Great review, Nick!! You hit on all the reasons I love this watch! And you were fair on the bad/ugly. I was lucky to get my Padi Version for around $300. And my Samurai is running around +7 seconds per day. The clasp I mentioned to you is by MilTat and distributed by Strapcode. It’s called the ‘Wetsuit Ratchet Buckle’ and it is micro adjustable. You can either get just the clasp, or the entire bracelet (to replace the rubber strap versions). Thanks again, my friend!! You’re the real gem! 💎
Stoney Lonsome I do have first hand experience with it and I love mine. If you’re judging purely on $$ cost then it’s probably not what you want. You can find an equally good bracelet for less, maybe. But with the micro adjustable clasp it was totally worth it to me. There may be better options available somewhere else. But the one I mentioned is the only version I could find that included the clasp I was looking for. Hope this helps! ✌🏻
I've owned my Samurai SRPB53 for three years now, during which time it has been my daily driver. I love how it looks, and the good part is that I got mine for $299 with free shipping. The bad part is that for about the first year it was a +6 second watch, which was great, but at a year it started consistently losing 45 seconds a day. Even though it was under warranty, Seiko's U.S. so-called customer service wouldn't do anything about it, except at my expense, and at first, did not even respond to emails to tell me even that for two months. That experience, and not the watch, really put me off of buying any more Seikos, even though I have owned and enjoyed them in the past. They simply could not care less that they had produced an inaccurate piece of gear. So, now that it is out of warranty anyway, I suppose I'll take it to a local watchmaker for an adjustment. I love the watch, I just hate having to reset it every few days to avoid being late for appointments.
I'm always a bit disappointed on those rare videos where Nick doesn't make a pain at the end. I'm glad you didn't disappoint me today. My favorite NS review of all time is the wooden Dragonfly.
Luckily after a week and a half mine is only running +2 secs. Very pleased w the watch as my first seiko. It wears quite small for its 44mm case (which I like). I agree it should have a sapphire crystal, but the hardlex isn't terrible. May mod it out w sapphire later. I would recommend the samurai 100%. Solid piece
There is a reason they use HardLex and not sapphire. Sapphire is prone to cracking, not something you want when you are diving and hit it off a rock etc. Hardlex is not prone to cracking and therefore it's more suitable for a diver like this.
This watch should be called Abraham A1. The angular sides look so much like the front turret of the Abraham tank. That’s it, an Abraham tank transformer Entertaining review as always.
Great review Nick! I have this model and the srpb51 model and both are amazing. My favorite style of watch! You can find much better prices through ebay if you are willing to take the risk (got this one around 280 when I bought it) and I picked up the srpb51 for about 290 through Kohl's after stacking multiple coupons. I agree that the stainless steel bracelet is junk, I replaced mine with a Hexad strapcode bracelet and it is far better and the style fits the watch better too.
The Samurais are one of the most interesting Seiko design. It just doesn't gets boring watching at its every edge and angles. It's very 'ancient' Japanese but has also a certain retro-future vibe. Don't worry if you can't afford 62MAS reissues. Unless you really need sapphire or 6R get a Samurai.
Nick I enjoy your vids very much.I had a seiko back in college that i bumped on a metal desk soundly and it was off about 45 seconds for a while so being a poor college boy I thought well maybe if i soundly bump it again what the heck! And guess what Nick! It worked! the watch immediatley returned to original timekeeping at about 7-9 seconds per day! I guess the mystery is solved! Love Seiko forever!
Decent watch and fair review. Find them new on eBay for around $260 which is more in line what these are worth and makes them a good value for a mechanical. I actually prefer my PADI Turtle case on a Strapcode Jubilee or the Monster 2nd gen. But, man, Seiko IS the lume king!
1bentley4ever Ive been going strong for a pretty long while without more than one watch. One knife however, now thats just insanity i wouldnt be able to keep up.
When it comes to watches I generally go by the rule that if you're spending under $1000 it's perfectly ok to go gray market (Jomashop, eBay, Amazon...etc.), but over $1000 get it from an AD. I bought my Samurai for $292.
I have the all black one, with gold indecies. I love the damn thing, have had it since February. I have more accurate pieces but if that's what You're after, a cheaper Seiko probably isn't your best choice
I just got mine in the mail the other day. I do like it, but immediately ordered a new bracelet from Strapcode. Also, the chapter ring is just slightly off, which messes with my OCD! LOL
Thank you for this video. Again and again, these reviews of big and heavyweight mechanical yester-century watches convince me that my choice of wristwatches is the best - those super-precise lightweights: relatively inexpensive radio-controlled "atomic" or GPS analog titanium watches.
