NSOW 6-19. SEIKO Samurai Diver VLOG Notes

SEIKO SAMURAI DIVER SRPB97

QUICK REVIEW

IDENTITY


SEIKO SAMURAI DIVER SRPB97
DIVE WATCH BUT CAN BE WORN DAILY - BE HONEST REALLY A SPORTS WATCH
FIRST STEP UP THE MECHANICAL LADDER

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DESIGN

• DIVER. CORE REASON FOR BEING, ISO 6425 AS A GUIDE AND GETS THERE
• LEGIBILITY - SEE MINUTES ELAPSED AT A GLANCE (5 MIN MIN)BIG FLAT DIAL AND CRYSTAL
• HIGH CONTRAST MARKERS (CLIP 1) - OFF WHITE, BUT NO FAUX PATINA
• FURTHER EMPHASISED WITH BLACKED OUT BOUNDARIES AGAINST ORANGE AND 3D EFFECT OF APPLIED MARKERS. 
• ROTATING BEZEL WITH MARKERS
• LONG MINUTE HAND (CLIP 2) AND TYPICAL SEIKO LUME
• INADVERTENT OPERATION
• UNIDIRECTIONAL BEZEL
• BIG, EASY TO USE CROWN WITH SMALL BUT REALLY CAREFULLY SHAPED GUARDS (CLIP 3)
• TOUGH
• MEETS ISO 6425. 
• 200 METER WATER RESISTANCE 
• EVERYDAY: PRETTY GOOD
• WEARABILITY: 44MM/48MM/13.5MM. ROUND DIAL/BEZEL MOUNTED OVER A SQUARED OFF CUSHION MID-CASE GIVING THE WATCH “SHOULDERS” AND AN ALTOGETHER IMPOSING LOOK 
• BUT ITS SURPRISINGLY WEARABLE. NOT OVERLY THICK (FOR A DIVER - SUB SAME THICKNESS) - LOW SET AND AGGRESSIVE ANGLED LUGS (CLIP 4) HELP 
• BUT IN THE END ITS BIG AND MIGHT NOT FIT.
• A LITTLE FLAIR.  
• PRETTY GOOD OVERALL. OBVIOUSLY THE ORANGE GETS THE PARTY STARTED. CLEVER LUG INTEGRATION (CLIP 5) EXTENDING DOWN MID CASE TO AVOID SLAB SIDES, MIX OF POLISHED AND SATIN FINISH.
• NICE CASEBACK (CLIP 6) - NORMALLY LIKE A DISPLAY BUT PREPARED TO GIVE SEIKO A PASS HERE GIVEN “REAL” DIVER AESTHETIC. 
• SEIKO HARDLEX NOT SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL - NOT TERRIBLE BUT MORE LIKELY TO SCRATCH.
• ALUMINIUM BEVEL (CLIP 7) INSERT NOT BAD - DULL FINISH MAINTAINS OVERALL AESTHETIC OF DIAL BUT FOR A BRIGHT ORANGE SPORTS WATCH MAYBE SOME MORE BLING BETTER.

EXECUTION

• MOVEMENT: 4R35, ABOVE THE 7S SERIES.
• 21,600 VPH, 41 HR PR, HACKABLE AND HANDWIND. SOLID/ACCURATE/SERVICEABLE/REPLACEABLE
• BAND: COMES WITH A CHEAP BUT SERVICEABLE BRACELET (SWAP IN) - BUT REALLY
• OK BUT I PREFER NATOS. 
• DRILLED LUGS - YAY!!! (CLIP 8)
• BUILD: CANT FAULT RUGGEDNESS. 
• ISO 6425 INCORPORATES BOTH ISO 764, ANTIMAGNETIC AND ISO 1413 SHOCK RESISTANCE. 
• EVERYTHING CLEAN/NEAT/ALIGNED WHERE IT SHOULD - YES A SEIKO THAT LINES UP!
• BUT UP CLOSE YOU DO SEE WHERE MONEY IS SAVED - WHY 4-500USD:
• SOME CREASES AND RIDGES - NOT FLUSH
• DATE INTEGRATION A BIT MEH CUT OFF INDICE (CLIP 9)
• BEZEL ACTION OK - SMOOTH BUT CLICK IS SOFT, A LITTLE DULL - ALSO JUST A FRACTION OF BACK PLAY. FINE BUT DOESNT SHOUT QUALITY.
• CROWN SCREW OK - NOT STICKY BUT A LITTLE “DRY”. 
• SIMPLE ANGLES - NO CHAMFERS (CLIP 10)
• BEZEL NOT SUPER GRIPPY (CLIP 10) - BUT OK.

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MARKETPLACE

• PRICE: 
• MSRP: 525USD
• LIKELY: 400USD (MINE 350 AT EOY SALE)

ALTERNATIVES: LITERALLY HUNDREDS - FIERCELY CONTESTED SEGMENT

• OBVIOUS: 
• OTHER SEIKOS
• SKX/TURTLE COULD EVEN GO UP TO MONSTER/SUMO
• ORIENT: 
• TRITON (BUT COULD GO DOWN TO MAKO/RAY)
• A SQUILLION MICRO BRANDS - SEE JODY AT ONE MORE WATCH
• NOT SO OBVIOUS: 
• CERTINA DS - 500USD
• CITIZEN PROMASTER SCUBA - 440USD (ON SALE)

TAKE AWAY

• FOR ME - BIG GUY 19CM WRIST - THE SAMURAI IS A GOOD BLEND OF ITS TWO ROLES: 
• CLEARLY A DIVE WATCH BUT WITH LOTS OF LITTLE TWEEKS GIVE IT PERSONALITY IN THAT CASUAL SPORTS/HOLIDAY VIBE.
• EXECUTION IS OK WITH NO OBVIOUS QC ISSUES - LIKELY TO LAST A LIFETIME AND BE EASY TO SERVICE OVER THE JOURNEY.
• YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF SIZE.
• HAVE TO ACCEPT DESIGNED AND EXECUTED TO A PRICE 
• COMPETITORS: STACKS UP PRETTY WELL - BROADLY COMPETITIVE ON DESIGN/EXECUTION/PRICE IN THIS SEGMENT. I THINK THERE MAY BE BETTER VALUE IN THE MICRO BRANDS WHO NEED TO TRY HARDER BUT OTOH THIS GETS YOU INTO A COLLECTING ZONE AND CERTAINTY HAS VALUE.
• RECOMMEND IF YOU WANT A FULL ON DIVER THAT DOES WEEKEND CASUAL WORK TOO AND YOU WANT THE CERTAINTY AND COLLECTABILITY THAT COMES WITH A BIG BRAND.