Why is the 62MAS so appealing?
Let us first clear the issue of appeal. The 62MAS may be appealing to me but not to others. Also the watch appearing on these photos is a 37mm San Martin SN007-G-X which is not an original 6217 62MAS. These can fetch now a price of +6KUS$ and I'm not going to spend this kind of money just to prove a point.
No matter what's your opinion about the 62MAS, Seiko know that it has a lot of appeal to a lot of customers. There were attempts in the past to revive the 62MAS with the SLA017 and SPB143 being the latest and they diverged into a whole range of successful 62MAS look alike under the Prospex umbrella. But why is that so?
Is it because the original 62MAS was Seiko's first dive watch and therefore has an important and iconic place in the brand history? Well...not really. The 62MAS was perhaps Seiko's first successful diver but not the first. This place is held by the 50m WR J12082 SilverWave that was launched in 1961. It was only 4 years later that The 62MAS itself made an appearance in 1965.
The appeal is also not caused by any innovation in the shape of the case or its design. There are no complex angles and facets and even the lugs are simply square cuts with no attempt made to round them. The whole design looks a bit rough to be honest.
And since rotating bezels to time dives were already quite common, it's not like there was some kind of revolution or disruption in the force that was spawned by the 62MAS launch. With its design, modest size, and 150m of WR the 62MAS was more of a follower rather than a leader in the diver's segment.
Looking at the historic advertisements, the 62MAS was not really targeted at the upper tier of the market. Taking into account the exchange rates and inflation I think that it was priced more like a current 400-500 US$ watch rather than the +1KUS$ RP that is asked now for the SPB. The 62MAS was, in my opinion, a simple watch sold to the cost conscious recreational diver. By all objective metrics, the 62MAS is not a collectable piece of vintage haute horology. So why the appeal then?
My own opinion (which you may freely dismiss) is that the appeal is because the 62MAS was a honest watch sold to real average people. It's appealing because everything there says "look at me, I'm just an average joe trying to do my best" and in the case of Seiko and the 62MAS, trying to do your best was exactly what was needed.
It's also the reason why I like my San Martin SN007-G-X so much. For me it's like they looked at the SPB143 and instead of copying it they went back to the original 62MAS and simply made it better at a price that is affordable to everyone who likes watches and wished that he had a 62MAS.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
It’s just a well proportioned, nice looking, reliable and functional tool watch. What’s not to like?
Every time I ask why the hell these watches cost so much people say it’s Grand Seiko finishing. My question is, I’m such a simple case, how great can the finishing really be? Brushing only gets so nice. There aren’t any bevels or crazy polished surfaces. So where is this “finishing” located?
I’m not really a hater, I just see a watch I like and I’m truly baffled as to why it costs so much. Rolex sells overpriced watches, but they spent a lot of decanters building a story about being worth it. Seiko just decided one day to sell the same watches for much, much more. I honestly don’t get it.
I think you're right, people romanticize the past, especially those who weren't around in those 'times'. The MAS is appealing to me precisely because it's so plain but so useful. The Japanese seem to like their subtetlty and this definitely is a watch that's restrained on purpose.
I know a lot of people, including myself, gripe about what Seiko charges for the SPB divers. I was confused and slightly aggravated at first too because I want one so badly. But I've come to the acceptance stage now and even have my own conspiracy theory: Seiko are purposely being selective with who buys these types of watches by pricing them just high enough for the casual consumers to pass on them but still at a price point that "true fans" will begrudgingly pay. Thus making the watch attainable yet slightly collectible unlike their more budget-friendly lines. Granted, this is my own delusion which helps comfort me when planning to buy this for Christmas this year haha.
I agree with pretty much everything posted here, the 62mas design just looks right and very appealing, I have owned a few homage's of this including the Heimdallr sharky version, also a brilliant and affordable watch, I also like many Seiko dive watches but I only buy them when vastly discounted,
I think you're right, people romanticize the past, especially those who weren't around in those 'times'. The MAS is appealing to me precisely because it's so plain but so useful. The Japanese seem to like their subtetlty and this definitely is a watch that's restrained on purpose.
I know a lot of people, including myself, gripe about what Seiko charges for the SPB divers. I was confused and slightly aggravated at first too because I want one so badly. But I've come to the acceptance stage now and even have my own conspiracy theory: Seiko are purposely being selective with who buys these types of watches by pricing them just high enough for the casual consumers to pass on them but still at a price point that "true fans" will begrudgingly pay. Thus making the watch attainable yet slightly collectible unlike their more budget-friendly lines. Granted, this is my own delusion which helps comfort me when planning to buy this for Christmas this year haha.
As the owner of both a San Martin SN007-G-X and a Seiko SPB147, I'm of the opinion that the SPB is absolutely not worth it if you want a 62MAS. It's acceptable as a nice looking desk diver, but not at the official retail price because it's a 600-800 US$ watch that is pushed to the 1-1.2KUS$ price bracket without any justification.
Did you select the PT or SW movement?
I'd say it's because it's a very clean modernist design where form follows function.
Did you select the PT or SW movement?
