Thinking about Spring Drive Movements

May 09, 2021,06:11 AM
 

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 takes care of the production of the movements.

My question to you is about your thoughts about the movements, not just about the pretty side but what you think about the movements looking into the future in other words serviceability.

Keep in mind that these watches are big money from 20k, to 50k and as far as 100k.

I have no doubt about their present value proposition, but how about their future? Would you consider this as a high risk? If you compare with say a Patek or a VC

I hope this all makes sense.

Some examples:
SBGZ005








SBGD202








This message has been edited by cazalea on 2021-05-10 13:13:43


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Why would they not be serviceable ?

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : May 9th, 2021-08:51
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

 
 By: Dchang81 : May 9th, 2021-09:52
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

 
 By: onewaycollecting : May 9th, 2021-14:16
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

 
 By: chintu : May 9th, 2021-10:00
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😉😉😉

No, please see below.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : May 9th, 2021-12:46

It's THE problem with a spring drive. Seiko has a very poor reputation for not servicing watches past a certain age.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : May 9th, 2021-12:45
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... 

 
 By: onewaycollecting : May 9th, 2021-14:24
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

 
 By: Boxcar : May 9th, 2021-19:41
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.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : May 9th, 2021-21:05
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 ... 

……

 
 By: onewaycollecting : May 9th, 2021-21:08
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

 
 By: cazalea : May 9th, 2021-22:51
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... 

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"

 
 By: cazalea : May 9th, 2021-22:46
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!

 
 By: batholith : May 10th, 2021-04:29
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

 
 By: InDebtButOnTime : May 10th, 2021-02:18
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...

 
 By: Ronald Held : May 10th, 2021-16:38
It harder to make the ICs versus the mechanical components.