Seiko better get their shit together because the deterioration of their reputation will ultimately affect Grand Seiko’s reputation (as unwarranted as that may be) and their attempt to move upmarket. Perception is reality.

@gnarl12

3 жыл бұрын

Hey, means a cheaper GS for me. I don't mind at all 😁

@voiceofexperience

3 жыл бұрын

Seen it all before. For example, with Sony, and before that when National became Panasonic. If you're a traditional Seiko buyer, switch to Orient.

@denis888red

2 жыл бұрын

You're not wrong my friend.

@jessISaRicePrincess

2 жыл бұрын

If that happens they will just re brand grand seiko i think(but a cheaper GS spring drive is amazing though)

@brianhsin678

Жыл бұрын

I had QC issues on a 3 k + USD watch. Jagged edges along the chapter ring. I am done with them forever.

I get the suspicion that most of Seiko's quality controllers went to Orient.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Seems like it

@michael_mouse

3 жыл бұрын

... great quality watches

@sinjon

3 жыл бұрын

Does seem that way

@jimipane2013

3 жыл бұрын

It seems

@jimmbear3998

3 жыл бұрын

I have an Orient automatic diver watch and love it such a great value around $200 and has better features and looks better than many comparable diver watches in the $500 price range.

If I can get a perfectly aligned 30 year-old seiko 5 off the bay, there is no excuse for misalignment on a $2000 piece 30 years later using better machinery. 🤦

@rochester212

2 жыл бұрын

Dunno, but "Seiko doesn't give a sh** anymore" sounds like a pretty good excuse to me...

I’ve had pretty good luck with alignments and other quality control issues. What drives me nuts is that they don’t regulate their watches well enough. Spending over $1000 for a watch that loses 15 seconds/day is unacceptable

@ticoss

3 жыл бұрын

This is a very fair point: whatever their price, Seiko does not regulate their watch at all. The whole process is industrialized as much as possible, they only do routine checks

@dado380

Жыл бұрын

Citizen in term of accuracy is head and shoulders above the Seiko!!

@ppadilla8990

11 ай бұрын

​​@@ticossbruh my 4r36 is more realiable than my 6r35A dont know why but the latter feels like its russian roulette when It comes to accuracy

I've had people tell me the bezel "isn't even 2 degrees off, that's very small!". Except 1.5 degrees is the WORST possible scenario on a 120 click bezel and you can't be 3 degrees off. It's a complete joke that these things continue to happen with Seiko, no matter the price.

@vailmcc

3 жыл бұрын

Really! Hope those people don’t work for SpaceX!!

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

@@vailmcc Aerospace is one area they struggle to infiltrate

@StaticVapour590

3 жыл бұрын

It's like having a misaligned parts on your new car, doors would not close properly because they are fucked up, wipers will swipe over the windshield and steering wheel would be crooked. Would you be happy to own such crap? I wouldn't

@ET-cj8jo

Жыл бұрын

Re-entry into the earth's atmosphere by Apollo craft was within 2.4 degrees, so 2 degrees is not small. I can easily detect far less than one degree of error in a dial, and it is annoying.

@OscarOSullivan

10 ай бұрын

@@StaticVapour590That was called British Leyland

I don't think Seiko wants to realize, that moving upmarket should mean the quality moves upmarket, as well, not just the prices.

@jaskey

3 жыл бұрын

People have been stating that seiko punches above its weight for so long that I think seiko believed its own hype. Thought, 'oh maybe we should just charge more while keeping everything the same' including the marker issue apparently.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Like Hodinkee success went to their head

@sgddfgfghfgh

3 жыл бұрын

Low quality tat and always has been

@mrmyc0rn840

3 жыл бұрын

@@jaskey EXACTLY! Your comment NEEDS to be reposted on it's own. Actually, an entire video could be based on it.

@BoleDaPole

Жыл бұрын

Not in this day and age where consumers have low standards

I've been a Seiko fan for a long time. You are absolutely on point. Quality control is never a laughing matter. Seiko needs to address this.

@markfrost2707

Жыл бұрын

Seiko's garbage

In the last month I’ve purchased two inexpensive Seiko’s; a made in Japan SBDY099 Green Tortoise, which lines up perfectly, and a made I have no idea where SNE543P1, which is also perfect. In the past year, however, I’ve purchased and returned, an SBDC065, a Capt Willard, and a SARX033. All had alignment issues, and all were made in Japan. JDM used to be considered a step up in quality and desirable, but I’m not so sure..

I’ve never understood being such a fan of a brand that you’re willing to put up with stuff like this. Thank you for not just writing this off as “it’s Seiko, har har har”.

@diavalus

3 жыл бұрын

“i’Ll tAkE a SeIkO over aNy rOlEx!”

@grady60

3 жыл бұрын

It happens all the time, I love Apple products but they have had all sorts of issues over the years that I was willing to put up with. Very few products are perfect in life and compromise is necessary sometimes. For example I loved my iPhone 4 and it was a spectacular phone and software, however the fact the antenna was blocked by holding it was an issue, admittedly a barrier case sorted it but the fact Apple came out publicly and told people 'you are holding it wrong' was a big no no

@kleanovodust-bin69

3 жыл бұрын

@@diavalus I'll buy a Seiko over a Rolex since i can't afford any Rolex's models yet. Hehe.

@pianothatilove

3 жыл бұрын

I have to admit that their QC is as good as non existing, got a SPB207J1 and it went back within 24 hours as it had some issues. But with that being said I have to Seiko Presage watches which I truly love, SRQ025J1 and SPB061J1, amazing time keeping and just wonderful watches. My advice is to buy whatever you might like and try it out, look for anything which might have been missed and if you are not happy just return the damn watch

@ryanfujinaga406

3 жыл бұрын

Still better than Rolex. I don't understand why anyone puts up with their shenanigans. I've also seen misaligned bezels on some of their GMTs.

Pressed steel clasps, misaligned bezels, and misaligned dials becoming the norm for Seiko, and with the price hikes over the last 18 months, well, they just aren't good enough. Why does Orient perform better?