I bought the PT5000 variant and so far so good.
I think you're right, people romanticize the past, especially those who weren't around in those 'times'. The MAS is appealing to me precisely because it's so plain but so useful. The Japanese seem to like their subtetlty and this definitely is a watch that's restrained on purpose.
I know a lot of people, including myself, gripe about what Seiko charges for the SPB divers. I was confused and slightly aggravated at first too because I want one so badly. But I've come to the acceptance stage now and even have my own conspiracy theory: Seiko are purposely being selective with who buys these types of watches by pricing them just high enough for the casual consumers to pass on them but still at a price point that "true fans" will begrudgingly pay. Thus making the watch attainable yet slightly collectible unlike their more budget-friendly lines. Granted, this is my own delusion which helps comfort me when planning to buy this for Christmas this year haha.
It’s a shame what Seiko has done in terms of pricing and qc. I am completely turned off by the brand. Fortunately, there are several alternatives- both big brand and micro — to choose from.
As the owner of both a San Martin SN007-G-X and a Seiko SPB147, I'm of the opinion that the SPB is absolutely not worth it if you want a 62MAS. It's acceptable as a nice looking desk diver, but not at the official retail price because it's a 600-800 US$ watch that is pushed to the 1-1.2KUS$ price bracket without any justification.
Yes, precisely. Hence the price youre paying is more so for the logo. So only the hardcore fans will pay it at MSRP or close to it. Tbh even their more affordable watches seem overpriced. The Seiko 5 divers dont stand up to the likes of a Promaster or many micros out there offering more watch for the same money IMHO. Then again, I don't buy any watch at MSRP for the most part. Even micro brands offer slight discounts if you sign up for a newsletter or leave the item in your cart long enough to get a promotional email.
My point is alot of people are complaining about Seiko in general because of their pricing. But only because they remember what they used to cost or because they know watches well enough to know the alternatives. I think in a few years newer generations of enthusiasts and the Seiko-believers will be the only ones left buying them. That's what I'm saying, Seiko may be purposely doing this and being patient enough to normalize a new position in the market. Look at the Swiss, people must've thought they were crazy charging thousands for a stainless steel watch in the 70s. Now we don't bat an eye at it and just say "oh yeah, but the brand...".
Again, just the ramblings of a crazed fanboy here haha.
For me it's not really the history but I'm a fan of retro designs. I've got the 147 ( brown dial, gold indices and fauxtina), love the looks, size , robustness, build quality and value. For me it's well worth the extra cost over the entry level divers because of the better movement and a huge factor in buying it for me is the diashield coating - it's brilliant and I wish my posher watches had it!
TLDR- style , quality and value.
Yes, precisely. Hence the price youre paying is more so for the logo. So only the hardcore fans will pay it at MSRP or close to it. Tbh even their more affordable watches seem overpriced. The Seiko 5 divers dont stand up to the likes of a Promaster or many micros out there offering more watch for the same money IMHO. Then again, I don't buy any watch at MSRP for the most part. Even micro brands offer slight discounts if you sign up for a newsletter or leave the item in your cart long enough to get a promotional email.
My point is alot of people are complaining about Seiko in general because of their pricing. But only because they remember what they used to cost or because they know watches well enough to know the alternatives. I think in a few years newer generations of enthusiasts and the Seiko-believers will be the only ones left buying them. That's what I'm saying, Seiko may be purposely doing this and being patient enough to normalize a new position in the market. Look at the Swiss, people must've thought they were crazy charging thousands for a stainless steel watch in the 70s. Now we don't bat an eye at it and just say "oh yeah, but the brand...".
Again, just the ramblings of a crazed fanboy here haha.
I don't know why other people are complaining, and frankly I don't care because I'm not them. My own issues with Seiko are that if Casio can have impeccable QC for a 15$ watch, then I expect no less from a brand with a longer history that sells its products for X10 the amount of money.
In the past I already gave all my reasons why I think that not only the SN007 is a better 62MAS than the SPB but also why it's a better watch, no but, no if. Simply better.
The 62MAS was the first Seiko Professional Diver @ 150m, the previous standard. Of course now it’s 200m standard.
More interesting to me is the fact that Seiko largely copied what others were doing at the time. Originality of the 62MAS is not its hallmark, that honor goes to the 6105 where Seiko came out with their original design.
I don't know why other people are complaining, and frankly I don't care because I'm not them. My own issues with Seiko are that if Casio can have impeccable QC for a 15$ watch, then I expect no less from a brand with a longer history that sells its products for X10 the amount of money.
In the past I already gave all my reasons why I think that not only the SN007 is a better 62MAS than the SPB but also why it's a better watch, no but, no if. Simply better.
Yes, totally agree with you. The power of the logo works on some though. Admittedly I am one of those.
Just bought the SLA065.. It puts a smile on my face everyday.. maybe I bought it because it's under the radar.. I like that.. If you are NOT into watches.. you still probably know Seiko.. But you don't know what an SLAxxx model is! You don't know about 8l35 movement.. and in this case you don't know what zaratsu polishing is.. But the felling when you hold these watches are just amazing..