SPB143 - Review of a (re)ownership

As you may notice from the title, this is not my first time owning the SPB143. In fact, I bought my first unit a year and a half ago, after I’d spent 6 months researching the model. It felt like an accomplishment for me because it was a grail watch and I bought it brand new.

This feeling began to vanish in the first couple of months of ownership when I noticed that the watch was performing quite poorly for a watch at its price point. Back then, I had a few watches powered by a lower Seiko movement family that was making around +8spd and my SPB143 was making +20spd. I remember feeling very disappointed. My last resource was taking the watch to a professional to be regulated. Which came out good, but the magic had already been broken, and in my mind, the watch did not worth the price anymore.

So, after 3 months of ownership, I sold it and recovered the money I paid for it. I owned a few other diver watches that delivered considerably more than the SPB143 had, especially in terms of accuracy and overall quality, but none of them checked as many boxes as the SPB143 had had. So more than a year later, I decided to consider the SPB143 again as long as I find a fair deal to balance the pros and cons scale. This leads me to a few weeks ago when I found a preowned in very good shape for 60% of the price I paid for the previous one. And the good news is, all the great things a loved about the watch in the first place are still there, and this model is performing pretty well, at +2spd. So yes, I am very happy if this "reownership” and wanted to share this story with you. 

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Had you considered just putting it in a drawer and seeing if you missed it before selling?  I only ask because this is such a common story as far as rebuying something you sold in the past. 

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Looks great! The SPB143 is one of my favorite watches. Mine came running about -10 spd, which I was a bit disappointed with too. But I regulated it myself to run around +1 or 2 spd on the wrist now. I hope you enjoy it!

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Nice!  I'm mighty tempted by the SPB143, but...both my SKXs (7S26 movements) and two of my three SARBs (6R15 movements) keep terrible time.  As much as I love the look of the SPB143, I'm not gonna gamble the asking price on a 6R35 powered Seiko.  

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 Have a preowned SPB143 arriving tomorrow.   Have never held one in person before so looking forward to gettting it in the wrist. will Be going right on a nato at least to start.  
 

I think the thickness and how top heavy it wears will be the decider if I keep it or move in to something else.  

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That design is just too beautiful that when I bought the SPB239 (the gilt version), I never really cared for the movement accuracy. I knew it would be running either too slow or fast. I own a few Seiko's with 6R35 movement, and those movements out of the box maybe not be the best but give it a couple of months to settle and regulate it, they can surprise you with the accuracy. Mine currently runs at -2 seconds a day.

My wife got me one on a business trip to Japan. Great watch, I probably am going to regulate it though, running -15ish.

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Ryan2vs

 Have a preowned SPB143 arriving tomorrow.   Have never held one in person before so looking forward to gettting it in the wrist. will Be going right on a nato at least to start.  
 

I think the thickness and how top heavy it wears will be the decider if I keep it or move in to something else.  

It doesn't really feel thick on the wrist, the case curves nicely onto the wrist that you barely notice the thickness. It may feel heavy on the stock bracelet but the SPB143 is the second or even better than Omega Speedmaster when it comes to being an absolute strap monster. 

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Definitely one of the nicest Seikos in the lineup. I wish it was within my price point. Congrats on the (re)purchase!

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I feel you on these points very much. I've been admiring the SPB143 for a while but couldn't swallow the asking price. I got a King Turtle and 5KX GMT instead. I might see if my dealer is willing to give me a steeper discount on a new one before I reconsider it or buy a good used one like you did.

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I learnt this the hard way!

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thekris

Had you considered just putting it in a drawer and seeing if you missed it before selling?  I only ask because this is such a common story as far as rebuying something you sold in the past. 

That is a good strategy, and I’ve done it a couple of times with other watches. One I ended up selling and the other keeping. But the point on the first SPB143 was not only the inaccuracy of the movement, back then, the price was a decisive point. with the experience I have today, I would probably have kept it, because even though the movement lacks regulation, the watch itself is a heck of a tool watch with a fantastic design. 

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deskdiver.co

That is a good strategy, and I’ve done it a couple of times with other watches. One I ended up selling and the other keeping. But the point on the first SPB143 was not only the inaccuracy of the movement, back then, the price was a decisive point. with the experience I have today, I would probably have kept it, because even though the movement lacks regulation, the watch itself is a heck of a tool watch with a fantastic design. 

My first thought was to just take it to somebody and get it regulated better. My second thought was that for that price, decent accuracy should be included in the sales price. I might have objected enough to sell the watch, but I wouldn’t have rebought it. At the point where Seiko has offended me enough to sell a watch I was that into, I won’t buy from them again. 
 

But hey, we’re all different, and that makes the world an interesting place. Glad you’re enjoying it this time around. 

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gbelleh

Looks great! The SPB143 is one of my favorite watches. Mine came running about -10 spd, which I was a bit disappointed with too. But I regulated it myself to run around +1 or 2 spd on the wrist now. I hope you enjoy it!

After a good regulation then watch performs pretty well. I don’t know if the previous owner had this watch regulated, but it’s keep a very good time as mentioned on the post, +2spd is very good! 

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SUSFU303

Nice!  I'm mighty tempted by the SPB143, but...both my SKXs (7S26 movements) and two of my three SARBs (6R15 movements) keep terrible time.  As much as I love the look of the SPB143, I'm not gonna gamble the asking price on a 6R35 powered Seiko.  