@matthewsprague7674

3 жыл бұрын

Good question re Orient. I'm right in thinking Orient is a sister company yes?

@DM-rc4yu

3 жыл бұрын

Not to mention still treating flat sapphire as some kind of exclusive, super premium feature.

@DavidDatura

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, yes and yes. Shame on you Seiko!

@m47r1m

3 жыл бұрын

Dont forget unsigned crowns for watches costing over a 1000 USD. How is that even a thing Seiko? How is it acceptable?

@TheTonyspoons

3 жыл бұрын

@@matthewsprague7674 not directly, they're all part of the same overarching corporation but operate as completely separate entities. Some people would have you believe that Seiko Watch Corp owns Orient - not true

Fake watches have their markers and markings lined up a lot better than Seikos.

@sublim3princ371

3 жыл бұрын

He literally said that in the video...😑

@hermanfalkum

3 жыл бұрын

Are you serious or joking, that just seems stupid

@ShitShitPampas

3 жыл бұрын

@@steelsteez6118 🤫I didn’t say “all” and I didn’t say the location of manufacture.

@burnki

3 жыл бұрын

Sad, but often true.

@stoater1551

3 жыл бұрын

@@steelsteez6118 Did he say ALL fake watches ? No, I don't think so.

It feels like they keep all the A-stock for themselves in Japan and send all the B-stock out to the rest of the world

@Sameold87

2 жыл бұрын

Like every american guitar companies

@bc454irocz89

2 жыл бұрын

Happens with japanese guitars too

I’m guessing their QC are working from home.

@BoboBloxham

3 жыл бұрын

hahahaha

@wtfiswiththosehandles

3 жыл бұрын

Problem is that a large manufacturer in XXI century is expected to have their quality control integrated well into production processes. In other words, product should be perfect when coming off the line, without any involvement of a quality inspector. It is sad that it isn't so - a Japanese watchmaker should be a leader in lean manufacturing.

@jmmartin7766

3 жыл бұрын

Lol! Excellent! 😂

@mohammedhanif6780

3 жыл бұрын

What's surprising is that Seiko can't be unaware of the QC issues and the backlash. It would be great if a watch reviewer would conduct an interview with a Seiko exec and raise the problem.

@johnlongnecker8776

3 жыл бұрын

@@mohammedhanif6780 great observation. They have to know but have decided that it is more profitable to continue as is.

Seiko is just a mass market brand - I never understood why so many people are cheerleaders for it. I find that Citizen is much better for quartz watches.

@dimi7055

3 жыл бұрын

Citizen and casio compared to seiko is like rolls royce to fiat... They not only smoke seiko its just a whole different ballpark!

@Pilkie101

3 жыл бұрын

Citizen has serious qc

@larsstougaard7097

3 жыл бұрын

I love my Citizen Tsuno, great functions, solar power, power reserve indicator, alarm ( not loud enough though), chronograph, sapphire crystal, battery life great, I only charged it once the last year in the sun. It holds time perfectly, I payed around $ 700

@SWatchik

3 жыл бұрын

But muh hErItAgE

@BoboBloxham

3 жыл бұрын

citizen can actually make a decent bracelet too!

I haven't bought a Seiko at retail in a few years. The move upmarket while not addressing QC and somehow getting worse at it, made me stop giving them my money. My collection is 90% Seiko, and will always be mostly Seikos. I've just decided to buy pre-owned or vintage Seikos instead. Seiko's back catalog is full of hidden gems, and the 90's and 2000's still had great quality pieces.

@ahha6304

Жыл бұрын

last time I get brand new Seiko I sent to service the calibre since the first day I bought haha (pretty sure they changed that calibre instead, it was too abnormally fast) if you ask which one it is, it's Prospex Save the Ocean Penguin Day

What is shocking to me is the fact that Seiko, literally, cannot get things straight, but Grand Seiko goes above and beyond to make sure everything is beyond perfect. Obviously, there is a vast disparity between Grand Seiko and Seiko, but you would think the two would share the common belief in superb quality control since they both come from the overarching Seiko Holdings Corp.

@superfast30

3 жыл бұрын

Sadly, even Gs has been slipping lately. I’ve come across a few we issues. The moment they increased production, they’ve had a slight increase in qc issues. Obviously, no where near as bad as regular seiko’s.

@plugsocket9432

3 жыл бұрын

Actually, I recently bought a Seiko Presage Porco Rosso Enamel Dial Spring Drive Limited Edition watch with a 37% discount Brand New. The watch is fantastic with no QC issues what so ever. The Spring Drive is identical to the Spring Drive used in Grand Seikos. Finally, it did have a Grand Seiko retail price and seems to have been in the shop for a year before I bought it which led to the huge discount. Maybe due to the Watch Badge Snobs but I don't care because I love my new watch.

@JohnDoe-vh7vc

3 жыл бұрын

I got grand seiko on Amazon.... working very perfectly since last 4 years

@teslapete4461

2 жыл бұрын

GS should just be changed to Credor and halve production. this way the name "seiko" doesn't hold them back. I regularly wear my SBGA407 "skyflake" after 18 months of heavy daily wear, so i'm not a hater... :)

@ahha6304

Жыл бұрын

They throw resources and QC at GS, and left Alba and Seiko drymsadly

I feel like seiko went from actually caring about the customer (skx) to just caring about getting paid and not really caring what they are putting out

@Bob_Smith19

3 жыл бұрын

Corporations never care about the customer. It’s always been this way and it’s not going to change. Small companies are the ones that care. But as they grow they will eventually stop caring.

@robertlindo8058

3 жыл бұрын

it certainly looks like it.

@RM-el3gw

3 жыл бұрын

Lol, how delusional. The SKX had terrible quality control, a lacking movement, and very cheap bracelets/straps... All at too high a price point.

@patrickriarchy6054

3 жыл бұрын

The only thing they put any effort in anymore are their King, Pressage and Grand lines and that's it.

