There was a thread titled "Seiko?" on Public that just got shut down a day ago bcz the OP flamed a bunch of people by calling it a "crap brand" after starting out asking if "people perceive it as a luxury brand." It was a disingenuous question (trolling) since he already was prejudiced to the nines to see Seiko as "crap." So this was on the back of my mind when I responded to this - as if I needed something (positive and objective) like this to wash my mouth out.
The way I see it, Seiko can be compared some big state university, like Berkeley where the top 10% of the students (total pop. 50,000) are as smart as or smarter than those anywhere, with 90% that are just average but perfectly competent, and employable.
Now, a 10% of a big school like that is around 5,000 in ACTUAL number. Small percentage, but still, but a LOT of people.
Whereas... some hoity toity private Ivy League may have only 4,000 students - 90% smart, but no smarter than the 10% at Berkeley.
But because the Ivy League school takes in smaller number and a greater proportion of that number is smart, the school looks more "exclusive" and "prestigious", especially in the eyes of those who cannot understand/separate the fact that proportion (percentage) and absolute number (actual quantity) are not the same thing, and that quality is NOT dependent on either.
If a brand image is all based on perception, (driving home the cliche "perception IS reality" in this case) this is unfortunately due to muddled conception people have regarding this "mathematical" reality regarding percentage and numbers.
I mean, in a town with 4 cars, if 2 of them bumped into each other, that'd be a 50% accident rate! And people automatically (like automatons!) jump to conclusion that at least half the town was drinking funny Koolaid.
This is why some people see Seiko as a "mall brand" only. Or, worse, think THIS is why Seiko cannot possibly make anything great.
The fools! Well, muddled is as muddled does.
Seiko is bankrupting me, but Long Live Seiko anyway.
Another reason - very recently discovered:
4R37 Seiko Superior - SSA003K
View attachment 544674
http://yeomanseiko.wordpress.com/201...03k/#more-2978