Remember that problem you have with your Cartier? Well, that’s exactly why this bracelet is pure perfection in engineering. It’s designed to balance the weight of the watch perfectly and lower the centre of gravity of the watch. Also sits perfectly flat on the arm without rolling from side to side. It’s part of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Style principles. I’d say that the thickness of the bracelet is just a surprise to some because it’s different to many other manufactures, but most important is how it looks and wears on the wrist? Ask your husband for a practical view. I think it looks exceptionally good, we’ll integrated with the watch and also something that’s extremely bold styling, not your standard boring classic dress watch.
I just got my black birch yesterday and I have a 6inch wrist, it really looks perfectly fine and I don’t see why people complaining about 22mm size bracelet. I called it nitpicking.
Love your channel but have to say that the last “gripe” was a bit of a head scratcher. From a manufacturing standpoint how would one expect any watch maker to make each dial unique in it’s dial pattern? These are manufactured products. Uniformity is essential for quality control. I understand that it would be “nice” but quite unreasonable. Each watch would be a piece unique if each dial were unique. At $9,700 I’m not sure that that is a reasonable expectation. Rolex doesn’t do that with its Datejust (or any non-meteorite dial), Patek doesn’t do that with their Calatrava line (lowest price point), heck who does that at sub $10k? Everyone seems to always ask Grand Seiko for “a little more” when what they offer is already above and beyond what their peers offer. Let’s compare the birch side-by-side to any other watch in their price point.
The rational part of my brain totally agrees with you, but at the same time I absolutely see Jenni's point here. The dial is supposed to emulate an organic structure and seeing two watches being exactly identical destroys that illusion somewhat, especially since the irregular pattern is quite prominent. And that kind of takes away some of the emotional quality of the watch. Similar to seeing the repeating pattern in fake wooden paneling for the first time. Again, the reasons you stated for the watch being the way it is are completely valid.
Seiko already does it with some of their enamel dials and their hand painted dials. It's not unheard of but might not be possible with this dial design.
In terms of watch technology, you left out the dual impulse escapement. That’s no minor detail, as it sets the watch on par with Omega co-axial escapement. Major innovations substantially reducing attrition and granting way longer intervals between maintenance sessions.
@Whiteboy14 I’m sorry, think you should pause and read bit better my comment. I’m not arguing accuracy. I’m saying that the video omits an important information about the watch technology. The dual impulse sets Grand Seiko against Omega. That’s a fact. Rolex is out of the game, they don’t have anything coming even close.
@Whiteboy14 are you really buying a mechanical watch to tell time ? Really ? Plus Rolex watches are not METAS certified, whereas omegas are. Also it's reported by countless sources that Grand Seiko underreport their accuracy. Didn't you see the craftsmanship and the attention to detail put into grand Seiko watches, everyone in the watch world know that their quality is on par with the likes of Patek Philippe. These grand Seiko watches are limited and a lot of effort is put into making every piece. On the other hand Rolex pumps out a million watches every year. Rolex also don't decorate or show their movement for the price they charge.
Been ignoring the hobby for a couple month's to spare my wallet, and let me say the improvement in your macro-photography since then is SO noticeable! :D Whatever you're doing, keep doing it!
Most people are just talking about the dial but for me the movement is the true star of this watch! 36k VPH, 80hrs power reserve, dual impulse escapement and THAT finish work - it's just stunning! I hope this calibre will come soon to other GS models as this is not my favorite GS design.
I own a boutique exclusive spring drive. The whole GS experience is flawless IMO. The innovation and accuracy of the movements, the finish and as important the customer service of the boutiques is a joy to behold. I love how understated and elegant they are. I will buy another without hesitation.
Technology and craftsmanship wise, Japanese perfection wins over Swiss or German brands as always... Design and proportions wise, there is always sth wrong with Seiko or GS...
Maybe the greatest watch ever made for the money. If people can take off their Rolex colored glasses this blows away the OP. They listen to their clientele and it’s so much cooler to wear than a Rolex. And the Seiko GS story is cool as hell.
Great video but I must argue with the commentary on the date not being centered. Graphically, you should measure all the way to the left side of the main body of the "one" and not the little part sticking out on the left. Had they equaled the distance with the little part sticking out, visually the numbers would have appeared to be off center to the right side of the date window. That date in the window looked perfectly placed and i can't imagine to the naked eye it was even discernable.
I came to the comment section only to find this someone explaining because I just couldn’t comprehend the makers of GS overlook this detail, they are all about the detail, they are DETAIL themselves. 😬
@@MikeSmith-er1qs that you are probably right, and there has to be a good reason as to why they have postioned those numbers in the date window the way they did. Sorry, english is not my native language. 👌🏻
My God this is a gorgeous watch. I somewhat agree about the non-tapered bracelet however, I feel it gives it character, more presence. Congratulations to your “hubby” for acquiring such a fantastic timepiece 🙂👍🏻 Thanks for sharing.
I actually thought that the last thing that bothered you was pretty funny 😂 but after you mentioned it- it got me thinking that that would actually be a really cool thing for Grand Seiko to do moving forward!! (The individualized bespoke birch dial patterns)
The bracelet actually does taper 2mm: 22mm at the lug to 20mm at the clasp. Though it's admittedly very little and would benefit from more as you say. Also, the die they use to initially stamp dials before layering the finish is used on other models. This die is also used on the SBGJ249 "Shosho" but rotated 90 degrees. The SLGA007 "Minamo" and SBGY007 "Omiwatari" have the same contours with only color/finish differing. And the cherry blossom appearance of SBGA413 "Shunbun/Spring" uses the same die as same 2019 season collection's SBGA415 "Taisetsu/Winter", as well as several Asia-exclusive limited editions in other colors.
