[minidriver]

The Yen is trading today at 94 for USD $1


Just 3-4 weeks ago the yen was trading at 88-89 JPY for one US greenback.


This means, today you can order a new Seiko SARB033 for around USD $380 or a SARB021/23/45 or even a SUMO for well under USD $500.


Do you guys think the Yen will reach the 100 mark by the summer? 8)

 

[hks3sgte]

This is great news. Hopefully the dollar keeps going up and then these JDM watches can be easier on the wallet!

 

[thianwong]

good news for you guys there, but here in Japan all watch prices have gone up! hahaha! I'm sticking to find the good vintage used ones!

 

[ptolemy]

I remember the 120:1 days. i bought 2 tuna's for inside $850

 

[Jeje3325]

I just hope that the Canadian dollar stays almost at par with the USD. Does make a difference to us on this side ;D

 

[anzac1957]

Good for the US guys.. not so good for us elsewhere..

 

[UpstandingCitizen]

This is good news. I'm still wondering about and looking forward to that new Prospex diver line (SBDYxxx).

 

[Chris Galbraith]

This is good news. I'm still wondering about and looking forward to that new Prospex diver line (SBDYxxx).

A new Prospex line? Could you elaborate a bit more on that? That interests me a LOT....

 

[timeseeker]

good news for you guys there, but here in Japan all watch prices have gone up! hahaha! I'm sticking to find the good vintage used ones!

But if the local Japanese price are going up, then it wont matter because the USD price will go up as well.
:'(

 

[UpstandingCitizen]

A new Prospex line? Could you elaborate a bit more on that? That interests me a LOT....

I believe it was discussed in one of Chino's blogs. Here's what I was able to dig up:

"Prospex Mechanical, SBDY003 (MSRP 52.500 JPY), SBDY001 (47.250 JPY) both with movement 4R35, in August"

August is still a little ways away, but it's still something to look forward to. ;D

 

[thianwong]

True, but at least in the USA, capitalism reigns supreme and one can find huge discounts in the Coscos and Walmarts etc. Japanese usually never discount suchly! From reports, the USA economy is inproving! Car sales up, more jobs now etc....same actually here in Japan. The car companies report record sales! But still watch prices (new and even used watch prices) have increased over the last 3 years since the latest watch trend began again!

 

[Ombudsman]

I remember when it was 135 Yen to the US Dollar. Heck, I remember when it was US$0.80 to the Euro! Those were good buying days back then. Will we ever see such rates again? Probably not anytime soon.

 

[anzac1957]

I remember when it was 135 Yen to the US Dollar. Heck, I remember when it was US$0.80 to the Euro! Those were good buying days back then. Will we ever see such rates again? Probably not anytime soon.

As I said before, but not so good for those of us not in the US.. When your dollar is high our cost of buying a watch skyrockets.. So it really depends on what side of the fence you are on..

 

[Ombudsman]

True, but at least in the USA, capitalism reigns supreme and one can find huge discounts in the Coscos and Walmarts etc. Japanese usually never discount suchly! From reports, the USA economy is inproving! Car sales up, more jobs now etc....same actually here in Japan. The car companies report record sales! But still watch prices (new and even used watch prices) have increased over the last 3 years since the latest watch trend began again!

Unfortunately, for those of us here in the USA, we're still waiting for the uptick in our economy, contrary to what is being told to us! Things are still rough, and we're weathering out this economic storm as best as we can.

 

[thianwong]

Yes, it is always good to hear from ground level sources.....Here, from local area growth/commercial activities, the Japanese economy seems still going strong. But, having read recently from a Japanese economics professor who had predicted the 80s bubble economy bust, predicts that Japan's HUGE debt load will soon hit Japan, if the government ignores such indications......time will tell! I better grab all the good vintage stuff around me then! haha!

 

[thianwong]

latest news report on the yen/dollar from Japanese newspaper..
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/business/news/20100405p2g00m0bu030000c.html