Being a non traveller, the convenience of a quick set date that comes with caller gmts is much preferred than the jump hour hand date setting that traveller gmts provide. Since i rotate through a "few" watches and let the ones im not using wind down, it is always a pain to set the date on a travellers gmt watch or any watch that has jump hour hands instead of quickset dates. To each their own i guess. You can still use a caller gmt for travel. Just think of the hour hand as your home time and use the gmt hand as your local time.
Being a traveler, I really would love to buy this watch but I can't do it with the Caller GMT function. I've tried to convince myself that a jumping GMT hand isn't a big deal and I can use GMT hand for local time, but I just don't think it would work for me traveling through time zone so frequently. They just need to make two versions of the watch, caller and traveler GMTs! 🙂
@@cloudzrest it's easy enough to pull the crown to position 1 and spin the gmt hand to whatever local time it is at your destination. Just needs getting used to of course, if youre used to the travellers gmt version
Managed to try it on. The case and lug design is super comfortable. My only gripe is that the sunburst effect looked cheap and would likely go for the black one
I own the SPB383 and the case work is amazing. It reminds me of my old MM300, but thinner and shorter lug2lug. The bracelet is decent and the clasp is functional, and I want something like on the new Breitling Superocean or the Omegas, but at 1/3 the price I can't complain too much; it keeps the watch on my wrist and comfortably. I didn't think I would apprecriate the power reserve, but it's a game changer. The movement winds nicely and doesn't sound as cheap as my Monster's 4R movement. Overall, I think this is a great watch.
@@Leftystrat My anedoctal experience is that it is in line with what you'd expect at this price point: adequate. The power reserve (on a GMT movement) is what really stands out for me.
It’s a badass watch Homie. I’m no diver and don’t plan on diving but I do like to swim so that’s the closest I’ll ever use it to it’s secondary purpose.😂
Good to see James perspective on this one. It’s a solid offer, a true gmt movement would have been nice, nevertheless its finish is great and its a great travel watch which can take a beating. Great review, cheers guys.
The spb 385 is the best looking one in my opinion and the beautiful dial and the bezel is out of this world. It’s completely different in daylight and low light and cannot be explained unless you try it upfront.
Love this release, the case looks amazing. Always been a fan of the Marine Master style cases, and this one looks perfect at 42mm. The 72hr power reserve is a big bonus too - gonna need to get one of these….
Yes. What a beautiful watch, but for that money we need to see a ratcheting clasp. I’m a true Seiko nerd, but the bracelet is what I’d expect to see on a $450 watch. I’m tired of having to swap them out with something that should’ve come right from the factory.
@@Apex_Apeq My Steinhart Titanium GMT was $700 and has a Ceramic bezel, 500M WR, date function, decorated Sellita movement and a screw link bracelet with a milled clasp. Zero excuses.
Nice! If its too expensive - for $800 you can get the Seiko Prospex GMT green sumo diver SBPK001, looks almost identical, solar quartz and is "true GMT".
Just got mine yesterday, resized it put it on, all I can say is NiCE, but I need magnifying glass to read the GMT markings. My Seiko 5 GMT though not as blinky as this one, the GMT time can be clearly read.
Love this watch, I was in Japan traveling a few weeks ago and ended up picking up the black version. I was surprised that, at least for me it looked better on wrist than the green. Finishing is really good for the price, everything lines up and the bracelet is comfortable. Only gripe I have is mine is running 10-12 sec a day fast, which is well within spec but not great for this price point. Hopefully it will get a little better as it breaks in and I get the right resting position off wrist.
The weight would be no issue for me. I have heard the lume isn't what we are accustomed to seeing from Seiko so I am hesitant. But I love the combination of a dive bezel with the GMT.
Great watch, I'm not sure how that date window at the 4 wedged between 2 pips sits with me yet...and a lot of realestate taken with the writing at the 6.
I was more worried about the Prospex X being at the 12 position than anything else but I think it looks fine. For such a busy dial they've done a great job of keeping it low key. For instance... the 3 lines of text at the 6 position doesn't look busy at all. Let me explain. The gold lettering for GMT sinks into the dial rather neatly & of course sits well alongside the cool looking GMT hand.
