Bracing Extra Special America for the Grand Seiko Standard

While many of you know I obviously love cars, I also love horology. It's perhaps my avocation turned kinda-sorta vocation; I happen to know quite-well, a number of top horologists, watchmakers, dealers, collectors and self-proclaimed Indian Chiefs in their given niche of the watch business.

Suffice to say, knowing my bunch- you get to learn a lot about watches!

I stumbled across a very impressive blog/site today called Askmen.com, and while their site is impressive- their in-house watch guru "The Watch Snob" while quite crass in-style, makes some good points when it comes to watches. (I said SOME good points...)

Reading his advice on watches got me thinking of writing on watches- and while he'll tell you he knows more about watches than everyone else (I highly doubt it); I assure you I can certainly write about it in a nicer, kinder fashion than he does.

And he doesn't know more about watches than I do. There I said it.

Well, nice writes here. Being an complete asshole gets you hired and paid elsewhere- that's for sure. I don't know the Watch Snob's name or his exact Manhattan location (and if you wrote like he does- you'd keep that a secret too) but one thing is for certain- there are a lot of "watch snobs" out there; or you can call them assholes.

It's their thing... being an asshole. It's what makes them, well, extra special.

And watches are just one of my things. For most watch guys- it's their only thing (besides being an asshole) and it shows in conversation, manner, personality and... writing style.

Watches and horology, to the extent many watch snobs take them, is much like a sick sexual fetish best kept to yourself, trust me.

Lately the world of horology has me a little excited... Seiko is officially bringing their Grand Seiko line Stateside.

I've known about Grand Seikos now going on over a decade. My father, an avid watch collector, told me about these Seikos he'd read about during the early days of Timezone; which watch enthusiasts in the Japanese domestic market have known for decades- really high-end Seikos, Grand Seikos. That's what they're called.

Grand Seikos, they're like the Lexus LS to Seiko's Toyota- to put it in car speak.

Or even better- they're like a Lexus- if it were called a Grand Toyota.

"Randall, they're supposed to be like a Rolex," he told me in my early 20s- and coming from him- it was like hearing a Catholic high priest proclaim "you know, there was Jesus Christ and he was like a God..."

"Like a Rolex dad?" as I glanced at my stainless steel Datejust, the very watch he gave to me... (Did you catch the watch snob in me trying to impress you?)

Well, it took about a decade but I finally began to understand the complexity of the situation. And with watches- the definitions, propositions, notions and theories behind them, are... well, complex.

Seiko is by far noted for their quartz watch production. They're among the largest watch manufacturers in the world, and actually one of the very few to be called a true watch manufacture, i.e. making virtually every part of the watch- right down to the lubricants between the gears- all by themselves, subcontracting, outsourcing nothing.

In the late 1960's and through the 70's they built their reputation making cheap, accurate quartz wristwatches- what was then the timekeeping technology- quartz. So much so, Seiko almost put the Swiss watch business out-of-business- that's how successful they were.

They made so many cheap watches- what got them on the accurate timing map, Grand Seiko, was pretty-much cast aside.

Outside of the Asian horological markets, not much was known or revered when it came to anything Seiko. Truth is- they've been making watches for over a hundred years, decades before quartz technology even touched the world of watchmaking.

In December, 1960- Seiko unveiled the first Grand Seiko 26-Jewel Diashock- a simple strap watch built and engineered to go head-to-head with the finest chronometers from around the world- and it did.

While the Swiss and the rest of the watchmaking world subscribed to strict COSC standards of +6/-4 seconds a day for chronometer certification- a distinction badged on only about 3% of all Swiss wristwatch movement production; Seiko would print "Chronometer" on their first Grand Seikos to strut their achievements, only to remove it years later as the Japanese would create their own "higher" standard. The Grand Seiko Standard.

Elegant, simple, understated style. Super high-grade hand-finishing, clear legibility and supreme accuracy- these hallmarks would encompass a standard built to rival the best Swiss makers of any basic, everyday watch. Seiko would further elevate the bar by regulating their movements to an even tighter standard of timekeeping accuracy.

Modern Grand Seikos fitted with the mechanical caliber movements (as opposed to the quartz or Spring Drive models) are regulated to +5/-3 seconds a day in six positions; as opposed to COSC's five positions and +6/-4 benchmark.

