Z
Zach Weiss
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Late last year, we ran an article about Seiko’s expected reissue of the 6309-7040—a beloved dive watch the brand produced throughout the 70s and 80s. That article garnered a lot of interest from our readers and online watchdom in general, and for good reason. The 6309 is undeniably a great watch—one of my personal favorites from Seiko’s historical catalogue—and amongst Seiko diehards it remains a must-have. As far as vintage divers are concerned, they’re also relatively affordable and offer great bang-for-your-buck value.
The 6309 was manufactured by Seiko for approximately 12 years—from 1976 to 1988—so one could argue that they’re not rare watches. And for a long time, that was certainly true. Finding a well-priced original 6309 was no challenge, but in recent years that has become less of a reality. There are a lot of Franken-6309s floating around on Ebay and on forums with aftermarket parts—some of them good, and some not so good—and NOS replacement parts like handsets and bezel inserts are getting harder to source.
Seiko is not a brand to rest on its laurels. While its Swiss counterparts eagerly turn to the past for inspiration for the present, Seiko has been more cautious in the playing the heritage game. But the last couple of years Seiko has been slowly releasing watches inspired by classic pieces from its archives with varied results. I would have never expected they’d do the same with the 6309, but I am so glad they did. This reissue, dubbed the PROSPEX SRP77x collection, is for anyone who loves the look and feel of the 6309, but would rather not delve into the murky waters of vintage watches. It’s also great for someone who may already own a 6309 and would rather use a similar watch as a beater than risk ruining the original. The SRP77x collection is not a limited release, intended to be a mainstay in their current catalogue that rightfully falls between the affordable 007 and the beloved SUMO, the latter also in the PROSPEX line.
There are currently four variants slated for release in early 2016. Today, we’re going to take a look at the SRP777 (black on a silicone strap) and the SRP775 (gilt dial on a metal bracelet)—both of which are now available through several third-party online ADs. The other two—the SRP773 (blue dial and bezel on a bracelet) and the SRP779 (black dial and pepsi bezel on silicone)—are not far behind. At an MSRP of $475, I think they’re well positioned within Seiko’s PROSPEX line and a great bargain for anyone in the market for a solid diver under $500. Let’s take a closer look.
Seiko Prospex SRP77x Review
Case: Steel
Movement: Seiko 4r36
Dial: Matte Black
Lume: Lumi Brite
Lens: Hardlex
Strap: Rubber and Steel
Water Res.: 200 m
Dimensions: 44.3 x 48 mm
Thickness: 14 mm Lug Width: 22 mm
Crown: screwdown
Warranty: NA
Price: $475+ MSRP
Case
The cushion shaped case comes in at 44.3mm wide with a lug-to-lug height of approximately 48mm. The watch is 14mm thick, and it has a lug width of 22mm. It’s a large watch, for sure, but it’s not oversized. As someone who has a preference for smaller watches, I can’t help but love the proportions here. The size feels purposeful and not bloated in the way so many modern divers are. The SRP77x isn’t some unrefined hockey puck. The case is rounded towards the bottom and the crown is recessed, so nothing digs into the wrist. If anything, the watch floats on the wrist. Overall, it’s just an incredibly well executed watch that uses smart design to take full advantage of its size.
The finishing features circular brushing on the top, which then transitions to a highly reflective polished finish as it moves towards the bottom of the case. There is a sharp delineation between the two surfaces that suggests quality manufacturing. At 4 o’clock you have the oversized screw down crown offering 200m of water resistance (the case is also ISO-rated to comply with ISO 6245 standards for diving watches). As previously mentioned, the crown is partially recessed into the case. Now, I usually don’t love recessed crowns. The crown on my Squale 50 Atmos, for example, is a huge pain to engage and operate. Luckily, that’s not a problem here. The case leaves open a large graspable surface so that operating the crown is easy. That said, the action on the crown does leave something to be desired. I would say that it is in line with what you get on the 007 and not something a little higher end. On the SRP777 unit, the action is a noticeably gritty and it sometimes catches on the threading. The SRP775, however, is incredibly smooth, so it’s likely a QC issue on Seiko’s part and not necessarily a flaw in the design.
One of the biggest improvements to the original design is the inclusion of drilled lugs on the SRP series. I am a huge fan of drilled lugs. I think most watches, especially sport watches, should have them purely from a functional standpoint, and that’s no exception here. If you’ve ever tried removing Seiko’s fat spring bars from one of their divers, then you know exactly how hard it can be without drilled lugs. Now it’s made easy.
The bezel is a 120-click unidirectional diver’s bezel featuring a black aluminum insert and shielded lume pip. The insert is ever-so-slightly textured, mimicking the inserts found on the original. Another nod to the original is the way the insert declines towards the crystal—a feature that gives the top of the watch some dimensionality. The bezel itself has a two-tiered groove pattern that allows for a tight grip. The bezel action is a bit stiff, but overall solid. There is no wobble or back play, which is rare in this price bracket. Sitting atop of the bezel is Seiko’s proprietary mineral glass, Hardlex. I think Hardlex makes complete sense within the context of this watch and its positioning within the PROSPEX line. Plus, my experience with Hardlex has been nothing but positive, so I have no reservations with its use here.
The post Seiko Prospex SRP777 / 775 Review appeared first on worn&wound.
Continue reading...
Let us know your thoughts and impressions.