@eyeonlife

3 жыл бұрын

SKX had horrible QC !!! It was very known the SKX had massive problems with alignment.

You're absolutely in the right for bashing a brand that asks 1.500 USD for a watch with a misaligned dial. Are they completely bonkers?!

@algorithm007ify

3 жыл бұрын

tell that to Rolex also...it's quite common to find misaligned rehauts

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrMadvillan I don’t but know better than spout shite

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

They might be on something

The fact that there are so many comments in agreement really says something. Listen Seiko. Listen. Thanks for keeping it real, Jody : )

Seiko is no longer the value proposition it used to be. This is coming from someone who grew up with no less than a dozen Seiko. My SARB035 also had a misaligned chapter ring. And it poked me in the eye every time I look at the dial. The 6R15c movement gave out on me within 5 years. I ended up with a cocktail time as a replacement. It’s okay. I think I will get a Hamilton for my next watch. No more Seiko for me either. So hard to say goodbye to a long relationship.

@ttjoseph1

2 жыл бұрын

Not unreasonable to service a movement after 5 years. The problem is the watch is cheap enough that servicing costs more than the watch is worth. Or I would have done with my SARB033 and SARX045.

I love Seiko - LOVE THEM. As a brand. You are 100% correct. This is silly and borderline abusive on the part of the company. I now buy homages - like that Steeldive Willard you were positive on. Seiko now has a new Prospex Willard that will run you $2,500 USD. I think $90 on AliEx is a better bet. Thanks again for all the hard work - and don't let the haters bring you down.

@carlobighouse5434

3 жыл бұрын

Agree - cheers! 👍

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Fanboyism at its finest

@mattcameron9349

3 жыл бұрын

I ended up buying a Tondorino (a sterile Steeldive SD1970 but with no lume on the ceramic bezel, other than a lume-pip, and no UV anti-reflection on the flat sapphire crystal). I then sent the watch to my favourite watch-modder who fitted a genuine Seiko dial, aligned everything perfectly, and regulated the NH35 to +3 seconds per day with no beat error. Then, added a vintage Italian-leather strap. Total cost for everything? About £275. I can hand-on-heart say that it is every bit as good as the new 6105 reissue, and a grand cheaper!

@nspr9721

3 жыл бұрын

Totally on the button @Nicholas Say and in the same camp regarding superior engineered homages from Steeldive et al.

@JB-qt8eh

3 жыл бұрын

I read an issue about this new Willard 8L, movement stopped and not winding after 2 days. So even with the higher models, no one is safe with seiko.

The YT Gods recommended this video for me, so I watched it! As usual, Jody, awesome video. How can I say anything without appearing to defend them? I won't. Just know they make SOOOOOO many more watches than Phoibos, than Zelos. They are mass production at the top degree. So, in my opinion, they give and take certain things to make up for that, and keep costs down (yes, I know, keeping costs down on a watch that's going upstream is funny, but that's another story) IMO, FOD (dirt) is NEVER acceptable in a watch that you can see with the unaided eye, because they are assembling them in a clean environment. It does happen, sure, but its fairly rare. More common, that I see, is obviously misalignment, and "ok" timing. The 6R might be a higher grade movement, but its no top grade movement. It's basically a 4R with some enhancements, and still, I'm fairly sure, machine assembled. Again, 99% of buyers aren't putting them on timegraphers. So if its -10, that's OK as its within spec. Anyway, just wanted to comment, keep up the good fight!

@johnlongnecker8776

3 жыл бұрын

Such a disappointment given the great designs, thanks for bringing out the Islander line! Now about that orange Monster homage….. j/k……a little……

@justinsaunders4068

3 жыл бұрын

Mass production at the top degree is exactly WHY you should have stringent QC procedures at every level of assembly. Your production line should be able to re-accommodate these mistakes. Errors, or should I say glaring errors like these are possibly acceptable for sub $200 products but post $1000 ? You have to ask at this point where is my money going on a mass production article or is my money being well spent if these kinds of errors are (as this video shows) more common than not.

@dultanur

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry Marc, I can’t agree with you on this one. No matter the number they are outputting, they should strive to do better.

@danielthompson803

3 жыл бұрын

I just can't accept the mass production argument, would you use it to defend a another mass produced product like a car?

@RoryMacdonald-pfff

3 жыл бұрын

Some, like Marc, think the shoddy balancing act Seiko operate re. visible placement/finish of components is excusable. Sadly, many agree - and that is why Seiko think its ok to continue to churn out flawed product, at scale. I expect standards like this to continue to slide unless public awareness is raised, by people like Jody, to the fact that you can have a better quality watch if you want. You just have to return your Seiko if its affected, or give your money to a different brand.

I picked up my first Seiko ever earlier this year- a King Samurai Manta (SRPE33, Japan marked dial) which didn't have any alignment issues at all. After working with the touchy regulation system it has since been keeping a steady +2-3 seconds a day. If you regulate your own movement, be mindful of the rotation and location of the regulator pin's slot relative to the hairspring coil any time you move the adjustment arm, and check it for proper hairspring clearance as shown in the Seiko service manual. It's easy to bump/ nudge it accidentally when adjusting, as I found out. I like everything about it so far other than the sub-par diver's extension design on the bracelet, so I guess a Long Island or Strapcode bracelet for it is also on my list now.

I've owned 16 Seiko watches over the past six years and over 40% of them have had minor cosmetic issues that should have been caught by a robust quality control process. The chapter ring alignment is something that Seiko seems to have a hard time getting right. I agree with Jodi -- no more Seikos for me.

@JustOneMoreWatch

3 жыл бұрын

Bloody hell Lee. That's a terrible percentage eh?

@OscarOSullivan

10 ай бұрын

@@JustOneMoreWatchAnd Citizen will mop up their budget diver market

I own Seiko and Orient watches. I never had a QC problem with Orient. I own a Bambino 36mm and a Ray 2 - awesome watches for less than 200. Seiko on the other hand...misaligned chapter rings are a norm. Loved Seiko, never cared much for Orient - till I gave them a try. Today I would say it is my favourite brand at the entry level

@smokincooks7661

3 жыл бұрын

I love my Orients and Orient Stars. I have too many, but zero regrets!

