As Seiko has moved upmarket, everyone this past year has really started taking a grand dump on Seiko. If anything Seiko has been underpriced for a long time that everyone got used to it being awesome and inexpensive
I have this exact watch. This watch is so close to being a really nice watch. I think thats why it is a little disappointing. Its an upgrade from the latest 62 MAS sbdc 101-07 which i think has the most jingly bracelet i own. But the bracelet in this MM200, while nicer than the 62 mas is not nice enough for 1200 dollars. And the frustrating thing is that it is so close. All they needed to do was tighten up the tolerances a little and it would be one of the nicest bracelets out there. The bezel alignment is easily fixable also. But it is ridiculous that we as customers have to fix it. The design and finishing on this watch is awesome though. Probably my favorite besides the mm300 which is obviously nicer. The biggest issue though is the movements in these watches though. It doesn’t compete with the movement in other nice divers that are over 1000 dollars. I think seiko could fix some of those other issues in the near future but I just don’t see them coming up with a 4hz auto movement that is as nice as an ETA. For 1200 dollars that should be what you get. It won’t ever be what you get from seiko. Seiko is a huge company with tons of overhead and we as customers are paying alot right now for that name. My feeling now is that is seiko came out with some more dive watches in the price range of the mm300 with similar quality and the 8L35 I would be interested. I know now what I am getting when i give seiko a thousand dollars now and I am just not interested in that anymore. Not in this price range. The design of seiko cases will always make me want to buy one but I’m not interested in buying watches and having to mod them to get what I want. It was a different story when you could get a nice monster like the gen 3 for 550 bucks or the old mm200 for 700. I will just have to look at doxa, oris, sinn etc and pay a few hundred dollars more and get something that I feel is a better value. Thanks for the review Bruce! It was informative and honest as always. Happy New Year.
No, both the 4Rs and the 6R movements are soooooooo much more robust than the ETA movements. I've had plenty of both; problems with the stems of the ETA movements have been common while I've never had a problem with the Seiko movements. Many people talk about being gentle, or, never manually winding the ETA movements. I don't know if that's true, but, my experience indicates that there is something to it. Best part: the Seiko movements, almost, ALMOST always, can be regulated to be comparable to the ETA movements in terms of accuracy. Bear in mind that a Swiss watch at the quality of even the "entry" level Seikos would certainly cost much more.
@@varanid9 i would have to agree. I've had to send in my aquaracer and cward c60 trident pro for servicing due to winding issues. Both have a SW200 and I rarely wear both. On the other hand, my sbdc053 and 061 have no issues and I've owned them for longer period of time and wear them daily.
I agree 100%, the Seiko 6R movements are the weak link in an otherwise fine watch, that movement is just not worth being mounted in 1000 + dollar watches, hey Seiko bring down that 8L35 machine to a 1500+ dollar prospex line and you may get my money
Bezel is not ceramic - that's both true and false. According to Seiko, the bezel is stainless steel coated with "black titanium carbon." As a materials scientist I have good reason to believe that the coating is actually titanium carbide, which IS a ceramic (hence why it feels like ceramic :)). And here's the real shocker - titanium carbide is both harder and more scratch resistant than zirconium dioxide (aka cubic zirconia), the common ceramic bezel material. To me this is the perfect bezel design because you get the impact resistance of the underlying stainless steel but the wear resistance of a superior ceramic. I wish Seiko would do a better job marketing this innovation but being who they are I'm not surprised that they left out this detail in the press releases.
Yep. I prefer them over these hands. The only thing to make them even better would have been making them of brushed metal instead of silverpainted. But thats complaining on a high level!
Lol...This isn't going to be a "Bash Seiko" review...then Bruce goes on to slam Seiko relentlessly....and Seiko has earned this lashing. I hope they are paying attention.
No, they're not paying any attention. It's just us watch geeks grousing; we're just a minute fraction of their hundred thousand plus a day production lines.
Honest watch review is needed to protect new people in the hobby. If you know what you are doing you can make the call on your own if you should buy Seiko.
Great overview. I think it is a classic design that will look great in the future ten years from now. Not everyone likes the bulk of the mm300 and this could be someone’s grail watch with the milled clasp and sapphire crystal that you don’t get on the entry level divers. The price is high but like you said the value days of Seiko are over and we have to treat them like a brand in between classic value Seiko and Grand Seiko. If you really like a certain model and can live with the flaws, then spending more than you feel you should is understandable. The truth about bang for buck and diminishing returns holds true for the higher price brackets and established brands and history.
Thanks for the excellent review. I enjoy wearing my SBDC125 all stainless version. My biggest complaint is the lume is not as good as my SBDC065, yet the lume is better than my Captain Willard. At over a grand, the Willard and the SBDC125 and SBDC127 should be closer to Tuna territory. My guess is the MM300 is the final destination for Seiko fans.
Hi Jeff, I agree that the mm300 may be the final point. I have an original mm300 sbdx001 and although I can be though on the issues it has I only payed $1350 in mint condition 5 years ago and I have to say there isn't anything on the market today at that price that can match or beat it. Frustrating as Seiko seem to always miss the mark. And another point is the new sla models want far more $$$ than I payed just for a shapire crystal and a ceramic bezal.
Thanks for your honesty and detailed breakdown. I have owned several Seiko divers and am just drawn to them. I currently wear my vintage SHC043 200m divers with a sapphlex crystal and 7N36 quartz movement. I purchased the watch way back in 1985 and it has kept good time all these years .
Mark from Long Island watch said that prices went up because they have cut out much of the grey market dealers so the watches are now being sold at list price.
I don't understand your view, I mean if you want more detail buy an SLA or go to the LX line or even a GS diver. These are beautiful watches with excellent price! You can't buy a $1000 watch and expect 100%. Try a Swiss watch around $ 1000-2000 and you will see hell on earth in terms of quality finishing and movements. Seiko gives you all kind of watches depending on your budget. I have GS diver and an SKX and I enjoy both.
Thank you for your honest review! As an owner of the old MM200 I immediately noticed the "cheapened" applied markers with blob of inferior lume - something I knew from old SKX and other cheaper Seiko models. Regarding the arrow pointer hand on the old MM200 I actually like it. It grew on me and I appreciate it every time I look at my watch in the night (although if I would be given the choice I would go for the new style present on SPB187). BTW the lume on old MM200 really last till the morning which is something I will compare any other watch against when I will be choosing one. Because I would hate to lose this feature. And regarding the infamous Seiko bezel alignment, I was inspecting my Holy Grail SLA025 at local AD and guess what? It was a tad off too!