This bracelet is actually really comfortable on the wrist. There’s a lot of hate for GS bracelets and I think the company have looked to rectify this. Personally, the watch wears great and the bracelet offers comfort and overall balance to the wearing experience. Both the SLGA007 and SBGY007 are as correctly noted, the same dial design. This is because both watches offer heritage inspiration taken from Lake Suwa. A third watch, SBGX346 (ladies limited to 140 pieces) also compliments the Lake Suwa story. A lovey collection to own.
The GS Grand Seiko logo grows on you. I think it is, in large part, because of the effort that GS has put in marketing the brand, it does give the high end feel, especially with the immaculate GS finishing.
Whilst I appreciate the watch making excellence, I find them as boring as batshit. There is a GS diver that I quite like, but by and large am not a fan
Sometimes I forgot that GS also makes automatic watches and not only Spring Drive movement. This is really a great piece. This caliber is amazing. I like the cutout on the rotor. 👍 But this dial is a bit too much for my taste. A bit too busy. I like the Snowflake dial or a clean dial. And it would definitely look more dressy if the bracelet would taper. No-taper is ok for sports watches. At this price range you can be picky.
I love that your husband bought a GS! I figured you all were a Rolex only home 🤣. I also love this watch. Waiting for my AD to get a new batch in, they sold out almost immediately when they got their first allotment.
The date being off center would drive me insane. I also wish they had done this without the unnecessary text. Would be great to see more manufacturers leaving the extra text off the dial in favor of a cleaner look.
Why do people think tapered bracelets are better?... I prefer NON-taper on my bracelets as they are more comfortable and hold the watch more stable on the wrist.
I actually prefer a non tapering bracelet Jen, this is very subjective and like you righteously said this watch punches way above its weight. Great video! Keep it up and take care!
Missing out to mention the dual escapement, Jenni, reading up beforehand is sometimes advisable. Your expectation of individual dial patterns makes no sense, they didn’t cut them from the trees lol.
It is really impressive to see how GS grow over year. What I really love abt this watch is the movement. The finishing level already improved a lot, and at this price range, I think this is the best horology you can get at any respect.
If each dial was completely unique that would probably make the cost way way way more. If you want to fix WB put a blue strap on it. I have blue ostrich. It makes the blue second hand pyrotechnic. It oozes blue as it sweeps the seconds. Wear it to a concert and you get a laser light show on your wrist for free. Get one and and put a strap in it. You'll love it more
I own Grand Seiko White birch with automatic hibeat movement for a month. To be honest, Its precision is very bad (more than +8 seconds a day). Even Worse than my old Seiko 5 Sport watch. I'm very disappointed by the result of accuracy because it's promoted as one of their best model in their catalog.
The finishing of the movement IS NOT on par with Patek Philippe which are hand beveled with mirror polished anglage. The movement on this Grand Seiko is machine beveled then slightly polished with a polishing wheel to hide the harsh marks of machining when viewed by the naked eye. The machining marks appear during the close-ups on the movement in this video. This type of finishing is more akin to movements from the likes of H. moser & Cie, Audemar Piguet’s Royal Oak with caliber AP 3120 which are machine finished like the 9SA5 in this beautiful Grand Seiko.
Correct. I believe they do a lot more hand finishing in their limited micro artist studio pieces and in Credor. Supposedly Dufour spent time working with them and teaching techniques. With that said, the level of finishing in these mid range Grand Seikos are still excellent for their price point. The case finishing is a different story. Some of the best in the watch industry at any price point/brand.
@@mcstarling07 Yeah, Case and dial finishing is among the best in the industry. And correct. Mr. Dufour indeed spent time mentoring the Micro Artist Studio at its infancy in the early 2000s.
My uncle owned this GS,datejust & submariner but seem like he always wear this watch.He told me that he need both GS & Rolex.All is important pieces for him but each has different value.He wear GS to enjoy the finishing & feel special because not too many people owned it.He kept Rolex in mint condition as a investment in case he can roll it for some cash.
From the snowflake, through the white birch and the recent Omiwatari Grand Seiko is endeavoring to produce a very calming watch - the subtle play of light on the dial, invokes the calming of the Japanese countryside, and the silent, smooth glide of the blued steel seconds hand, gives a feeling of time flowing unhurriedly, promoting meditation. I'm not sure if its just the power of suggestion, but it really does have that effect on me. Excellent macro shots Jenni! ❤️
Love the watch, but I'd put it on alligator strap. I agree with an earlier comment about not mentioning the dual impulse escapement which puts this watch on another level. I know the earlier watches ran fast so I guess they had to work out the kinks on the new movement. I'd love to get one eventually but not sure I can ever afford one. Great watch the best bang for the buck at that price point.
@@michaelbedford8017 if you can't handle getting a bit of wabi sabi on your luxury sports watch you shouldn't be wearing a luxury sports watch. It's the same as polished center links on a Rolex bracelet.
