Which One Should You BUY? Grand Seiko Snowflake vs Rolex Explorer [SBGA211 vs 214270]

A comparison video of Grand Seiko Snowflake SBGA211 vs Rolex Explorer 39mm 214270 (mark 2). Enjoy the video:)

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[seikocitizenwatches]

I have a Seiko Spring that I purchased 15 years ago (Feb 2005). This SNR005 is so dependable and reliable that it has been running continuously for 15 years without any maintenance or adjustment. The accuracy is exactly the same as new, about -1 second/week, power reserve is 3 days.

[unk]

Spring drive is simply the best movement ever made.

[glennharris]

I bought the SBGA211. 1. You can buy one without paying a watch scalper. 2. The spring drive is amazingly accurate and the sweep of the seconds hand mesmerizing. 3. The dial on Grand Seiko watches are the most beautiful available.

[thesteelbezel]

When you said your family was blown away by the price of snowflake, I thought you meant they thought it was too cheap. With the technology and finishing of snowflake, it should have been much more expensive!

[hugedickerinokripperino]

Id personally take the snowflake. I just think the concept behind the movement is really cool and you get that display back. Honestly you should get what you enjoy on wrist more

[xekret]

They both have their pros and cons, I have the Explorer and almost bought a Snowflake but decided to get the Spring from the seasons collection. The Explorer is a classic watch with all the good Rolex attributes but the GS high intensity titanium and Spring Drive (-15+15 a month) is also up there.

[Alex_Fung]

I'd take the snowflake hands down. GS is one of my favorite brands. I've got the GS quartz GMT sbgn005 and I love it.

[jeeperspeepers]

Once again, Mr. Bond has gone into a frenzy of indifference.

[dieterwolf]

I have owned the Explorer Model you reviewed for over 3 years now and I have to complement you on the accuracy of your review, based on my own experience wearing this watch. I would still love to own the Grand Seiko Snowflake, if for no other reason than the spring drive movement, but since I already have a Grand Seiko Quartz on a crocodile leather strap I just can't justify the additional cost. Yes, I wish it wasn't the quartz model, but the watch on a crocodile leather strap is very light, comfortable, and of course even more accurate than the spring drive. Again, nice review.

[stu]

The snowflake is one of Grand Seiko's most desired watches. I doubt you'd lose much more on the resell vs the explorer.

[melvinjo]

I like the brushing on the Grand Seiko more. I think it looks nicer, but more importantly in my experience a smoother brushing shows scratches way more than a rough one

[sbsb]

Power reserve indicator is the best feature.

[FloridaClay]

I had some reservations about the power indicator on the dial of my GS, but no more. I rotate watches I'm wearing pretty frequently, but the GS has become my reference standard because of its extraordinary accuracy. It stays out on top of my dresser and I just check the power reserve periodically and give it a quick wind when needed. I will also admit that I like watches that are a little different from run-of-the mill. I've got at least a dozen "clean dial" watches and seldom wear any of them, perhaps finding them a little boring.

[JanPBtest]

Another nice thing about Snowflake is that its dial _sparkles_ like real snow. This effect is not easy to demonstrate using typical studio lighting because a very _pointlike_ light source is needed (like the Sun with real snow), so cannot use any softboxes, only a _single, strong, bare_ light bulb with the filament as small as possible. There are practically no videos on YT showing this effect, unfortunately, as most lighting is set up to render people's faces nicely, not watches :-)

[rickjason]

You prefer a heavier watch. A worse finish. No date. I have both. I wear the Grand Seiko. I love the power reserve indicator. I like to know if it will stop overnight.

[dsq]

My snowflake runs +0.03s/day (timed over a month)

[soulure]

These are both incredible time pieces but when it comes down to looking at them, the seamless movement of the Spring drive makes it the winner.

[dejhc]

Have both watches - as much as I prefer the GS dial, zaratsu polishing, spring drive movement and overall better specs, I would pick the Explorer if I had to choose between the 2.

I just can’t quite place why other than the better comfort and fit of the Rolex bracelet but to me it’s a clear cut winner once you actually wear it. Both are amazing timepieces nonetheless.

[icewarped]

Regardless of the cost the Grand Seiko is on another level. Another video looked at both under an electron microscope and the Grand Seiko made the Rolex look like a Timex. For the price the Omega Aqua Terra is a better watch than the explorer. Then you have Rolex’s supply shorting games.

[watchtherapy]

Love them both and have been thinking which 1 to get, many thanks to rolex's limited supply business model, I finally bought the snowflake.