Hey nick, have you gotten your hands on the seiko alpinist? It’s a smaller watch and now discontinued but I got my hands on one for a steal and it wears so nicely on small wrists! I could loan it out if you wish, I also got the kinda rare-ish seiko branded bracelet for it too
This watch is usually sells for 200USD here in my country. You get what you pay for. All your complaints about this watch is valid. But its like you're expecting a 1990 Toyota corolla to go 0-60 in 3secs. Of course this won't perform to those level of standards. Don't get me wrong I'm no Seiko fan boy, but you have to manage your expectations. Anyway, it was still a great vid. Cheers!
these seikos with the thru bore often will not support other watch bands that don't use thick pins--and the pins that will fit into the new bands will not stay engaged with these thick holes. yes a solvable problem. often, bands with captured pins (quick change) may work because they won't fall into the large holes. seiko rubber straps are lint magnets and if you have cats, they will always be with you...
Actually, after freeze-framing your video at 8:23, it looks okay so perhaps they fixed the issue. For the samples I've seen in stores (about a year ago) they were noticeably offset.
i have bought this exact model & you are wrong.. i wish i could show you how perfect all the alignment in my srpb53k1 including the crown & guards.. if you look at it on the angle that is in your wrist then it is not directly towards your face so your eyes deceiving you thinking it is little bit down close to the lower crown guard but it is not.. if you take it off & look it straight in you eyes or face then you can see that it is perfectly in the middle.. only fool thinks that it is misaligned if you keep on checking the alignment while wearing the watch.. if you really want to check it carefully then check it directly with your face & the face of the watch exactly infront of you then you'll see that it is exactly in the middle...
Will this be your first mechanical piece? If so, I suggest you look at a sub $300 Seiko. Wear it for a year and every week save $10. At the end of the year, if you have not destroyed the watch and are still into the hobby buy a used piece like Hamilton, Oris or even Steinhart. Start saving $20 a week and welcome to club Justin.
Kind of a dumb comment to tell him he bought the wrong watch. 1. He didn't buy it. He clearly states he has it on loan. 2. If he bought it, the SRPB53 is 1/3 the cost of the SPB053, so you're comparing two completely different price points. 3. Your comment is subjective and highly opinionated. I happen to like the SRPB53 on a ss bracelet far more than the SPB053 on a ss.
You could talk about grass growing and it would be fair game frankly.Humour is cool.Just spent some pennies on a Seiko solar to retire on.Accuracy snob too? I don't get Seiko still using movements designed 40 years ago.? Great watches then but "then" moved on years back.Mechanical is a beautiful thing but .......Keep making us smile.Cheers.
why did you say don't?.. wrist watch are great accessories than wearing jewelries.. jewelries can't tell time & time keeping wearables are important especially for business, sports & alll activities.. wrist watch has many purpose, to tell time & date, alarm, compass, split time, barometer, thermometer, heart rate, steps, gps, etc.. also serves as a jewelry..
I recently bought a Ginault Ocean Rover. Sure, it’s double the price but I’d say it’s 5 times better if not more. Excellent glide lock bracelet, beautiful black enamel dial, massive applied indices filled with great lume, superb machining and finishing quality and a very well regulated movement. Mine gains 9 seconds per week. If you can afford to buy a $500 watch, odds are you can save up for a bit longer and get something that genuinely impresses you every time you look at it for $1,000 or perhaps a little bit more. I stay away from Seiko for all the reasons you mentioned and a little bit more. Crappy bracelets, piss poor movement specs, no sapphire. Plus, once you compare the dials cases and bezels of a truly high quality watch to most seikos, the seikos just look like crap. If this watch were $180 or so, I’d think it was fairly priced. Charging much more than that just seems like a waste of money if you ask me. Nothing against anyone who owns and loves this watch, it just isn’t for me.
Kyle Stewart I’m pretty sure you never had a Seiko. Crappy finishes ? You either had a fake one, or none like my fist assumption.Your Ocean Rover is not twice the price, it’s 5 times the price any day. It is a great watch, but tragically born with no identity or personality. And that’s where the Seiko kills it, these are watches and it’s not about the spec list, if it was, a Citizen Eco-Drive with higher end movement and their DLC coatings basically piss on most luxury watches on specs and performance and durability. It’s simple as that, you like a Seiko you get a Seiko, you don’t, you get something else. They all accomplish the same job in the end for any normal human being.
