyers. Rolex rules when it comes to brand awareness, while Grand Seiko takes the crown in craftsmanship, so the Grand Seiko vs Rolex debate becomes difficult to crown a winner. Having a Rolex watch goes beyond just wearing a luxurious watch.

Collectors will find plenty of modest and high-end options, but Seiko is a solid option overall for the casual watch-wearer looking for extreme quality at surprisingly approachable price points.

Seiko provides traditional, stylish, functional, and innovative timepieces that all come from its revolutionary mindset. Bulova has unique and loud designs, and the brand stands out for its style and accuracy. However, Seiko's sleek and classy design earns more respect than any other in the competitive market.

The most expensive Seiko watch series is the King Seiko collection, with prices starting at $1,470 and reaching $3,050. These are the brand's higher-end timepieces and feature superior accuracy and style appeal.

This, coupled with wear throughout the year, has meant I've never come to them to find they have died. But of course, a battery, even a rechargeable one, does have a finite life span, and Seiko says this is around ten years. So ten years of worry-free accurate timekeeping is what you can expect from these movements.

As Seiko focused on more modern Quartz technology the price of a quality Japanese watch began to drop. This price drop or reduced cost of manufacturing does not mean a Seiko watch is a lesser watch. Far from it, Japanese watches are of exceptional quality and many are equal to, or better than, the best Swiss watches.

Is Seiko better than Omega? ›

In conclusion, both the Omega and Grand Seiko brands are of very high quality. Omega has a distinct edge because of its long history and the reputation it has built during that time.

Watch enthusiasts generally have a high opinion of Seiko as a brand, especially with their line of high-quality, affordable mechanical watches.

In reality, there are a few Seiko timepieces that have appalling resale values. But, every watchmaker, even down to the likes of Rolex and Patek Philippe, have a few products that end up not ageing too well. Whether or not Seiko timepieces offer an excellent return on investment, the short answer is yes, they do.

Seiko's competitors and similar companies include Casio, Titan Company, Citizen Watch and Seiko Watch.

As such, buyers are less willing to purchase an Orient watch. Orient has been below the Seiko brand for a long time, but they still manage to maintain excellent traits. Orient is a well-known watch logo, but Seiko is by far the better choice. Seiko has earned its spot as one of the choice watchmakers worldwide.

Are Seiko 5 watches any good? Seiko 5 watches are great. They offer tremendous value for money. They look good, they feature rock-solid movements, and they're from one of the world's most highly regarded brand in horology.

This line was created to compete with Swiss watches, and it is still considered one of the best lines of watches today. Despite being known for high-end watches, Seiko also makes watches that are affordable and perfect for both men and women. They even make special lines of watches for specific brands and athletes.

The first of them is craftsmanship. While Seiko is a reliable brand, they do not put much care into each individual product. They are almost entirely manufactured by machine, as they cannot afford to incorporate handmade features. Grand Seiko, on the other hand, takes more care in creating the best possible watches.

Citizen isn't a luxury watch. It might look luxurious, but several factors take it off that list. For starters, it's too cost-friendly, with the most expensive going for between S$900 and S$1,000+. Second, Citizen doesn't use luxury materials like platinum or gold on its timepieces.

Watch Dealer Markups (sorted by markup percentage)

Grand Seiko has the lowest markup: 13 percent on average. Bulova is the highest, with a 44 percent average dealer markup.

Why are Seiko 5 watches so cheap? ›

SEIKO Uses In-House Automatic Movements

It's worth mentioning that Seiko has over the years grown to become a well-established company with many in-house factories and design labs. That means it is easier, more cost-effective, and more streamlined to make the movements in-house from top to bottom.

Well, assuming they're not all pre-sold already. And assuming you have a genuine passion and appreciation for Seiko dive watches. Then yes, absolutely. If you missed out on the chance to buy one of the first two re-editions, this is a great opportunity to make amends.

Casio will come down to you. Both manufacturers offer timepieces of the highest quality, but with a variety of bands, case styles, and features to choose from, only you can narrow down your needs to decide which actually offers the best fit.

Seiko Watch Prices vs.

Fossil watches are ostensibly cheaper and may meet your needs for an everyday watch. Although more expensive, Seiko's designs and materials are of higher quality for longevity, making it the winner.

The vast majority of Grand Seiko watches are made of 316L stainless steel, which is generally regarded as the industry standard. 316L is known for its low carbon content (in fact, that's what the “L” denotes), anti-magnetic properties, and its excellent resistance against corrosion.

The best watch brands for investment are Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet as they are prestigious, exclusive, high-quality brands. Watches by these brands often hold their value or appreciate in value over time. Their ongoing popularity, limited editions, and scarcity drive increasing prices.

Whether or not it's better to buy a limited edition watch generally comes down to which brand and which model is on offer. When you hear that a brand is launching a limited edition model it usually creates a sense of urgency, since the model is of course limited and capped at a certain production quantity.

Founded in Switzerland in 1853, Tissot has a long history of producing high-quality and stylish watches. Some notable celebrities who have been seen wearing Tissot watches include actor George Clooney, basketball player LeBron James, and singer Justin Bieber.

Seiko is a Japanese watch brand that has a good reputation in watchmaking. Not only genius in design and putting their philosophy through it, they also offer every customer a high-end quality timepiece with a great accuracy and reliability.

Tissot has versatility in its catalog, while Tag Heuer is more accurate and has higher water resistance. Racing car lovers appreciate both brands. Tissot holds the crown for offering a wide range of timepiece styles and models at relatively affordable costs. However, Tag Heuer surpasses Tissot in most features.

What watch is nicer than Rolex? ›

RESALE VALUE: Patek Philippe's watches are known to either hold their value or even appreciate over time. Patek Philippe has one of the highest resell values among its competitors with the exception of Rolex. So there is much truth to their campaign slogan, it's an accurate description of their products.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Alternative #1: Seiko Prospex

Another Seiko, the Prospex, SPB243J1, is a superb watch on the more affordable side, as most Seiko's are, but with that premium elegance and materials. It's a good alternative to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, but also the Datejust.

The answer is unfortunately yes, there are replica Seikos being made and sold. However, the number of fake Seiko watches peddled either on the streets or the Internet are fortunately small. A seemingly genuine Seiko Premier, but it's not. It's 100% fake.

Grand Seiko and Rolex both offer different value propositions to their buyers. Rolex rules when it comes to brand awareness, while Grand Seiko takes the crown in craftsmanship, so the Grand Seiko vs Rolex debate becomes difficult to crown a winner. Having a Rolex watch goes beyond just wearing a luxurious watch.

Seiko is a Japanese watch brand that has a good reputation in watchmaking. Not only genius in design and putting their philosophy through it, they also offer every customer a high-end quality timepiece with a great accuracy and reliability.

Do Seiko Watches Hold Their Value. In general, Seiko watches do not hold their value well. There are only a few limited edition models that will occasionally increase in value over time but for the most part value retention is not what Seiko watches are known for.

If you don't mind quartz watches and the extra accuracy the tech brings, Citizen watches might be your best bet. Alternatively, if you prefer the tradition of mechanical watches, with a cost-friendly price, then Seiko watches should be your choice! Either way, it'll be a win.

This year Grand Seiko has secured its place in the top 10 brands across all men's price bands above $2,000. According to retail analyst NPD, its watches are now ranked number three in the $5,000 to $7,000 price range, up from number six last year.