I’m an owner of an SKX009J1, which I paid less than $200 5 years ago. At that price point I don’t really mind the accuracy! But when you put 1k on top of it, it is just right to expect more of the watch. 

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Ryan2vs

 Have a preowned SPB143 arriving tomorrow.   Have never held one in person before so looking forward to gettting it in the wrist. will Be going right on a nato at least to start.  
 

I think the thickness and how top heavy it wears will be the decider if I keep it or move in to something else.  

With my first SPB143, I made a series of posts on IG where I use one type strap each day for a week. At the end of that week I was impressed with how versatile this watch was. The bracelet is very good, heavy, but very good. I worn mine more with a tropic style rubber band. Here are some picture of this “experiment”:

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deskdiver.co

You got two wonderful watches there! How the experience with the 5KX GMT has been so far? I hope you and your dealer can sort out a good deal soon! 

I have not had it very long tbh, but so far it feels and wears similar to a 5KX, but looks much nicer. it's also significantly more expensive but you get little things like solid end links, a glass two tone bezel etc. I'm quite happy with it just from an enthusiast perspective, it's a cool watch 

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That was a nice pick up at 60% off sounds like you made or saved money in the end.

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Congrats on picking it back up! I sold my 149 due to it feeling just a hair to large for my small wrist. I always miss that watch. I think it's the best looking dive watch I have ever owned. I too had some issues but mine was some pretty bad hand alignment that resulted in two trips in for warranty work. 

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Mike_2

Congrats on picking it back up! I sold my 149 due to it feeling just a hair to large for my small wrist. I always miss that watch. I think it's the best looking dive watch I have ever owned. I too had some issues but mine was some pretty bad hand alignment that resulted in two trips in for warranty work. 

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What size wrists do you have?  (Lug look fine in my opinion but obviously always a personal choice).  

I have had mine a day now.  Love the size but the thickness is feeling a bit top heavy.  But it's only been 24 hours and may easily be something I get used to especially since I had been wearing a field watch and vintage Chronograph for the past month or so. 

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deskdiver.co

With my first SPB143, I made a series of posts on IG where I use one type strap each day for a week. At the end of that week I was impressed with how versatile this watch was. The bracelet is very good, heavy, but very good. I worn mine more with a tropic style rubber band. Here are some picture of this “experiment”:

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got mine today (preowned).   On a NATO at the moment but I think it's calling for a Zulu.  

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Ryan2vs

got mine today (preowned).   On a NATO at the moment but I think it's calling for a Zulu.  

Congrats on the new watch! This watch is a hell of a strap monster! I’ve been wearing mine on the bracelet since I got it, but I probably going to setup a waffle or a tropic band soon.

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thatguy306

That was a nice pick up at 60% off sounds like you made or saved money in the end.

It really was a good deal! As I plan to keep it, I would say I saved a good chunk of money! 

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Mike_2

Congrats on picking it back up! I sold my 149 due to it feeling just a hair to large for my small wrist. I always miss that watch. I think it's the best looking dive watch I have ever owned. I too had some issues but mine was some pretty bad hand alignment that resulted in two trips in for warranty work. 

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Sorry to hear that, both the size and the alignment issues. I have a friend that has an even smaller wrist, he loves this model but he made peace with himself that he’ll never own one. Instead he saved some cash and bought an Omega Seamaster 36mm pre-ceramic. It‘s his favorite diver now. 

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tonmed

I have not had it very long tbh, but so far it feels and wears similar to a 5KX, but looks much nicer. it's also significantly more expensive but you get little things like solid end links, a glass two tone bezel etc. I'm quite happy with it just from an enthusiast perspective, it's a cool watch 

Sounds nice. I do like the SKX aesthetics and the way the bezel catches the light, and also I’m very fan of GMT complication. Maybe in 2023 I pull the trigger on one. I also had been eyeballing the Longines Zulu Time, which is a much expensive watch but real GMT and a whole new level of finishing. I have the opportunity to see one in flesh, it’s such a beauty!

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JNabeel

I've owned this watch, SPB 142, 3 times. I love the look but hate the performance for the price point. I just sold mine, recovered my investment, and moved on. I've bought all three preowned so never paid the MSRP of $1,200 USD. 

It is a shame, that they (Seiko), couldn't put a better movement for this price. I mean for $600 this would be great watch. 

I‘m totally with you! But I also don’t believe that the 6R family is a bad movement, I just think it could come better regulated from factory. 

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Quartz_MemberBerries

My wife got me one on a business trip to Japan. Great watch, I probably am going to regulate it though, running -15ish.

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What strap is that? It looks great.

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deskdiver.co

Sorry to hear that, both the size and the alignment issues. I have a friend that has an even smaller wrist, he loves this model but he made peace with himself that he’ll never own one. Instead he saved some cash and bought an Omega Seamaster 36mm pre-ceramic. It‘s his favorite diver now. 

I still have some other older Seiko divers that I’m very happy with. I don’t think I could go without a Seiko dive watch. Those aluminum bezel Seamasters in 36 are small but fantastic watches that would make for a great daily wearer. I have looked into getting one a few times in the past.

Bazzman

What strap is that? It looks great.

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What a cool shot! 📸

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PatrickH

What a cool shot! 📸

Thank you my friend!