Beautiful piece, like the change to ceramic. A little redundant for my collection. I have the Save the Ocean samurai which really checks all the blocks for me. Not a huge fan of GMTs, when I travel prefer digital if tracking multiple time zones. $1500 a little steep imo but all considering probably a fair amount if not a little marked up.
Great looker but with Swatch group providing traveller GMTs around $1K and a host of microbrands with the Miyota 9075 traveller movement hitting or about to hit the market at even less I think this one is too expensive.
Excellent review and diver. Seiko's price is starting to push it though. It would have also been nice to get more detail on the accuracy of the movement.
at that price point you can basically consider anything below 3-4 grand, because if you're gonna spend 1500 bucks on a seiko you might as well spend 3500 bucks on a tudor black bay or around 2 grand for dozens of other smaller brands that offer more indivuality, at least in terms of looks. A Seiko diver shouldnt be 1500. Unless it's GS quality it should always be sub 1K.
I cant fault the look, they look nice. BUT personally at this price point, I am disappointed at their bracelet and clasp. They just not high quality, you can even compare them to their under $500 watches. Also for the movement, yes they bump up the power reserve but at the cost of lower beat movement. And at $1500 it will be nice if they can include the true gmt. Even Citizens will be coming up with a real nice true gmt under 2k. Hopefully Seiko will bump up their game now. They are no longer the value they used to be, keep increasing their price BUT dont actually give us quality value in return.
Ok so I've been researching this watch like crazy for a week and at the end I've decided to not pull the trigger.. Seeing what micro brands are doing with their bracelets and clasp at half the price, its a shame seiko is still living in old age.. What is the point of great finish when u end up switching the bracelet.. There are numerous complaints of this bracelet online and u can live with it for 700 but definitely not at 1500.. Additionally the crown is not signed as if it is some ali express watch
Great watch, but the accuracy is s*** Have a captain Willard limited edition with the non Grand Seiko movement. The accuracy is just about acceptable But should last a long time because the movement is very reliable
I think is too expensive for a Office GMT if you compare it with a true GMT like the Mido ocean family. The watch is nice but too expensive for the movement inside.
Just curious on the pronunciation of "Prospex". I understood that it refers to "Professional Specifications" so wouldn't it be pronounced "Pro-Specs". I hear it pronounced differently in a variety of reviews...
3 years ago, I bout a Presage chronograph for $1300. Now, Seiko wants to sell you specs you can get from most boutique makers for 300-400 for a whopping $1500..cermic bezel? Islander does it for $300. Hi beat movement? nope. GMT? many do it for $500 with ceramic. Anything else of interest? Nope. So $1500 for what?
Suggestion: please stop wearing the watches you showcase over your wrist joint. I’m sure you know they belong above the wrist. I guess it’s you preference and maybe it’s acceptable now, but it looks ignorant for experts like Hodinkee. And, frankly, it takes away from the watches.
I was wondering how long it would take for James Stacey to shoehorn in an SPB143 - less than a minute! Love the content as always from Mr Stacey.
I have the SPB185. Same case, time and date only, steel bezel. The case work on this platform is incredible.
i had that one, sold it and regretted it lol
Which one do you prefer the SPB185 or SPB381? Im planning to buy a new one and im not sure which to buy between these two. Thank you!
@@nicoortigoza3208 185. I think the design and colors are more classic.
Being a non traveller, the convenience of a quick set date that comes with caller gmts is much preferred than the jump hour hand date setting that traveller gmts provide. Since i rotate through a "few" watches and let the ones im not using wind down, it is always a pain to set the date on a travellers gmt watch or any watch that has jump hour hands instead of quickset dates. To each their own i guess.
You can still use a caller gmt for travel. Just think of the hour hand as your home time and use the gmt hand as your local time.
