Seiko Spring Drive - The Quiet Revolution

[mr00jimbo]

Seiko makes wonderful watches. This Spring Drive thing looks astonishing. Though I'm a bit apprehensive to have an electric hybrid system watch, I prefer all mechanical. Seiko makes some beautiful automatic movement watches, too. Their Grand Seikos are...grand.

[gunfuego]

cool vid, excellent watches, worth every penny. Amazon is a great place to shop ....

[marshmelows]

seiko meas fuck in japansese

[elenchus]

@marshmelows it's from Seikosa, or "the house of quality"

[srkkroh791]

japan are better than europe watch

[aviomaster]

@cshepley - 400 $ Seiko watch with rubber band breaks in 6 months

80$ Casio with resin band does not irritate skin and lasts looong time.

[aviomaster]

@TheOtus - I wear watches since I was in 4th grade, Seiko Sportura Honda racing F1 team has rubber band rubber does not last long and it is cheap. That is why they put it on that is big MINUS for SEIKO

SEIKO puts their name on some crap too

[cshepley]

@aviomaster Look at the Seiko Ananta stuff or if you have a few hundred grand, the Credor Minute Repeater and Grand Sonnerie.

[MysigFarbror]

If Spring Drive where a human. It would be ahuman cyborg. So cut that bullshit that Spring Drive is a ordinary quartz watch because it has some lectric devices to regulate the timekeeping. Would you not call a human with a pacemaker in his heart for an entirly human because a computer chip regulates the heart beats... Comon Spring Drive is mechanical but with some electronic improvements.

[italomagic1]

@MysigFarbror You are so spot on with your human pacemaker analogy. Excellently explained. Anyone who refuses to acknowledge that the Spring Drive technology movement is an automatic is just either purely nieve, stupid, or jealous it wasn't a Swiss invention. All the skeptics out there would love knowing that Seiko was offered big dollars by several large Swiss watch companies to buy the rights to Spring Drive. They include Omega, Tag Heuer and the Swatch Group. Others are rumoured.

[italomagic1]

@italomagic1 After 28 years of R& D I'm so glad Seiko stood its ground.

[aviomaster]

My friend bought SEIKO quartz watch for 400 $ his rubber band broke after 7 months of wear ...

400 $ watch band breaks ... 50 $ Casio digital watches bands will last 7-8 years.

[TheOtus]

@aviomaster Completely pointless comment, no matter how expensive the watch, the band's durability depends on the material. Rubber bands aren't build to last, neither are leather ones, you should know that. Different thing is if the band broke because it was faulty in someway, but you didn't express anyhing like that.

[dproffessa]

@aviomaster Some Casio bands not all

[Kyoretsu85]

Seiko doesn't have the same great rep in the USA as in Japan which is a shame. Before I got into watches I thought Seikos were pretty much all cheap quartz watches. But after becoming a watchaholic and going through a ton of different watches, Seikos are my hands down favorite. Screw the image or the brand name, you can't beat Seiko's for value.

[flyingphantom1988]

when it comes to EU brands most of what you pay for is the brand name

[italomagic1]

To Seiko Corporation CEO and all Executives,

If any of you ever see this, I would like to say that you guys are a part of ingenious engineering. I would love to meet every single one of you, shake your hands and applaude Seiko Corporation for creating a miracle after 28 years of research and development. I am so honoured to see this video clip. As a watch fan, I had to go and see an Ananta watch for myself. I cannot begin to explain the sheer amazement when I got to touch, play and wear o

[CasualX3]

I Want a Grand Seiko!!

im 19 and i saved 10 gs for three years from a minimum wage job and bought a Rolex GMT master 2..

i just saw the spring drive video off of the seiko website...and i have to say I AM IMPRESSED...even my $10,000 Rolex Ticks 8 beats per second but the $5,000 Grand Seiko with spring drive is actually SMOOTH...Im still happy with my Rolex but the next watch im gonna start saving for is definantly the GS that watch is amazing!!! WOW

its gonna take me one year and a half LOL

[opmike343]

@CasualX3

Why are you buying a 10,000 dollar watch with a minimum wage job?

[CasualX3]

@opmike343 i bought it already...

i wanted a Rolex thats all

[bohemia187]

@CasualX3 its been a year, r u close to buying the GS? hahahaha

[daydr33m3r]

my ska366 kinetic does the same thing, but is it still spring drive? It has 6 jewels

[langeminerva]

Very nice.

[slisgrinder]

My Mom and I got my Dad one of these Spring Drive watches for their silver Jubilee...He loves it, but doesn't wear it that often...