Great review Bruce! I purchased quite a few Seiko divers. But I've been loving the micro brands that are out. Don't think I'll be returning to Seiko anytime soon. Gotta love Zelos and Nodus
Zelos is killing it right now. I do not know if it is possible for them to be any better than they are right now. It seems like every watch they make is a success, every move they make seems to be the right one. And best of all they are not homage watches. every design appears to be its own watch.
Great video Bruce, I’ve given up with the latest Seiko divers, I had QC issues on my Tuna, Shogun and MM200, I ended up selling them all and now I only have a skx009 which can be forgiven for QC issues and offers great bang for your buck.....
Hi Bruce: Thank you for your honest frank review of this watch. The bracelet is very similar or the same one that is on the sbdc065 which I own. Recently I purchased three Seikos that I am absolutely over the moon with. I own the Blue Willard that I absolutely love and the accuracy has been spot on during the past week. Next I have the Blue Hole which I have to say is much better than the watch you reviewed in terms of fit and finish and it's accuracy like the Willard is spot on. Finally I am waiting for SBBN031 to come in. Before purchasing these three I haven't purchased a Seiko since the orange and ice Monster over a year ago. Do yourself a favor and get the new Willard and I am sure that will put a smile on your face. Again, thanks for your honest review. BTW, your alignment looks good to me.
From a fellow, Seiko fan boy, I fully agree on your comments and truly feel where you are coming from. I'm likewise waiting for the day they wake up and finally hear and listen to what the fans are saying.
I was forced to accept the flaws that Seiko provided. I remembered buying my first 007 the 'day' wasn't aligned so i have to send it back to the service center to claim the warranty. But the technician ended up leaving a deep scratch on the watch case so i have to resend it back for polishing. Even after polishing ,the watch has a obvious small dent and the watch 'day' became misaligned a few days later. But i couldn't bare sending it back to the service center again in the end i forced myself to accept the flaws.
Same, I bought an SPB143 w the mk1 dial. Super happy, think it’s beautiful and will be collectible. 5 days later realise the hour hand is misaligned. Asked the dealer to warranty fix it, sent to Seiko service center and stayed there for 2 months lol. Came back 2 days ago and the sapphire crystal, hour hand, caseback, crown, and clasp are scratched, this was a brand new watch. The dealer has been a complete gent and had offerred, further service, exchange, or refund 💀. I want to exchange but that mk1 dial is discontinued, so highly considering the SPB187 or just give up on Seiko and get a refund...
Badass watch..for the price...having a vast collection of seiko divers...im actually looking forward to buying one...it's the ultimate watch when you think about it elements of all there divers in one . From the skx to the mm300..and seiko lx...all in one! Awesome review, like always. Great content.
One thing to note is that It has always been possible to buy Seiko's at less than retail. So when discussing value I think this needs to be mentioned. I.e. I was able to buy the SBDC055 at $550 (with no alignment issue). In time this watch will also be discounted. Does this then become good value?
I'm with you, Bruce. I looked at a 151, 153, and 149 this past week at Morgan Jewelers in City Creek (super nice staff BTW, definitely recommend). Watches looked nice, love the designs and details, but *all* of them had misaligned bezels. Every one. I have money to spend and love the Willards in particular, but the QC is driving me away.
I have the 153 and 147, solid watches, got them both on a sale (30% off), thankfully the bezels align fine and the movement is solid (checked on the timegrapher), contemplating buying the 187 to complete the trioka, but the colour doesn't excite me as much..
Great review! I think a good honest review is needed especially since they are asking more for their watches. Some criticism we could overlook at lower price points but higher price points comes with higher scrutiny. I’m in the same boat with you, Bruce. I’ve been a big fan of Seiko, but after experiencing better quality watches, I can tolerate their issues. For $1k, we should be seeing ceramic bezel, better bracelet, and better clasp amongst the needed improvements in quality. Owning a sbdc065 and a SBDX017 Marinemaster, I think the SPB187 is out.
@@shipmate3577 I’ve never been a big fan of the Tuna. I have a MM300 and a GS Spring Drive Diver. I know what Seiko is capable of, but this doesn’t transcend into their lower tiers.
I prefer the 143 bracelet which is more rounded and folds much better, wondering if it would work with this watch which would make it my perfect sieko dive watch
Thanks for the review Bruce. I think i keep my "old" mm 200 because of the lume, working nichtshifts in the offshore for me thats the most important feature in a watch.
This is oxymoron quandary for any Seiko liking person. I have bought good Swiss beaters in the past to actually wear, never as toys to flip though. My first Seiko was gifted to me and was an actual late 67 made, 62 mas HI-beat, sadly pinched from my bag at the School pool in 81. This was then followed up with a Tag Heuer Pro 200 Quartz , well used but bits started falling off, then matching an Omega Sea-master Pro 200's Quartz in 96, still going and on their 7th cell. I've had a few more Swiss Auto beaters over the following two decades so i will say this Seiko have been a watch for all people to have on their wrist in the past with a certain allowed budget in mind. These days in 2020 Covid times you get pretty good bang for your buck, remembering with this model [ J ] is for mainland Japan assembly with externally sourced components [Asia] then in country testing & QA. One case in point on the SPB187J , the dial has pressed hour dots markers due to the case design being 13 mm. i have used the new 187/207 for "Suba" in the water and it goes well with the change out band supplied with the LE. Fella's it's a Seiko, Oils ain't Oils as the saying goes. You,ll never suffer from Tall Poppy Syndrome with a Seiko on your dial. Cheers, from Brisbane, Australia :)
interesting video Bruce. Its a tricky one. What some people forget when comparing Seiko to microbands is that Seiko designed and manufactured the entire piece. Microbrands are surely expected to preform better at the cosmetic level to offer buyers a value proposition. Especially when its often a seiko movement they are using. Also, has the growing online social watch media created far more demand from Seiko over the years. All the big channels often cite Seiko as their favorite watchmaker. This is bound to push up the demand and the prices over the years. Time to start bashing? lol
lol true. I think a micro has to offer more for the money. Its the main draw of stepping outside the beaten path for a new brand you don't know will be around in a couple years.
