Spellbound
1343
Totally understand
I feel the same way. A Japanese car for example, well built to exacting measurements, and reliable, and possibly even a blast to drive (Honda S2000, Mazda MX5), but lacks a design that stirs emotion. The Italian and British cars, not perhaps as reliable, but do stir emotional desires. I suspect perhaps that with large corporations like Seiko or Toyota, this has something to do with hierarchy. The chief designers will have risen through the ranks over many years, and by the time they are chief designers, they perhaps are a little older and more conservative in their tastes. Designs are created to sell, and not disrupt. For fashion designers like Issey Miyake there is no corporation restricting their creativity so wacky designs appeared.
But even the mighty Japanese corporations do have some heart stopping designs in them. Let's not forget the incredible Toyota 2000GT that featured in a Bond flick.
Warmest,
Dean
Movement finishing - decorative vs functional; industrial vs craft; machine vs hand.
I have much experience with Japanese culture, though, alas, I don't speak Japanese. I have tremendous respect for the high value placed on excellence, integrity, and honor. I also know there is a long and deep tradition of aesthetic taste and design, both...
Answering An Excellent Question, Part 1
Hello Thomas, To utilize a common phrase, you might say that "all Grand Seikos look alike" and at a distance perhaps it's relatively true. There is an aesthetic in Grand Seiko that seems to say simple, professional, high-class. But not stratospheric high ...
Seiko and Grand Seiko Credor finishing and design - a great response so far, Cazalea.
One of the little known secret strengths of Seiko is their state of the art materials handling and finishing skills and talents. I have had the chance to know very well two AP's that had polished Ti bezels - so highly polished they were like mirrors. (of ...
Totally understand
I feel the same way. A Japanese car for example, well built to exacting measurements, and reliable, and possibly even a blast to drive (Honda S2000, Mazda MX5), but lacks a design that stirs emotion. The Italian and British cars, not perhaps as reliable, ...
You read my mind
I just finished posting about the details on a watch I've been obsessing about for a few weeks now - the SARG007. You gentlemen are discussing the finishing on the top of the line Seiko, and that is nice, but there are very many interesting models below t...
So as to be constructive, what would be our wish list? And...
What is the baseline? in my humble opinion, there is NO comparison to Grand Seiko and Credor for excellence in consistency, precision, and reliability. None. So how can they turn respect into love? TM
Haven't we all forgot something here?
"The Process" - the actual procustion may rely more on machines, thus lack of hand finishing warmth on the movement and such. But the process of case making (for GS SS cases, 15 times forging between which heated at 1100C for 15 min. and then the very exp...
Harmony
Pick the right parts out of the bins. For the SARG007, use the date wheel from the SARX015, and use the same color of white throughout. The dial has such depth from the inner bezel and applied "Seiko" name that the number markings seem too flat. For the M...
My take on this is...
that there are several different value systems running here. Watches that consider themselves works of art and watches that consider themselves measurement instruments. It is obvious that the criteria for the best work of art is not the same as those for ...
Answering An Excellent Question, Part 2
In the first installment of "Answering An Excellent Question" I provided an assortment of Grand Seikos to illustrate certain features and strengths of the brand. In this second part I will offer an assortment of views of a single watch, in a variety of co...
Excellent detailed anatomy of GS!
I don't have anything to add, except for my response post to Thomas's above :-) Ken
Excellent Post!
I really enjoyed reading it and seeing your pictures, really highlights the beauty of GS pieces, I have been wearing my GS Diver non-stop everyday since I have received it. S