@marceldemir7514

3 жыл бұрын

Yes and you can regulate them to 4 seconds a day. Seiko never stay accurate

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Orient should go for ISO certification

@smokincooks7661

3 жыл бұрын

@@marceldemir7514 I wouldn't say never- the 6R15D in my SARX045 is keeping a consistent +1s/day. Perhaps the previous owner had it professionally adjusted by a wizard watchmaker, or maybe I'm just lucky. The F6G42 in my Orient Star keeps +2.7s/day avg, out of the box. Lucky me.

@HomerIncognito

3 жыл бұрын

My Orient Kamasu has a misaligned and stiff bezel... And I'm sure I'm not the only one with this issue

Very good show Jodi, but I think you got it wrong putting this out on a Saturday, it would have made a Great Sunday Roasting!!!

Seiko is priced out of my budget. And now if I had the money I wouldn’t buy one given the qc issues.

@andreshultz8638

3 жыл бұрын

I have 6 Seikos, some quartz some mechanical. Never have any issue. But I prefer Rolex. I bought Rolex mostly second hand, often have scars, damaged bezels, time not very accurate and I service them change the the damaged parts ; polished and that service often cost more than US$1,500 and expect to work great for another 10 years. For 1 Rolex, I can buy my entire Seiko collection, and each Rolex service cost can buy me another Seiko brand new. Love my Seiko but Rolex to me is like my "air"; I can't breath without it.

@marlan5470

29 күн бұрын

@@andreshultz8638 I seriously prefer Tissot. I have an automatic and it never broke down. My brand new automatic Seiko is going back to get fixed again. I will get another automatic Tissot, but never again another Seiko, not even quartz.

I totally agree with and I came to same conclusion as you a few years ago 😕 There is also another qc issue that you didn’t check, it’s the misaligned hour hand, like at 6pm exactly the hour hand is not perfectly on the 6pm index 😭. This issue is not specific to Seiko unfortunately, I’ve had this on a B&R Diver even after it was sent in for repair.

I would never pay more than £400 for a seiko for this exact reason, to me they are solid budget watches and nothing more.

@Winston.S.1984

3 жыл бұрын

exactly! Watches in this price range, like the SARB033/35 were Seiko's strength - well, these times are long gone....

@nikouai

3 жыл бұрын

Same here

@jeffsvlog203

3 жыл бұрын

Orient much better value for money at this price point

@craigweston5371

3 жыл бұрын

Interesting. I just posted a comment before reading yours and we've both maxed out Seikos top value at £400!

@derekshearer9049

3 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't take a seiko for free...

Good on you, Jodie. They need to be called out on this. Below average specs, poor QC and a higher cost for new models?! No thanks Seiko

Great channel!! QC problems happen, I had 2 defective Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue's. The first watch chronograph hand did not line up at 12. I complained and got a new one, the replacements would not hold power reserve over night. I wrote a letter to the head of Tudor in 2017, got no response. The AD ended up refunding my money, it was very disappointing because I loved the looks of that watch, still do.

the Rolex Root Beer GMT that you reviewed was also misaligned. Its not just Seiko

@Bob_Smith19

3 жыл бұрын

Quiet you, no one likes to hear the truth. Especially when the mob is in a frenzy.

@algorithm007ify

3 жыл бұрын

@@Bob_Smith19 lol

@PhilbyFavourites

3 жыл бұрын

@@Bob_Smith19 Morning Bob, you couldn’t get the Daily Mail and The Sun to print that as a banner headline tomorrow could you?

I got my $88 USD Steel Dive Willard this week. Everything lines up. 🙄

@antsfur

3 жыл бұрын

Thats the way to go if you want this style of watch at the correct price, well done !

@kws4e

3 жыл бұрын

@@Winston.S.1984 Guess what, they are using a SEIKO Nh35 in it, ya little fanboy.

@apyorbitz

3 жыл бұрын

@@Winston.S.1984 wait and see it's as good as any Seiko since it's a Seiko movement? Hahaha

@apyorbitz

3 жыл бұрын

@zack oblong that's at least within my tolerance for a $88 watch. I think my Vostok is worse.

@algorithm007ify

3 жыл бұрын

@zack oblong lol

The QC is terrible. Sadly, as you point out, it's been a thing for a while now.

@robc8468

3 жыл бұрын

It would appear Seiko is now a Chinese brand with Malaysian movement.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

How long now

So do we have to put the seiko movements, often used by microbrands and others on a blacklist as well ? I hope microbrands calibrate and QA-check the nh35 and nh36 movements.

Wow - I knew about the bezel misalignment, but I was not aware that some of Seiko’s movements were off by that much. I love Seiko, but now I am hesitant to purchase a new one. It is especially troubling that QC issues are also common in the higher cost models.

It's a case of 'Once you see it, you can't unsee it.' It would drive me mad.

@chronocommander007

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly, once I have noticed an imperfection it's the first thing my eyes get drawn to.

@brianhsin678

3 жыл бұрын

@@chronocommander007 if it is done by the factory it would bother me. If it is a scratch or ding done by myself, then I'm okay with it. Only Seiko I have owned is the GS snowflake, so I cannot speak for their QC.

@chronocommander007

3 жыл бұрын

@@brianhsin678 I've had a few Seiko watches but none within the past 15 years. Way back then i did not find any QC issues.

Last Seiko I bought I got the AD to show me the watch on video, wasn’t aligned so I got them to order me another. Showed me a video of the new one and it was aligned, then I pulled the trigger. Pedantic I know but it was for a Willard and I don’t want to spend 1k and it be misaligned.