Totally agree. That's why the Aqua Terra in 38mm was my latest pick up. No idea why it doesn't get as much love compared to the 41 which looks like a dish on my 6.7inch wrist
The point about the dial pattern is kind of silly. The whole texture of the dial is entirely unique and newly developed. And making it more unique like say with different stamping patterns will make it more difficult to sell. Like say someone comes looking to buy and know that each dial is different in pattern, so it takes only one excuse for someone deciding to return the watch in day 1 or 2 because they don’t like the pattern stamping and the AD ends up with a technically pre-owned watch.
I can relate to your resentment towards identical dials, the way it was marketed as "White Birch" has an undertone of being "Natural", and we as consumers then expect some degree of naturalness from it, which means randomness, organic, no two pieces are the same. Then you learn about all dials are made equally, which tells us after all it's machine made with a repetitive process, the warmth of naturalness fades away, less naturalness, just another cold, hard machine tiking and toking
In relation to the feel of the bracelet,I think the English word you're looking for is 'tactile'.The direct translation to English is "hand flatterer" which is clumsy compared with 'tactile.'................................
By the looks of it, the GS probably targets the Rolex OP, and bests it in almost every department. Just wished the dial was smaller, 36 or 38 mm dial, and GS would have killed it.
My 2 cents is that it's one of the best fitting watches I've seen in your wrist, in spite of the non tapering bracelet. So just wear it on a beautiful leather strap and you'll have a winner 👍
The brand is a dog. Chock ripe of tiring limited edition release that only dilute. The work put into the watches is to be praised but their case proportions and design language leaves a lot to be desired.
A knick knack is more of a general term for something that does nothing. A handschmeichler is more of a worry beads, worry stones, or a fidget. Something you play with with your hands.
Great review! I've been waiting for an in depth look at this. Your photography and videography is top notch! Dare I say Watchfinder and Bruce Williams level!
That is a beautiful watch. Grand Seiko dials are so awesome. Thanks for the video Jenni. Congratulations on your quick growth on RUclips. I can’t believe you are almost to 200k already. But after watching your content it really should not be a surprise. Great work! I’m excited for what is to come.
I want it so bad, but dang it’s pricey. I’m looking between this and the “winter” model. And while I like this watch much more, the 3k difference makes it a difficult choice.
Remove the prestige and hype associated with Rolex, and judge what Grand Seiko produces relative to Rolex, and just purely from a dispassionate assessment of the artistry and craftsmanship, Grand Seiko's product line is more worthy of praise.
@@zebra8961 I never stated that one was a better investment over the other. Sure, Rolex is going to appreciate in value. However, most watch enthusiasts don't buy watches as investments. They buy watches because they are enamored by the design and technical skill it takes to make these trinkets. After all, there are better investments out there than watches.
I have a snowflake and white birch as well as several Rolex watches. The white birch is by far the most complete watch in my collection. The quality is unmatched. The watch is way better in person. The bracelet is incredible. It does have a slight taper - 2 mm. It is a 5 piece bracelet - the center link appears to be one piece but it’s not. It is made up of three pieces. The dial is hypnotic and the indices, and hands are perfect. The watch feels great on the wrist.
@@zebra8961 Want to back that up with some evidence? Very few watches are good Investments and the ones that are, are only good if you pay retail price and not grey market price.
this is an amasing watch! fortunate enough to sit in a call with GS peeps from Sydney boutique to talk through the process of how they made the dial. If I recall they had to do the stamping around 6-7 times! Love GS dedication to craftsmanship "spirit of Takumi"
I agree that having the birch pattern be slightly different would be cool but from a production and marketing perspective that would be an absolute nightmare. Watch fans are SUPER pedantic. If there were say 7 different White Birch patterns people would go online, research and compare the hell out of them and then a pattern preference 'Meta' would emerge in GS communities and all of a sudden people will start going into GS shops & retailers and say 'I ONLY want the White Birch with 'This' specific pattern.' Meaning GS would almost certainly end up selling less WB models over all because they couldn't possibly provide enough of each 'variant' and then from a production/marketing stand point why would they bother to continue produce the unpopular variants that aren't selling? And then the used market would adopt that 'Meta' and so all of a sudden certain variants are WAY more in demand and thus will sell for MUCH more. And that's not to say anything of the 2nd hand market, which will also adopt that 'Meta', so if you buy a WB brand new but it's not the most popular variant that means the watch value retention is going to be even lower for... Which will put a LOT of people off from buying it at all. See what I mean? Total nightmare.
The only real gripe I have with this watch and many recent Grand Seiko releases are the hour hands. I really like Grand Seiko dauphine hands but these newer ones with the tip of the hour hand cut off just look a bit off to me.
Haha I asked AD about the dial, they basically made these mold to print all these dials otherwise each GS would cost like twice the price. Also really curious about the bracelet tapering rate as well. Maybe it’s just more balance because how the width starts at 22
The dials are all the same as they are stamped and then finished. GS does this a lot, their Shunbun, Snowflake, etc are all like that. Though can it really be considered a demerit? If it were done by hand to give it more uniqueness, seems the price point would go up demonstrably. All of the hand finished dials I can think of from Patek and others are significantly more than this piece. Regardless, great review and I want one of these SO bad!
I'm sorry but i did not agree about your complaining about the dial in the end. It is like buying a 80.000€ BMW 5 Series and complaining why it hasn't all the features a 300.000€ Rolls Royce has. Both brands belong to the same company. Is it really enough to be disappointed? Greetings from Germany. 😉
At least two problems. The date printing is not clean and sharp. And, as always with GS, the band is the weakest point. Having experienced a glide lock, I’ll never be satisfied with less.
