I must admit that for many years I have discriminated against Swiss watchmaking positively. Almost everything I read and learned in the years when my curiosity about watches was just beginning, supported this situation. Swiss is better than Japan. When the recently deteriorated economic balances led me to look for more affordable price/performance monsters, I realized that it was time to turn the compass to the east.
Now is the time to apologize. You are big, Seiko. I'm laughing a little at myself while writing these words. You may call it arrogance or simply being a smart ass but I had these watches around me years ago. I would just have a look at say it’s OK and well, it's fine, and continue going on my way. It turned out that they were worth more than "it’s OK".
The story begins with me noticing the staff around a Seiko SBP257J1 that came to the Horobox management office recently. Since I have been interested in watches with black cases for as long as I can remember, I took a good look at the watch. Love at first sight was exactly what happened to me. I focused on the details of the watch with a happiness that I could not explain at that moment. I, who say that I will not go over 40mm, suddenly fell in love with a 42.7mm watch. The form of the case, its presence on the wrist, and its comfort simply excite me. A lot… The sapphire crystal with wide chamfered outer edges provides a clear image while emphasizing the retro character of the model. The square indexes on the dial, orange accents, and high-quality comfortable textile strap made me start calculating my next watch purchase budget. I had to get this watch!
When I got home and calmed down, I searched about this watch a little more. People call the Caliber 6R35 inside the watch “a tank”. Although Seiko offers a daily accuracy of +25 and –15 seconds, it is stated by many users that it performs much better in real life. The 70-hour power reserve is also quite sufficient by today's standards.
I'm sure you've read the story of this model of Seiko, nicknamed Captain Willard, dating back to the 70's. Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura chooses her sledge-pushing dog and Seiko Diver as her companions on her 12,000-kilometer arctic journey that she started in 1974. Later, the same watch appears on the wrist of Captain Willard, played by Martin Sheen in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Seiko also offers a 44mm diameter and Caliber 8L35 movement version of this design to watch lovers as the top-of-the-line model. Briefly, the 8L movement family serves as the basis for Grand Seiko's 9S series calibers. Of course, although they are not built with the same craftsmanship and precision as a GS, you can more or less guess the potential that the 8L caliber line has. If you say you want a larger but more affordable Seiko Turtle, you can also take a look at the entry-level models with the Caliber 4R35 movement.
Consider a carefully crafted, uniquely designed robust case manufactured to meet daily needs for many years without any problems. Put a reliable movement free from decorations, where functionality comes to the fore. And combine that with a design that will continue to win people 50 years after the original model debuted. Here is the recipe for the watch standing in front of you. Although it is a rather late discovery for me, I feel lucky to finally meet this model family of Seiko, and I feel happy when I see the quality offered by the watch and the asking price.