Hi Bruce a very good topic and a super good video. Seiko definitely has the problems with the quality. In my opinion there are too many new models in a short time. The prices are massively increased and the customers become more demanding. Even for Seiko, it's all happening too fast. If they don't get a grip on this, they will ruin their reputation.
Good review Bruce, I think we've all become accustomed to the Seiko foibles, it's nearly what makes a Seiko diver a Seiko, if you know what I mean. Keep the vids coming...
Something about this watch just draws me. Even though it's not ceramic, not tat accurate, not that detailed, and the bracelet is not amazing - there's still a feeling of a great overall watch. It looks amazing, it has warmth, it hugs the wrist perfectly, it plays with the light well, the movement is solid, etc. Longines have much better specs, but there's always something off with how the watch sits on the wrist. Oris - looks nice but kinda boring and safe (except for the plastic waste model). Maybe 800USD would sweeten the deal, but even for 1000USD i think it's a great option.
I actually don’t remember Seiko’s MSRP’s to be much different from what they are today. What was the MSRP on that $200 Monster or SKX ? I think towards $500. This is the difference I see these days, Seiko watches just don’t go that low under MSRP as a while ago. Maybe is just grey market and stocks control more than price increase ?
Thanks for your candid review, Bruce. Lousy lume is really disappointing. Don't quite get the painted on/applied marker thing, will have to go back and watch again.
Literally just received my Gen3 Sumo... WOW 😍 Love it. Moved up from my much loved Turtle (gifted to a friend) & the quality is another level. No misalignment issues (wouldn't bother me so much, I'm over 50 so eyes aren't that good) - yes I'd prefer a better quality bracelet & ceramic bezel inlay but both easy fixes and gives me chance to personalise it. Worth the asking price? Imho yes, finishing is better than my Hamilton X Wind automatic chronograph which retails for considerably more (tho that is a fantastic watch) Thanks for your advice (you probably can't remember, was couple of weeks ago) not to get a Steinhart "Steve McQueen" Explorer instead, you were right and your experience & knowledge really did help me make the right decision. Cheers mate 👍🏻👍🏻
In other video I have noticed that Seiko make like 60 000 pieces in 5 hrs. With such a huge production, even some pieces got misaligned bezel, it is still one of the most precise mass production anyway 😃🤞
The watch does not have a signed crown, which does not make sense from Seiko. The 6R35 movement is very good with 70 hours power reserve, but again why not 72 or even 80 hours and why not having ceramic bezel that is perfectly aligned.
Nice watch but I am not sure in what way it is better than my king turtle which costs half the price. The 6r35 is certainly not worth the price difference.
You talk smoothly and informative and give a clear opinion. What is lacking is clear video pictures of the critical issues you point out. Why dont you show us the weaker lume in a comparison shot to other Seiko divers? Why dont you zoom in on the misalignment of the bezel and inpurities of the dial with a macro lens? We mostly see your hands holding the watch, which is fine, but you could up your visual information. Or is the watch just not worth the effort, to dive in macro and put in hours of editing work?
I have several Seiko divers. My go to is my SLA059, I wear 3-4 days a week. And yes I agree that the quality of the mm200 is not on par with what they are charging. Some will say we are too used to the under priced Seiko model but if you are going to ask for more, than you should provide more, not “down size” as the rest of the world is doing.
Honestly I don't have a favorite. I like things about a number of divers. It comes down to personal subjectivity. My two favs at the moment are probably a used Aquis or a Doxa Sub1200
First look.. looks cheap. Right? Can't compare this to the MM300. What's your opinion on the latest Presage 'Sharp Edged' series? My opinion they're going for a Grand Seiko look, but with the 6R35 movement and a lack of quality finishing. Was surprised by the high price range.
I wouldn't buy it, it's not good enough for the price. In the UK it's about 1k new, and you can get the mm200 used for around £600, or the 051. Both those models are better in overall quality. I mean for 1k you can buy a used tag heuer aquaracer , or oris aquis or oris 65, and they are all better quality than this offering from seiko. And in that sense it's a no brainer. Flip this seiko in 6 months time , and you will be lucky to get half back on what you've paid. Buy any of the watches I've mentioned and you will probably be able to sell them for the price you've paid. I completely agree with you Bruce about seiko lately.
I fully agree with you and I ended up getting the Oris Aquis Date and couldn't be happier. I feel like I got my money's worth. Was going to get the Seiko but it's just not that great. Maybe for 600€.
Great review Bruce, so honest! I love Seiko case designs but the previous MM200 was the biggest meh moment in trying on every sub $1500 diver in the Seiko lineup. To me this new MM reduced is a BIG step fwd but the price is too high for what it is. I'll stick with the SUMO for best prospex diver for the $. If was them I would do a King Sumo with a better bracelet and ceramic bezel. That to me would be the best lower cost alternative to the MM300.
I just bought another sumo padi Pepsi 6r35 and the normal price in Australia is $1200 and I got it for half price on special I was very lucky now if you look for ceramic bezel and better bracelet they will easy increase the price and that wouldn’t be worth it as I would rather buy longines which is a luxury watch
Save even more money 💰 to get a Seiko with “less” warts-sorry I just lost that lovin feeling and am now Seikoless! My two favorite big divers are the Armida A1 and the Zoretto Jota (both are better and cost half as much as the Seiko)!
I really do like these new watches that Seiko are coming out with, but they are definitely making an attempt to move up market. I’ll see a watch I like on the Seiko Instagram and it will turn out to be over 1000 dollars or even more....
I think they're trying to do what the Swiss watchmakers did, because they think that the Chinese will do to them what they did to the Swiss back in the '70s. Remember that the Swiss "luxury" brands (whatever that means) aren't worth their prices, either.
It sounds like the pre-update MM200s brought improved fit and finish over this generation, with a less appealing handset. Not sure that tradeoff was worth it in the update.
Seiko, sigh. A company that ups the price, plays with fans with endless, tedious ltd editions and still can't fix its QC. Seiko really are the BMW of watches. Endless duds and endless fans. Still, thanks for the honest and sensible review. Just subbed as a consequence.
A milled clasp, but it still has that crappy diver's extension. Seriously, they could have easily put the MM300 ratcheting clasp on it. As for that lume, if it passes the ISO, great. If it glows all night so I can see the time, then it's all good. Granted, it's bit of a mixed bag, but not terrible.