Lol. How can this watch be incredible but also disappointing. Just another YT opinion that doesn't really matter . Grand Seiko is an amazing watch which brings me to my next point .... how many watches have you produced. ?? No lume?? Not every watch needs lume as this is not a watch used for sporty night activity . Thumbs down for me fraulein.
May have been a translation error, the watch is supposed to represent a white birch forest, not bark, the vertical lines represent the trees near their watch studio in Japan.
Wow, some real nitpicking here! Strange that the word "disappointment" would creep in, although we all have certain preferences. This watch is a great work of art and pretty damned close to perfection.
Stunning watch. Agree the bracelet design is a bit clunky and lacks elegance. Don't agree that the individual dial is a reasonable expectation. What next? Will you expect Seiko to plant you your own personal birch tree in a Buddhist temple in Kyoto? But I still love you. 🤣
Nitpick much? It isn’t made from recovered plastic garbage after all (Thank you Oris!) Lets think… what other watchmaker does not taper its bracelet. Perhaps Omega?
I just purchased one after watching this and 2 other videos. Its a preowned that only been worn a couple of times with all original box and papers from Chrono24....
One of the best if not the best reviews for the white birch . I think that this watch and GS in general make some of the best looking dials in the industry and provide an amazing value for money. Very nice close up shots as I think that watch like this can only be appreciated properly with ultra closeup shots. Another nice thing about the video is your uber attention to detail in terns of comparing the dial textures two WB watches .ALL IN ALL great video that makes me want to buy this watch even more
The dial is really wonderful. Somehow I don’t feel that the case makes it justice, though (not that it is inelegant, it’s just way less sophisticated than the dial is).
For such a high price, what good is a watch with zaratsu polishing that can only be viewed during daytime but doesn't lume and not viewable at low light? No wonder consumers prefer Rolex watches!
It seems almost shameful to describe a wristwatch that costs almost five figures as a bargain, but it's great value for what you're getting. The Grand Seiko is up there with the best watches in the world.
![Grand Seiko White Birch, Fantastic Watch With A Few Concerns - Owner's Review [SLGH005]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yM-M0EOd1ng/mqdefault.jpg)
Is there a word for „Handschmeichler“ in your language 😅??
No. We have a word for handsome though, and that word is...
...ME. 😎 🤣
hand flatterer 👍
Worry stone?
Hand-feel works, Although I think it traditionally applies to fabrics, it is now applied to video games as well.
Not a literal translation, but your explanation might probably indicate 'organic'
Remember that problem you have with your Cartier? Well, that’s exactly why this bracelet is pure perfection in engineering. It’s designed to balance the weight of the watch perfectly and lower the centre of gravity of the watch. Also sits perfectly flat on the arm without rolling from side to side.
It’s part of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Style principles.
I’d say that the thickness of the bracelet is just a surprise to some because it’s different to many other manufactures, but most important is how it looks and wears on the wrist? Ask your husband for a practical view.
I think it looks exceptionally good, we’ll integrated with the watch and also something that’s extremely bold styling, not your standard boring classic dress watch.
I just got my black birch yesterday and I have a 6inch wrist, it really looks perfectly fine and I don’t see why people complaining about 22mm size bracelet. I called it nitpicking.
What are the evolution 9 style principles?
@@Chris_Lanthat is something for the Google machine, my friend
Love your channel but have to say that the last “gripe” was a bit of a head scratcher. From a manufacturing standpoint how would one expect any watch maker to make each dial unique in it’s dial pattern? These are manufactured products. Uniformity is essential for quality control. I understand that it would be “nice” but quite unreasonable. Each watch would be a piece unique if each dial were unique. At $9,700 I’m not sure that that is a reasonable expectation. Rolex doesn’t do that with its Datejust (or any non-meteorite dial), Patek doesn’t do that with their Calatrava line (lowest price point), heck who does that at sub $10k? Everyone seems to always ask Grand Seiko for “a little more” when what they offer is already above and beyond what their peers offer. Let’s compare the birch side-by-side to any other watch in their price point.
Yep, you got the point here. There are unique dials, not at 9k.
The rational part of my brain totally agrees with you, but at the same time I absolutely see Jenni's point here. The dial is supposed to emulate an organic structure and seeing two watches being exactly identical destroys that illusion somewhat, especially since the irregular pattern is quite prominent. And that kind of takes away some of the emotional quality of the watch. Similar to seeing the repeating pattern in fake wooden paneling for the first time. Again, the reasons you stated for the watch being the way it is are completely valid.
Seiko already does it with some of their enamel dials and their hand painted dials. It's not unheard of but might not be possible with this dial design.
Great response and spot on!
She's been bought out by the swiss watch cartel, lol. The bias against GS is real.
In terms of watch technology, you left out the dual impulse escapement. That’s no minor detail, as it sets the watch on par with Omega co-axial escapement. Major innovations substantially reducing attrition and granting way longer intervals between maintenance sessions.
@Whiteboy14 racist much or…….
@Whiteboy14 I’m sorry, think you should pause and read bit better my comment. I’m not arguing accuracy. I’m saying that the video omits an important information about the watch technology. The dual impulse sets Grand Seiko against Omega. That’s a fact. Rolex is out of the game, they don’t have anything coming even close.