According to Seiko PR:
"All Grand Seiko watches are subject to the famous Grand Seiko Standard, as it became known. This involved testing more stringent than that required by any Chronometer testing agency in the world including the COSC certifications usually awarded to esteemed brands such as Rolex. One of the key elements of this new standard is the requirement for each watch to be tested in 6 different positions, not the 5 used by others; the sixth position is upright, recognizing that many watches are left with the 12 o’clock position on top when not worn.

Every component of the Grand Seiko movements and exterior casing parts are manufactured according to Grand Seiko’s exacting standards. For example, all Grand Seiko cases are polished by the Zaratsu method to create the flattest and smoothest mirror-finish surfaces. Hands and hour-markers are designed with razor edges to deliver the best possible visibility and readability even in twilight. Even the materials used in Grand Seiko watches are special; the mainsprings in all the Grand Seiko mechanical calibers are made of SEIKO’s proprietary alloy, SPRON, which delivers maximum power reserve and durability."

Just last year, Seiko had began to market their Ananta line of high-end sport/mechanical watches "Finished in the Tradition of Katana" (Japanese sword making) and at the time, I had written quite enthusiastically "this was America's taste of the Grand Seiko."

Or perhaps it was just the Gyoza dumpling appetizer before the full-on Hibachi knife show?

Like the Toyota Cressida before the Lexus ES? There's a comparison for you!

In the last year, I will attest- you don't see too many Seiko Anantas. Dare I say- like 99.9% of all other Seikos lines sold- will the Ananta just be tossed in a pile with the rest of them, no matter how artfully they're finished? Probably.

But the Grand Seiko has a different pedigree. It's a very mild, traditional and basic Japanese watch. From 5-10 feet away- most Grand Seikos well, look like Rolex Datejusts on Oyster bracelets. Very plain and classically proportioned stainless steel, casual watches.

Up-close, however, they have the hallmark clues- this is a Japanese watch.

Opaline and metallic sunburst dials with subtle hints of "dazzle," multifaceted details- Dauphine/sword hands with hour-markers that are chamfered to capture and enhance even the dimmest of light. Heavily-beveled stainless-steel cases with thick, high-glossed lugs detailed with brushed-satin case sides. Bracelets with scissor-action, two push-button clasps and multi-piece, curved, brushed links with slight, high-mirror touches sandwiched in-between.

There are roughly a dozen or so different models being introduced (including divers, GMTs and chronographs) with three-distinct movement types- mechanical 9S Caliber (accurate to +5/-3 seconds a day), quartz 9F Caliber (+/- 10 seconds a year) and the 9R Caliber Spring Drive- Seiko's premier "hybrid" electro-mechanical movement technology, accurate to about a second-a-day.

My personal preference is leaning towards the extra-special Hi-Beat 36000 mechanical model which has a faster, higher-beat/frequency automatic movement for higher timing precision.

Harking back to the days when watchmakers would build these "hot rod" fast-beat, tuned movements to compete against each other for near-quartz-like accuracy, the 10-beat Seiko caliber 9S85 is the first all-new movement of its kind in some 40 years.

Advancements in design and materials make fast-beat movements like the 9S85 viable, practical and usable in an everyday high-grade wristwatch- which is what Seiko is aiming to re-introduce in one of the most impressionable, snobbish watch markets in the world- the United States.

So if you see a Seiko in the wild, on someones wrist- look closely. You may see the signature, gothicized "GS" badge on the dial- Grand Seiko.

That's when you know, you're looking at something extra special.

Extra special. Never mind the wrist, or the "watch expert" its attached to.

They're extra special too, or so their badges, er, watches and blogs say so.

More Recalls- More Thoughts For Toyota

I'm not a hate monger- nor do I respect pundits who egg-on or speculate a bad situation. Nothing worse than something or someone who's never been down or in a similar situation- hoping for the misfortune of another; however, it's in the news- Toyota's recalling some 1.7 million vehicles for fuel leaks.

"The recalls are mostly in Japan, but include Lexus IS and GS luxury sedans sold in North America. That's where the world's No. 1 car company faces the biggest challenges in winning back customer trust.

U.S. dealers will inspect cars to see if loose fuel pressure sensors caused leaks. There were no accidents suspected of being caused by those problems, according to Toyota. The car maker has received 77 complaints overseas, 75 of them in North America, and more than 140 in Japan."

Going into its second year of the recall spotlight- the news does not bode well for the automotive giant.

Aside from its aging platform fleet, it's tarnished North American image; getting beyond these recalls I'm afraid, is going to be easier said than done at Toyota.

As these cars age, their components and assemblies will- and if there's any hint of a problem, whatsoever, I'm afraid the media and consumer advocates will spotlight, well, another "recall."