Great review, Nick!! You hit on all the reasons I love this watch! And you were fair on the bad/ugly. I was lucky to get my Padi Version for around $300. And my Samurai is running around +7 seconds per day. The clasp I mentioned to you is by MilTat and distributed by Strapcode. It’s called the ‘Wetsuit Ratchet Buckle’ and it is micro adjustable. You can either get just the clasp, or the entire bracelet (to replace the rubber strap versions). Thanks again, my friend!! You’re the real gem! 💎
Stoney Lonsome I do have first hand experience with it and I love mine. If you’re judging purely on $$ cost then it’s probably not what you want. You can find an equally good bracelet for less, maybe. But with the micro adjustable clasp it was totally worth it to me. There may be better options available somewhere else. But the one I mentioned is the only version I could find that included the clasp I was looking for. Hope this helps! ✌🏻
You have a great voice for cartoons!
They've definitely underpromised on the accuracy. I've had one for more than a year and the accuracy has been excellent.
I've owned my Samurai SRPB53 for three years now, during which time it has been my daily driver. I love how it looks, and the good part is that I got mine for $299 with free shipping. The bad part is that for about the first year it was a +6 second watch, which was great, but at a year it started consistently losing 45 seconds a day. Even though it was under warranty, Seiko's U.S. so-called customer service wouldn't do anything about it, except at my expense, and at first, did not even respond to emails to tell me even that for two months.
That experience, and not the watch, really put me off of buying any more Seikos, even though I have owned and enjoyed them in the past. They simply could not care less that they had produced an inaccurate piece of gear. So, now that it is out of warranty anyway, I suppose I'll take it to a local watchmaker for an adjustment. I love the watch, I just hate having to reset it every few days to avoid being late for appointments.
I'm always a bit disappointed on those rare videos where Nick doesn't make a pain at the end. I'm glad you didn't disappoint me today. My favorite NS review of all time is the wooden Dragonfly.
Your reviews are the best, Nick.
Luckily after a week and a half mine is only running +2 secs. Very pleased w the watch as my first seiko. It wears quite small for its 44mm case (which I like). I agree it should have a sapphire crystal, but the hardlex isn't terrible. May mod it out w sapphire later. I would recommend the samurai 100%. Solid piece
There is a reason they use HardLex and not sapphire. Sapphire is prone to cracking, not something you want when you are diving and hit it off a rock etc. Hardlex is not prone to cracking and therefore it's more suitable for a diver like this.
This watch should be called Abraham A1. The angular sides look so much like the front turret of the Abraham tank. That’s it, an Abraham tank transformer Entertaining review as always.
Great review Nick!
I have this model and the srpb51 model and both are amazing. My favorite style of watch! You can find much better prices through ebay if you are willing to take the risk (got this one around 280 when I bought it) and I picked up the srpb51 for about 290 through Kohl's after stacking multiple coupons. I agree that the stainless steel bracelet is junk, I replaced mine with a Hexad strapcode bracelet and it is far better and the style fits the watch better too.
You might want to look at the Seiko SRP777.
The Samurais are one of the most interesting Seiko design. It just doesn't gets boring watching at its every edge and angles. It's very 'ancient' Japanese but has also a certain retro-future vibe. Don't worry if you can't afford 62MAS reissues. Unless you really need sapphire or 6R get a Samurai.
So stoked to see you review this!
Nick I enjoy your vids very much.I had a seiko back in college that i bumped on a metal desk soundly and it was off about 45 seconds for a while so being a poor college boy I thought well maybe if i soundly bump it again what the heck! And guess what Nick! It worked! the watch immediatley returned to original timekeeping at about 7-9 seconds per day! I guess the mystery is solved! Love Seiko forever!
Decent watch and fair review. Find them new on eBay for around $260 which is more in line what these are worth and makes them a good value for a mechanical. I actually prefer my PADI Turtle case on a Strapcode Jubilee or the Monster 2nd gen. But, man, Seiko IS the lume king!
Absolutely beautiful, but refuse to own more than one watch for the sake of my own sanity and wallet.
