The Long Winding Journey
This watch journey has been a trip, lemme tell you.
I've always appreciated watches & clocks because I've always been fascinated with gears & machinery. I didn't get bitten by the bug until early 2022. I got bit HARD.
I bought 20 watches in 2022. That's a lot of watches and was overkill. But, I learned that while it might be cool to have a watch for every emotion a manic person on an episode might experience in 24 hours, I really am not a guy that can (or wants to) maintain a large watch collection; even if 75% of them are quartz.
I also learned that while I REALLY want a Speedy, everything else watch related I'm willing to compromise on; to a point.
That "compromise" thing can be sliced a lot of ways, but for me, here's what I believe I can afford & be satisfied with as a collection:
A GMT (forever occupied by my Glycine)
A Chrono (eventually occupied by a Speedy)
A flieger (undetermined brand/model at present; probably bronze, cuz I like a unique finish. Maybe an Oris?)
A dress watch (something vintage, but not crap)
A G-Shock (I currently have 3, but don't love them)
A diver (the subject of this NWA, the Seiko SE SRPH77K1, the Save The Ocean Mini Tuna).
I've been eyeing a Tuna for a couple months now and wanted to go a bit smaller than the 44-45mm I usually gravitate towards.
I mainly focused on Seiko's because I've never owned one and I feel a watch enthusiast should at least experience a certain few brands; Seiko being one of those.
I know there have been QC issues recently, but I was undeterred.
Before I joined WC, I thought I might get a Seiko Presage Negroni, but it never stuck in my mind for as long as this SRPH77K1 has.
The positives of the SRPH77 for me were...
- The Tuna case. It's unique & doesn't look like any other diver
- The size. As mentioned above, it's a couple mm smaller than my usual watches. After wearing it for a couple days, I feel like it's a GREAT size for me.
- The color. I've said before that my favorite team has a red color scheme, but blue -specifically THIS shade- is very fetching. Also, as the wife says, wearing blue makes my eyes pop. And making the wife happy is always a good thing
- The motif. I adore penguins. The footprints & the penguin silhouette are just adorable, but understated enough that they aren't obvious. I'm a big fan of IYKYK design. Subtle, but obvious if you're knowledgeable.
- The texture of the dial. The online pictures really do not do it justice. It really does look like the ice cold seas where penguins live and shimmers just ever so slightly in the light.
- The hands. The minute hand with the arrow tip is just nice. Been really digging arrow tipped hands lately. Bonus: the hands are ever so slightly brushed, and like the dial, have an ever so slight shimmer effect in the right lighting. That was not evident in pictures.
Negatives
- My only real issue right now is the seconds hand. It has a lollipop lumed counterweight (?) & no lume on the tip of the long section. Weird.
- I generally prefer bracelets & this one came on a strap, but that isn't really a negative as I need an excuse to get a BOR I want to try anyway.
Summary: So while only 6 weeks have passed since my most recent purchase of a Timex Expedition, this watch has been in my head for at least double that length of time. I feel good about the prospects (pun intended) of the watch sticking long term and this being my only purchase of a watch in 2023.
Long time watch appreciator, 2022 inductee into the obsession. Originator (or perpetrator depending on your point of view) of #WhimsicalWednesday, #MacroMay & #MacroMonday Omega Speedmaster simp. Like...
Congrats on the Seiko!
Your collecting goals sound pretty awesome and cover all the bases. I recently started collecting in 2022 as well and have devised a similar list as well. If I didn’t scale back the list, I would’ve been all over the radar buying things.
Congrats on the Seiko!
Your collecting goals sound pretty awesome and cover all the bases. I recently started collecting in 2022 as well and have devised a similar list as well. If I didn’t scale back the list, I would’ve been all over the radar buying things.
Thank you.
Oh, I was all over the radar.
Take out 3 pieces, my average watch purchase last year was ~$40. It kinda makes me mad thinking how much closer to my Grail I would be if I'd just been less impulsive.
But I had to go nuts to learn I don't actually want or need them all.
When the mania breaks you can start enjoying the good watches. That Seiko should be enjoyed for long time.
congrats 🎉 my friend !
yup on all your points. I’ve tried on that model and it’s a great size and nice subtle balance of cute and and color.
My special edition turtle has the same second hand - and I think it’s absolutely fine. The lumed counterbalance works great : in the dark it tells at a glance the watch is running and I look to minute and second hands to tell the time. No need to measure seconds in the dark, since I can’t see the second scale anyway
My issue was that the great quality strap it came with was about 2 feet too long for my 6 inch wrist 🤪😒 and it had to be cut down
Congrats on the new Tuna! This is a really good looking variant. I'm sure that dial is a stunner.
The goal of only buying one watch this year is a good one. Hopefully we can all help you in that journey.
You really seem to have your crown screwed on straight. A great collection, including the as yet unfilled slots. This latest addition is a great one. Enjoy!
Dang!…that is nice.
Congratulations on a very cool Tuna! That dial is awesome! There is something addicting about a Prospex Seiko. I love my MM300 (yes I know I keep posting that ) not sure what the rest of the collection looks like after the buying spree of 2022. I say wear this great watch in good health and keep saving for that Speedie. This Seiko is a keeper!
Congrats dude!! Love it!
Congrats! Beautiful blue dial. The size is as bespoke for you.
Amazing dial! Congrats!
I have learned as well that the journey is part of the hobby. So, think, research, enjoy the journey more before buying and you will have much more pleasure like this awesome Seiko!
Great iconic watch! Should do well towards your goal.
nice watch man. i didnt know tuna got an automatic version, well done
Amazing dial! Congrats!
I have learned as well that the journey is part of the hobby. So, think, research, enjoy the journey more before buying and you will have much more pleasure like this awesome Seiko!
At this point, I think the research & anticipation of thinking about pulling the trigger on a watch purchase, then the buying & the long-term ownership of a great watch beats the frenzied lust, immediate gratification & eventual fade into indifference of an OK watch.
Gonna have to try & remember that.
Congrats! Awesome dial, my friend! 🤩
At this point, I think the research & anticipation of thinking about pulling the trigger on a watch purchase, then the buying & the long-term ownership of a great watch beats the frenzied lust, immediate gratification & eventual fade into indifference of an OK watch.
Gonna have to try & remember that.
Today I try to be more aware, but it's hard. If I had thought more calmly I would not have bought my Bulova Marine Star and Citizen eco-drive. I still think they are beautiful watches and I like them, but today I would have calmly researched, waited, enjoyed the journey of learning and saved money for a better watch. I don't expect to buy an Omega because the purchase price and the cost of maintaining is financially for another reality, not mine, but I still don't know what my next step is. The Seiko 5 Sports GMT is on my mind 🤣, but I'd like to dream of something up to 1000€ or 1200€, who knows.
Congratulations, Todd! That's a great looking watch. Hope you enjoy it for a long time.
Very nice, you can always throw it on a mesh bracelet if you get tired of the strap.
i have a mini tuna save the ocean antarctica, and i noticed that the watch dial you have has "Made in Japan", mine has on its case back only. Is that ok?