@TheTonyspoons

3 жыл бұрын

Why it's definitely best to go with a reputable AD, just flat out refuse the watch if it's not aligned. People play with fire when they go with grey imports

@Starlord85

3 жыл бұрын

Too right

@aussie8114

3 жыл бұрын

Never worry about being pedantic. I guarantee the vast majority of the business owners would never accept inferior product themselves so if they question you on your efforts then they are being total hypocrites.

@cameronkrause4712

3 жыл бұрын

I think that you mean that you pulled the plug

@MrSlurry

3 жыл бұрын

Agh, "pulled the trigger". Such a lame phrase. Love the Willard though, hope you "wear it in good health"

Gotta’ agree with you. I’ve got no problem with the minor issues on my SKX, but when I recently purchased the new SPB143 (for just under $1200) and the crown action was poor and was told by the AD that it was “within spec,” I found it hard to believe that was OK, and he refunded my money. It’s not that I’m THAT fussy, but for over a grand you expect a certain quality level. Meanwhile, my SARB 033 in almost every way is perfect. Like I said, I’m with you Jody.

MAN Jody... I was going to go for one of these... Love the Grand Seiko lite vibes... But thats not an easy fix of it's the dial.... BTW I agree most of the Seiko I have purchased or featured on my channel have had alignment issues. Kind of sad 😭

I have a lorus, pulsar and orient. It's telling that the qc of their sub brands are better than seiko's!

@the_once-and-future_king.

3 жыл бұрын

I know exactly what you mean.

@jfilm7466

3 жыл бұрын

Looks like Seiko have lost their mojo, Baby! ♂️

3 жыл бұрын

We can add Wired to that list.

@frazzl

3 жыл бұрын

Orient are not a Seiko sub-brand.

@TheBigAEC

3 жыл бұрын

@@frazzl they're owned by Epson which is one of the big 3 in the Seiko group. Technically not a sub-brand of Seiko but 6 of one half a dozen of the other.

I was gutted when I got the watch of my childhood dreams when it had a misaligned chapter ring and a dust speck. I love my Turtle but... And then seeing Steeldive, San Martin etc with so much better QC and spec for a fraction of the price.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Its absurd someone should report them to the ombudsman

Hi Jodie. Love the channel. Need level headed advice to settle my slight concern. Seiko Sary057 pre owned, looks great on wrist, well cared for, no marks on crystal or case.......keeps perfect time......however, the 12 o clock marker ever so slightly out with the chapter ring......2 hairs breadth.....the one imperfection. Would you a) live with it knowing these are getting hard to find and as a time teller it's spot on? b) spend some time and money trying to realign for that perfection.? Thanks again. Paul ( have photos)

I agree. Don't buy Seikos if you can't see them with your own eyes first.

I've had a few $300ish Seiko, and I haven't gotten myself to buy any of their $1,000 offerings. I've bought more expensive watches (Omega and Oris), but I'm not gonna buy any expensive Seiko sight unseen (online).

@diavalus

3 жыл бұрын

@The Insanely Great Apple Channel they are still bad. Orient make better watches in that price range.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Buy it in a shop

@RM-el3gw

3 жыл бұрын

@@oscarosullivan4513 problem with shops is usually much higher prices.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

@@RM-el3gw A means to justify the ends

“You’ll be back Jodi, you’ll ALL BE BACK! Muahahahhaha” Seiko

Is this sharp edge gmt still made and qc in Japan? Or is it the Philippines now.

Yeah, I've seen two of the older Shoguns that needed adjustment out of the box. After the fix they were super, but for $1200US it's ridiculous that anything is needed except for sizing. The new white Shogun looks even better but $1400 on rubber? It had better give racing tips, read bedtime stories and be absolutely perfect. I think my Seiko limit is $500 these days.

What do you call a seiko where everything lines up? A *Citizen*

@AnaCosta-sq7lo

3 жыл бұрын

Nope. I bought an Eco-drive and the chapter ring was misaligned. Sent it to customer service in Germany, they got it better aligned, but the watch came back with a hour index partially oxidized (looks like it) and dust on the dial and under the glass. Complained, got no answer.

@todd344

3 жыл бұрын

I love it it’s true that’s why I got away from them and I went with Citizen I got the pro master automatic I bought it for the same price is for a Seiko 100% better than they would ever be everything lines up everything‘s perfect and heirlooms great love them will never go back to Seiko

@J.S.McDuff

3 жыл бұрын

@@todd344 Their newer citizen models have ridiculously, almost scientifically straight lines. their second hands land on the index everytime. I have the calendier and it's incredible the accuracy.

@gnarl12

3 жыл бұрын

@@AnaCosta-sq7lo see, every company can screw up

@TheTownWatch

3 жыл бұрын

Boom! 😅

I sold all 5 of my 6R35 Seikos for a Seamaster 300. Im over all the QC issues !

@diavalus

3 жыл бұрын

Wise decision

@dvpemberton

3 жыл бұрын

No way, I did exactly the same 😄. Traded 6 of mine towards a 2012 Seamaster Professional. All of the Seiko's had alignment issues. The only ones I've kept are my gen2 monster and my Flightmaster. Hope you enjoy your Seamaster!

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Great decision

@DerpEye

3 жыл бұрын

Yep, same here. Got rid of all of my seikos (apart from an old beater skx013) and got a midsize smp 300 .

@algorithm007ify

3 жыл бұрын

bad move..you should have kept the 1 or 2 that had aligned bezels and good timing...sold the other 3, and just bank the money.

This is exactly why I've got plenty of Seiko homages, but no actual Seiko's.

@claudiocuomo2209

3 жыл бұрын

I also…. For example two steeldives….. Seiko NH35 and the bezels line up also!

@stallion78

2 жыл бұрын

That’s funny because most seiko watches are homages of Swiss brands

@HonestWatchReviewsHWR

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrMadvillan Nope.

Another good one Jody. Sad to see this as Seiko was my first watch given to me by my father, but the facts don’t lie. For a while now I have been very interested in the Casio Oceanus line which seems to have outstanding QC. Would love to see you review a couple or three of these if you get the urge. Keep up the great work.

What do you call a Seiko with good QC ? An Orient...