I'm not saying there isn't a genuine problem or flaw with the design/quality of the parts in question- but anything less-than-perfect- if it's on a Toyota- it's going back as a recall.

It's just a shame- you spend thirty years building a reputation of unflappable durability and customer satisfaction (for the most part); now you're the butt of every joke told on a used car lot- and the topic for every blogging auto enthusiast who writes web content.

New Years Musings, Better Late Than Never

Happy New Year Everyone! (Yeah, I know. A little late for that.) The automobile world has been trudging along quite nicely in 2011- I will contest there's nothing game changing going on. Trust me.

While the auto world is abuzz from the turnaround of the US automobile business, at the heels of the Detroit Auto Show- Ford is humming along nicely; the Chevy Volt has won the prestigious Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award; and Chrysler, despite living in and around a toilet going on two years now- has redesigned its flagship 300.

Did I ever tell you about my tenure with the 300? Six years ago- I was selling the then Motor Trend Car of the Year for 2005- boy have things changed there... Not a highpoint of my life, I'll admit- but few can say they knew the 300 "when" they were selling at full-list and it was a car people actually would trade-in a Mercedes-Benz or a Lexus for.

In 2005 everyone was getting fat and drunk off their real estate and stock portfolios- and the "Baby Bentley" 300- and what wins in 2011? A plug-in electric car?

Maybe it's a sign of the times? But in the pecking-order of things, a la the classic Post War American mentality of "my Chrysler trumps your Chevy" well, things have certainly changed forever.

2011 is not without it's fair share of ongoing recalls- including the latest from Honda- where something to do with a wiring harness in the CRVs is causing some Japanese engineer to fall on a sword, somewhere, but hopefully not the mass suicide (or was it mass murder?) that Toyota felt in 2010.

And there's even a smattering of recalls over at GM- something to do with the axles of their trucks? But again, compared to the Camry fiasco- in my humble opinion- any recall that even makes the news is a "quiet recall," a blip on the old dealer's bulletin.

Like when your Subaru goes in for a service and there's something to do an e-prom adjustment- that may give you better fuel economy? Or that "quiet recall" of a set of faulty rear wheel bearings that start to howl like tortured dogs- only to find out that you've driven too many miles for them to cover it under warranty. Not that I'm bitter about that or anything. But I'm digressing now at the risk of sounding, well bitter.

Another concern in the world of car- despite having pulled themselves from the doom-and-gloom of 2010's Recall-a-Rama, Toyota's platforms are aging- and while the same could be said for rebounding greats like General Motors- GM's making significant strides- so much so- that next year, 2012- promises to be yet another game-changer for GM- when "bold new" platforms sold overseas just may find themselves here, in the home market.

But a corporate reorganization is one thing- emerging from a PR nightmare- coupled to the fact that- Toyota makes boring cars to begin with, well- Toyota has a lot of ground to cover this year, and in the years to come; however, this didn't stop Toyota from unveiling the Prius wagon- the latest addition of what promises to be a whole lineup of hybrid Toyotas- or Priusses.

(I like how it rhymes and shares lots of letters with wusses...)

As if it was such a dramatic change from the Prius hatchback that its been selling for years? What? So the stuff behind the backseat gets a little more headroom.

It's like in Spinal Tap- "this one goes... to eleven."

Again, there's a reason why I haven't written anything going on three weeks.

It's Just the Movies... It's Only Make Believe.

As an impressionable young man, I fueled my first car lusts with television shows- and movies. Knight Rider, Herbie the Love Bug, The Dukes of Hazzard, Christine, these kinds of pictures... CNBC ran a bit on 13 cars made famous by the movies- and although I'll contest- some of these cars are as obscure as the movies they stared in, having a car in the pictures can literally create a frenzy, for what would have been a "lost" or average car to begin with.

The Astrial Silver Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Convertible, as featured in The Hangover is such an example. Was the car iconic to begin with? Absolutely, it's a vintage Mercedes convertible- but truth-be-told, while there's collector interest in these hand-built four-seater cabriolets, the 280 SE is not the most preferred, investment-grade version; nor is it the most desirable- in fact, the 280SE was the middle-of-the-road variety- the more desirable 300 SE and later, low-grill 280SE 3.5 being the most sought-after, technically speaking.

They used the better part of half-a-dozen 280 SEs in the movie- and while its painful to see its abuse and destruction in the film- rest assured- the five or so cars that gave their lives to the production were in-fact saving tens or dozens down the road. (I'd say hundreds or thousands- but they never made as many...)

