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Post by carl on Mar 11, 2015 20:17:37 GMT -6
I love the hi-beats and want one so badly. Carl, you mentioned in the post that the "earned about all of the components, how they are made, and how they resist wear". Can you elaborate on that? I thought I had read that because of the hi-beat movement, they required service on a more frequent interval? The service interval recommended by Seiko is and here is a good discussion about all that on this WUS thread.: forums.watchuseek.com/f21/questions-gs-high-beat-owners-service-interval-grand-seiko-high-beat-36000-a-1421146.html
And some details on the GS website about the movement, improved main and balance springs etc.: www.grand-seiko.com/manufacture/mechanical_03.html
There is a great article somewhere which goes into more of the technical details of the movement. I thought it had been done by Timeless Luxury Watches, but can't seem to find it.
Must admit, I was avoiding the Hi-Beats and was going to go for another regular automatic. What got me about this particular watch at first is the aesthetics. Realizing it is the most appealing to me of all the black dial models, I had to dig up more info on the movement. A lovely watch, but in addition to the higher price, comes also the responsibility of more maintenance.
I just had an email from the sales associate at the AD where I get the GS. They now have a few new ones in, including the same one as my white dial quartz but with a black dial. Very tempting, but I don't know that I can pass up the Hi-Beat for that. The prices here are all going up, including the GS because of the low Canadian Dollar, so I would like to get this one before the increase. My quartz has already gone up $400 MSRP since I got it last month, and the Hi-Beat will likely go up soon by almost a grand, I reckon.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by carl on Mar 11, 2015 20:34:59 GMT -6
Wow, wow & wow again Carl. Congrats, as said above I'm shocked about the 2 you flipped. I can understand why without even seeing a GS in the flesh. The Seiko bug is a tough one to shake. I know from my Astron, it ticks all the boxes for me. God help if I ever get to see a GS in the flesh. Can't wait to see some wrist shots They really do have to be seen to be believed, and also held just to feel the quality.
I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have a GS AD here in Vancouver. As I mentioned before, the only one in Canada. In spite of all the good reports about the GS, I rather doubt that I would even have considered one without first seeing it in real life.
From what I can see as well, the Astron is also remarkable in fit and finish. That is one watch I have yet to see IRL. The only line that my AD has is GS, and I wouldn't know where to look for the Astron here.
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Baco Noir
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Post by Baco Noir on Mar 11, 2015 20:56:13 GMT -6
carl - seems the WUS service interval thread is like most others for other brands - all opinion and from both sides of the agrument. The only thing I picked up was that the price varies based on the parts needed to be replaced, whereas Rolex includes those in the base cost.
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Post by carl on Mar 11, 2015 21:10:12 GMT -6
carl - seems the WUS service interval thread is like most others for other brands - all opinion and from both sides of the agrument. The only thing I picked up was that the price varies based on the parts needed to be replaced, whereas Rolex includes those in the base cost. There seem to be multiple opinions, as you say, from both sides. I have searched high and low for more info, but as production of the GS is so limited, so are the buyers especially on the forums. Rarely, however, any negative comments from actual owners, more from naysayers who have not owned one.
To be honest, I am very tempted to get the black dial version of my white dial quartz and be done with it. Although I consider it a very special watch, the Hi-Beat just seems that much more special. And I can sense a price increase coming. The MSRP on a lot of watches here has already gone up to match the currency difference between here and the US. The MSRP on my quartz GS was $2600CAD a few weeks ago, now it's at $3000. In the US it's $2300.
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Post by rw16610 on Mar 11, 2015 21:16:12 GMT -6
Congratulations, Carl! I NEVER expected this but you do still have that Speedmaster and the vintage Omega watches nonetheless. The main thing is you're happy and enjoying the hobby and we're all glad to see this! Things sure do change quickly on the forum! Seiko continues to amaze me on a daily basis so that aspect of this ordeal makes perfect sense.
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Post by carl on Mar 11, 2015 21:36:02 GMT -6
Congratulations, Carl! I NEVER expected this but you do still have that Speedmaster and the vintage Omega watches nonetheless. The main thing is you're happy and enjoying the hobby and we're all glad to see this! Things sure do change quickly on the forum! Seiko continues to amaze me on a daily basis so that aspect of this ordeal makes perfect sense. Thanks, Rommel. Would be nice to be able to keep the Mark II and Z-33 as well. When I got the Z-33, I was very aware that the watch has a most limited audience, and that if I wanted to sell it, it could be a real problem. Well, it is actually worth even less than I hoped, but my friend who is buying the Mark II wants it as well. And he lives here in Vancouver, so the hassle of selling two watches has been an extremely easy task for me indeed! Very rare to be able to sell even one watch to a friend who lives locally. The same guy, in fact, who bought my Cartier. Somehow, a sign that it's the right thing.
