Seiko President Akio Naito says Grand Seiko micro-adjustment is “on the way”
Zach BlassAs a general rule, the Seiko Corporation never comments on future projects – but a very exciting exception to this rule was recently uncovered. A LinkedIn comment from last month that flew under the radar until now suggests that a long-desired Grand Seiko feature is in the works.
The Watches and Wonders LinkedIn account often shares videos that showcase the various participating brands, and one post in particular, which featured Grand Seiko, had an interesting exchange in the comments section. After one user commented on the original post writing “Where’s my micro adjust?”, none other than Seiko Corporation President Akio Naito surprisingly entered the chat with a vague, yet hopeful reply of “On the way…”
It’s fair to say watch enthusiasts would like to see micro-adjustment clasps from all brands, but Grand Seiko in particular, with its cult-like following, has long had collectors asking for such a feature. In fact, demand has been so clear for Grand Seiko micro-adjustment that companies like Steel Reef teased coming to market with its own aftermarket solution, similar to those it already has for brands like Zenith, Sinn, Rolex and Tudor. As of May, Steel Reef has stated it is currently looking into launching a crowdfunding campaign later this summer – where each link with a stretch system of sorts offers 6mm of total adjustment in three, 2mm increments. Cloning the handsome finish of Grand Seiko’s links, however, will not be an easy task, and this is necessary for the links to not feel out of place next to the factory-made ones.
While such an aftermarket solution would surely be welcomed, an in-house solution will always be more desired than a third-party solution. So, does “On the way…” mean Grand Seiko will definitely launch its own micro-adjustment system? My gut tells me that all that has been confirmed here is Grand Seiko hearing the feedback, and currently exploring a solution. But Grand Seiko holds itself to stringent standards, so an in-house micro-adjustment system will only be launched if and when the brand feels confident they have designed something to the requisite standard. Therefore, we have no timeline or guarantee Grand Seiko will present one, but it is nice to know they are in the research and development stage, as well as acknowledging the feedback of its fans and clients.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Zach and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: ghosted
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I love filling out an information card at an authorised dealer, registering my interest in a watch, and leaving my contact information – only to never hear back or get the call. Honestly, it is a waste of paper if the filled-out card is thrown in the bin after you are deemed not VIP enough or without enough purchase history.
Wristshot of the week: Cartier x Bulova
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It’s always worth following known and respected vintage watch dealers, because you’ll often see watches you never knew existed. This ’60s Cartier shared by Kevin O’Dell is a great example, as until this post was shared, I never knew Cartier New York had enlisted Bulova to help manufacture its watches.
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Hamilton Khaki Pilot Air Glaciers 42mm
Celebrating the brand’s connection with rescue aviation, Hamilton has released the special edition Khaki Pilot Air Glaciers 42mm in connection with the Swiss Air-Glaciers helicopter rescue team. Built with direct input from the pilots, this 42mm titanium pilot’s watch features an ETA-based movement with an 80-hour power reserve and a Nivachron balance spring for improved accuracy in demanding conditions. Each of these special edition watches comes with both a brown suede nubuck strap and a blue tactical-style nylon Velcro strap. The packaging is pretty cool too (which is usually the case with Hamilton special editions), arriving complete in its own Pelican R40 Ruck case.
Discover the Hamilton Khaki Pilot Air Glaciers 42mm in the Time+Tide Shop, either online or in our Melbourne Discovery Studio. Price: US$1,395, A$2,225.
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We’re giving away two pizza watches to celebrate 200k followers
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You read that right: we are going to be giving away two of our Time+Tide x Studio Underd0g ‘Hand Delivered’ Pizza watches to two lucky followers. This is all to celebrate us reaching 200,000 followers on Instagram. This is a big milestone for us, as our community is the main reason why we do all this. So, to celebrate, we wanted to give back with one of our most popular collaborations ever. You can learn more here, but act fast because all entries must be received by 11am BST on Sunday 26th May 2024.
New Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris models introduce new colours and a new complication for the line
Jaeger-LeCoultre debuted three new Polaris configurations earlier this week, one of which, the Polaris Geographic, is an entirely new model that marks the first time the collection includes JLC’s signature interpretation of a travel time complication. Check out our full introduction to this exciting piece.
How much does a lifetime of servicing actually cost?
Watch enthusiasts love to preach the sustainability and longevity of mechanical watches, however, there is a bit of an asterisk that involves servicing. If a watch movement doesn’t get serviced on a regular basis, it’s more likely to jam up, break, or stop working for any number of reasons. Plus, servicing is expensive. Even if you’ve just got an entry-level Seiko that gets its whole movement replaced rather than repaired, you’re still looking at multiple times the cost of the watch over its lifetime. So, with a lens cast across a wide spectrum of price points, how much does a lifetime of servicing actually cost? Buffy takes a deep dive into this overlooked aspect of watch ownership.