WATCH POP

I own several Seikos but no divers. I like the 007s and 009s and when I was in a Seiko Company Store a few months ago I was really REALLY close to jumping on the Black and Orange Monsters. The price was right but I just did not like how they looked. A little too in-your-face for me. I always liked the Samurai Ti divers. Very subtle and refined yet they make a statement. The blue dial was my favorite. I sat back and plotted my purchase. Sooner or later someone would post one for sale stateside. Good things happen to those who wait! Last week this watch was posted in the TZ sales forums. A few emails to work out the details and it was a deal.

I missed the postman so I had to make a special trip to the post office to pick it up. This worked out well as I had to have the band adjusted anyway. The local jeweler is one block from the post office. The jeweler used to sell Seikos years ago but now only sells generic Swiss quartz with its store name on the dial. I take my watches in to buy straps and have links added/removed from bracelets all the time. The guy is always amazed what I'm going to show up with next. He is quite impressed and baffled how I get these mechanical Seikos.

I finally get home and show my wife. I state with some smugness and gloating that this is a Seiko model SBDA003 Ti with a blue dial, also known as the Samurai. She rolls her eyes and I get that look. It's precious. My son on the other hand who doesn't understand his dad's fixation with mechanical watches and Seikos, is like WOW! He throws his crap Fossil fashion watch off and straps this thing on. This watch has a major cool factor going on here. He immediately claims it for himself. I inform him that if he wants one he will have to troll the internet himself and buy it with his own money, and take my watch off right now. He complies with great envy.

Next the digital camera is put to work and we can now all share in my good fortune. Enjoy fellow Seiko-holics. I spent little time setting up these photos but they will do for now. I tried to capture the color of the titanium case and blue dial. This is by far one of the hardest watches I have ever tried to photograph. The case and dial never look the same, always changing with the light.

A nice 3/4 view shot.



Another 3/4 view.



An in-your-face full Monty shot. I'm trying to get the richness of the color of the dial. I see I'm going to have to set up a light box, too much glare and reflection.



A close up of the dial. The quality Seiko puts in its dials amazes me. Everything is perfect.



This thing is HUGE. This is now the biggest watch I own. Here is a comparison photo with the second largest watch I own, the SNZ389J1 or Seamaster wannabe. The SNZ389J1 is 38mm across the case. The Samurai just flat out overwhelms its cousin. I haven't weighed either watch yet but the SNZ389J1 feels heavier. This photo also gives you a better idea of the differences in the color of the dials. The SNZ389J1 dial is an electric blue, the Samurai dial is very subtle by comparison.



Oh yeah, the obligatory wrist shot. Did I mention this thing is huge? It dwarfs my 8.25" wrist! It's not very often I have to have links taken out of a watch bracelet. One link had to be removed to get the length right.



This watch is a keeper. I'm going to have to wear it 24/7 because the second I take it off my son will abscond with it.

Have a good day fellow TZ'rs.
Brian Thank you for posting.

Best regards,
Kohei Great macro shots. The watch looks very stylish in a conservative way. I love the look.