1bentley4ever Ive been going strong for a pretty long while without more than one watch. One knife however, now thats just insanity i wouldnt be able to keep up.
I am glad I am not the only one that has personal issues with owning multiple watches
When it comes to watches I generally go by the rule that if you're spending under $1000 it's perfectly ok to go gray market (Jomashop, eBay, Amazon...etc.), but over $1000 get it from an AD. I bought my Samurai for $292.
try getting a sport rolex from an ad sigh
I am wearing my Made in Japan SRPB49 on a bracelet right now. Keeping -0.5sec/day! All for under $300.
I have the all black one, with gold indecies. I love the damn thing, have had it since February. I have more accurate pieces but if that's what You're after, a cheaper Seiko probably isn't your best choice
Very excited for this! Thanks Nick
I just picked this samurai up..Only because it was a steal at 279USD..
Don’t get into watches
Enough said. Worse than having a Jeep. No jangle in my pocket since I started my collection LOL.
Tell me about it, just bought my 10th FFS
Reviews id like to see.
Longines hydroconquest
Certina ds action precidive diver
Victorinox inox
I just got mine in the mail the other day. I do like it, but immediately ordered a new bracelet from Strapcode. Also, the chapter ring is just slightly off, which messes with my OCD! LOL
Thank you for this video. Again and again, these reviews of big and heavyweight mechanical yester-century watches convince me that my choice of wristwatches is the best - those super-precise lightweights: relatively inexpensive radio-controlled "atomic" or GPS analog titanium watches.
Interesting! Any suggestions?
@@TheRevoR Casio Oceanus T200
Nick, can you check orient bambino small seconds?
If you want a nice 38mm Seiko, check out the SARB033. Not a dive watch, but I think you’d like it
Nick, I thought to have it say divers on it it had to have some antl magnetism?
That's true - ISO 6425 certified dive watches have some sort of antimagnetism protection. And this is 100% a certified dive watch.
Nice looking watch, to expensive for me! Great review.
Hey nick, have you gotten your hands on the seiko alpinist? It’s a smaller watch and now discontinued but I got my hands on one for a steal and it wears so nicely on small wrists! I could loan it out if you wish, I also got the kinda rare-ish seiko branded bracelet for it too
R. Huffman Hit him up on Instagram. He’s more likely to see it. Or you can DM him. Alpinist is a nice watch. It would suit his wrist size well.
The looks are cool, same with the Monster, but the more I look and think, the Shogun seems to be the Seiko diver that sings to me.
Great review. And i love your accent
How much better would this watch be if I put a sapphire crystal on it, and possibly a ceramic bezel? Hoping for a response
This watch is usually sells for 200USD here in my country. You get what you pay for. All your complaints about this watch is valid. But its like you're expecting a 1990 Toyota corolla to go 0-60 in 3secs. Of course this won't perform to those level of standards. Don't get me wrong I'm no Seiko fan boy, but you have to manage your expectations. Anyway, it was still a great vid. Cheers!
What country do live in? I'd cop this watch in a minute if I could find it for such a price.
these seikos with the thru bore often will not support other watch bands that don't use thick pins--and the pins that will fit into the new bands will not stay engaged with these thick holes. yes a solvable problem. often, bands with captured pins (quick change) may work because they won't fall into the large holes. seiko rubber straps are lint magnets and if you have cats, they will always be with you...
Casio AT4010-50E review when?
Cool 😎
Nice video
Compare to Tissot seastar 1000?
É impressão minha ou a coroa está mais para um lado do que outro ?
Still waiting for the Philippe Patek Grandmaster Chime review
I'm surprised Nick didn't mention the poorly aligned crown which plagues every Samurai I've seen, including this one.
Poorly aligned how? It didn't jump out at me.
The crown is not centered between the crown guards and is slightly offset towards the '4'.
Actually, after freeze-framing your video at 8:23, it looks okay so perhaps they fixed the issue. For the samples I've seen in stores (about a year ago) they were noticeably offset.
i have bought this exact model & you are wrong.. i wish i could show you how perfect all the alignment in my srpb53k1 including the crown & guards.. if you look at it on the angle that is in your wrist then it is not directly towards your face so your eyes deceiving you thinking it is little bit down close to the lower crown guard but it is not.. if you take it off & look it straight in you eyes or face then you can see that it is perfectly in the middle.. only fool thinks that it is misaligned if you keep on checking the alignment while wearing the watch.. if you really want to check it carefully then check it directly with your face & the face of the watch exactly infront of you then you'll see that it is exactly in the middle...