100%
Being a traveler, I really would love to buy this watch but I can't do it with the Caller GMT function. I've tried to convince myself that a jumping GMT hand isn't a big deal and I can use GMT hand for local time, but I just don't think it would work for me traveling through time zone so frequently. They just need to make two versions of the watch, caller and traveler GMTs! 🙂
@@cloudzrest it's easy enough to pull the crown to position 1 and spin the gmt hand to whatever local time it is at your destination. Just needs getting used to of course, if youre used to the travellers gmt version
Managed to try it on. The case and lug design is super comfortable. My only gripe is that the sunburst effect looked cheap and would likely go for the black one
I own the SPB383 and the case work is amazing. It reminds me of my old MM300, but thinner and shorter lug2lug. The bracelet is decent and the clasp is functional, and I want something like on the new Breitling Superocean or the Omegas, but at 1/3 the price I can't complain too much; it keeps the watch on my wrist and comfortably. I didn't think I would apprecriate the power reserve, but it's a game changer. The movement winds nicely and doesn't sound as cheap as my Monster's 4R movement. Overall, I think this is a great watch.
One can also use the GMT hand to travel actually, if you're used to reading 24hr dial
Just bought it in Black (SPB 383) love it 🔥
Love the bezel on these. One of Seiko's better releases lately
These really are a remake of the SPB077 line.. a watch nobody talks about.
Preordered my SPB383 and had it for a few weeks. Great piece!
I have a black one.
I bought this watch and I am loving it. Really well finished, solid and absolutely gorgeous.
Accurate?
Same! Got the Save The World version and I'm loving it
@@Leftystrat My anedoctal experience is that it is in line with what you'd expect at this price point: adequate. The power reserve (on a GMT movement) is what really stands out for me.
@@DS42296 Lucky man! When I bought mine at the flagship in Tokyo the day after the launch, the Save the World version was already sold out!
How about the bracelet? People says it feels cheap.
I am imagining to buy the black and green just so I can put the green bezel on the black dial one. A Seiko MM200 GMT "Starbucks".😌
Great video and insights on the watch. James always does a great job. Thanks.
It’s a badass watch Homie. I’m no diver and don’t plan on diving but I do like to swim so that’s the closest I’ll ever use it to it’s secondary purpose.😂
Good to see James perspective on this one. It’s a solid offer, a true gmt movement would have been nice, nevertheless its finish is great and its a great travel watch which can take a beating. Great review, cheers guys.
The spb 385 is the best looking one in my opinion and the beautiful dial and the bezel is out of this world. It’s completely different in daylight and low light and cannot be explained unless you try it upfront.
Come on Seiko sign the crown !
Why? Why? Why?
@@NCSheriff7 🤣
I tried this on today and the clasp is a major turn off. The green sunburst dial is a bit lacking in the metal.
Love this release, the case looks amazing. Always been a fan of the Marine Master style cases, and this one looks perfect at 42mm. The 72hr power reserve is a big bonus too - gonna need to get one of these….
At $1500, Seiko desperately need to step up their bracelet game!!!
Yeah, this is kind of overpriced.
Yes. What a beautiful watch, but for that money we need to see a ratcheting clasp. I’m a true Seiko nerd, but the bracelet is what I’d expect to see on a $450 watch. I’m tired of having to swap them out with something that should’ve come right from the factory.
It is a diver watch with gmt function & solid build. What else do u want?
@@Apex_Apeq My Steinhart Titanium GMT was $700 and has a Ceramic bezel, 500M WR, date function, decorated Sellita movement and a screw link bracelet with a milled clasp. Zero excuses.
@@RMA_432_ I have the same watch but the Seiko is better looking.
Love the GMT function. I might have to get one of these.
Great vid. Was looking forward to a review of this one by Hodinkee. Looking forward to getting one
Great stuff as always James!
The bezel color seems slightly different from the dial. See the seaweed Omega or SeaQ deep green for proper color matching (at least on TH-cam videos)
Nice! If its too expensive - for $800 you can get the Seiko Prospex GMT green sumo diver SBPK001, looks almost identical, solar quartz and is "true GMT".
Not difficult to do with a QUARTZ.
Just got mine yesterday, resized it put it on, all I can say is NiCE, but I need magnifying glass to read the GMT markings. My Seiko 5 GMT though not as blinky as this one, the GMT time can be clearly read.
thank you for the review
Love this watch, I was in Japan traveling a few weeks ago and ended up picking up the black version. I was surprised that, at least for me it looked better on wrist than the green. Finishing is really good for the price, everything lines up and the bracelet is comfortable. Only gripe I have is mine is running 10-12 sec a day fast, which is well within spec but not great for this price point. Hopefully it will get a little better as it breaks in and I get the right resting position off wrist.