My point? People will be dusting-off these 280 SEs now more than ever. In fact, while CNBC claims they go for over six-figures when restored, this is only half true- nice, low-mile models can be had for less than half that quote; with only the very best of specimens, mainly the 3.5s, go for the "big" six-figure numbers.

But perhaps the biggest pop in collector interest for a single car (and ironically not one featured in the CNBC article) was for the 1958 Plymouth- as featured in the film-version of Stephen King's Christine.

They used something like 25 different 1957 and 1958 Plymouths in the films' production- destroying nearly every one of them.

Of some interest (in the original book) Christine was a specially-ordered, Autumn Red Plymouth Fury sedan- only one problem- Plymouth never made a such a car. And Autumn Red? It didn't exist.

The car featured in the movie is actually most similar to a '58 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe with a Golden Commando V8- though many call it a Fury, painted Toredor Red with Sportone trim- another car that never existed in real life- Furys in 1958 came one way- Buckskin Beige with special Goldtone trim. They were limited, sport editions, of the shittiest, lowest cars Chrysler made at the time, really...

Collectors of these Forward Look beauties cringe and cry over it today- for to find any 1958 Plymouth (regardless of color and trim) is a rare sight- many surrendered to rust long ago- but the hard fact remains- it's Christine that has forever immortalized this Plymouth, and many like it as a desired collectible.

So while the movie destroyed a couple dozen cars- it saved and promoted hundreds, maybe thousands.

I guess these cars are like famous people- while many spend their lives fascinated by celebrities, truth-be-known, their just regular people with better, more visible jobs and lives than the rest of us.

But while the famous still put their pants on, "one-leg-at-a-time" (or so many still claim)- these cars are just average, made-up at best, that got lucky into the land of make believe- the movies.

The Iconic 911 Now in GTS Form for 2011

If you're an avid Porsche enthusiast, you'll know that a Porsche 911 just isn't a 911. Even stemming back to its roots in the 1960's- unless you have a 1963-68 early SWB (short wheel base) car, you don't have just a 911.

911T, 911E, 911S, 911L, 911RS- are just some of the models that tore-up the roads 40 years ago; soon to be followed by the 911 SC ("Super Carrera"), then the 911 Carrera 0f the 1980's. Come 1990- the 911 wasn't even a 911; it was a 964, in 1994- a 993 followed by 996 and 997, water-cooled for the 21st Century.

Now the number 911 is back, but it's just a marketing brand. To confuse matters even more- the 911 is available in some 20 different models!

If you thought things were confusing in the 60's & 70's- they're even more puzzling now...

Porsche’s venerable sports car classic, the Carrera- also known as the internal Type 911 now comes in no fewer than 20 different iterations- ranging from the most basic Carrera Coupe, starting at just under $78,000; all-the-way to the track-topping $245,000 911 GT2 RS.

Newest to the iconic breed which has been in continuous production since 1963 is the 911 Carrera GTS. The GTS is themed at being what Porsche Cars calls “clarity” of the 911 performance and evolution concept.

Priced above the $95,000 base-Carrera 4S, yet below the race-inspired $116,000-plus GT3, the new for 2011 GTS (which comes in both a Coupe and Cabriolet styles) is as Autoblog describes as “the new middle child of the ass-engined family,” reminding everyone of the unique rear-engine design that has been a hallmark for both Porsche and its iconic 911.

The recipe for the GTS is clear but it may not be for every Porsche enthusiast. Take the wide-body configuration of a Carrera 4S… and take-away the all-wheel-drive, upgrade the 3.8-liter S-spec engine to churn-out 408-horses (up 23-horses from the Carrera S, yet 27-horses less-than the GT3) sprinkle in some RS Sypder-style 19-inch wheels and Alcantara interior trimming as standard; and set the styling with Porsche SportDesign details- and you have the new GTS.

Autoblog reports: “Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels (and as it should be), with a manual six-speed transmission coming standard and a seven-speed PDK as an option. Select the Sport Chrono package along with the dual-clutch 'box, and Porsche claims you'll be cracking off four-second 0-60 runs all day long… After the GTS debuts in Paris, sales of both the coupe and cabriolet versions will begin early next year, with a starting price of $103,100 and $112,900, respectively."

In reality- the GTS offers a degree of higher exclusivity and performance before going all-out both in price and performance for the breathtaking GT3 or Turbo variants.

And in another 40 years- only the true Porschephiles will ever really know the difference. Or Care-errera (if you know what I mean...)

