Comments on: Bitten by the Seiko Bug — Interview with Dr. Wayne Lee

by: roachman

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:30:30 +0000

Hi Alexgr8: The Spring drive is a unique technological marvel. You are truly right when you said the launch of Spring drive internationally is a big step for Seiko. It certainly put Seiko ahead of most watch companies in terms of novel ideas and watch-making technology. To a person who loves accuracy, and having the feeling of having “soul” in what they wear, Spring drive watches are truly the choice. However, I cannot give a fair comment on how far it will go since I have not witnessed its performance long enough since its introduction into the market. To most people who seek for high end watches to tell time as well wearing a unique technology, this would be the type of watch they should be going for. To the small fraction of fellow collectors/investors, I believe most are still monitoring, and taking a careful step, and not putting all their weight into that ‘investing plank’. Only time will tell.

by: alexgr8

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:15:22 +0000

Thanks for the insight into Dr.Lee. I enjoyed reading about the founding of the SCWF. I was waiting for him to make some reference to Seiko newest movement..the Spring Drive. Does he feel this is the major jump forward in horology that Seiko is claiming? Having lived in Japan for a few years some time ago, I was aware that the Grand Seiko was at the top of the tree there so it was no surprise to see that his favorite watch was the SBGR001. However the launch of the Spring Drive internationally is a very big step for Seiko as it puts it’s watch-making genius up against the Swiss in their traditional markets. For the first time watch collectors outside Japan are being asked to pay “almost Swiss” prices for a Seiko….Will Seiko be able to succeed in that overcrowded market? I think they will because the Spring Drive is brilliantly accurate without abandoning the things we love most about mechanical watches. It’s not just another piece of quartz technology but builds on traditional watchmaking methods but making a better and more accurate product…But what say you Dr.Lee?

by: Lee®

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:42:19 +0000

A pleasure and a privilege to have you visit, John. Thanks for taking the time to write. And thanks to all of you for paying us a visit too. Hope you all stay a while!

by: ei8htohms

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 19:52:48 +0000

Great read Lee, thanks! It’s wonderful to finally get to know the illustrious Dr. Wayne Lee. Thanks To both Lees for all you do for Seiko fans around the globe!

_john

by: mot_universe

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:56:20 +0000

Excellent work with the new site. I really enjoyed the articles posted so far. Japanese watch collectors now have two must visit sites. Looking forward seeing how GMT+9 will evolve.

by: Tempus Fugitive

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:11:18 +0000

As you can tell from the cast of characters around here, GMT+9 is a direct descendent of your wonderful forum, Wayne, and a new link in the long chain of consequences that flowed from your inspired vision. Thanks for your support and warm encouragement. I enjoyed your interview enormously and marvel how your original idea has taken off. Fondly, Jim

by: Evan

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 07:01:50 +0000

Congratulations to the fruition of this site and thank you Lee, for bringing to light the exposure that Dr. Lee has brought to Seiko and other Japanese watches. It is certainly difficult to go against the grain in such a conservative and oft times, elitist world of watch collecting. I would not have enjoyed watch collecting as much as I do now if it was not for the wonderful, feature laden vintage pieces from Seiko that I purchased at comparably diminutive prices. Thanks to the forum that Dr. Wayne Lee created and to enthusiasts such as Lee and PeteW, I was able to indulge in these “hidden gems” of watch collecting.

by: lee

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 04:31:31 +0000

Thanks, Pete. I want to thank Bryan for laying it out for us - sure would not have been able to do it without him! Dr. Lee is very excited for us and he’s been most encouraging and supportive of our endeavor into this “great unknown.” We’ll see what the future brings!

by: petew

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:56:06 +0000

Thanks Lee and Dr. Lee (they really are two separate people) for contributing. I still remember the pre-SCWF days when Dr. Lee would post on TZ. He used to be a Minerva fan as I was and one day he started talking about Seikos. Back then, even on TZ, Seiko was not really held in high regard. There were a few people who recognized that the 7S26 diver was a great value, but knowledge of Seiko as a true horological entity meant to be taken seriously was pretty much non existent. The first time a picture of a Grand Seiko was posted on TZ, there was a small outcry. Everyone was skeptical as to the quality and price and it wasn’t taken too seriously.

It was frustrating to be a Seiko fan back then.

Things are different today and a large part of this is due to the efforts of Dr. Wayne Lee in the creation of the SCWF.