Nice! Might I ask what it set you back? I have no idea what it retails for in Japan and I'm going there soon.
Seiko 6R35 has a bad accuracy
Ah, yeah! I love when James Stacey does a video watch review....
The weight would be no issue for me. I have heard the lume isn't what we are accustomed to seeing from Seiko so I am hesitant. But I love the combination of a dive bezel with the GMT.
Great video thanks!!
Great watch, I'm not sure how that date window at the 4 wedged between 2 pips sits with me yet...and a lot of realestate taken with the writing at the 6.
I was more worried about the Prospex X being at the 12 position than anything else but I think it looks fine. For such a busy dial they've done a great job of keeping it low key. For instance... the 3 lines of text at the 6 position doesn't look busy at all. Let me explain. The gold lettering for GMT sinks into the dial rather neatly & of course sits well alongside the cool looking GMT hand.
Just some food for thought James but have you considered doing a ‘Week on the Wrist’ video for a Grand Seiko diver or are they not for you?
Beautiful piece, like the change to ceramic. A little redundant for my collection. I have the Save the Ocean samurai which really checks all the blocks for me. Not a huge fan of GMTs, when I travel prefer digital if tracking multiple time zones. $1500 a little steep imo but all considering probably a fair amount if not a little marked up.
Any feedback on its timekeeping accuracy? My experience says £300 Citizen automatics lose less or no time compared to £600 Seiko automatics.
Im still in the middle of choosing the spb381 and steel master. I need your help guys. Thanks!
So Seiko can make a ceramic bezel insert after all.
Great looker but with Swatch group providing traveller GMTs around $1K and a host of microbrands with the Miyota 9075 traveller movement hitting or about to hit the market at even less I think this one is too expensive.
Looks great
The only person on the H team that should be reviewing tool watches is James #TheGreyNato 🔥
Would be nice to offer a 24-hour GMT bezel as an option.
I am quite sure there will be no cost, accuracy or bezel allignment comments/complaints.
Hello. I live in Turkey and I bought it from a store here for 1350 USD. Do you think I should buy it? How is the material quality and timekeeping?
Excellent review and diver. Seiko's price is starting to push it though. It would have also been nice to get more detail on the accuracy of the movement.
Very handsome dial but the date between 4 and 5 is criminal. Seiko keeps insisting on not putting dates on 3, which is fine as long as it's at 4 IMO
James Stacey the Hodinkee Seiko Guy!
Is that Prospex X logo... smudged??
At this price points, someone can consider Ocean Star GMT by Mido
Then get a Mido. Some people want a Seiko
at that price point you can basically consider anything below 3-4 grand, because if you're gonna spend 1500 bucks on a seiko you might as well spend 3500 bucks on a tudor black bay or around 2 grand for dozens of other smaller brands that offer more indivuality, at least in terms of looks. A Seiko diver shouldnt be 1500. Unless it's GS quality it should always be sub 1K.
Just wish this watch had a black bezel. It would look so much better.
Would u consider this to be a better buy at $1300?? I've a local AD who is willing to give me this offer but till Dec 31
I cant fault the look, they look nice. BUT personally at this price point, I am disappointed at their bracelet and clasp. They just not high quality, you can even compare them to their under $500 watches. Also for the movement, yes they bump up the power reserve but at the cost of lower beat movement. And at $1500 it will be nice if they can include the true gmt. Even Citizens will be coming up with a real nice true gmt under 2k. Hopefully Seiko will bump up their game now. They are no longer the value they used to be, keep increasing their price BUT dont actually give us quality value in return.
I tried it on and I didn't like the clasp.
Or over 2K here in Canada.
to answer James' question 2 years ago: more money is indeed more better
HELP! What is the model number of the Seiko at :55 seconds, the all steel one, third from the left. TIA
Looks like an SRP637 (Monster).
Strange why Seiko compromised on the lume for this model.
Hi! is it just me or the GMT is jumping two paces?
Video needs more burger eating 🍔
Mmmmm
That’s the other guy whom does that, the cool guy
Or pizza!!
@@talarnaadams4010you mean the only guy at hodinkee with a personality?
I realy confuse which better Mido ocean star GMT or this Seiko..
