Seiko Seduces Me
In 2018 I stumbled across The Urban Gentry YouTube channel, which led to my initial steps in my watch enthusiast journey. As with most YouTube deep dives, I eventually stumbled across one of TGV’s older videos discussing Seiko, his love of the brand, and why every new watch enthusiast should own one. Naturally, I decided not to follow TGV’s advice, lived in denial, and only delayed my eventual love of Seiko. With apologies to TGV, here is how Seiko eventually won me over.
Seiko’s design language is distinct and iconic, especially regarding dive watches. Admittedly, early on, I focused heavily on Seiko’s Samurai line. I love the angularity of the cases and the wide variety of colorways Seiko features. Over time I now see that the same is true across Seiko’s dive watch line. Turtles, Sumos, Shoguns, and Monsters offer a collector similar yet beautiful color choices with enough variety in case design to satisfy a wide range of enthusiasts. It has taken me this long to reach a point where I genuinely appreciate Seiko’s wide-ranging design appeal.
I appreciate people who do not try to be anything more than who they are, personality over persona per se’. I feel the same way about Seiko dive watches. They marry capability with an enjoyable appearance. They feel tough, from the weight and balance of the case to the knurling of the crown. Case shapes are comfortable and durable, from the SRPB09 to the SBDC029. Can there be misalignment issues? Yes. Have I ever encountered any? No. Hence, net positive. Seiko divers are what they are, which is why they have the following.
In the day and age of Rolex AD discussions which usually open with “building a relationship,” Seiko’s availability is quite the opposite. I am not comparing Seiko vs. Rolex in any category other than access. Rolex has institutional or societal gatekeepers; in some ways, it makes sense. Seiko does not occupy the same price bracket as Rolex, even though I argue that Rolex occupies Seiko’s place in the luxury watch space. Rolex and Seiko are entry-level timepieces in their markets, except that Seikos are easily attainable. If you want a beautiful, well-designed timepiece, you can find and buy a Seiko. Seikos are everywhere.
Design, purpose, and availability are three areas all watch enthusiasts agree to disagree on. That is the beauty of this hobby for some and business for others. For me, Seiko nails all three areas. Especially if you understand that nothing is perfect. My affinity for the Seiko collection has ebbed and flowed over the years, but Seiko has always held some real estate within my collection. Experiencing my SRPB09 Blue Lagoon, SBDC029 Shogun, and Marine Master 200 mod opened my eyes to the flexibility of Seiko divers. I am looking forward to experiencing many more in the future.
“All photos were taken by me.”
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