Ward's 10-Best List- May Just Require Batteries This Year...

Every year since 1994, Ward’s AutoWorld magazine has compiled its “best automobile engines” list available in the United States, and for the fist-time since its inception- plug-in electric hybrid powerplants are included, proving that Ward’s 10 Best Engines list too is “embracing the age of electrification.”

According to Ward’s- “Both the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle and Chevrolet Volt extended-range EV earn their way onto the 2011 list, as selected by Ward’s editors after evaluating 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines for the ’11 model year.” But as in the past- economy is not the only criteria to make the grade- power, torque outputs as well as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) still count.

Ward’s AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter insists “It’s the most diverse mix we’ve ever had, as well as the most technologically advanced.”

2011’s winners and the applications tested include:
• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i)
• 1.6L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mini Cooper S)
• 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Dodge Avenger)
• 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang GT)
• 1.4L DOHC I-4/111kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt)
• 5.0L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
• 80kW AC Synchronous Electric Motor (Nissan Leaf)
• 2.0L DOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta TDI)
• 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (Volvo S60)

The Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition “is designed to recognize powertrains that set new benchmarks in their respective vehicle segments.” Ward’s editor Winter continues “The one thing they have in common is they all are stand-out performers in their own way and sell the value proposition of the vehicles they power.”

Winter adds “This year’s list represents the biggest turnover in the history of the competition, with six completely new engines or propulsion systems, two heavily modified engines (from BMW AG and Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.) and only two direct carryover engines (from Volkswagen AG and Audi AG) from the 2010 list.”

Eligible engines must be available in standard-production cars on sale in the U.S. market no later than the first quarter of the given model year. The engine also must be available in a vehicle with a base price of no more than $54,000.

During a two-month testing period, Ward's editors evaluate each engine according to a number of objective and subjective criteria in everyday driving situations without instrumented testing.

Some standout Ward’s winners in the past have included the General Motors 3800 Series V6, and the Nissan/Infiniti VQ-based V6 powerplants. Nearly every year since it’s inception seventeen years ago, a version of the Ford V8 and the BMW straight-six have made the popular Ward’s 10 Best Engines list.

Source: WardsAuto.com

He Ain't Heavy... It's My Country

Happy Holidays everyone...

Early Black Friday found me recovering from Thanksgiving. I couldn't sleep. Not sleeping in my old bedroom at my parent's house- found me flipping through basic cable (living with an HD Silver Package- I rarely catch commercials on TV) and I caught the tail-end of the new, General Motors commercial "We All Fall Down," a montage of clips depicting failure and eventual triumph. I've even heard this commercial being referred to as the "Comeback Commercial," or the "Thanksgiving Giving Thanks Commercial."

NASA, Popeye, Animal House, Evil Knievel, a boxer and President Truman- all were represented seamlessly, with the instrumentals of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," a ballad first made popular by The Hollies. No spoken words, just a few written lines.

Now I'm really not a very political person. I don't spend my time acting the pundit, complaining, speculating about my country, or it's (in my opinion) slightly sorry economic and political condition. Nor will I bore you with speculations of "doom and gloom." It's just not productive.

Speculation is largely dishonorable and highly egocentric. And in the end- you're left with no real answers.

Watching the commercial which included a clip of Animal House's Brother Bluto (played by the late John Belushi) ranting about how "when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor..." (the Germans?)

Let me also quote another line from the personal favorite movie- "you fucked up... you trusted us..."

So, we all know GM has had its failures. But then again, so have we all to some extent. We all, er, f-up.

It doesn't take a Car Guy to tell you- GM and America- isn't going away; no, not anytime soon.

One thing we Americans like is a story. We love dramatics. We do it well. We're an emotional bunch. A sentimental bunch- in the right or in the wrong. That's why this commercial is so great. We love a comeback.

There's a movie playing (on premium cable) called "Away We Go," a comedy about a young pregnant couple searching the country for a place to settle- a place to call home. In the movie- a character lamented talking politics "well, if we're shit [the U.S.] everyone else is just flies on our shit... right?"

To me, that's a very clever line... despite the questionable metaphor, it's about right.

Sure, we may prop-up our failures, tell you of tales of triumph- and that's sales. We polish our turds and make them smell like roses. But there's a fair bit of truth behind the story; we can just hope there's a glimmer of truth, a real wind-up to the pitch.

If anything, it makes for great sentiment. From the country that pretty much invented... well, the whole damn thing.

Anyone else who feels differently- should go find another home, or go back to shit hole they crawled out of.