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The value gap isn't as big as it was when the good Seikos were only available in Japan & parts of Asia. A Marinemaster used to be a third of the price of a Submariner with an arguably better movement and case.
IMO Seiko have always been a company with an alignment problem between East and West. That's what makes the watches interesting.
hurricane_run-
Yeah that’s all very true.
They’re going to have a problem with Credor at some point. In the west they’re trying to make it the brand above Grand Seiko - basically, like GS but with hand finished movements and porcelain dials. The Japanese Vacheron. In Japan it’s more of a jewellery / dress watch brand that stretches from quartz watches well below GS price points up to the (admittedly mega) Eichi stuff and beyond (tourbillons, enamel, gemstones etc). It’s a very different sell.
Regal
This I think is why a lot of Japanese collectors think westerners are idiots for valuing Grand Seiko over Swiss brands. The grass is always greener etc. Even if objectively a Grand Seiko is a much better watch than a Swiss watch at the same price (which it is 90% of the time).
(Objectively being a key word there.)