It is what it is haha. Great review very indepth especially with the lume. I would like to own a high end seiko diver one day, such as Marinemaster 300. I think Seiko is best at the low end prices, the quality and finishing is superb and lovely, especially with the insane discounts! Keep it up Bruce. Would like to see your thoughts on the 6r35 willard compared to the Turtle.
For me quality control problems for any watch but particularly one greater than say $500 is not acceptable regardless of brand. But watches priced greater than $1k better have their s$&@ straight! I stopped buying Seiko because if they don’t care, then I’m moving on.
I like the watch visually but I think Seiko lost the game when the raised their prices that much without improving their products. A few years ago this wouldn't have been a great deal due to the lack of concurrent manufacturers but today there are LOTS of great micro brands that deliver much more for the money. You can get a better watch for half the price including sapphire crystal, solid bracelets and even sapphire or ceramic bezels. So I absolutely agree what you said in your review! It's still a great watch but compared to others nowadays it's not the watch you can recommend to everyone like Seikos years before.
Seiko still offering some bang for buck..just look at the king samurai and turtle ..your getting a decent amount if watch for the money there compared to the ..187
Find that the SPB 185 is an exceptional value. Disagree about the bracelet. Case design is top drawer. Movement tbd and needs adjustment. The metal bezel is outstanding. Wears like a Rolex (and I have one). Bought for about $850 US.
We all have our different things that we prefer in a watch. For me, I don't like the lower Seiko bph rate they use on some of their models (Omega also does this on some models). My first luxury watch was 28,800 bph and it just formed a reference point for me, I got so annoyed to see a slow ticking seconds hand. What else.....bracelet. Seiko has upgraded movements a bit, upgraded to saphire in many models, I believe it's time for a bracelet upgrade next. Make it happen.
Yeah I used to be a big Seiko fanboy like a decade ago. Now I just do find them very good for value. They seem to only care about profit rather than craftsmanship. I am not talking about GS, but Seiko did make affordable yet quality watches years ago. Japanese just do not give a shit to craftsmanship anymore. I can feel that cuz I am one of them.
I'm a big Seiko fan. I have 2 Skxs, 2 turtles, a monster and a samurai plus an older chronograph 100m. If this watch had the same fit and finish and QC of the Tag aquaracer I would purchase it hands down. Instead, for my first over 1k purchase, I decided to get the 43mm Tag heuer aquaracer in black. I dont mind a minor flaw on my 300.00 to 400.00 range seikos but not on one thats 1k. I'll enjoy my new Tag when it gets here.
It is disappointing to see the cost cutting Seiko is doing at this price point. This is why I have shifted to microbrands and even Chinese watches (for lower end builds). As much as I still love Seiko, I don't see myself buying their watches anymore.
The fact is that we are always disappointed by seiko this one was an absolute wish. I saw the 44 millimetre version on a prospect and it was immediately a love story but you need to pay 3k to get a good seiko. I do not think that quality ok seiko is going down, I think that the generation of watch enthusiasts who grew up with seiko has enough developed his taste to know that seiko has his limits. I do not know if the feeling is shared in the USA but it is my feeling from France (we are less open minded on non-Swiss watch than American people are I think) but the fact is when you look an skx, the quality is extremely bad, we were really happy with that before discovering omega etc ! (Excuse my English)
I’m glad I watched your review before I bought this watch, Bruce. What a disappointment. I’ve been seeing several of these Seiko divers at over a grand, and considering the competition out there, most of them just aren’t worth the money. I’d rather go for an Oris, Christopher Ward or a Zodiac.
Thanks for the video! I bought the green (Iriomote Island) version of this watch as my first seiko and first mechanical watch under the impression Seikos were value packed. I sold it a couple of days ago and opted for the Squale 30 Atmos GMT. Better movement with GMT, ceramic bezel for $500 less 👌
Lol, I don't agree at all. I am rocking the Pepsi MM200 Pepsi Padi, love the arrow hands! My SPB087 is so far superior than the new reduced. Better lume and my alignment on the dial and the bezel, 👌 💯. Worn on the Seiko bracelet or an Uncle Seiko Waffle or Tropic, so comfy.
I love Seiko divers. But i am happy with this brutally honest review
As Seiko has moved upmarket, everyone this past year has really started taking a grand dump on Seiko. If anything Seiko has been underpriced for a long time that everyone got used to it being awesome and inexpensive
Well said!
For 1400 dollars, which is what a MM200 goes for now, I do expect applied markers and proper alignment
stop crying bruce,
I have this exact watch. This watch is so close to being a really nice watch. I think thats why it is a little disappointing. Its an upgrade from the latest 62 MAS sbdc 101-07 which i think has the most jingly bracelet i own. But the bracelet in this MM200, while nicer than the 62 mas is not nice enough for 1200 dollars. And the frustrating thing is that it is so close. All they needed to do was tighten up the tolerances a little and it would be one of the nicest bracelets out there. The bezel alignment is easily fixable also. But it is ridiculous that we as customers have to fix it. The design and finishing on this watch is awesome though. Probably my favorite besides the mm300 which is obviously nicer. The biggest issue though is the movements in these watches though. It doesn’t compete with the movement in other nice divers that are over 1000 dollars. I think seiko could fix some of those other issues in the near future but I just don’t see them coming up with a 4hz auto movement that is as nice as an ETA. For 1200 dollars that should be what you get. It won’t ever be what you get from seiko. Seiko is a huge company with tons of overhead and we as customers are paying alot right now for that name. My feeling now is that is seiko came out with some more dive watches in the price range of the mm300 with similar quality and the 8L35 I would be interested. I know now what I am getting when i give seiko a thousand dollars now and I am just not interested in that anymore. Not in this price range. The design of seiko cases will always make me want to buy one but I’m not interested in buying watches and having to mod them to get what I want. It was a different story when you could get a nice monster like the gen 3 for 550 bucks or the old mm200 for 700. I will just have to look at doxa, oris, sinn etc and pay a few hundred dollars more and get something that I feel is a better value. Thanks for the review Bruce! It was informative and honest as always. Happy New Year.
Happy new year bro
No, both the 4Rs and the 6R movements are soooooooo much more robust than the ETA movements. I've had plenty of both; problems with the stems of the ETA movements have been common while I've never had a problem with the Seiko movements. Many people talk about being gentle, or, never manually winding the ETA movements. I don't know if that's true, but, my experience indicates that there is something to it. Best part: the Seiko movements, almost, ALMOST always, can be regulated to be comparable to the ETA movements in terms of accuracy. Bear in mind that a Swiss watch at the quality of even the "entry" level Seikos would certainly cost much more.