[greenmileofcurry]

seiko is very popular in hong kong

[wazii6]

they shoud makethis watch a skeleton watch with adatejust love this watch

[usageee]

Seiko = Innovation in my book.

[jezztech]

this is by no means unique,(as I suspected) Check out the ETA-Tissot autoquartz, which wikipedia state is more accurate. Also, Japanese people DONT work for poor wages.Japanese products are superb (Toyato Land cruser!) but they dont neceseraly invent everything.

[Bica69]

@jezztech wikipedia is not, by no means, accurate. And, yes, seiko had invented the spring drive. Tissot it's just an european copy of inspiration.

[jezztech]

Good god Ive accidentaly touched a nerve here? -5 already. Collective knowledgemust think that Japanese people DO work for poor wages and that their products are POOR!and that the ETA autoquartz Mov`t never existed. It seems im wrong even though I site my info, and am otherwise sticking up for the Japanese!

[SneakerHustler]

I recently read a fascinating article on Seiko watches and was surprised to see the high end quality of these timepieces...this video just increases my desire to own one.....right now I am looking at an Arctura Kinetic Chrono....which doesnt involve the above mentioned spring drive but none the less will suffice.....

[MegaTimepiece]

I have been in the business selling watches for more then 25 years ,Seiko have always innovated and i consider them the best watch in the world .You can keep your Rolex,Tag's which are a total rip off ,and pepole stop buying those Emporio Armani's open them up and there made in Hong Kong.

[Thereznap]

i totally agree with you. however all my watches are Swiss ... some Swiss Watches are a total rip off. for example you find a simple Unitas 6489 in a Panerai that sells for 1000s of $ . and this VERY SAME Mvmnt in a non-popular Brand sells for a few Hundres $. !! my next Watch will DEFINITELY be a Seiko ANANTA Spring .Drive..

[AlessandroVolta1]

@Thereznap Not actually the same movement. Just the same base caliber. A unitas 6489 is a pretty ugly pocket watch movement, the movement in the Panerai is quite differnet in finish and timekeeping ability. I think new, a 6489 could come out in a watch with as much as 30 sec per day deviation. They wouldn't meet chronometer standards.

[TheRedPGA]

Sure, its a total rip off since you can wear a Rolex for 50 years, pass it on to your children and they can make a profit selling it.

Take a look at the Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona, which has a retail price of $700 in 1968 and is selling for as high as $150,000 at auction now.

You can bring your old, beat up and dirty Rolex to any part of the world and sell it for just as much as you can sell it in the US. Now try it with the Seiko.

Remember, a fine Swiss watch is much more than just a watch.

[wazii6]

yes and no seikos are stratingtobe morein demand and can also be passed down as a hier loom not as much as rolex but still a very good watch company

[alooper21]

@TheRedPGA do you think a swiss made now will sell that high in 30 years?

[jezztech]

jap watches are fantastic, but they dont have the prestige and heritage clout of the Swiss, lets talk staight, did the japs design the RLX Sub, the Omega Sea & speed master, Fortis Fleiger Chrono. Did they design the original Blancpain dive watches? Lets talk sense, given the choice for the same $ witch would it be RLX submariner or seiko job? or, Brietling super Ocean or jap job? Seiko`s r fine but you cant be seriuos to say they r best the world, talk sense!

[greyhall1]

Actually you're wrong. Seiko makes some high end watches that easily match or even surpass the quality of many of the heralded Swiss brands. The problem is educating people of this fact. Too many people only have it in their mind that Seiko makes watches in the $100-$500 range.

[jezztech]

actually Im right so shut the fuck up, how can you possibly say my above statement is wrong. Give me one example of a seiko watch that rivals the Iconic status of any of the above, back up your statement, the world famous landmark legendary admired and desired by collecters the world over Seiko What ? (yeh I know about grand seikos where are they? and the ubiquitous monster!!)

[greyhall1]

No, as i said, Seiko makes some high-end watches that easily are equal or superior to many Swiss brands. Are they equal to Patek or Roger Dubuis, or the other 5 to 6 pentultimate nameplates? I'm inclined to say no. But they are equal to or better than brands like Omega, Breitling, Eterna, Tag, etcetera. The fact the masses don't have the sophistication'knowledge to know this has no bearing on the quality of the Seiko product.

