Paid €600+ to fix an issue I had since purchase
My watch now works after service, but the overall experience left a bad taste. From the day I bought it (SBGR315, purchased September 2023 from an authorized dealer), it was off by minutes per day. I wrongly assumed this was “normal” mechanical drift, until it worsened over time and I finally sent it in expecting an obvious warranty case.
Instead, warranty coverage was denied and I was charged over €600 for the overhaul. The initial assessment also implied the watch had been opened and damaged. That is an extremely serious claim, and it felt unfounded since I have never opened the watch and do not recall any shock or drop. The explanation also shifted over time, and I never received satisfying transparency about the watch’s history despite it being sold at a discount, beyond the reseller stating no one else owned it before me. Grand Seiko later apologized for the implication that it had been opened, but given how confidently that allegation was initially made, it did not restore much confidence.
The watch may be fixed, but the inconsistent communication and the way responsibility was framed seriously undermined my trust in the service process.