BTW, the bracelet on my SPB151 is easily the equal of any of my Swiss watches. Isn't this the same bracelet?
@@varanid9 i would have to agree. I've had to send in my aquaracer and cward c60 trident pro for servicing due to winding issues. Both have a SW200 and I rarely wear both. On the other hand, my sbdc053 and 061 have no issues and I've owned them for longer period of time and wear them daily.
I agree 100%, the Seiko 6R movements are the weak link in an otherwise fine watch, that movement is just not worth being mounted in 1000 + dollar watches, hey Seiko bring down that 8L35 machine to a 1500+ dollar prospex line and you may get my money
Bezel is not ceramic - that's both true and false. According to Seiko, the bezel is stainless steel coated with "black titanium carbon." As a materials scientist I have good reason to believe that the coating is actually titanium carbide, which IS a ceramic (hence why it feels like ceramic :)). And here's the real shocker - titanium carbide is both harder and more scratch resistant than zirconium dioxide (aka cubic zirconia), the common ceramic bezel material. To me this is the perfect bezel design because you get the impact resistance of the underlying stainless steel but the wear resistance of a superior ceramic. I wish Seiko would do a better job marketing this innovation but being who they are I'm not surprised that they left out this detail in the press releases.
Unpopular opinion... I really liked the old arrow hands on the MM200 😅 And love them on my Tuna. Find them so easy to read at a glance.
Yep. I prefer them over these hands. The only thing to make them even better would have been making them of brushed metal instead of silverpainted. But thats complaining on a high level!
Me too. If I'm gonna buy a Seiko diver, it would most likely have crazy looking hands
Lol...This isn't going to be a "Bash Seiko" review...then Bruce goes on to slam Seiko relentlessly....and Seiko has earned this lashing. I hope they are paying attention.
I loved it
No, they're not paying any attention. It's just us watch geeks grousing; we're just a minute fraction of their hundred thousand plus a day production lines.
No doubt, Seiko's lack of respect for their customers. They cant get a free ride on their name alone for very long.
Honest watch review is needed to protect new people in the hobby. If you know what you are doing you can make the call on your own if you should buy Seiko.
My Citizen Pro master series eco drive never had any issues mentioned in this review. And it cost less than USD 200.
Great overview. I think it is a classic design that will look great in the future ten years from now. Not everyone likes the bulk of the mm300 and this could be someone’s grail watch with the milled clasp and sapphire crystal that you don’t get on the entry level divers. The price is high but like you said the value days of Seiko are over and we have to treat them like a brand in between classic value Seiko and Grand Seiko. If you really like a certain model and can live with the flaws, then spending more than you feel you should is understandable. The truth about bang for buck and diminishing returns holds true for the higher price brackets and established brands and history.
Thanks for the excellent review. I enjoy wearing my SBDC125 all stainless version. My biggest complaint is the lume is not as good as my SBDC065, yet the lume is better than my Captain Willard. At over a grand, the Willard and the SBDC125 and SBDC127 should be closer to Tuna territory. My guess is the MM300 is the final destination for Seiko fans.
Only Seiko worth having these days is the TUNA. You have three options with the Tuna: quartz, automatic 28,800bph, or Spring Drive.
Hi Jeff, I agree that the mm300 may be the final point. I have an original mm300 sbdx001 and although I can be though on the issues it has I only payed $1350 in mint condition 5 years ago and I have to say there isn't anything on the market today at that price that can match or beat it. Frustrating as Seiko seem to always miss the mark. And another point is the new sla models want far more $$$ than I payed just for a shapire crystal and a ceramic bezal.
@@marcocastagnetti7086 I agree. Shame the new MM300 is close to 3K.
@@JeffreyMcMahon Yes indeed which just back's up Bruce's veiws on seiko charging far more for less.
All roads lead to the MM300!
Great review Bruce. I love the real pros and real cons in this non-gushing evaluation.
Thanks for your honesty and detailed breakdown. I have owned several Seiko divers and am just drawn to them. I currently wear my vintage SHC043 200m divers with a sapphlex crystal and 7N36 quartz movement. I purchased the watch way back in 1985 and it has kept good time all these years .
Bruce, what you need is a Spring Drive TUNA, either SBDB009 or SBDB013
Mark from Long Island watch said that prices went up because they have cut out much of the grey market dealers so the watches are now being sold at list price.
I don't understand your view, I mean if you want more detail buy an SLA or go to the LX line or even a GS diver. These are beautiful watches with excellent price! You can't buy a $1000 watch and expect 100%. Try a Swiss watch around $ 1000-2000 and you will see hell on earth in terms of quality finishing and movements. Seiko gives you all kind of watches depending on your budget. I have GS diver and an SKX and I enjoy both.
Thank you for your honest review! As an owner of the old MM200 I immediately noticed the "cheapened" applied markers with blob of inferior lume - something I knew from old SKX and other cheaper Seiko models. Regarding the arrow pointer hand on the old MM200 I actually like it. It grew on me and I appreciate it every time I look at my watch in the night (although if I would be given the choice I would go for the new style present on SPB187). BTW the lume on old MM200 really last till the morning which is something I will compare any other watch against when I will be choosing one. Because I would hate to lose this feature. And regarding the infamous Seiko bezel alignment, I was inspecting my Holy Grail SLA025 at local AD and guess what? It was a tad off too!
Great review Bruce! I purchased quite a few Seiko divers. But I've been loving the micro brands that are out. Don't think I'll be returning to Seiko anytime soon. Gotta love Zelos and Nodus
Zelos is killing it right now. I do not know if it is possible for them to be any better than they are right now. It seems like every watch they make is a success, every move they make seems to be the right one. And best of all they are not homage watches. every design appears to be its own watch.
Great video Bruce, I’ve given up with the latest Seiko divers, I had QC issues on my Tuna, Shogun and MM200, I ended up selling them all and now I only have a skx009 which can be forgiven for QC issues and offers great bang for your buck.....
Nice, honest review. No watch is perfect, and hearing about the few (minor) negatives is very helpful to inform a potential buyer. Thanks for that.
Thanks Bruce appreciate your videos and knowledge , Citizen seems to me the best value brand !
Christopher Ward is best value watch brand these days
why can't seiko reduce the size height of the mm300. size it 41/42 max height at 13mm sell it for 2500usd . would be a oris aquis killer.
