Seiko Club Singapore Museum

spring drive owners - your service interval?

balonglong_1979
spring drive owners - your service interval?
Seeking advice from Seiko (grand or otherwise :) ) spring drive owners.



Have you ever sent in the watch for servicing? if not when do you intend to do so?

What are the costs and waiting time like?

Do share purchase date/age of watch since purchase or last serviced. :mrgreen:
004
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
I would imagine it be best to service every 3 to 5 years , the Spring drive Seiko's must be serviced in Japan . Give Thong Sia a call to confirm costings , time required etc .
david.tan
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
i think TS mean so far anyone send in their GS for service before?



as far from my group of fren who own GS had it (SD movement) for 5 years, none had yet send to Jap for service, still running strong and accurate, sweet....
004
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"david.tan"

i think TS mean so far anyone send in their GS for service before?



as far from my group of fren who own GS had it (SD movement) for 5 years, none had yet send to Jap for service, still running strong and accurate, sweet....


Point taken :)
balonglong_1979
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
looks like "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here :mrgreen:



i'm actually more concerned that the electronic parts (similar to those of a digital watch) inside might degrade faster than the mechanical ones...
004
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"balonglong_1979"

looks like "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here :mrgreen:



i'm actually more concerned that the electronic parts (similar to those of a digital watch) inside might degrade faster than the mechanical ones...


Your thinking is most likely the way to go , i will most likely service my Seiko's every 5 to 7 yrs .
lunarin79
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
i heard from my friend



His friend once dropped his SD & he sent it back to Thong Sia, cost him about S$1k+ for servicing.
roo7
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"lunarin79"

i heard from my friend



His friend once dropped his SD & he sent it back to Thong Sia, cost him about S$1k+ for servicing.


Oh. Hmmmm. Does it mean SD is more prone to shocks ?







Sent from my iPhone
balonglong_1979
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"lunarin79"

i heard from my friend



His friend once dropped his SD & he sent it back to Thong Sia, cost him about S$1k+ for servicing.




that's very expensive, but I gathered from forums elsewhere it's about US$800, so about there.

(note that $1k is already more than 10% what I paid ThongSia for snowflake :roll:)



the thing is servicing a rolex is much cheaper, even higher-up brands like IWC, FM, still slightly cheaper than Grand Seiko :cry:



by right SD movement should have longer service interval, because the flywheel torque acts only in one direction and the torque is lower than compared to mechanical escapement.

As for how much resistance to shocks, I think should be about same as mechanical watch...
004
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"lunarin79"

i heard from my friend



His friend once dropped his SD & he sent it back to Thong Sia, cost him about S$1k+ for servicing.


That certainly isnt cheap :o i guess its important to factor this cost into the purchasing of high end watches .
lunarin79
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
I believe when you have decided to get those high end makes such as GS, SD or Credor.



you are already mentally prepared about the servicing cost, just like Omegas & Rolex :mrgreen:
004
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"lunarin79"

I believe when you have decided to get those high end makes such as GS, SD or Credor.



you are already mentally prepared about the servicing cost, just like Omegas & Rolex :mrgreen:


You are correct , to purchase & maintain a Grand Seiko is a very expensive affair & one should be prepared for high end purchase price & servicing costs . Hence why i purchased my JDM Seiko's & Ananta Automatic "Not exactly cheap either" , servicing costs are not so high am told .
lunarin79
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"MIKER"




You are correct , to purchase & maintain a Grand Seiko is a very expensive affair & one should be prepared for high end purchase price & servicing costs . Hence why i purchased my JDM Seiko's & Ananta Automatic "Not exactly cheap either" , servicing costs are not so high am told .


6R's servicing costs are generally ok, I'm not sure about Ananta though but I expect it to be in the S$300-S$400 region if done by TS(Spore)?
004
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"lunarin79"


6R's servicing costs are generally ok, I'm not sure about Ananta though but I expect it to be in the S$300-S$400 region if done by TS(Spore)?


I purchased my new Ananta & JDM's from Thong Sia , Ananta approx $300 to $400 & 6R15 JDM's approx $90 to $180 .
balonglong_1979
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
might be cheaper to service via Higuchi or Seiya, ThongSia like quite ex...
roo7
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?

"balonglong_1979"

might be cheaper to service via Higuchi or Seiya, ThongSia like quite ex...


The other considerations will probably be logistic and insurance and the risk of getting tax when they ship it back....



End of the day, we can't run away from servicing.. :)
Cosmograph
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
That's why K2 is an option for bros here which is great. Especially for the 'lower end' Seikos.



Is it worth while at >$1k for a GS Spring drive? Looking solely at the output, Anyone will sure say not. But that's the part of this hobby that is key right? Like a car, the choice to service at or before the recommended is such but choice is ours. Going to a local source or through the agent is a personal choice. The benchmark for servicing IMHO is 10-15% when going through the agent. Regardless of brand. That's what we pay for whether Rolex, Seiko or Panerai etc. too much -personal opinion IMHO. Even Casio is expensive if we compare cuz replacement of a solar battery is $17 at Casio. (most of these watches are $160-400. So for opening case back, taking out used battery and replacing it is anywhere from 5-9% at agent. Go outside, if it is not done well, maybe the entire watch kaput! (die" :oops: ) could be worse. Frankly whatever brand, servicing is costly if we look at it in all and any way. :D



Most important, enjoy the watch and make sure it brings you more enjoyment & pleasure than worry. Otherwise better sell and pick up a hobby that has less maintainence. Sim Tia otherwise. (heart pain - translated) :D
melvin76
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
Hi, just wondering, if we do not wear our watch for activities like diving, etc, do we actually need to service our watch on regular 3-5years interval? I mean, just normal everyday wear. Very interested to get a SBDB001, but if it means the watch will have problems when we dun service, than may have to reconsider le. Thanks!
melvin76
Re: spring drive owners - your service interval?
Sorry, jus another enquiry cause contemplating btwn MM300 & SBDB001. For MM300, do we need to send back to Jpn to service? Presumed MM300 should be cheaper to maintain vs Spring Drive range right? Thanks!