Sure, once every 50 years. Or so GS claims with their vacuum-sealed compartment, as the movement's "only" 25 years old we can't know this for sure yet. But the point is, it's much less hassle and upkeep than either mechanical or Spring Drive.
Did Spring Drive accuracy 'ruin' standard mechanical watches for you?
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Absolutely not.
My collection of mechanical watches all run well within specification. Now, COSC is, if I remember correctly, -4 to 6+ per day.
Mine run a lot closer than that, indeed, my Rolex Sub, which incidentally 'should' run -2 to 2+ per day, actually run's a very consistent 0.5+ seconds per day! :-!
I'm more than happy with this level of accuracy.
What Spring Drive did 'ruin' for me was, having to be returned back to Japan for service. That, I do find unacceptable. :-(
Now, before people start getting 'over excited', that's what Seiko UK informed me of, when I emailed them regarding servicing of their watches.
My collection of mechanical watches all run well within specification. Now, COSC is, if I remember correctly, -4 to 6+ per day.
Mine run a lot closer than that, indeed, my Rolex Sub, which incidentally 'should' run -2 to 2+ per day, actually run's a very consistent 0.5+ seconds per day! :-!
I'm more than happy with this level of accuracy.
What Spring Drive did 'ruin' for me was, having to be returned back to Japan for service. That, I do find unacceptable. :-(
Now, before people start getting 'over excited', that's what Seiko UK informed me of, when I emailed them regarding servicing of their watches.
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I have exactly the opposite concern. When the day comes that I want to have my GS SD serviced I want it to go back to Japan. I am worried that they will try to service it in New Jersey. I'm hoping that whenever that day comes I can tell them that I will pay whatever the additional expense is to have it serviced in Japan.
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For me, it was the inconvenience of sending the watch back to Japan. I can get my Rolex & Omega watches serviced here in the UK, by the manufacturers.
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Yeah, that's the unavoidable consequence of owning a watch that's made in the mid-tens-of-thousands per year (GS) versus watches that are made in the hundreds of thousands per year (Rolex and Omega). It's just not economically feasible (in my opinion) to have hundreds of service locations for something made in such small quantities. This is compounded by the fact that I'm certain that the profit margin on any given GS (as a percentage) is smaller than the profit margin on a Rolex or Omega.
I think it's just part of the package when one owns a boutique brand.
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And I feel that is an apt analogy. For years I was a normally aspirated aficionado. While many friends were experimenting with superchargers, turbos and nitrous, I didn't feel a car was "right" unless it was NA. Now a few years later with the perfection of powerful twin turbo or supercharged and electric cars, I have moved forward and gotten rid of my old classics. No more maintenance, all in warranty and all with TTs or SCs and way more performance as well as creature comforts. I suppose that is why I have moved towards the HAQ watch models as well. Luckily there is still room for lovers of each.
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Not in the least for me. Since getting my Snowflake five years ago, my full mechanical collection has grown by many including two GS Hi-beats. I've only occasionally considered adding another Spring Drive... it is indeed very very cool; the sweep, great timekeeping, movement is finished better than GS's mechanicals... but my itch has seemingly been scratched and another would have to be a very special piece. I somehow still find full mechanicals more charming. I think it's because the timekeeping is totally mechanically created and adjusted, while in SD (while the tech is a marvel) it is really dependent on the quartz crystal regardless of how much of the rest of the movement is boasted as mechanical. The escapement wheel and pallet fork coupling have always been the coolest moving parts of a movement for me.
Another thing that has affected my choices is that (relatively speaking) there aren't really that many different Spring Drive calibers to choose from, or not enough different choices of models for calibers other than the standard 3 hand (with power reserve) or the GMT (power reserve).
Another thing that has affected my choices is that (relatively speaking) there aren't really that many different Spring Drive calibers to choose from, or not enough different choices of models for calibers other than the standard 3 hand (with power reserve) or the GMT (power reserve).
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Thanks all, again, not looking for some sort of factual answer, just curious what has happened and how you view SD's in your collection.
To be clear on accuracy, I was not suggesting these are better than a pure quartz watch, rather they are so accurate you will likely never even think about it, worry about it, etc. - you would fully take it for granted. You could buy a new (insert any brand of mechanical watch) and could run -5 seconds/day or be spot on, it is luck of the draw and subject to drift over time or with outside factors. I think of a parallel universe where Rolex developed this technology and how they could use it in their marketing (I pick on Rolex because they spend a huge amount of their energy on accuracy and reliability so the wearer just does not need to worry about it).
To be clear on accuracy, I was not suggesting these are better than a pure quartz watch, rather they are so accurate you will likely never even think about it, worry about it, etc. - you would fully take it for granted. You could buy a new (insert any brand of mechanical watch) and could run -5 seconds/day or be spot on, it is luck of the draw and subject to drift over time or with outside factors. I think of a parallel universe where Rolex developed this technology and how they could use it in their marketing (I pick on Rolex because they spend a huge amount of their energy on accuracy and reliability so the wearer just does not need to worry about it).
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This is an interesting thread. I can appreciate all of the POV.