@Whiteboy14 are you really buying a mechanical watch to tell time ? Really ? Plus Rolex watches are not METAS certified, whereas omegas are. Also it's reported by countless sources that Grand Seiko underreport their accuracy. Didn't you see the craftsmanship and the attention to detail put into grand Seiko watches, everyone in the watch world know that their quality is on par with the likes of Patek Philippe. These grand Seiko watches are limited and a lot of effort is put into making every piece. On the other hand Rolex pumps out a million watches every year. Rolex also don't decorate or show their movement for the price they charge.
Well said .
Been ignoring the hobby for a couple month's to spare my wallet, and let me say the improvement in your macro-photography since then is SO noticeable! :D Whatever you're doing, keep doing it!
Most people are just talking about the dial but for me the movement is the true star of this watch! 36k VPH, 80hrs power reserve, dual impulse escapement and THAT finish work - it's just stunning! I hope this calibre will come soon to other GS models as this is not my favorite GS design.
I own a boutique exclusive spring drive. The whole GS experience is flawless IMO. The innovation and accuracy of the movements, the finish and as important the customer service of the boutiques is a joy to behold. I love how understated and elegant they are. I will buy another without hesitation.
The bracelet tapers from 22 to 20mm... Atleast mine does, lol. Was the bracelet measured in the video?
Apparently not
Technology and craftsmanship wise, Japanese perfection wins over Swiss or German brands as always... Design and proportions wise, there is always sth wrong with Seiko or GS...
Japanese level of detail and perfection are god like... that is why I watch only porn from Japan
Grand Seiko is so under rated. The white birch is a gorgeous watch. 😍
Have you seen the price tag? I don't think it's underrated 😉
Alright
Maybe the greatest watch ever made for the money. If people can take off their Rolex colored glasses this blows away the OP. They listen to their clientele and it’s so much cooler to wear than a Rolex. And the Seiko GS story is cool as hell.
Late to the party in this , but you are 100% correct , own both but prefer my GS tbh 👍
Great video but I must argue with the commentary on the date not being centered. Graphically, you should measure all the way to the left side of the main body of the "one" and not the little part sticking out on the left. Had they equaled the distance with the little part sticking out, visually the numbers would have appeared to be off center to the right side of the date window. That date in the window looked perfectly placed and i can't imagine to the naked eye it was even discernable.
I came to the comment section only to find this someone explaining because I just couldn’t comprehend the makers of GS overlook this detail, they are all about the detail, they are DETAIL themselves. 😬
@@markonagy5015 I have no earthly idea what you are trying to say.
@@MikeSmith-er1qs that you are probably right, and there has to be a good reason as to why they have postioned those numbers in the date window the way they did. Sorry, english is not my native language. 👌🏻
36000 beats her pour and a 80 hour power reserve. Impressive. Plus the dial and overall finishing make this a very appealing watch.
My God this is a gorgeous watch.
I somewhat agree about the non-tapered bracelet however, I feel it gives it character, more presence.
Congratulations to your “hubby” for acquiring such a fantastic timepiece 🙂👍🏻
Thanks for sharing.
Yep. Agree with the no taper. People complained about Snowflake being too light so GS answered. :D
This one has quickly become my grail
jenni, sorry but you are wrong - the bracelet does taper.
I actually thought that the last thing that bothered you was pretty funny 😂 but after you mentioned it- it got me thinking that that would actually be a really cool thing for Grand Seiko to do moving forward!!
(The individualized bespoke birch dial patterns)
The bracelet actually does taper 2mm: 22mm at the lug to 20mm at the clasp. Though it's admittedly very little and would benefit from more as you say. Also, the die they use to initially stamp dials before layering the finish is used on other models. This die is also used on the SBGJ249 "Shosho" but rotated 90 degrees. The SLGA007 "Minamo" and SBGY007 "Omiwatari" have the same contours with only color/finish differing. And the cherry blossom appearance of SBGA413 "Shunbun/Spring" uses the same die as same 2019 season collection's SBGA415 "Taisetsu/Winter", as well as several Asia-exclusive limited editions in other colors.
Wow. Thanks for the comment. Was not aware
This bracelet is actually really comfortable on the wrist. There’s a lot of hate for GS bracelets and I think the company have looked to rectify this. Personally, the watch wears great and the bracelet offers comfort and overall balance to the wearing experience.
Both the SLGA007 and SBGY007 are as correctly noted, the same dial design. This is because both watches offer heritage inspiration taken from Lake Suwa. A third watch, SBGX346 (ladies limited to 140 pieces) also compliments the Lake Suwa story. A lovey collection to own.
SLGH005 and SBGJ249 do not use the same dial pattern btw.
The GS Grand Seiko logo grows on you. I think it is, in large part, because of the effort that GS has put in marketing the brand, it does give the high end feel, especially with the immaculate GS finishing.
Looks like the Gc from Guess Collection LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Whilst I appreciate the watch making excellence, I find them as boring as batshit. There is a GS diver that I quite like, but by and large am not a fan
Sometimes I forgot that GS also makes automatic watches and not only Spring Drive movement.
This is really a great piece. This caliber is amazing. I like the cutout on the rotor. 👍
But this dial is a bit too much for my taste. A bit too busy. I like the Snowflake dial or a clean dial.
And it would definitely look more dressy if the bracelet would taper. No-taper is ok for sports watches.
At this price range you can be picky.