[jezztech]

@greyhall1 The quality of Seiko,sand technical capability Has never been an issue. I still believe that for the same money,at the high end, most would go for the swiss stuff, or is that your point also?, (dont Know).Perhaps the big jap brands are too ubiquitous? But, to prove (as much as poss) non bias against, yesterday have ordered a Seiko flightmaster Chronograph from USA.

[cshepley]

@greyhall1 Some of the new Credor Sonnerie stuff is definitely equal to or superior to Roger Dubois, and to most sub 500k Pateks.

[wazii6]

oh right onman dont forget the dkny watchs alsomade hong kong

[alooper21]

@MegaTimepiece what sane human would buy fine mechanics from a clothes maker, like armani, versace and such, anyway? i'll buy the piece for the piece, not for the brand, and to do that just scout the web to find out that some versace pieces are actually made by timex. so why not use the price set by versace to buy a better timex? rebranding allways inflate the prices, so it's allways trappy.

[jezztech]

thanks 4 pointing this out, I do actually own 2 eco drives, as you rightly state it has a capacitor but the need to change it is extremely infrequent. The spring drive is fine but will stop after 72 hours non wear.Eco drives easily last more than a month in darkness,during normal use they simply never stop.. I also at one point owned a casio tough solar which never stoped b4 I sold it.,. I respect your opinion, but have given very good reasons for prefering the Eco drive.

[goldsmithworks]

i RESTORE AND SELL 5 -10 VINTAGE WATCHES PER WEEK. BREITLING OMEGA LONGINES ALL MAKE QUARTZ WATCHES. THEY USE BATTERY OR CAPACITOR .. THIS IS SIMPLY INGENIOUS...

[v5dan]

Seiko not a name in watches?!!!! You know sod all about watches! Seiko make some of the most innovative wristwatches in the world, the spring drive illustrates this quite clearly. I have a few high end swiss watches, and i also own a kinetic in my collection, i love it as much as my swiss mechanicals. Its a different technology but just as precisely made and amazing. Spring drive - incredible.

[jezztech]

fine watch, I love my seiko 5, but its a needless concept (arguably), for acuracey, length of standby time, & no need for battery replacement,Citizen Eco drives are unbeatable! arguably the perfect watch!

[goldsmithworks]

it does have a "battery" it is called a CAPACITOR .. which in all reality is a CHARGEABLE BATTERY.. the spring drive combines a MAIN SPRING with quartz.. eliminating the BATTERY (capacitor) ... and the BALANCE found in a mech watch. the spring drive is the best design to date..

[assa123assa123]

japs are clever but

they didn't explain how it works. doesn't look beautiful and anyway seiko is NOT a name in watches.

[byzzers]

They DID explain how it works. 4:10 - 5:50. And Seiko is very well respected among people who know watches. The spring drive is the most accurate mechanical watch you can buy, and has the trademark "smooth sweep", which few other watches have. Google for "seiko spacewalk" for one example of a watch that nobody else can match.

[ChicaWolverina]

Actually I thought it's pretty elegant concept.

How are they holding up in use?

[Yul97]

I always had only mechanical watches, first one Omega and now Seiko Divers. One day i did the mistake bought the Seiko Kinetic. The condenser did not last long. The Japanese did a mistake and let the consumers to pay for it.

[thekancilbiru]

Yul97: Onec bitten twice NOT shy then... :)

[sudislavi]

I own a Seiko Kinetic, a diver, and it runs like a dream. It is beautiful and flawless.

[cgavin1]

I have to agree the spring drive just seems uneccessarily complicated (typically Japanese) and naturally a repair and warranty nightmare for the future. Give me a good ETA27 jewel auto ..

[goldsmithworks]

?? do you know how complicated an eta 27 is? and how they wear out? and the cost to fix? it is Uncomplicated. they eliminated the weak balance and escapement of mech eta and the battery/capacitor of quartz/eco drive! WOW! think of that when younthink ETA

[rtalab]

If accuracy and technology are the main concern, why not get a thermocompensated quartz? I dont really understand the basis for coming up with the spring drive concept.

Nice watch though.

[hercules71185]

I think it's more of a looking at a watch as art not just a watch. Quartz CAN be way more accurate than mechanical. Yet basic quartz watches start at 99 cents and basic mechanicals at around $175

[SANDYBOWLS]

Actually i bought my mechanical for around $60 at a swap-meet(new seiko)

[hercules71185]

I mean new at a authorized dealer. You can get mechanicals off ebay for $50 too. lol

[SANDYBOWLS]

yeah i know

8)

[fatfist]

You cannot beat Japanese accuracy at any price! The Swiss won't let Seiko take part in COSC certification because watches like the Seiko GS have better accuracy and have outperformed the Swiss in tests performed in Basel. But the important thing is: unlike the Swiss who can use up to 50% parts made in China or Latin America, Seiko is 100% Japan made and true!!!