@randomhandle

3 жыл бұрын

Yep.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

A grand Seiko

@stevebennett7783

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed a GS the 1 Orient I tried died on deployment after 2 months...

@edwardfletcher7790

3 жыл бұрын

@@stevebennett7783 Well it was under warranty then. I'd suggest a Casio W735 Vibe Alarm for military use.

@stevebennett7783

3 жыл бұрын

@@edwardfletcher7790 Yeah my Casio F-91W has been on numerous tours as has my Suunto. I thought I'd try a cheap style dive watch but was very disappointed. You are correct it was under warranty and went back for a refund.

A really bold video! I hope seiko wakes up and gets their QC together...

My first automatic watch was a seiko 5 sports which I purchased in late 2020. It had a lot of issues with the bracelet. It rattled and was loose and also the first link which sits between the lugs was extremely loose and made sounds. I sold that watch last year for 30% less than what I paid for it. And after watching this video , its safe to say that I'd never buy a seiko again.

I have three Seiko. $500 - $1,000 price range. All of them have dial markers all over the place. There is not a consistent twist such as the whole dial of out square, but just a random hit or miss with placement. A misaligned bezel insert, while unacceptable QC, is of course relatively easy to fix. I too will not but Seiko again.

6:42 It amazes me how such a glaring issue passes QC on a $1000+ watch. It would've even bothered me on a $70 Pagani Design.

clearly shows that seiko dont intend themselves to be a luxury brand

@Beck-Stein

3 жыл бұрын

Only luxury prices

@shaunpatrick8345

3 жыл бұрын

I've got an Omega with a mis-aligned bezel. Even luxury has its QC tolerances!

@prasetyow4318

3 жыл бұрын

they have Grand Seiko for luxury watch brand

@jacc88888

3 жыл бұрын

@@prasetyow4318 It’s ironic that some Swiss brands have better QC and more accurate movements for less money. Who would have thought.

@Bob_Smith19

3 жыл бұрын

As pointed out Grand Seiko is their luxury brand. Are we going to bash them? Even Seiko’s $1000+ watches are produced in numbers far exceeding some brands total brand production. QC issues are QC issues but most people don’t realize how hard it is to produce an item on a mass scale. Seiko also knows the mass market doesn’t care about the imperfections.

It appeared that they are all clocked to the left. Is it a misalignment of the jig that drills the stem holes in the case or is their enough rotational slop that the movement can be off that bad?

I just bought an Ice Diver and it's misaligned too. Only half the price of this one but still, how does this happen?!? Oddly my bezel lines up with the chapter ring but neither lines up with the dial. Since the dial is patterned it seems it'd be easier to line it all up. It almost looks to my eye like the dial was off center when the hour markers were applied?!

Yep, 100% agree, I just cannot get on board with Seiko anymore for this exact reason. You should not be crossing your fingers when opening the box of a watch hoping you get a 'good' one, or feel lucky when yours all lines up etc. When I buy a watch of any real value, if there is poor alignment etc, regardless of the brand I will return it, because it is just not acceptable, and nothing will change if we just accept it.

@michaelwertz6689

3 жыл бұрын

Can't you just send it back and get your money back? I know it sucks but I make sure I know the return policy and use it when I'm not happy with a product.

@robertlindo8058

3 жыл бұрын

Seiko would get a shock if we all stopped buying their watches.

@UKNick01

3 жыл бұрын

@@robertlindo8058 They certainly would! It seems nowadays they want to rely on the "casual" watch fan, someone that will like the look of the watch and buy it without paying any attention to the QC. A lot of the long time Seiko fans are turning away from later models for the same reasons we all are. Its just a real shame they still don't seem to care!

At least seiko are consistent with being inconsistent.

@ericgrace9995

3 жыл бұрын

That could be their new advertising slogan : "Seiko: Consistently Inconsistent"

I'm glad someone else has said this. I adore Seiko and own a number of models but the QC issues seem to be getting worse. I have had so many issues with the 6r35 movement, it's just such a shame that so many of the Seikos I want seem to have this same movement. I'm losing 30-60 seconds a day on my SPB165j1. It will be the last Seiko I buy until things improve.

I was walking in my local mall today and I had a 5kx catch my eye in a jewelry store. I legit thought it was fake at first based on how well everything lined up. They also gave me a pretty good deal, so I walked out the mall with a new watch and I feel like that s the only way I'd buy a Seiko again, in person and with a hefty discount. of the 7 or so 5kx's they had in various color ways only the one I got ( the gold and black) was properly aligned.

Well said! We have to pull through and stop this 'abusive boyfriend' relationship with Seiko. Enough is enough

I don't know... None of my Seikos bought in shops have issues. I'm starting to think that these problems come with online sellers.

Do they pay to repair the misaligned bezels, indices, etc...? Is that considered a warranty issue? It's sad that it has to be, but maybe they're passing costs to a different department instead of spending it on QC. ??

@kesfitzgerald1084

3 жыл бұрын

Yes it should be and you have a good point. I have been thinking that this may also be a strategy to kill the grey market.

I have recently got into watches and I have bought 2 Seiko's, a skx009 and a green and gold alpinist and both got sent back one had a black dot on one of the lumed hour markers and the other had a fleck of gold coloured stuff on the dial which I assumed came of one of the dial numbers and neither were cleaned properly before being closed up. Both were sent back for replacements, I love the watches but I didn't realise what an issue this is! The new skx was clean but the bezel didnt line up as well as the first one but I have replaced the insert with a ceramic one. Just thought I'd been really unlucky ! So my success rate is a big fat zero!

The Seiko Quality Control are under lockdown. Great to see you back Jody. 😀

@philyoung1920

3 жыл бұрын

This was going on way before lock down

Thanks for this rant. I have a Seiko monster showing up Sunday. I’ll be ok. I’ll be ok. I’ll be ok. Lol

@Starlord85

3 жыл бұрын

We are praying mate 🙏

I thought that I was alone in questioning Seiko. I have several of their offerings and have noted that the newer they are the less trustworthy the build. Yet, as Jody notes, the prices are on a steep upward trajectory. This smacks of the Japanese reputation being sacrificed to off-shore builds just to inflate profit. Which works for a while - until customer realizes that they are paying more and getting less. This is what drives the consumer to shop elsewhere. Seiko will either get their act together or be relegated to selling in blister packs on a Walmart display.