I love GS also keeps drilled lugs on al their sports models. I saw this watch in person and found my self just staring at it endlessly.
Exquisite craftsmanship. Gorgeous timepiece for a fraction of what others would charge.
I love that your husband bought a GS! I figured you all were a Rolex only home 🤣. I also love this watch. Waiting for my AD to get a new batch in, they sold out almost immediately when they got their first allotment.
The date being off center would drive me insane. I also wish they had done this without the unnecessary text. Would be great to see more manufacturers leaving the extra text off the dial in favor of a cleaner look.
Gah! I love it! But something about GS bracelets just don't do it for me... Gorgeous review AS ALWAYS!
Lack of quick adjustment surprised me, Gringy. Maybe to keep clasp thickness down.
Why do people think tapered bracelets are better?... I prefer NON-taper on my bracelets as they are more comfortable and hold the watch more stable on the wrist.
This bracelet tapers from 22mm to 20mm, contrary to what Jeni would have you believe
I actually prefer a non tapering bracelet Jen, this is very subjective and like you righteously said this watch punches way above its weight. Great video! Keep it up and take care!
The bracelet on the white birch tapers from 22mm to 20mm. I don’t know how Jeni got that wrong, especially considering that was her main gripe
Missing out to mention the dual escapement, Jenni, reading up beforehand is sometimes advisable.
Your expectation of individual dial patterns makes no sense, they didn’t cut them from the trees lol.
you sold me on this one! I will wait for similar model with the same thinness and old indices design.
It is really impressive to see how GS grow over year. What I really love abt this watch is the movement. The finishing level already improved a lot, and at this price range, I think this is the best horology you can get at any respect.
You're outfit is a vibe ✨ ♥
If each dial was completely unique that would probably make the cost way way way more. If you want to fix WB put a blue strap on it. I have blue ostrich. It makes the blue second hand pyrotechnic. It oozes blue as it sweeps the seconds. Wear it to a concert and you get a laser light show on your wrist for free. Get one and and put a strap in it. You'll love it more
I own Grand Seiko White birch with automatic hibeat movement for a month. To be honest, Its precision is very bad (more than +8 seconds a day). Even Worse than my old Seiko 5 Sport watch. I'm very disappointed by the result of accuracy because it's promoted as one of their best model in their catalog.
The finishing of the movement IS NOT on par with Patek Philippe which are hand beveled with mirror polished anglage. The movement on this Grand Seiko is machine beveled then slightly polished with a polishing wheel to hide the harsh marks of machining when viewed by the naked eye. The machining marks appear during the close-ups on the movement in this video. This type of finishing is more akin to movements from the likes of H. moser & Cie, Audemar Piguet’s Royal Oak with caliber AP 3120 which are machine finished like the 9SA5 in this beautiful Grand Seiko.
Correct. I believe they do a lot more hand finishing in their limited micro artist studio pieces and in Credor. Supposedly Dufour spent time working with them and teaching techniques. With that said, the level of finishing in these mid range Grand Seikos are still excellent for their price point. The case finishing is a different story. Some of the best in the watch industry at any price point/brand.
@@mcstarling07 Yeah, Case and dial finishing is among the best in the industry. And correct. Mr. Dufour indeed spent time mentoring the Micro Artist Studio at its infancy in the early 2000s.
Yep. Agree. Also reflects in the price point ☺️
I ve seen it in person - stunning
My uncle owned this GS,datejust & submariner but seem like he always wear this watch.He told me that he need both GS & Rolex.All is important pieces for him but each has different value.He wear GS to enjoy the finishing & feel special because not too many people owned it.He kept Rolex in mint condition as a investment in case he can roll it for some cash.
The birch pattern is most likely laser engraved.
Great video and an amazing dial Jenni, but FYI, the bracelet does taper 2mm 🙂
From the snowflake, through the white birch and the recent Omiwatari Grand Seiko is endeavoring to produce a very calming watch - the subtle play of light on the dial, invokes the calming of the Japanese countryside, and the silent, smooth glide of the blued steel seconds hand, gives a feeling of time flowing unhurriedly, promoting meditation. I'm not sure if its just the power of suggestion, but it really does have that effect on me. Excellent macro shots Jenni! ❤️
That’s such a beautiful watch, Jenni! Excellent review!
Nice and sharp 2 cents👍🏻👍🏻
I have this timepiece and it is amazing.
The way the indices are applied probably makes unique dials near impossible (within the price)
Great watch. Nice review and spot on recommendations.
Love the watch, but I'd put it on alligator strap. I agree with an earlier comment about not mentioning the dual impulse escapement which puts this watch on another level. I know the earlier watches ran fast so I guess they had to work out the kinks on the new movement. I'd love to get one eventually but not sure I can ever afford one. Great watch the best bang for the buck at that price point.
2:05. Everyone says it’s the bark. It’s actually the forest, ie., the trunks of the trees. It’s not bark. That’s why it’s vertical.
Your welcome.
It’s not vertical when your arm is at your side .
Omg this is a nice GS!
40mm for a dress watch of this design is a sundial IMO.
Well it's more of a sports watch hybrid, like the Datejust. 100m WR, sharper and broader angles and edges, etc.
@@sylinmino
And who's going to look after the hand finished polishing after one's sporting endeavours? Or can you afford an expert 'watch currator'?
@@michaelbedford8017 if you can't handle getting a bit of wabi sabi on your luxury sports watch you shouldn't be wearing a luxury sports watch.
