Chopard

SteveG
1529

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Entirely different in intention and results

Leaving aside the Chopard 1.96 to Patek 240 comparison, I think the finish of my 1.96 is at least as 'fine' as that of
any comparable (serial-production and cost perhaps $US15,000 or less) contemporary watch I have had the
pleasure to handle (but I have hardly seen them all!).  By fine I mean very clean and with obvious consideration to
function and longeveity, with respecting traditonal fine watchmaking finish (such as Geneve Seal) and for sheer
beauty (subjective, obviously).

While I have seen pictures of various Seiko (especially Credor) watches with what appears to be excellent to fabulous,
handwrought and artistic movement finish, these are not serial, mainstream products and are not I suspect the
comparison you are seeking.  Grand Seiko watches are for these purposes of two distinct generations.  The
original GS products of the 1960s ( the ones which had such success at the Observatory Trials), and the current,
post-1998 line.  While the former sported superior functional finish (with many claiming substantial handwork), they
make no pretense of concern for traditional European fine finishing, nor are they particularly artistically oriented
(although I am personally a big fan of this type of finish).  This Cal. 5722B is from 1966:





The current generation of GS, perhaps because of the popularity of display backs, reflects a unique vision of top-of-the-line
production finish, an unabashed celebration of micro-machine capabilities, along with a distinctive nod towards European
sensibilities and expectations. Here is the Cal. 9S54A from 2001:








This attitude is sometimes further demonstrated with Seiko's dialwork.  This is one of the earliest (2002) Credor Spring
Drive watches.  The elaborate dial is not guillocheed, but is rather the product of being impressed with a single cylindrical
die, a fact celebrated at its arrival with the release of an accompanying video detailing the process!  Also, although not actually a
Grand Seiko, the movement displays a similar aesthetic and execution:















This message has been edited by SteveG on 2008-08-22 11:09:25