Late last year, we ran an article about Seiko’s expected reissue of the 6309-7040—a beloved dive watch the brand produced throughout the 70s and 80s. That article garnered a lot of interest from our readers and online watchdom in general, and for good reason. The 6309 is undeniably a great watch—one of my personal favorites from Seiko’s historical catalogue—and amongst Seiko diehards it remains a must-have. As far as vintage divers are concerned, they’re also relatively affordable and offer great bang-for-your-buck value.
The 6309 was manufactured by Seiko for approximately 12 years—from 1976 to 1988—so one could argue that they’re not rare watches. And for a long time, that was certainly true. Finding a well-priced original 6309 was no challenge, but in recent years that has become less of a reality. There are a lot of Franken-6309s floating around on Ebay and on forums with aftermarket parts—some of them good, and some not so good—and NOS replacement parts like handsets and bezel inserts are getting harder to source.
Seiko is not a brand to rest on its laurels. While its Swiss counterparts eagerly turn to the past for inspiration for the present, Seiko has been more cautious in the playing the heritage game. But the last couple of years Seiko has been slowly releasing watches inspired by classic pieces from its archives with varied results. I would have never expected they’d do the same with the 6309, but I am so glad they did. This reissue, dubbed the PROSPEX SRP77x collection, is for anyone who loves the look and feel of the 6309, but would rather not delve into the murky waters of vintage watches. It’s also great for someone who may already own a 6309 and would rather use a similar watch as a beater than risk ruining the original. The SRP77x collection is not a limited release, intended to be a mainstay in their current catalogue that rightfully falls between the affordable 007 and the beloved SUMO, the latter also in the PROSPEX line.
There are currently four variants slated for release in early 2016. Today, we’re going to take a look at the SRP777 (black on a silicone strap) and the SRP775 (gilt dial on a metal bracelet)—both of which are now available through several third-party online ADs. The other two—the SRP773 (blue dial and bezel on a bracelet) and the SRP779 (black dial and pepsi bezel on silicone)—are not far behind. At an MSRP of $475, I think they’re well positioned within Seiko’s PROSPEX line and a great bargain for anyone in the market for a solid diver under $500. Let’s take a closer look.
Seiko Prospex SRP77x Review
Case: SteelMovement: Seiko 4r36
Dial: Matte Black
Lume: Lumi Brite
Lens: Hardlex
Strap: Rubber and Steel
Water Res.: 200 m
Dimensions: 44.3 x 48 mm
Thickness: 14 mm Lug Width: 22 mm
Crown: screwdown
Warranty: NA
Price: $475+ MSRP
Case
The cushion shaped case comes in at 44.3mm wide with a lug-to-lug height of approximately 48mm. The watch is 14mm thick, and it has a lug width of 22mm. It’s a large watch, for sure, but it’s not oversized. As someone who has a preference for smaller watches, I can’t help but love the proportions here. The size feels purposeful and not bloated in the way so many modern divers are. The SRP77x isn’t some unrefined hockey puck. The case is rounded towards the bottom and the crown is recessed, so nothing digs into the wrist. If anything, the watch floats on the wrist. Overall, it’s just an incredibly well executed watch that uses smart design to take full advantage of its size.
The finishing features circular brushing on the top, which then transitions to a highly reflective polished finish as it moves towards the bottom of the case. There is a sharp delineation between the two surfaces that suggests quality manufacturing. At 4 o’clock you have the oversized screw down crown offering 200m of water resistance (the case is also ISO-rated to comply with ISO 6245 standards for diving watches). As previously mentioned, the crown is partially recessed into the case. Now, I usually don’t love recessed crowns. The crown on my Squale 50 Atmos, for example, is a huge pain to engage and operate. Luckily, that’s not a problem here. The case leaves open a large graspable surface so that operating the crown is easy. That said, the action on the crown does leave something to be desired. I would say that it is in line with what you get on the 007 and not something a little higher end. On the SRP777 unit, the action is a noticeably gritty and it sometimes catches on the threading. The SRP775, however, is incredibly smooth, so it’s likely a QC issue on Seiko’s part and not necessarily a flaw in the design.
One of the biggest improvements to the original design is the inclusion of drilled lugs on the SRP series. I am a huge fan of drilled lugs. I think most watches, especially sport watches, should have them purely from a functional standpoint, and that’s no exception here. If you’ve ever tried removing Seiko’s fat spring bars from one of their divers, then you know exactly how hard it can be without drilled lugs. Now it’s made easy.
The bezel is a 120-click unidirectional diver’s bezel featuring a black aluminum insert and shielded lume pip. The insert is ever-so-slightly textured, mimicking the inserts found on the original. Another nod to the original is the way the insert declines towards the crystal—a feature that gives the top of the watch some dimensionality. The bezel itself has a two-tiered groove pattern that allows for a tight grip. The bezel action is a bit stiff, but overall solid. There is no wobble or back play, which is rare in this price bracket. Sitting atop of the bezel is Seiko’s proprietary mineral glass, Hardlex. I think Hardlex makes complete sense within the context of this watch and its positioning within the PROSPEX line. Plus, my experience with Hardlex has been nothing but positive, so I have no reservations with its use here.
The post Seiko Prospex SRP777 / 775 Review appeared first on worn&wound.
Continue reading...
Let us know your thoughts and impressions.