It's the same as polished center links on a Rolex bracelet.
Totally agree. That's why the Aqua Terra in 38mm was my latest pick up. No idea why it doesn't get as much love compared to the 41 which looks like a dish on my 6.7inch wrist
6:22 It feels you are kind of reaching here.
The point about the dial pattern is kind of silly. The whole texture of the dial is entirely unique and newly developed. And making it more unique like say with different stamping patterns will make it more difficult to sell. Like say someone comes looking to buy and know that each dial is different in pattern, so it takes only one excuse for someone deciding to return the watch in day 1 or 2 because they don’t like the pattern stamping and the AD ends up with a technically pre-owned watch.
The nitpick over all the dials looking the same is a bit much. Don’t all watches do that
I can relate to your resentment towards identical dials, the way it was marketed as "White Birch" has an undertone of being "Natural", and we as consumers then expect some degree of naturalness from it, which means randomness, organic, no two pieces are the same. Then you learn about all dials are made equally, which tells us after all it's machine made with a repetitive process, the warmth of naturalness fades away, less naturalness, just another cold, hard machine tiking and toking
Need to get some GS before their managements start concentrating on AD marketing.
In relation to the feel of the bracelet,I think the English word you're looking for is 'tactile'.The direct translation to English is "hand flatterer" which is clumsy compared with 'tactile.'................................
By the looks of it, the GS probably targets the Rolex OP, and bests it in almost every department. Just wished the dial was smaller, 36 or 38 mm dial, and GS would have killed it.
Being a little picky, it was quite apparent that the date font was a little smudgy. Otherwise great watch.
My 2 cents is that it's one of the best fitting watches I've seen in your wrist, in spite of the non tapering bracelet.
So just wear it on a beautiful leather strap and you'll have a winner 👍
The bracelet on the white birch tapers from 22mm to 20mm
Have the snowflake. Love this but could not buy it due to lack of colour - needs "pop" over and above the dial. Case back view is unrivalled however
Top notch! The brand is impeccable.
The brand is a dog. Chock ripe of tiring limited edition release that only dilute. The work put into the watches is to be praised but their case proportions and design language leaves a lot to be desired.
@@mr.personal-ity People who like Grand Seiko have fierce loyalty.
Hats off to grand seiko
I'm sorry but the macro shots of the dial remind me of truck bed-liner, only silver. That doesn't scream luxury or intricate to me...
GS, a watch that is standing out in the crowd due to japanese watchmakers strive for passion, uniqueness and perfection.
Uh huh. Here the states we call handshmalkers “Knick knacks”
A knick knack is more of a general term for something that does nothing. A handschmeichler is more of a worry beads, worry stones, or a fidget. Something you play with with your hands.
@@littlejackalo5326 uh huh.
Completely agree with the taper-less bracelet! :/ would've made this watch a solid 10/10 in my books! It's still a very high 9.9/10 tho :p hahaha
Great review! I've been waiting for an in depth look at this. Your photography and videography is top notch! Dare I say Watchfinder and Bruce Williams level!
Teddy level!
If we're trying to compare quality of macro amongst watch-youtubers, how on earth can you mention Bruce and Teddy and leave out Hafiz?
@@Chris_BQ will check him out!
@@Chris_BQ Hafiz J Mehmood has some great macros indeed 😀
@@TheRobinCox never heard of him but he must be good if he's at that level.
That is a beautiful watch. Grand Seiko dials are so awesome. Thanks for the video Jenni. Congratulations on your quick growth on RUclips. I can’t believe you are almost to 200k already. But after watching your content it really should not be a surprise. Great work! I’m excited for what is to come.
My first GS purchase was this year and it ONLY made my want more GS in my life. They are truly indescribable until you see them in person.
GS IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL JENNI ELLE IS?
Especially in that dress!
I want it so bad, but dang it’s pricey. I’m looking between this and the “winter” model. And while I like this watch much more, the 3k difference makes it a difficult choice.
Remove the prestige and hype associated with Rolex, and judge what Grand Seiko produces relative to Rolex, and just purely from a dispassionate assessment of the artistry and craftsmanship, Grand Seiko's product line is more worthy of praise.
@@zebra8961 I never stated that one was a better investment over the other. Sure, Rolex is going to appreciate in value. However, most watch enthusiasts don't buy watches as investments. They buy watches because they are enamored by the design and technical skill it takes to make these trinkets. After all, there are better investments out there than watches.
I have a snowflake and white birch as well as several Rolex watches. The white birch is by far the most complete watch in my collection. The quality is unmatched. The watch is way better in person. The bracelet is incredible. It does have a slight taper - 2 mm. It is a 5 piece bracelet - the center link appears to be one piece but it’s not. It is made up of three pieces. The dial is hypnotic and the indices, and hands are perfect. The watch feels great on the wrist.
@@terrylouis9852 Nice! I hope to have a Grand Seiko myself, soon.
@@zebra8961 Want to back that up with some evidence? Very few watches are good Investments and the ones that are, are only good if you pay retail price and not grey market price.
@@alphacause Ignore him, he's a Rolex fan boy and they get upset when any other watches upstaged their overpriced bland watch.
OMG this watch is amazing. It's a work of art.