I prefer Mido 2 times 😂
Definitely sounds like he’s being held hostage….. really sold this one…
Seiko should develop a better movement for the upper mid tier range. The erratic 6R shouldn’t be in any watch pushing the thousand dollar mark. Pass.
Incrementally closer... wait 5 years (wear a JDM Casio until then).
Hi,is dial glossy or matte?
Sunburst
I own this. All good, but the GMT scale is extremely small and difficult to read, for my eyes at least.
I'll wait for san martin's version of this, for 1200 less
Does anyone know what reference the watch second to the right is at 0:56?
Looks like an SRP637 (Monster).
For this kind of price, the bracelet is criminal. Pin and collar instead of screw pins and no on-the-fly microadjustment.
Ok so I've been researching this watch like crazy for a week and at the end I've decided to not pull the trigger.. Seeing what micro brands are doing with their bracelets and clasp at half the price, its a shame seiko is still living in old age.. What is the point of great finish when u end up switching the bracelet.. There are numerous complaints of this bracelet online and u can live with it for 700 but definitely not at 1500.. Additionally the crown is not signed as if it is some ali express watch
I saw the black yesterday. It's very watch, except one thing. The clasp looks cheap. What about accuracy?
what is the point of dial outer edge numbers, which goes '... 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23'?
Huge - BIG FAT - L I K E!
Great watch, but the accuracy is s***
Have a captain Willard limited edition with the non Grand Seiko movement. The accuracy is just about acceptable
But should last a long time because the movement is very reliable
I think is too expensive for a Office GMT if you compare it with a true GMT like the Mido ocean family. The watch is nice but too expensive for the movement inside.
Just curious on the pronunciation of "Prospex". I understood that it refers to "Professional Specifications" so wouldn't it be pronounced "Pro-Specs". I hear it pronounced differently in a variety of reviews...
Got one with a misaligned bezel. Bummer.
Mido Ocean Star GMT will rival this too.
Lug to lug 48,1 so not really big for small wrist
3 years ago, I bout a Presage chronograph for $1300. Now, Seiko wants to sell you specs you can get from most boutique makers for 300-400 for a whopping $1500..cermic bezel? Islander does it for $300. Hi beat movement? nope. GMT? many do it for $500 with ceramic. Anything else of interest? Nope. So $1500 for what?
It’s actually 44mm and 14.3 thick
This needed to be 40mm. 😢
It's always weird to hear "Prah-spex" and not "Proh-spex". Like it's Prospex, for Professional Specifications, right?
Funny. A wrist clock for more than € 1100 with a 2 year guarantee ? What are we reviewing here ?
looks more bezel than dial - not a fan
seip sea
some old thing lah!
nothing new
just get 1 seiko divers you like + end the seiko journey
thats an expensive seiko. i dont see the justification of expense vs the Seiko 5 sports GMT
Why the hell would they choose Arial as a font?
What a disappointment.Seiko has a proper travelers GMT movement, and they failed to install it into this watch. Absolute miss.
Its gonna be too expensive if its a true gmt.
@@picanha694 Take my money!!!
I think some/most people would be about it.
Too expensive. The movement used is mediocre.
Definitely a fake Seiko, the chapter ring is not misaligned
Suggestion: please stop wearing the watches you showcase over your wrist joint. I’m sure you know they belong above the wrist. I guess it’s you preference and maybe it’s acceptable now, but it looks ignorant for experts like Hodinkee. And, frankly, it takes away from the watches.
These commercials getting cringier by the day
A gmt dive watch for men who neither swim nor travel.
😂
Imagine paying 1600$ for a watch that averages -20/+30secs a day... seiko are just creating a market for Hamilton and longines
Bad Accuracy
Wrong bezel though, if it was a24 hour bezel then very cool. I hate schizophrenic watches
Prospex is short for Professional Specifications, so surely the correct pronunciation is Pro-Specs, not Pros-specs?
Everybody please meet the poor man’s Hulk 😂😂😂
Without shoulders protecting the crown it’s doomed.
Bezel isn’t aligned
And for a gmt it should have a 24 hour scale on the bezel.
Way overpriced with odd features that don’t line up.
I love this but the price puts me off, especially as I have the blueberry and grape. I could probably go for it if the hour hand jumped independently…