Spangles - Dr. Tabby
5595
It's THE problem with a spring drive. Seiko has a very poor reputation for not servicing watches past a certain age.
They simply didn't care and they didn't keep parts. Now that they are selling much more expensive watches, the idea of being left with a non-functioning watch in a few years is a real problem.
After a number of inquiries, Seiko has promised to service their high-end watches for 30 years after purchase.
30 years sounds great, plenty for the lifetime of most owners who purchase in middle age. But, that Credor II or Very Grand Seiko is not an heirloom and you are not holding it for the next generation. An AP or Breguet can be serviced from anytime in the brand's history. Even FPJ has plans in place to have servicing manuals available for the long future regardless if the brand continues. This is simply a different way of thinking than at Seiko. If it's okay, then buy one, if not, then don't. I didn't.
Thinking about Spring Drive Movements
Hi all, as you might already know GS and Credor has amazing movements on their so called master collection. These are wonderful in terms of finishing sometimes brought up when it comes to big names like Dufour because of his relation with the studio that ...
Why would they not be serviceable ?
Unless you think Seiko is going to be wiped off the face of this planet, I would assume servicing is the least of your concerns here. For independents I think the risk is higher as the longevity and perpetuity of the independent firm is never quite clear ...
i had the same concern
spring drive has a micro chip involved. as for most independents as long as there aren't many silicon parts it should be serviceable by a good watchmaker, theoretically at least.
The main problem
I see is that they aren’t your traditional watch. It has an integrated circuit, theoretically as long as that works is fine. But looking ahead, we don’t really know. Think about a computer 20, 30, 50 years old, you can’t find certain parts easily because ...
Seiko is a very stable corporation
Last year’s turnover of Seiko Holdings ( Seiko Watch Corporation is owned by Seiko Holdings) was US$ 2.2 billion Seiko Epson turnover was US$ 13.7 billion. I guess you should sleep easier now!!! They have enough money to service the watches😉😉😉
It's THE problem with a spring drive. Seiko has a very poor reputation for not servicing watches past a certain age.
They simply didn't care and they didn't keep parts. Now that they are selling much more expensive watches, the idea of being left with a non-functioning watch in a few years is a real problem. After a number of inquiries, Seiko has promised to service the...
…
I totally understand your point. I like the feeling of buying something that with care will outlast me. I work on a field that everything we build is temporary, it won’t be there for x number of years till is replaced for good. So for this I kind of like ...
Spring Drive
The only reason someone in the future will not be able to make an electronic part is if GS holds the intellectual property rights and won’t allow it . It stands to reason the only way they won’t allow it iis because they will make them . Assuming high end...
No one is going to make those parts, the economics don't make sense for such a small market.
Seiko has a history of not offering mechanical parts. They have set a 30 year limit on servicing their high-end pieces, and this includes spring drive credors and GS. Ask them yourself if you like. It will be fine for you, but it will not be fine to pass ...
……
I think you might be right about appreciation, that said that’s speculation. There are good chances for that, but also for Seiko to stop supporting the component. Happens all the times and even you had the blueprints for the IC… well it’s not something yo...
Many of us (in the west) live in homes that are impossibly old and obsolete compared to many homes in Japan
They just take them out like pulling a weed, and plop in goes a new one, all up to date. Thinking "old" is very different over there. Yes there are ancient traditions but there is also brutal obsolescence! I'm considering this as a nice idea with my 70-ye...
Very Inter comment, in terms of housing I think they are obligated to rebuild to keep in line to the construction codes (because of earthquakes)
It would be sad that they follow this idea for their watches
I just got a Rolex back from service. They said "That's the last time" no more parts, no more service, it becomes "make it from scratch impossibly expensive"
I also just sent my 25 year-old 9T82 kinetic watch back to Seiko in Tokyo with their promise that it will be serviced, all parts replaced, made as pretty as possible, etc. We will soon know if they stand by their word. MOVEMENT REPAIR: Includes complete s...
Wow!
I did not know that! That is completely unacceptable and certainly not like most other even middle of the road brands. I recently had my father's 60 and 70 year old watches serviced at their manufacturers' respective service centers. Thirty years in nothi...
I think Seiko is a very impressive and respectable brand from top (GS, Credor etc) to bottom (5 sports for example) but their philosophy may differ from PP, AP, Breguet, VC. Especially
when considering hybrid designs like Spring Drive. They can commit to a certain standard but what they actually do in the long term remains to be seen. They might exceed time frames they are guarantying right now. Even if a brand isn't commited to eternal...
In a few decades,I don't see...
It harder to make the ICs versus the mechanical components.