Alright
One of the most best looking watches :) 😀 top
Great review. Thanks for the video and the German lesson
The trouble is, how can you experience the convenience of the 80 hour power reserve if you never want to take it off?
this is an amasing watch! fortunate enough to sit in a call with GS peeps from Sydney boutique to talk through the process of how they made the dial. If I recall they had to do the stamping around 6-7 times! Love GS dedication to craftsmanship "spirit of Takumi"
That was the same thing I said when I was looking at it. I wish the bracelet tapered to a smaller silhouette. Aside from that, great piece!
it’s works in person. I thought the same thing
I agree that having the birch pattern be slightly different would be cool but from a production and marketing perspective that would be an absolute nightmare. Watch fans are SUPER pedantic.
If there were say 7 different White Birch patterns people would go online, research and compare the hell out of them and then a pattern preference 'Meta' would emerge in GS communities and all of a sudden people will start going into GS shops & retailers and say 'I ONLY want the White Birch with 'This' specific pattern.' Meaning GS would almost certainly end up selling less WB models over all because they couldn't possibly provide enough of each 'variant' and then from a production/marketing stand point why would they bother to continue produce the unpopular variants that aren't selling?
And then the used market would adopt that 'Meta' and so all of a sudden certain variants are WAY more in demand and thus will sell for MUCH more.
And that's not to say anything of the 2nd hand market, which will also adopt that 'Meta', so if you buy a WB brand new but it's not the most popular variant that means the watch value retention is going to be even lower for... Which will put a LOT of people off from buying it at all.
See what I mean? Total nightmare.
These are petty complaints for a sub 10k watch. Sigh. You just have a small wrist... and unreasonable expectations.
The only real gripe I have with this watch and many recent Grand Seiko releases are the hour hands. I really like Grand Seiko dauphine hands but these newer ones with the tip of the hour hand cut off just look a bit off to me.
Looks massive on your wrist luv
Haha I asked AD about the dial, they basically made these mold to print all these dials otherwise each GS would cost like twice the price.
Also really curious about the bracelet tapering rate as well. Maybe it’s just more balance because how the width starts at 22
The dials are all the same as they are stamped and then finished. GS does this a lot, their Shunbun, Snowflake, etc are all like that. Though can it really be considered a demerit? If it were done by hand to give it more uniqueness, seems the price point would go up demonstrably. All of the hand finished dials I can think of from Patek and others are significantly more than this piece.
Regardless, great review and I want one of these SO bad!
I sold my GS mainly cuz of the bracelet…no taper, no micro adjustment on the fly, etc
The bracelet on the white birch tapers from 22mm to 20mm. Are you talking about a different GS watch that does not taper? I’m not aware of one
I have 4.5 wrist it’s drives me crazy I can’t use half of watches that I really like because it would be too large
I'm sorry but i did not agree about your complaining about the dial in the end. It is like buying a 80.000€ BMW 5 Series and complaining why it hasn't all the features a 300.000€ Rolls Royce has. Both brands belong to the same company. Is it really enough to be disappointed? Greetings from Germany. 😉
Yup the date window is rather disappointing. Have you tried the SBGH271?
At least two problems. The date printing is not clean and sharp. And, as always with GS, the band is the weakest point. Having experienced a glide lock, I’ll never be satisfied with less.
Just got one and its a lovely watch ⌚
I want this with spring drive
Lol. How can this watch be incredible but also disappointing. Just another YT opinion that doesn't really matter .
Grand Seiko is an amazing watch which brings me to my next point .... how many watches have you produced. ?? No lume?? Not every watch needs lume as this is not a watch used for sporty night activity . Thumbs down for me fraulein.
May have been a translation error, the watch is supposed to represent a white birch forest, not bark, the vertical lines represent the trees near their watch studio in Japan.
Wow, some real nitpicking here! Strange that the word "disappointment" would creep in, although we all have certain preferences. This watch is a great work of art and pretty damned close to perfection.
Not sure which looks better, Jenni or the Birch?
Also, please Grand Seiko, make this watch in 37mm and i will throw my money at you.
Stunning watch. Agree the bracelet design is a bit clunky and lacks elegance. Don't agree that the individual dial is a reasonable expectation. What next? Will you expect Seiko to plant you your own personal birch tree in a Buddhist temple in Kyoto? But I still love you. 🤣
With "Handschmeichler" you won my thumb (I would say heart, but it was actually my thumb) :D
Grüße gehn raus! ;)
Nitpick much? It isn’t made from recovered plastic garbage after all (Thank you Oris!) Lets think… what other watchmaker does not taper its bracelet. Perhaps Omega?
I just purchased one after watching this and 2 other videos. Its a preowned that only been worn a couple of times with all original box and papers from Chrono24....
One of the best if not the best reviews for the white birch . I think that this watch and GS in general make some of the best looking dials in the industry and provide an amazing value for money. Very nice close up shots as I think that watch like this can only be appreciated properly with ultra closeup shots. Another nice thing about the video is your uber attention to detail in terns of comparing the dial textures two WB watches .ALL IN ALL great video that makes me want to buy this watch even more
The dial is really wonderful. Somehow I don’t feel that the case makes it justice, though (not that it is inelegant, it’s just way less sophisticated than the dial is).
For such a high price, what good is a watch with zaratsu polishing that can only be viewed during daytime but doesn't lume and not viewable at low light? No wonder consumers prefer Rolex watches!
It seems almost shameful to describe a wristwatch that costs almost five figures as a bargain, but it's great value for what you're getting. The Grand Seiko is up there with the best watches in the world.