Hi Bruce: Thank you for your honest frank review of this watch. The bracelet is very similar or the same one that is on the sbdc065 which I own. Recently I purchased three Seikos that I am absolutely over the moon with. I own the Blue Willard that I absolutely love and the accuracy has been spot on during the past week. Next I have the Blue Hole which I have to say is much better than the watch you reviewed in terms of fit and finish and it's accuracy like the Willard is spot on. Finally I am waiting for SBBN031 to come in. Before purchasing these three I haven't purchased a Seiko since the orange and ice Monster over a year ago. Do yourself a favor and get the new Willard and I am sure that will put a smile on your face. Again, thanks for your honest review. BTW, your alignment looks good to me.
From a fellow, Seiko fan boy, I fully agree on your comments and truly feel where you are coming from. I'm likewise waiting for the day they wake up and finally hear and listen to what the fans are saying.
I was forced to accept the flaws that Seiko provided. I remembered buying my first 007 the 'day' wasn't aligned so i have to send it back to the service center to claim the warranty. But the technician ended up leaving a deep scratch on the watch case so i have to resend it back for polishing. Even after polishing ,the watch has a obvious small dent and the watch 'day' became misaligned a few days later. But i couldn't bare sending it back to the service center again in the end i forced myself to accept the flaws.
Same, I bought an SPB143 w the mk1 dial. Super happy, think it’s beautiful and will be collectible. 5 days later realise the hour hand is misaligned. Asked the dealer to warranty fix it, sent to Seiko service center and stayed there for 2 months lol. Came back 2 days ago and the sapphire crystal, hour hand, caseback, crown, and clasp are scratched, this was a brand new watch. The dealer has been a complete gent and had offerred, further service, exchange, or refund 💀. I want to exchange but that mk1 dial is discontinued, so highly considering the SPB187 or just give up on Seiko and get a refund...
Badass watch..for the price...having a vast collection of seiko divers...im actually looking forward to buying one...it's the ultimate watch when you think about it elements of all there divers in one . From the skx to the mm300..and seiko lx...all in one! Awesome review, like always. Great content.
One thing to note is that It has always been possible to buy Seiko's at less than retail. So when discussing value I think this needs to be mentioned. I.e. I was able to buy the SBDC055 at $550 (with no alignment issue). In time this watch will also be discounted. Does this then become good value?
3 yrs later and you can find this new unworn with plastic still attached for $590.00. Just got one😊
I'm with you, Bruce. I looked at a 151, 153, and 149 this past week at Morgan Jewelers in City Creek (super nice staff BTW, definitely recommend). Watches looked nice, love the designs and details, but *all* of them had misaligned bezels. Every one. I have money to spend and love the Willards in particular, but the QC is driving me away.
I have the 153 and 147, solid watches, got them both on a sale (30% off), thankfully the bezels align fine and the movement is solid (checked on the timegrapher), contemplating buying the 187 to complete the trioka, but the colour doesn't excite me as much..
Great review! I think a good honest review is needed especially since they are asking more for their watches. Some criticism we could overlook at lower price points but higher price points comes with higher scrutiny. I’m in the same boat with you, Bruce. I’ve been a big fan of Seiko, but after experiencing better quality watches, I can tolerate their issues. For $1k, we should be seeing ceramic bezel, better bracelet, and better clasp amongst the needed improvements in quality. Owning a sbdc065 and a SBDX017 Marinemaster, I think the SPB187 is out.
Tuna is the real Seiko experience
@@shipmate3577 I’ve never been a big fan of the Tuna. I have a MM300 and a GS Spring Drive Diver. I know what Seiko is capable of, but this doesn’t transcend into their lower tiers.
I prefer the 143 bracelet which is more rounded and folds much better, wondering if it would work with this watch which would make it my perfect sieko dive watch
Thanks for the review Bruce. I think i keep my "old" mm 200 because of the lume, working nichtshifts in the offshore for me thats the most important feature in a watch.
This is oxymoron quandary for any Seiko liking person. I have bought good Swiss beaters in the past to actually wear, never as toys to flip though. My first Seiko was gifted to me and was an actual late 67 made, 62 mas HI-beat, sadly pinched from my bag at the School pool in 81. This was then followed up with a Tag Heuer Pro 200 Quartz , well used but bits started falling off, then matching an Omega Sea-master Pro 200's Quartz in 96, still going and on their 7th cell. I've had a few more Swiss Auto beaters over the following two decades so i will say this Seiko have been a watch for all people to have on their wrist in the past with a certain allowed budget in mind. These days in 2020 Covid times you get pretty good bang for your buck, remembering with this model [ J ] is for mainland Japan assembly with externally sourced components [Asia] then in country testing & QA. One case in point on the SPB187J , the dial has pressed hour dots markers due to the case design being 13 mm. i have used the new 187/207 for "Suba" in the water and it goes well with the change out band supplied with the LE. Fella's it's a Seiko, Oils ain't Oils as the saying goes. You,ll never suffer from Tall Poppy Syndrome with a Seiko on your dial. Cheers, from Brisbane, Australia :)
interesting video Bruce.
Its a tricky one. What some people forget when comparing Seiko to microbands is that Seiko designed and manufactured the entire piece. Microbrands are surely expected to preform better at the cosmetic level to offer buyers a value proposition. Especially when its often a seiko movement they are using.
Also, has the growing online social watch media created far more demand from Seiko over the years. All the big channels often cite Seiko as their favorite watchmaker. This is bound to push up the demand and the prices over the years. Time to start bashing? lol
lol true. I think a micro has to offer more for the money. Its the main draw of stepping outside the beaten path for a new brand you don't know will be around in a couple years.
Hi Bruce a very good topic and a super good video. Seiko definitely has the problems with the quality. In my opinion there are too many new models in a short time.
The prices are massively increased and the customers become more demanding. Even for Seiko, it's all happening too fast. If they don't get a grip on this, they will ruin their reputation.
How much would out let go of the MM300 for!?
Good review Bruce, I think we've all become accustomed to the Seiko foibles, it's nearly what makes a Seiko diver a Seiko, if you know what I mean. Keep the vids coming...
Its not a real seiko unless its got a few warts lol
Bruce, do you still have the coral blue sumo? Would you say this new MM200 is worth almost twice the price of the sumo?