[DelusionalJ]

Bravo!

[hercules71185]

Yup I agree. My friends Rolex loses more time than I lose with my Bulova and that's japanese movement. My Accutron loses more than my bulova too. And that's Swiss.

[assa123assa123]

@fatfist Sorry but that's bullshit. A lot of seiko's today watches are made in china with jap. movements. actually almost all seikos other than this super-puper-bad-looking springdrive and credor division.

[fatfist]

@assa123assa123

Wrong, ass!

Some are assembled in malaysia, singapore, but not china.

You are stabbing a straw puppet here, ass!

All high end Seikos are 100% Japan made and assembled, ass!

The SWISS, otoh, have a 50% policy, where 50% of the parts can come from ANYWHERE, including china, latin america, etc. Rolex and Omega are prime examples of this policy.

Get your facts str8, ass!

[assa123assa123]

@fatfist dear self-fuker, your ignorance, bad manners and crap of mind don't fuel my will for debates. Especially your hate for swiss watches probably just because you can't afford them. Google it, youtube no longer accepts links.

I personally have one seiko (dunno how I came to buy it =D) and it says "made in china" inside the back cover. The movement is jap made, but casing and assembly usually done in china

[fatfist]

@ass 'will for debates' . Of course, you just want to stab straw puppets. Did I destroy your religion, ass? . 'hate for swiss ' . trust me, I have more Swiss watches than you, ass! . 'it says "made in china" inside' . Congratulations, not only are you a moron, but your also gullible enough to buy FAKES from scammers, ass!

[fatfist]

@ass,

Why don't you join the club with all the other idiots who bought what they 'thought' were Swiss watches, but after opening them up, they found China movements, and 'Made in China' labels.

What a moron you are, ass!

Yet you have the courage to come here and showcase your stupidity and gullibility for the whole world to see.....priceless!!

[assa123assa123]

@fatfist I can't cure you, disgusting idiot. But you won the prize for the most irritating commenter encountered in a month. Go grab my seiko! =D It is still in USA.

BTW all seikos below somewhat 700 USD are assembled in China etc and only have movements from jap (not always). Anyway, I'm tired of you. dear self-ass-fucker. No more useless chatting here.

[fatfist]

@ass,

Ahhhhh....stabbing the straw puppet didn't work for you, did it, ass?

You were dumb enough to get taken in by scammers, buy their fake crap, then you come here to blame a brand.

Nice religion you got there, ass!

You have the brain of a pea! Your mother should request that the Lord give her a refund while she still has a chance. You are such a waste of space.

Go ahead, run away and dismiss arguments that destroy your religion, ass!

[alooper21]

@assa123assa123 but the guy said that high end seikos are made in japan. maybe yours is not a high end?

[AlessandroVolta1]

@fatfist

I am pretty sure that some Seiko parts are coming from Hong Kong and possibly Thialand and other Asian Pacific countries.

[fatfist]

@AlessandroVolta1

"some Seiko parts are coming from Hong Kong and possibly Thialand "

Of course, Seiko has factories in several locations in Asia. Low end Seikos are made all over the place. Every watch co. does this, including Rolex....it makes business sense to save where possible.

But this video is about the high end Seikos, like Spring Drives, Grand Seikos.....these babies are Japan only parts and many are hand-assembled.

[nightrider2k6]

@fatfist that is interesting i didnt know that, either way, i luv anything and everything japanese. 

[thehotsixer]

Seems like they are cheating with the quartz regulator. Its not truely mechanical, its a hybrid in my opinion.

[karatcha]

Voice just like BOCELLI...

[DenHond]

I love my SEIKO Sportura...

[jafar7523629]

me too

[DuncanLafayette]

Seiko watches are every inch as good as the Swiss ones, in spite of being much cheaper. The main difference is due to the fact that wage levels in Switzerland are extremely high, so they have to sell their products dear, in order to make up for those high staff expenses.

[dimonalmaty]

japanese salaries are not lower, trust me

[jeeleng69]

very good

[rahmannoor]

The SpringDrive may be a revolution, but I'm not too sure how many ppl would appreciate this (at this cost) from a 'normal' manufacturer like Seiko.