Mine is spot on.
Samurai is definitely a more appealing name than Potty Turtle is!
IDK who is selling this watch for $500. I got mine for $350 on amazon...
Just looked. found the same one on amazon for $298.
Just ordered 286.00 Amazon
Got mine for 12.99 on amazon.
as far as economical-ish mechanical watches go, has anyone heard anything about Hamilton watches?
justin I'm dying to get a khaki king. Great watches.
EDC with Aaron
Me too, but can't afford it. (Teenager in Europes poorest country)
Will this be your first mechanical piece? If so, I suggest you look at a sub $300 Seiko. Wear it for a year and every week save $10. At the end of the year, if you have not destroyed the watch and are still into the hobby buy a used piece like Hamilton, Oris or even Steinhart. Start saving $20 a week and welcome to club Justin.
So are you suggesting this is a good first mechanical watch???
The NH35 movement is solid. Usually within +10/-10 a day or less. Nobody pays retail, usually find this watch for less than 400.00, more like 350.00
You brought the wrong watch , check out the seiko spb053 next time. No silly name for this one just pure class.
Kind of a dumb comment to tell him he bought the wrong watch. 1. He didn't buy it. He clearly states he has it on loan. 2. If he bought it, the SRPB53 is 1/3 the cost of the SPB053, so you're comparing two completely different price points. 3. Your comment is subjective and highly opinionated. I happen to like the SRPB53 on a ss bracelet far more than the SPB053 on a ss.
Waffle dial texture ;)
You could talk about grass growing and it would be fair game frankly.Humour is cool.Just spent some pennies on a Seiko solar to retire on.Accuracy snob too? I don't get Seiko still using movements designed 40 years ago.? Great watches then but "then" moved on years back.Mechanical is a beautiful thing but .......Keep making us smile.Cheers.
The Samurai Pepsi is a great watch, but without sapphire, no thanks.
How long does the battery last for that watch? Can we change the battery?What about the glass?
It’s automatic
Oooh first comment
Do NOT get into watches
why did you say don't?.. wrist watch are great accessories than wearing jewelries.. jewelries can't tell time & time keeping wearables are important especially for business, sports & alll activities.. wrist watch has many purpose, to tell time & date, alarm, compass, split time, barometer, thermometer, heart rate, steps, gps, etc.. also serves as a jewelry..
@@ChefTom777 it is an inside joke with Nick.
Nick really wants all of us to get into watches
Just can’t stand the Pepsi colour scheme.
Sealgair srpb49. All blue 👍
It comes all blue as well
Once again another Seiko allergic to sapphire or ceramic bezel insert and sapphire crystal which makes it behind the Times and over priced
Why upgrade when ppl are still buying them! Money saved..
I recently bought a Ginault Ocean Rover. Sure, it’s double the price but I’d say it’s 5 times better if not more. Excellent glide lock bracelet, beautiful black enamel dial, massive applied indices filled with great lume, superb machining and finishing quality and a very well regulated movement. Mine gains 9 seconds per week. If you can afford to buy a $500 watch, odds are you can save up for a bit longer and get something that genuinely impresses you every time you look at it for $1,000 or perhaps a little bit more.
I stay away from Seiko for all the reasons you mentioned and a little bit more. Crappy bracelets, piss poor movement specs, no sapphire. Plus, once you compare the dials cases and bezels of a truly high quality watch to most seikos, the seikos just look like crap. If this watch were $180 or so, I’d think it was fairly priced. Charging much more than that just seems like a waste of money if you ask me. Nothing against anyone who owns and loves this watch, it just isn’t for me.
Kyle Stewart I’m pretty sure you never had a Seiko. Crappy finishes ? You either had a fake one, or none like my fist assumption.Your Ocean Rover is not twice the price, it’s 5 times the price any day. It is a great watch, but tragically born with no identity or personality. And that’s where the Seiko kills it, these are watches and it’s not about the spec list, if it was, a Citizen Eco-Drive with higher end movement and their DLC coatings basically piss on most luxury watches on specs and performance and durability. It’s simple as that, you like a Seiko you get a Seiko, you don’t, you get something else. They all accomplish the same job in the end for any normal human being.
Haha...'next thing' - your voice is annoying! Get a narrator PLEASE!
Seiko 5 times more expensive than a watch should be.