Something about this watch just draws me. Even though it's not ceramic, not tat accurate, not that detailed, and the bracelet is not amazing - there's still a feeling of a great overall watch. It looks amazing, it has warmth, it hugs the wrist perfectly, it plays with the light well, the movement is solid, etc.
Longines have much better specs, but there's always something off with how the watch sits on the wrist.
Oris - looks nice but kinda boring and safe (except for the plastic waste model).
Maybe 800USD would sweeten the deal, but even for 1000USD i think it's a great option.
Did I miss something, what are the dimensions?
42 millimemes
42 mm case diameter, 12.5 mm thick, 48 mm lug-to-lug height.
Bruce can you do a review of the O&W divers? I'm really digging the look of them. I've seen a couple reviews but your camera detail work is on point.
I actually don’t remember Seiko’s MSRP’s to be much different from what they are today. What was the MSRP on that $200 Monster or SKX ? I think towards $500. This is the difference I see these days, Seiko watches just don’t go that low under MSRP as a while ago. Maybe is just grey market and stocks control more than price increase ?
I haven’t watched in a while, Did you sell your GMT Master?
For 1200 dollars what could you get as a better diver other than a seiko maybe zelos?
Thanks for your candid review, Bruce. Lousy lume is really disappointing. Don't quite get the painted on/applied marker thing, will have to go back and watch again.
Literally just received my Gen3 Sumo... WOW 😍 Love it. Moved up from my much loved Turtle (gifted to a friend) & the quality is another level. No misalignment issues (wouldn't bother me so much, I'm over 50 so eyes aren't that good) - yes I'd prefer a better quality bracelet & ceramic bezel inlay but both easy fixes and gives me chance to personalise it. Worth the asking price? Imho yes, finishing is better than my Hamilton X Wind automatic chronograph which retails for considerably more (tho that is a fantastic watch)
Thanks for your advice (you probably can't remember, was couple of weeks ago) not to get a Steinhart "Steve McQueen" Explorer instead, you were right and your experience & knowledge really did help me make the right decision.
Cheers mate 👍🏻👍🏻
Im saving up for a MM300 but I want to get a better Seiko movement now. Sumo and MM200 both have a 6R35. Which one will be better buy?
In other video I have noticed that Seiko make like 60 000 pieces in 5 hrs. With such a huge production, even some pieces got misaligned bezel, it is still one of the most precise mass production anyway 😃🤞
Have you given up listing the specs of the watch on video or am I going blind?
Thanks for the video.
The watch does not have a signed crown, which does not make sense from Seiko. The 6R35 movement is very good with 70 hours power reserve, but again why not 72 or even 80 hours and why not having ceramic bezel that is perfectly aligned.
Nice watch but I am not sure in what way it is better than my king turtle which costs half the price. The 6r35 is certainly not worth the price difference.
The good, the bad and the ugly? Ok, mr. Nick Shabazz, let’s go
You talk smoothly and informative and give a clear opinion. What is lacking is clear video pictures of the critical issues you point out. Why dont you show us the weaker lume in a comparison shot to other Seiko divers? Why dont you zoom in on the misalignment of the bezel and inpurities of the dial with a macro lens? We mostly see your hands holding the watch, which is fine, but you could up your visual information. Or is the watch just not worth the effort, to dive in macro and put in hours of editing work?
I have several Seiko divers. My go to is my SLA059, I wear 3-4 days a week. And yes I agree that the quality of the mm200 is not on par with what they are charging. Some will say we are too used to the under priced Seiko model but if you are going to ask for more, than you should provide more, not “down size” as the rest of the world is doing.
Why is this Marine Master 200 more expensive than the 3gen sumo if they have the same movement?
It's not all about the movement.
Veeeery nice watch Bruce !!!!
✌✌✌🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰
Thanks for this review mate
What diver would you recommend then with similar specs and price? Can’t be a micro brand. I think the CW Trident owns in that area.
Steinhart👌
Raymond Weil, Longines, Mido. The RW Freelancer in particular is a very nice watch, and they are under $1K new from GM sellers.
Honestly I don't have a favorite. I like things about a number of divers. It comes down to personal subjectivity. My two favs at the moment are probably a used Aquis or a Doxa Sub1200
Right on Bruce...wear what you like and embrace your inner, or perhaps outer, mis-alignment!
First look.. looks cheap. Right? Can't compare this to the MM300. What's your opinion on the latest Presage 'Sharp Edged' series? My opinion they're going for a Grand Seiko look, but with the 6R35 movement and a lack of quality finishing. Was surprised by the high price range.
I wouldn't buy it, it's not good enough for the price. In the UK it's about 1k new, and you can get the mm200 used for around £600, or the 051.
Both those models are better in overall quality. I mean for 1k you can buy a used tag heuer aquaracer , or oris aquis or oris 65, and they are all better quality than this offering from seiko. And in that sense it's a no brainer. Flip this seiko in 6 months time , and you will be lucky to get half back on what you've paid. Buy any of the watches I've mentioned and you will probably be able to sell them for the price you've paid. I completely agree with you Bruce about seiko lately.
I fully agree with you and I ended up getting the Oris Aquis Date and couldn't be happier. I feel like I got my money's worth. Was going to get the Seiko but it's just not that great. Maybe for 600€.
Great review Bruce, so honest! I love Seiko case designs but the previous MM200 was the biggest meh moment in trying on every sub $1500 diver in the Seiko lineup. To me this new MM reduced is a BIG step fwd but the price is too high for what it is. I'll stick with the SUMO for best prospex diver for the $. If was them I would do a King Sumo with a better bracelet and ceramic bezel. That to me would be the best lower cost alternative to the MM300.
I just bought another sumo padi Pepsi 6r35 and the normal price in Australia is $1200 and I got it for half price on special I was very lucky now if you look for ceramic bezel and better bracelet they will easy increase the price and that wouldn’t be worth it as I would rather buy longines which is a luxury watch
Fact is, the quality is not good enough for a +1000$ watch. But the design is so amazing that it's still hard to resist buying this.
Save even more money 💰 to get a Seiko with “less” warts-sorry I just lost that lovin feeling and am now Seikoless! My two favorite big divers are the Armida A1 and the Zoretto Jota (both are better and cost half as much as the Seiko)!
I love my blue Jota, good call
I really do like these new watches that Seiko are coming out with, but they are definitely making an attempt to move up market. I’ll see a watch I like on the Seiko Instagram and it will turn out to be over 1000 dollars or even more....