I'm very lucky that my one and only Seiko (SNK805) has no issues with the dial. *However* there is somehow a pink fiber stuck inside the movement that I can see through the case back? I don't know if that was a result of a servicing at the AD or from the factory but it's unusual. Other than that, it only gains about 5-10 seconds a day, looks gorgeous on an aftermarket strap, and makes me happy.

Alignment issues on a Seiko? No way! 🤣

@JustOneMoreWatch

3 жыл бұрын

Again, and again, and again.....

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

@@JustOneMoreWatch I am modding my amphibia

@stiglnsborgsaxbjrn3392

3 жыл бұрын

My SNKL23J1 has misaligned hands, day and date (but the blue dial is georgeous). My SKX 013 has no misalignments at all, runs -8 sec/day unregulated and consistant for a year now. A Seiko certainly is a miss or a hit. Am I ready to spend 1000$ or more on a Prospex Line diver without having to marry the AD’s daughter to make it run right afterwards? I am not so sure. Even though I wear my Seikos proudly.

@LorianandLothric

3 жыл бұрын

@The Insanely Great Apple Channel How does Honda relate to this?

@LorianandLothric

3 жыл бұрын

@The Insanely Great Apple Channel Toyota must be an exception because they are still the most reliable. Seiko makes watches covering a wide range of price points and the quality will vary accordingly. Grand Seiko is most definitely not average quality.

I'm looking at my sub £100 Pagani Design - everything lines up, same with my 8 year old Seiko 5 Sports. I'll be steering clear of Seiko from now on.

@stevebennett7783

3 жыл бұрын

I like the idea of Pagani but could never bring myself to wear a blatant rip off of a more expensive watch no matter how cheap it was. My personal opinion and certainly don't judge others who do.

@mickeydee3595

3 жыл бұрын

@@stevebennett7783 Yeah I get where you are coming from, but companies have been knocking off from other companies for decades now. Some say that the Submariner was a knock off of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 🤷‍♂️ Good thing is that 99.9% of the population couldn't care less

@stevebennett7783

3 жыл бұрын

@@mickeydee3595 Haha, this is very true 👍

@Jabber-ig3iw

3 жыл бұрын

Sad when fake watches are better made than the real thing.

@stevebennett7783

3 жыл бұрын

@@Jabber-ig3iw I'll have to take your word on that as I've never bought and never will buy a fake watch.

Grand Seiko seems to be expanding now. Maybe Seiko has moved over all their best QC to Grand Seiko and left the B Team to do QC at Seiko.

I just purchased a Seiko Solar Prospex Diver 200m Chronograph SSC741P1 from Jomashop last year (November or December). Immediately I noticed that the "Second Hand" would stop and rest at "12 o'clock position" 1 hour after you start it (all chronographs including the Hour and Minute hands are working fine and still telling me the correct time). Somebody told me that "it has to be fully charged" for the Second Hand to keep moving and not go into "Power-Saving Mode". I then charged my watch in the window sill where the sun hits it at least 12 hours per day for at least 3 weeks during the Summer and guess what happened after that? The "Second Hand" still would stop and rest at "12 o'clock position" 1 hour after you start it. I love Seiko, but this time I'm highly disappointed with them.

Hear, hear! Their quality is fantastic, when you get a “good one.” But it seems to be a gamble.

@JustOneMoreWatch

3 жыл бұрын

I've gambled and lost too many times now mate!

@WatchWitt

3 жыл бұрын

@@JustOneMoreWatch The house always wins! Maybe until now….they can’t win if you don’t show up.

Funny enough I was talking to a friend who's new to the watch world about the Seiko QC issue and he was baffled about such a big brand not being able to sort them selves out. It's a weird thing that we just accept it.

@thetimebombardier

3 жыл бұрын

Good point Jason 👉 citizen don't suffer in the same way 😎😎

@algorithm007ify

3 жыл бұрын

It's those nice designs....many are willing to turn a blind eye for the sexy reissues... Hopefully Seiko fix this.

@mrmyc0rn840

3 жыл бұрын

I think we've accepted it because so many KZread watch reviewers have accepted it, and like Jody said, we've treated it as something of a joke. I'm glad a major reviewer is finally saying enough is enough.

@RM-el3gw

3 жыл бұрын

@@algorithm007ify i agree their designs are some of the best, no doubt. Unfortunately the "hoping" for a change has been going on for years now.

It is longer than a couple years. I gave up on Seiko in 2018 after three purchase that I sent directly back to them. I started in microbrands around that time and realized I was happier with the watches I was getting, and they were more distinct. I love the couple of Seiko's I own, but don't know if I will buy another one anytime soon.

True. I think we all want Seiko to be more than what they are, bc the potential is always there. And we see the problem, QC. I've had many Seikos, most disappointed in some way. But two have been perfect, old 5s. One has a crisply printed dial, the other "dressier" one has applied markers. Both perfectly executed and great timekeepers. Seiko is like having a beautiful sweet supermodel girlfriend, who unexpectedly cuts your dog's throat when you're not looking.

As I've commentated elsewhere the value proposition with Seiko drops off a cliff at the thousand pound point and the competition crowds in, the real issue is the budget watches are poor value toothese days. £250 for a 5?!.....Heloooo San Martin,!

Yes! Finally! Thank you Jody, this is the truth and maybe if the sales drop, just maybe seiko will start offering the great value they once did.

