Seiko Champion

Sorry, you (and I) both missed out.

This was the watch given out as a raffle prize at the Seiko Boutique GTG the other evening, a nice 4R15 based automatic with sapphire crystal.

I’m not normally a fan of the silver/gold combination look, but it worked well on this watch, in combination with the solid feel, textured dial and sub-second markers. It’s a good “2nd step above entry level” Seiko automatic, not one of their higher-end lines but with a better movement than the 7S26, and a nice surprise for one of the attendees (I’ll write about that in part 2).


Image from ebay vendor PremierWorld

Now there are three reasons I’m showing a picture from an eBay shop first, instead of the following catalog picture of this watch from Seiko, or even the other one from Fargo Time…


The first reason for the three images, is to talk about where to purchase a new watch like this from. Since we’re talking new here, I’ll exclude SCWF and other forums.

Direct from Seiko or an authorized Seiko retailer is the first level. You’re buying an enjoyable shopping experience, talking with people knowledgeable about the brand, getting information and suggestions that may help you choose what watch to purchase, and a direct warranty.


Image from Seiko Canada

A local discount retailer, an example for me being FargoTime in Mississauga, is the next option. If you already know what you want, you can definitely save some money. This specific watch as an object lesson retails for $595 and sells at Fargo for $298. I’ve purchased from Fargo both online and in person, you’re buying the real thing with appropriate warranty, but do NOT expect the same sort of experience and discussions. After you’re parked in an older light industrial neighborhood, gotten buzzed into the store past the security bar lined windows, it’s up to you to browse what’s there and know what you want.


Image from FargoTime.com

Then there are the reputable eBay sellers like PremierWorld, or Pokemonyu. They sell quite a volume of Seiko watches, provide good service, and you can typically get the watch for less than the local discount retailer. But you are typically buying “grey market” with a limited warranty. The advantage of these sources, is access to Asia-only models that you would otherwise not be able to find here.

Thankfully the Seiko Boutique opening here means that for the nice watches, those you want to hold and see before making a purchase decision on, some of what we could not get here in North America before is now available for us (at least in the Toronto area!) and is definitely my recommendation on the way to go for the better models.

The second reason for the 3 pictures is to mention one gap in Seiko advertising outside Asia, which is a dearth of easily accessible product images and information online. It’s getting better, we now have more product here (thanks Odyssey!), but something I’m hoping for more of.

And the third reason relates to Intellectual Property and online branding. The 3 pictures used and branded by PremierWorld for the above watch, I also found reused on Asian auction site called LikeBuy. They were the exact same images, but cropped so that PremierWorld’s name did not show, and then with LikeBuy added to the middle of the image as if it was their copyright! I know I personally made some slips earlier in blogging due to lack of knowledge, but this is different – avoid shops that steal other’s online material, it points to a lack of ethics that I’d worry about before purchasing something from them.

Again, thanks to Seiko Canada and Odyssey Time for bringing this and other watches to this event for us to enjoy!