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Post by rw16610 on Mar 11, 2015 22:06:00 GMT -6
Sounds like a smooth sale for sure! That's the best (and only) way to go. Having had a difficult time moving an Omega piece in the past (a popular one at that) I can imagine how the Z-33 sale would have been on the normal market. You're very lucky to have that good friend interested in your watches. The sales are indeed painless this way! You followed your instinct and I also think you did the right thing.
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aquajoe
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Post by aquajoe on Mar 12, 2015 6:08:10 GMT -6
carl looking back over the past couple of years I would say service intervals are a non-issue. :-)
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Post by carl on Mar 12, 2015 7:32:20 GMT -6
carl looking back over the past couple of years I would say service intervals are a non-issue. :-) Anyone looking for a mint, barely-worn GS Hi-Beat?
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Post by carl on Mar 12, 2015 11:46:26 GMT -6
Thanks for all the great comments and interest in the GS. All of you. There is a good chance that the Hi-Beat may turn out to be a HEQ, just like my white one with a white dial.
To be honest, half my love for the Hi-Beat is the aesthetics, and half for the great movement. Full appreciation of a watch like this demands respect and a love of responsiblility in my book. Respect I have. But total understanding of the mechanics of watches is still a shortfall for me, and I may be better off with something simpler. Not trying to sell myself short, just being realistic. No matter which GS it is, it will be wonderful!
Well, I get to see them both this evening and to decide! Cheers, Carl
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Baco Noir
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Post by Baco Noir on Mar 12, 2015 12:27:31 GMT -6
Thanks for all the great comments and interest in the GS. All of you. There is a good chance that the Hi-Beat may turn out to be a HEQ, just like my white one with a white dial. To be honest, half my love for the Hi-Beat is the aesthetics, and half for the great movement. Full appreciation of a watch like this demands respect and a love of responsiblility in my book. Respect I have. But total understanding of the mechanics of watches is still a shortfall for me, and I may be better off with something simpler. Not trying to sell myself short, just being realistic. No matter which GS it is, it will be wonderful! Well, I get to see them both this evening and to decide! Cheers, Carl I'd talk to them about service costs/intervals and if that doesn't scare you off, then go with the hi-beat - it'd give you a great trio of the GS watches!
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Post by carl on Mar 12, 2015 12:59:06 GMT -6
Thanks for all the great comments and interest in the GS. All of you. There is a good chance that the Hi-Beat may turn out to be a HEQ, just like my white one with a white dial. To be honest, half my love for the Hi-Beat is the aesthetics, and half for the great movement. Full appreciation of a watch like this demands respect and a love of responsiblility in my book. Respect I have. But total understanding of the mechanics of watches is still a shortfall for me, and I may be better off with something simpler. Not trying to sell myself short, just being realistic. No matter which GS it is, it will be wonderful! Well, I get to see them both this evening and to decide! Cheers, Carl I'd talk to them about service costs/intervals and if that doesn't scare you off, then go with the hi-beat - it'd give you a great trio of the GS watches! First thing I'm gonna check, is the production date. The last GS I bought was over 3 years old. And I have learned how to decipher the serial no. to find out the date of production. If it's 3 years old, I don't want to think of having to get it serviced very soon. I really don't mind putting out the bucks for a service every 3 years, if that's what it takes. On the other hand, I don't know if service intervals need be adhered to as strictly, if the watch hasn't actually been worn for the entire time.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 12, 2015 17:13:48 GMT -6
I just read on WUS that a chrono GMT is about $1250 for a full service and polish and from what I remember a Rolex dealer telling me that's a little more than a Daytona service. Of course the GS Chrono is a lot more complex. I reckon figure on 1K every three years for a service on the High Beat which works out $6.41 per week to put aside for a service, maybe $10 a week. Not a lot for so much pleasure. I say go for the Hi-Beat Carl. It's far more sophisticated than the equivalent Swiss watches at the same price so higher service charges as you would get with say JLC or Patek which are more in line with the GS's quality do not seem unreasonable especially when you consider a basic SS Patek comes in at 18K!
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Mar 12, 2015 17:24:28 GMT -6
The chrono GMT is spring drive as well and those have different maintenance requirements.
You might want to have @timelessluxurywatches chime in. Brett has the high beat as his daily watch.
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Post by BRIAN on Mar 12, 2015 20:54:49 GMT -6
Huge cooooongrats Carl!! The hi-beat is awesome!! I am still thinking to get a quartz one!! Can't wait to see some beautiful wrist shots
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