I have an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and I love it. But I don't see accuracy as a priority (I can always easily change the time). For me, the mechanical nature is more appealing as opposed to "smart" watches. And it's beautiful and it has a story behind it (as much as that story is marketing). But mostly I like its tool look and feel - and it's just a darn beautiful watch. I also use the chronograph often - I like having that for travel and other uses.
But, a Grand Seiko also appeals to me as a second nice watch. For its simplicity and perhaps for the SD. I've seen videos and wow. GS is also out of the mainstream and that's kind of cool, and maybe people think it's a Seiko and not fancy.
I guess I don't have anything enlightening to add. I do think the SD has appeal, though there's more to watches than the drive. The quartz GS has not been ruled out yet too.
I have an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and I love it. But I don't see accuracy as a priority (I can always easily change the time). For me, the mechanical nature is more appealing as opposed to "smart" watches. And it's beautiful and it has a story behind it (as much as that story is marketing). But mostly I like its tool look and feel - and it's just a darn beautiful watch. I also use the chronograph often - I like having that for travel and other uses.
But, a Grand Seiko also appeals to me as a second nice watch. For its simplicity and perhaps for the SD. I've seen videos and wow. GS is also out of the mainstream and that's kind of cool, and maybe people think it's a Seiko and not fancy.
I guess I don't have anything enlightening to add. I do think the SD has appeal, though there's more to watches than the drive. The quartz GS has not been ruled out yet too.
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I love watches and don't really understand the whole fanboy-ism these days. Liking Rolex doesn't mean one needs to dislike other brands. I have Rolex, Tudor, Omega and new Grand Seiko in my collection and the Grand Seiko is quite something. Got a 9F SBGX261 (used) and a SD SBGA283 this week and boy - they are amazing. I would not have thought that I like wearing them that much. Besides the new toy syndrome - they are really amazing.
For me the Spring Drive is perfect. I like accuracy and looked at the GS Quartz as an addition to my mainly mechanical collection.
On the other hand I love the mechanical side of my IWC Portuguiser.
I went to look at the GS Quartz at my GS dealer , the additional plus of no service intervals apart from battery was appealing.
I tried the Quartz, second hand hit the marker, nice finish and slimmer than I thought beforehand. Then I put the Snowflake on and just fell in love.
Yes most likely in five years I will have it serviced and no doubt it will go back to Japan and cost me 400 pounds but I can live with that as the watch is truly magnificent.
So to answer you question I still love fully mechanical watches but not sure if I would add another to my small collection.
On the other hand I love the mechanical side of my IWC Portuguiser.
I went to look at the GS Quartz at my GS dealer , the additional plus of no service intervals apart from battery was appealing.
I tried the Quartz, second hand hit the marker, nice finish and slimmer than I thought beforehand. Then I put the Snowflake on and just fell in love.
Yes most likely in five years I will have it serviced and no doubt it will go back to Japan and cost me 400 pounds but I can live with that as the watch is truly magnificent.
So to answer you question I still love fully mechanical watches but not sure if I would add another to my small collection.
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I rotate 7 watches and don't use winders, so any given watch needs to be set when it comes back into rotation so that's a no for me. The GS GMT spring drive I had failed to impress, but have been eyeballing the ivory hi beat GMT. I.e., I assume to buy only luxury watches within some COSC or similar spec, so style, fit and comfort are the only things that matter.
the spring drive movement is essentially just a quartz watch with the battery replaced by a electricity generator. the accuracy of a spring drive is controlled by
a quartz crystal and an integrated circuit. while a mechanical movement accuracy is controlled by movement of many small parts designed, installed and regulated
by skilled master technicans. i dont think accuracy of spring drive ruin mechanical watches.
a quartz crystal and an integrated circuit. while a mechanical movement accuracy is controlled by movement of many small parts designed, installed and regulated
by skilled master technicans. i dont think accuracy of spring drive ruin mechanical watches.
the spring drive movement is essentially just a quartz watch with the battery replaced by a electricity generator. the accuracy of a spring drive is controlled by
a quartz crystal and an integrated circuit. while a mechanical movement accuracy is controlled by movement of many small parts designed, installed and regulated by skilled master technicans. i dont think accuracy of spring drive ruin mechanical watches.
a quartz crystal and an integrated circuit. while a mechanical movement accuracy is controlled by movement of many small parts designed, installed and regulated by skilled master technicans. i dont think accuracy of spring drive ruin mechanical watches.
I think you do a disservice to the craftsmen and women of Seiko. The Spring drive mechanism is rather special.
No of course Spring drive doesn't ruin mechanical watches but Spring drive plus the quality of Grand Seiko finishing makes them preferable to me.
Apart from Patek, I do love those.
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That's probably a bit oversimplified, the hands are not driven by the quartz but by the hairspring, it also drives the escapement replacement, the magnets that brake the glide wheel. I would say it's way more mechanical than it is quartz/electric. But of course the accuracy is indeed quartz...
My Rolex runs consistently at +1spd - the spring drive was +1 s after two weeks. It is an amazing piece of technology.
For me it ruined nothing, still have deep admiration for pure mechanical watches....
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