Now if Breitling, Longines or a Rolex, things would be a different story

[dmx1982]

For normal people? There's nothing like the spring drive technic in THE WHOLE WORLD! It's unique! swiss watches are the best BUT seiko is building watches in the same quality! Example? Look out for the "Grand Seiko"! This is best Manufacture Quality as good as swiss watches! The Problem is, Seiko is known for it's cheaper watches, so less people know that there are real great seiko-watches too!!! ;-)

[StalkerWolf]

grand seikos meet or in some cases exceed the standards the swiss companies test their watches to.

[dogx15]

You are correct. This watch blows away the much touted "co-axial" escapements.

[Luminiteee]

i really cannot understand how the hands can sweep perfectly, i just don't understand how that is achieved

[bhtooefr]

There's no balance wheel, so nothing goes back and forth. So, the watch just moves forward, and a brake (regulated by the quartz crystal) in the watch slows it down to the exact speed it needs to be.

[Luminiteee]

yes, it runs fast because the balance wheel is a little off, it's a simple adjustment, you push a little lever to the "-" position, but i recommend taking it to a specialist if you're not sure how do to it

[quick0873]

got a seiko 5 auto 1988, runs fast, any ideas.

[drmaftoon]

i am wearing a Citizen watch right noe bought in 1995, which utilizes this technology, i can "see through" the glass base of watch. does it mean citizen stole this idea from seiko or vice versa?? i will wait for any answer

[mrsymor]

the part which you can see from the back is the self winding movement, which has been around for a considerable period of time, and used by many manufacturers. This is *not* the same as the seiko spring drive which we see in this video, in which a quartz oscillator regulates the timing.

[TheDmashisno]

You're an idiot is the answer. The seiko spring drive is like a several thousand dollar watch, your citizen was probably around $100. Use your brain.

[drmaftoon]

i would leave the decision of being an idiot on other readers of these comments. there was no need to be rude and dis respectful unless you boast to be "the" inventor or major stake holder in this technology. you are behaiving childish , please grow up or next time take permission from your parents before posting comments , hope it wil help your future comments on net.

[Citizen123211]

Who do you think you are??? Ask my parents for permission??? If I met you in the street I would rip you in two. It's pretty easy to be a tough old prick when you're on the net isn't it.

[drmaftoon]

my answer is still the same, grow up, or at least try to !

[paulbunions]

Which is it idiot, "like a several thousand dollar watch" or "a several thousand dollar watch"??

Can't be both.

Before you call someone else an idiot, go back to school and learn some grammar.

Use YOUR brain.

[floydiangreen]

what are u talking about? seiko, citizen are much better than all swiss stuff and rolex, with euro, usa stuff u are paying for bling not quality and time keeping accuracy. just like jap cars and bikes, best in the world!

[Luminiteee]

seiko and citizen watches are made for normal people, they are consumer watches. mechanical swiss watches are manually assembled masterpieces, and you would be astounded how complicated a mechanical swiss watch can be. i own 6 swiss watches and a citizen, all mechanical. i do not appreciate accuracy that much, i rely on my mobile phone for timekeepeing. i just enjoy the craftmanship in my watches. plus, i finely tune them regularly and i made one only have a deviation of a second each 3 days.

[golci]

gardaş süper bi şey

[Organgrinder010]

I've got a 40 year old "Seiko 5" on my wrist. 21 jewels, Automatic movement, and still running like brand new.

[LMF5000]

Did you take your watch for regular maintenance during those 40 years? I happen to have a Citizen automatic that's run for 30 years with minimal maintenance (has run for at least 15 years at a stretch without being opened up).

[Luminiteee]

if it is kept in a continuous running state, it will run perfectly much longer than if worn every now and then. i have a russian WW2 pcket watch that has never been services, and with a little help from me it's accurate and has a power reserve of 60 hours.

[cuervocorazon]

The Japanese are quickly gaining ground on Swiss manufacturers; not to much to the side of quality but they are much much much more affordable I've got 3 Casios and 1 Citizen.

[steppenwolf3e2]

seiko always made incredible inventions. sometimes i think they are better than swiss made watchs.Seikos automatic chronogrpahs are better than Valjoux automatic chronograph movements. Why dont they make a revile with their automatic chronographs?

[nexstar00]

Seiko never stopped making high end mechanical watches. They only make their best watched for the Japanese market, where they are more appreciated and respected. Google: "Grand Seiko" and you will see awesome pieces

[BankersAreAssassins]

excellent

[lsdsniperwolf]

stupendo

[ochimusha90]

cool

[andrewka37]

man this spring drive really is incredible

[seikomatic]

well done..thanks!