NSOW 6-19. Seiko Orange Samurai Review

QUICK REVIEW: SEIKO SAMURAI DIVER SRPB97

IDENTITY.  SEIKO SAMURAI DIVER SRPB97

DIVE WATCH BUT CAN BE WORN DAILY - BE HONEST REALLY A SPORTS WATCH

FIRST STEP UP THE MECHANICAL LADDER

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.

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.