I think they're trying to do what the Swiss watchmakers did, because they think that the Chinese will do to them what they did to the Swiss back in the '70s. Remember that the Swiss "luxury" brands (whatever that means) aren't worth their prices, either.
@@varanid9 I bought a Longines HydroConquest and it's a beautiful watch for the price +$1000, defenetly worth the money
It sounds like the pre-update MM200s brought improved fit and finish over this generation, with a less appealing handset. Not sure that tradeoff was worth it in the update.
Darling do let us know when you have something interesting on the channel. Toodle pip.
Seiko, sigh. A company that ups the price, plays with fans with endless, tedious ltd editions and still can't fix its QC. Seiko really are the BMW of watches. Endless duds and endless fans. Still, thanks for the honest and sensible review. Just subbed as a consequence.
It is not ceramic?
Its not, but it looks like ceramic
Right on! Thank you!
A milled clasp, but it still has that crappy diver's extension. Seriously, they could have easily put the MM300 ratcheting clasp on it. As for that lume, if it passes the ISO, great. If it glows all night so I can see the time, then it's all good. Granted, it's bit of a mixed bag, but not terrible.
Telephone rings, it's Random Rob... "What are you wearing right now?"
Me: hangs up, calls the police.
It is what it is haha. Great review very indepth especially with the lume. I would like to own a high end seiko diver one day, such as Marinemaster 300. I think Seiko is best at the low end prices, the quality and finishing is superb and lovely, especially with the insane discounts! Keep it up Bruce. Would like to see your thoughts on the 6r35 willard compared to the Turtle.
For me quality control problems for any watch but particularly one greater than say $500 is not acceptable regardless of brand. But watches priced greater than $1k better have their s$&@ straight! I stopped buying Seiko because if they don’t care, then I’m moving on.
I like the watch visually but I think Seiko lost the game when the raised their prices that much without improving their products. A few years ago this wouldn't have been a great deal due to the lack of concurrent manufacturers but today there are LOTS of great micro brands that deliver much more for the money. You can get a better watch for half the price including sapphire crystal, solid bracelets and even sapphire or ceramic bezels. So I absolutely agree what you said in your review! It's still a great watch but compared to others nowadays it's not the watch you can recommend to everyone like Seikos years before.
Seiko still offering some bang for buck..just look at the king samurai and turtle ..your getting a decent amount if watch for the money there compared to the ..187
YES! Bring on the line up tripple Seikos! Do it.
Find that the SPB 185 is an exceptional value. Disagree about the bracelet. Case design is top drawer. Movement tbd and needs adjustment. The metal bezel is outstanding. Wears like a Rolex (and I have one). Bought for about $850 US.
We all have our different things that we prefer in a watch. For me, I don't like the lower Seiko bph rate they use on some of their models (Omega also does this on some models). My first luxury watch was 28,800 bph and it just formed a reference point for me, I got so annoyed to see a slow ticking seconds hand. What else.....bracelet. Seiko has upgraded movements a bit, upgraded to saphire in many models, I believe it's time for a bracelet upgrade next. Make it happen.
Yeah I used to be a big Seiko fanboy like a decade ago. Now I just do find them very good for value. They seem to only care about profit rather than craftsmanship. I am not talking about GS, but Seiko did make affordable yet quality watches years ago. Japanese just do not give a shit to craftsmanship anymore. I can feel that cuz I am one of them.
I'm a big Seiko fan. I have 2 Skxs, 2 turtles, a monster and a samurai plus an older chronograph 100m. If this watch had the same fit and finish and QC of the Tag aquaracer I would purchase it hands down. Instead, for my first over 1k purchase, I decided to get the 43mm Tag heuer aquaracer in black. I dont mind a minor flaw on my 300.00 to 400.00 range seikos but not on one thats 1k. I'll enjoy my new Tag when it gets here.
Love my SPB077!!
Seiko for ever 😍🤗
SBDC061 FTW. I like the Arrows!
When I buy a Seiko diver, I try to buy from a Japanese dealer, because they tend to inspect their stock for misalignment, and other issues.
I really wish someone would make a Seiko MM homage that doesn't suck, and care more about quality control unlike Seiko.
waiting for the new SPB207 :)
It is disappointing to see the cost cutting Seiko is doing at this price point. This is why I have shifted to microbrands and even Chinese watches (for lower end builds). As much as I still love Seiko, I don't see myself buying their watches anymore.
The fact is that we are always disappointed by seiko this one was an absolute wish. I saw the 44 millimetre version on a prospect and it was immediately a love story but you need to pay 3k to get a good seiko. I do not think that quality ok seiko is going down, I think that the generation of watch enthusiasts who grew up with seiko has enough developed his taste to know that seiko has his limits. I do not know if the feeling is shared in the USA but it is my feeling from France (we are less open minded on non-Swiss watch than American people are I think) but the fact is when you look an skx, the quality is extremely bad, we were really happy with that before discovering omega etc ! (Excuse my English)
amazing watch.
I’m glad I watched your review before I bought this watch, Bruce. What a disappointment. I’ve been seeing several of these Seiko divers at over a grand, and considering the competition out there, most of them just aren’t worth the money. I’d rather go for an Oris, Christopher Ward or a Zodiac.
I prefer the and 051 and 061 over this any day. Fraction of the price and better styled (except for the hands)
1000.00 is the new 200.00.
Not too hard to spend a grand on a g shock these days either.
Thanks for the video! I bought the green (Iriomote Island) version of this watch as my first seiko and first mechanical watch under the impression Seikos were value packed. I sold it a couple of days ago and opted for the Squale 30 Atmos GMT. Better movement with GMT, ceramic bezel for $500 less 👌
0:01 you stole this from a movie title!!
When he said " i was spendin g shok money and got a real diver watch "
Seems like a good beater
Just saw this right after watching your last live stream. Lol
Spending over 300 at this point on a seiko diver is a no go. The risk of getting a misaligned bezel is annoying and they need to do better.
Seiko , good finishing , the rest ehhhh same ol same ol .
Lol, I don't agree at all. I am rocking the Pepsi MM200 Pepsi Padi, love the arrow hands! My SPB087 is so far superior than the new reduced. Better lume and my alignment on the dial and the bezel, 👌 💯. Worn on the Seiko bracelet or an Uncle Seiko Waffle or Tropic, so comfy.
Can get the. MM300 which is a better watch ⌚
Great video