Posted: 1/11/2026 4:29:37 PM EDT
|
Before I get to my main question I’ll post a bit of backstory for context. After a lifetime of wearing Timex and Casio quartz watches I’ve finally started to go down the rabbit hole of “nice” watches. I received a generous Christmas bonus this year so I ordered a Laco Karlsruhe PRO Flieger automatic as my first nice watch. I work construction by trade and I’m a mechanic/welder/machinist/fabricator by hobby so wearing a fine watch for every day use wouldn’t be smart. I put my current G-Shock through hell. But as I’m waiting for my Laco to arrive I’m thinking that I’d like to get a more inexpensive automatic watch for daily use that I won’t mind abusing. Specifically I’m looking at a Seiko Sports 5 field watch that retails at around $315 which brings me to my question. Jomashop (grey market reseller) has the watch I’m looking at for $100 cheaper than I can find it through an authorized Seiko dealer. Is it a bad idea to order a cheaper watch like this from them? They seem like a reputable outfit. Looking around online I see mostly positive reviews with the occasional claims of an awful experience. I trust you guys a lot more than I do redditors. They have a good return policy so I’m thinking that I’ll just read up on how to spot a counterfeit and give the watch a really good inspection when it arrives. Unless it’s a bad idea to order from them in the first place. Thanks. |
never underestimate the stupidity of other people
Joined:
Oct 2016
Posts:
22163
EE: 100% (29)
GA, USA
|
Joma and Chrono24 and you should be good to go. BTW my kid (now 10) has been wearing the seiko you mention since he started I think kindergarten. He's not delicate. It's still going strong even after he killed 2x G-Shocks. |
"every exercise is a low back exercise if you do it wrong enough"
@MacManus
@MacManus
|
Cool. Thanks guys. I ended up finding it from an authorized dealer on sale for just a few bucks more but I’ll consider Jomashop in the future. SRPG27. Just a simple 39mm field automatic with a black face and day/date. It comes on a metal bracelet that I’m not interested in so I ordered a Bond NATO strap for it. |
|
Jomashop and Watchmaxx or even Ashford. All gray market watches do not have the manufacturers warranty. They all have their own warranty. That is how they can price them lower. I bought my Oris Aquis from Watchmaxx. 30%-40% off from retail is typical from the gray market. WM gave me a 2 year WM warranty. Prices at gray markets change daily. Watch them and when the watch you want hits your limit, buy quick. It might not be that price long. |
Don't like what I see happening in the world.
Joined:
Aug 2010
Posts:
716
EE: 100% (38)
USA
|
Originally Posted By gotigers: Jomashop and Watchmaxx or even Ashford. All gray market watches do not have the manufacturers warranty. They all have their own warranty. That is how they can price them lower. I bought my Oris Aquis from Watchmaxx. 30%-40% off from retail is typical from the gray market. WM gave me a 2 year WM warranty. Prices at gray markets change daily. Watch them and when the watch you want hits your limit, buy quick. It might not be that price long. I'm watching a Glycine on eBay that's seems too good to be true until I was googling the numbers and info on stuff I can see in the pics. It was bought at Ashford, and I have never heard of them until I found this. I'm new to the better watch game too. I didn't know these grey market sites were a thing. |
Something clever belongs here.
| I’ve ordered a handful of random watches from Joma. Their customer service might be trash but they’re legit. (I just had a question about an order and it took forever to get a straight answer and to get someone on the phone YMMV) |
I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.
|
Usually gray market Seiko sellers are selling first line Seiko's, not used or lesser grade. The only difference between a gray market and a Seiko authorized dealer is the Seiko one year warranty is usually no good. However, most good gray market sellers give you their warranty for one year and any problems they repair or replace it. Given a known good gray market seller and I wouldn't hesitate to buy. |
I ordered a Glycine from Gnomon watches in Singapore. They were the only place I could find the gl0083 auto in stock. Fast shipping with DHL. Did get hit with $28 in import charges but $17 of that was a charge from DHL, which seems excessive. My first Swiss automatic (probably the only one, because I don't see spending thousands on a watch). 
|
|
There is a Citizen automatic that I'm interested in, but it is no longer available new from them or most places. Jomashop has it new for a very good price (half of the original $600 retail). Are ALL of their watches "gray market" with no manufacturer warranty? Their website shows warranty information and says that for some brands (in a list), the manufacturer does require the item to be registered for warranty. Citizen is in this list. Does that mean Citizen watches from them still do have manufacturer warranty? Or is this just intentionally misleading? EDIT: I chatted with their support bot and confirmed no factory warranty for Citizen. But it did include a 5-year Jomashop warrant. I FO'd. rob |