Who Makes the Better Dress Watch? | Grand Seiko Vs. Jaeger-LeCoultre

JLC movement > GS movement

I disagree vehemently

I love JLC. Cartier Santos is also awesome. Also Bell & Ross. Those that cost beyond $10,000... I must wait.

You are comparing apples and oranges with the dial face. The moon phase is useless. Pick a JLC to compare with a similar plain face.

I'll be honest, I think these lists of criteria for a watch and then either awarding points or a plus for one watch or another watch are sick behavior. I think that when it comes to watches there are only very individual preferences or pragmatic behavior criteria, such as whether I need more than 10 bar water resistance, or whether I need a chronograph, or whether a diving bezel is completely sufficient for timekeeping. But now he's so arrogant as to tell his listeners which watch is the better dress watch, it's pretty sad. Even if you point out that it is your choice. Which other choice should it be, that of Santa Claus? I could still accept a comparison of tool watches to see whether one or the other watch could also be used as a dress watch.

Great video. Which is likely to retain its value more? That could be the tie-breaker

JLC all the way. Both gorgeous.

JLC is great but I’d never buy one. Too many other interesting watches out there. However, I would buy that GS.

Great comparison—I'm smitten by both of these. I've seen the GS at a local AD, but haven't had a chance to see the JLC in person. I must admit that I do find the "useless" moon phase" complication very appealing. That might be the difference maker for me. I note that many comments suggest that the GS leans slightly sporty: what contributes to that? Is it finishing? Case shape/size? Something else?

I needed this video…thank you!

Jaeger will cost 40% more than GS. And Jaeger holds its value better than GS. How GS is cheaper and looks stunning. Spring drive however will be a lot more expensive and difficult to repair if you have any problems in the future.

They are both truly magnificent. I can’t choose which is the nicer.

Me already winning the challenge year ago

The watchmakers watchmaker…. Enough said

Come on comparing JLC to a Seiko is like comparing a Mercedes to a Toyota

👍

That incessant tickling background music is so irritating.

Grand seiko spring drive movement is a watch engineering marvel.

I love the JLC Small second ultra thins. My only problem is that they don't make them with a metal bracelet anymore and they only make them in 40mm. I don't wear anything with a leather strap; I can't stand smell and feel of leather. I almost got the previous generation Master Control Ultra Thin (Q1358120) with the steel bracelet. It was almost perfect -- almost because but it was too big at 40mm. If only it had been a 34~36mm it'll be the watch to die for.

but what if we compared this JLC to the sbgw231?

No competition. JLC, every day of the week.

Jaeger lecoultre has an absolute higher level.👌

GS wins on dials and finishing. JLC wins on movements and thickness. For me GS can be too chunky for a dress watch. I consider them more like sport watch. For me a good dress watch should be under 10mm thick

That strap on the JLC isn't doing the watch any justice. I wish it had been on the alligator strap it originally came in. And discounting a 70 hr power reserve 3 hand plus moon phase and date complications packed in a reasonably thin case for spring drive "alien technology"? No. JLC won in the movement department hands down.

Due to the not so beautiful movement the GS loses by far

The backdrop on the Seiko is simply breathtaking. The colour. The ridges like waves...frozen!

OK, judge. But I'd choose the GS. It's simply lovely. ✌🏾

The Grand Seiko definitely speaks to me here. I’m all for a resurgence of dress watches, so much so that I’ve switched out the bracelets on my two sports watches and put one on a leather strap. I love the look, it’s just big. The dress watch look is a love for me!

If you have an exhibition caseback and you don't include a power reserve, you're a dick.

I’ve got to admit, the Omiwatari is my dream dress watch, it’s all kinds of beautiful… and on top of its beauty, the spring-drive butter-smooth sweep of the second hand gives it the edge above others for me.

I'll take the GS, that watch is gorgeous, simple yet so elegant.

For dress watches I like my between 35-37mm

Both beautiful but I would go with JLC personally for a dress watch. Just love their collection and design language.

Love the video! I got a good chuckle when you said that you don’t think a moon phase has much practical application in modern day life. As far as I know, it’s the only feature of a watch that my phone doesn’t cover. Aside from all of the joy a nice watch brings of course

Awesome review Max. Thanks. Can we shrink them 2 or 3 mm in the drier? 😮 The good thing about the GS is that it looks a bit smaller than the JLC. For me, it’s the JLC hands down, even though I love the color and the look of the GS’s dial. It’s pronounced jayjehr le cooltr as if you’re saying the watch is cool but with a tr at the end. (Forget about the silent e at the end). I know French is complicated. Especially Swiss French. 😂 Thanks again for all the good videos.

Lol I agree with everything except the dial. Even you mentioned that the dial itself stood out as a winner for GS made it seem like a cop out :P. Even the micro shots of the JLC show more imperfections than on the GS too. Otherwise I can totally agree with all else.

Both watches IMO are examples of incredible attention to detail. The point at which the JLC wins is the dial, the GS dial looks like crumpled paper, and is therefore incompatible with my obsession with order…
Sorry

JLC wins not even close!

Nothing to say, just feeding the algorithm ❤

Great idea to compare the most elegant masters of horology. I couldn’t decide and went for both. I own sbgw231 and Reverso duoface… couldn’t be happier.

A moon phase complication, the bedrock of the lunar calendar, is useless?????

Hard choice Jlc and grand seiko are both unique and beautiful but in the end I’d go with the grand seiko!

👎🏻

Holy cow, this is a terrific review. I've owned the Grand Seiko Omiwatari for about 18 months and still love it, for all the reasons mentioned. (I did immediately replace the strap for a grey nubuck one, fyi.). But I admit, that JLC calls to me and haunts my horological dreams, though. Can't go wrong with either!

They both lose the the GS SBGW references, because dress watches should not be bigger than 38mm!

I for sure think Seiko wins in History. They are just a much more massive company that does so much more.

Where's the strap for the JLC from?

Very nice and refreshing presentation of these two fascinating watches.
But you kind of lost me when you mentioned that the spring drive movement gets the winning point.
Sure, it's a smart move from Seiko to merge the quartz technology with the mechanical movement.
But besides the nice sweeping seconds hand, the cost to produce the spring drive movements must be far less than for example, the movement of the JLC you displayed. My guess is that Seiko created the spring drive movement to be cost efficient.
Just having a close look at the advanced finishing and overall build of these movements, it's quite clear that the JLC is far superior.
Anyway, that's my view on it.

Otherwise, great presentation, thank you for the content!

JLC. ALL DAY.