@elvinventucillo4501

3 жыл бұрын

Nope. They would jack up the price nad rip off their fanboys

@modelandrei6599

3 жыл бұрын

@@elvinventucillo4501 yeah, you're probably right... sadly

Very fair feedback mate. In place of Seiko, could we perhaps get a few more Citizen reviews as they seem to have their act more together at similar price points? You know noisy as the Miyota 82xx movements are, they are so well done and often regulated well in general with fair service and replacement costs. I’ve become so leery of Seiko I now look for cheap Miyota movements in inexpensive micro brands. I’d rather noisy than faulty.

I got big upset when my gold tuna had chapter ring misaligned. Good video. Keep up the good work.

Was it this bad 30 years ago?, I dug out my old broken quartz panda, everything lines up perfectly.

@timbanicevich5565

3 жыл бұрын

My 7t32-6g20 from 1999 is a really well made watch. Accurate, reliable, well finished and no alignment issues whatsoever.

@kesfitzgerald1084

3 жыл бұрын

Is it a generational shift? 30 years ago, a misaligned bezel would have meant a Seiko worker needing to do the honorable thing... Now days??! Maybe a gentle reminder via a memo.

Snow on the timegrapher is only okay with Vostok, cause it's on brand.

@JinKee

3 жыл бұрын

Bostock where the russian winter comes to you

@DIJAMIN

3 жыл бұрын

ahaha, yes

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

Any watch at that price point is slightly defendable

@TechnoLawyer

3 жыл бұрын

And because a Vostok is about the price of a decent watch strap. That forgives a hell of a lot. This nonsense of seiko qc being so bad on more expensive watches is ridiculous. Once you get over $1k, you're into the realm of lower tier mainstream Swiss brands, and they tend to actually have decent QC.

@oscarosullivan4513

3 жыл бұрын

@@TechnoLawyer Well put

Couldn't agree more. My father-in-law received a Seiko diver a few years ago and despite losing time far beyond the published specifications (several minutes per day), the watch was returned by Seiko without any regulation or explanation. The last Seikos I personally bought were a pair of Seiko SARB033s. If I feel like a Seiko, I now buy an Orient.

I have a Seiko 4r39a open heart which I got for my 70th birthday from my family. I scratched the Hardlex within the first week. At the time of watching this (on my Huawei p10 plus smartphone) I am wearing a Sea-gull Ocean Star diver with sapphire crystal. It's perfect.

I'm very lucky of having this one without any QC issues. Bought the one released in Japan the day it was released.

I've bought and reviewed many quartz and automatic Seikos. Never had an issue.

@algorithm007ify

3 жыл бұрын

Likewise, it's a little bit of hysteria here...Disappointing.

Wish I came here sooner - I didnt realise one of my dive watches had a chapter ring that was misaligned, a limited edition "Sarada" SRPF67K1. All my other watches are pint point perfect as I also have the "Matcha" SRPF41J, the "Laputa Castle in the sky" SPB215J1 and the "Tokyo Dawn" SPB205J limited editions and I absolutely love them because of how sharp the QC is... but my poor Sarada is off by enough that it is visible when checking the time. *sad face* Does anyone know if Seiko will accept a warranty claim to get them aligned at their local boutique or service centre?

As we say in Mississippi- “ya damn skippy!” Proud of ya for standing up with two fingers up!

Thank you Jody for your honest & fair look at seiko anybody can be a fan boy, Casio Edifice quality has got better give them a look?

@mrmyc0rn840

3 жыл бұрын

Casio's Oceanus line is also very nice!

3:20 Honestly I’m glad you decided to make this video. With a $2,000 price tag and Seiko as the brand, this lack of quality is absolutely unacceptable. I was seriously considering this watch (specifically the SPB221J1) for my next purchase but after what I’ve seen today and on similar videos, unless Seiko gets their stuff together, I don’t know if I’ll ever even buy from this brand again. I just hope this issue doesn’t spread to their other collections. Shame on you Seiko😤😤😤

@MeTaLISaWeSoMe95

2 жыл бұрын

Buy a Citizen Chronomaster. Takes longer to get, but it's an absolutely flawless watch.

@brianhsin678

Жыл бұрын

Ooh it's bad... they have QC issues on their 3k + MM300's. This is made in their GS factory. Seiko has become crap.

Hey Jody - what brand of winder is that on your shelf behind? :)

@JustOneMoreWatch

3 жыл бұрын

Mate, they are Boxy fancy bricks.

I’ve sworn off them as well after a similar experience with the dial being out on a new tuna sbbn

I like how you say that you're cranky, but still come across as cheerful. Having an argument with you must be confusing!

@JustOneMoreWatch

3 жыл бұрын

Ha! Just ask my wife. She hates it.

You know there's a problem when a reputed store like Seiya Japan has this on their Seiko listings - "The chapter ring and index & bezel index and face index not being aligned perfectly."

@Zephyrdaze1819

3 жыл бұрын

Recently saw that, too, at Seiya. How is it that Seiya cannot return them to Seiko?

@trevbarlow9719

3 жыл бұрын

I believe they say that for every watch

@BeansAndBezels

3 жыл бұрын

@@trevbarlow9719 nope. Just their Seikos. I looked at a few Citizens and Chronomaster listings and that isn't mentioned.

@trevbarlow9719

3 жыл бұрын

@@BeansAndBezels I stand corrected. Not a good sign for Seiko!

Spot on. It was Seiko that lead me to inspect watches under the loupe regardless of brand and have turned down nearly half of potential purchases. My last 2 purchases have been a pain as well- a sharp edge (non-gmt) with a micro scratch on the 12 o clock marker that I initially failed to notice and a very slightly misaligned chapter ring and hour hand at 6 o clock on my King Samurai. The King Sammy stays for sentimental reasons but the sharp edge has recently been flipped. Coincidentally, ALL my Tissots in the same price range (or less) have had absolutely no QC issues. I'm keeping whatever Seikos I have left but no more Seikos for me moving forward. Too many Swiss options for the same price

I'm glad to see you finally do this Jodi - I've seen you being too forgiving with Seiko's QC in the past. What do you think it'll take for them to change their ways? Cheers.

@gnarl12

3 жыл бұрын

Sales declines