The Updated Seiko Prospex 1965 Divers - Hot?
New movements with a slight power reserve increase to 72 h, up from 70. Some refinement on the case dimensions and lug length and extra WR up from 200m to 300m.
I think these look good and are relatively well priced, what do you think?
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Stu
Long term watch addict / nerd. 5 watches are too many, and a thousand's not enough.
Lucerne, Switzerland
Member since
Last active: 6 min ago
7.10” / 18.03 cm
*1,400 to 1,600 euros.
The date being less visible is worth the price alone.
Love 'em, I'm sure I'll end up with one. 😎👍🏻
Seiko can't do no wrong when it comes to divers. We can complain about the price but we still drool when we see one.
Not keen on this. Already was the perfect size and now only 2 micro adjust on bracelet it appears so makes a good fit more difficult to achieve. Date I can take or leave.
I like how Seiko has improved on a already good design and made it better. This is more like an evolution and fixed the minor issues in the old model. Personally a fan color matched date wheels at 4:30 after I saw it first in the slim turtle.
I have the SPB239 and is my favourite watch and a forever piece in my collection.
I'm still not sure why the pricing of Seiko in Euros is much higher than the rest of the world.
I think the issue is that they have dramatically increased prices over the last few years without increasing quality to the same degree. For me it's not snobbery just fact. Most people love Seiko, but some of their offerings are quite a bit over priced.
I think Seiko are almost lovingly known for their occasional QC issues. I'd say Citizen do offer better quality for the price, but saying that I would probably choose a Seiko over a Citizen if I had to make that choice. You can't deny that their prices have shot up and the quality hasn't necessarily matched it? Some of the Seiko 5's, esp the ones 'replacing' the SKX are not quite as good and for some of their high end pieces like the Marinemaster, 3,400 euros with a stated accuracy of -10 to +15 seconds per day. There are a lot of watches out there at this price and less which offer better accuracy and value for money.
I am currently looking at a Willard or a Turtle. I don't mind paying the 900 chf for the Willard, but I have read a lot of reviews about the accuracy and it being pot luck if it is within spec., but "can be fixed by going to the AD." This makes me more prone to a 4 or 500 Turtle where if it is running a bit out of spec I am not too fussed, I have got it for the fun of the watch at quite a good price.
They look amazing and make a compelling case against Tissot and Mido divers and even Longines or Tudor ones design wise (not movement wise). Design is the most important factor after price and they nailed it. These will fly off the shelves
I've also heard that, but I know how annoyed I'd be if I got an already reduced Willard for 900 (Glacier, looks amazing) and it's 20 or 30 seconds out. Maybe I will, I am in a flux, but feel a cheeky Seiko will make me smile 😀
https://www.chronolounge.ch/products/seiko-spb153j1?variant=43576590794995¤cy=CHF&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4z2_qbihAMVHlJBAh0-rQxOEAQYAyABEgJdZvD_BwE
https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/seiko-prospex-glacier-save-the-ocean-1970-divers-re-interpretation-spb301j1-p-89164/
I'd be in if they were 41.5mm or larger.
Right now they are not good enough to ask for a +1KUS$ price. In this price bracket I don't expect to see an unregulated movement or bezel alignment problems, even if I get an extended (and unnecessary) power reserve.
Just for clarity, these are exactly the problems that I had with my 1.2KUS$ SPB147.
I think Seiko are almost lovingly known for their occasional QC issues. I'd say Citizen do offer better quality for the price, but saying that I would probably choose a Seiko over a Citizen if I had to make that choice. You can't deny that their prices have shot up and the quality hasn't necessarily matched it? Some of the Seiko 5's, esp the ones 'replacing' the SKX are not quite as good and for some of their high end pieces like the Marinemaster, 3,400 euros with a stated accuracy of -10 to +15 seconds per day. There are a lot of watches out there at this price and less which offer better accuracy and value for money.
I am currently looking at a Willard or a Turtle. I don't mind paying the 900 chf for the Willard, but I have read a lot of reviews about the accuracy and it being pot luck if it is within spec., but "can be fixed by going to the AD." This makes me more prone to a 4 or 500 Turtle where if it is running a bit out of spec I am not too fussed, I have got it for the fun of the watch at quite a good price.
The problem with Citizen is that they can't design a good looking watch even if their life depended upon it.
Cheaper? get a Vostok Amphibia.
I would look it from a different perspective: Why would you want this watch? You can have something like this with a near-identical movement for a fraction of the cost. It's one of the most common builds out there. Seiko being a provider of a standard movement doesn't allow them to differentiate easily, even if they use variants of the standard movement.
I really like Seiko, and I'm constantly tempted by their Seiko 5 offering. I can see myself owning a GS one day. But they are stuck in the same trap as many other manufacturers in that price category: They have to work very hard to distinguish the offering from the lower-cost counterparts, and it doesn't always work.
Seiko is very interesting, I think they used to be amazing value watches but they have gone up the price spectrum in recent years.
I am not hating on the brand but some of their offerings are definitely quite pricey. I actually have 2 Seikos on my cart right now, I will likely pick one up unless I end up going the Grand Seiko route.
In terms of alternative quality divers, I’d say the Citizen Promaster on the middle range (couple hundred to a thousand bucks), on the more affordable range (sub or close to a hundred bucks) it would be the Casio Duro.
I cannot comment on the Seiko price-value offering myself. I have friends who love Seiko but even they will admit that some of the more recent releases are really creeping up there.
Sorry but that miniature round date window. Enough! 🫣
I would look it from a different perspective: Why would you want this watch? You can have something like this with a near-identical movement for a fraction of the cost. It's one of the most common builds out there. Seiko being a provider of a standard movement doesn't allow them to differentiate easily, even if they use variants of the standard movement.
I really like Seiko, and I'm constantly tempted by their Seiko 5 offering. I can see myself owning a GS one day. But they are stuck in the same trap as many other manufacturers in that price category: They have to work very hard to distinguish the offering from the lower-cost counterparts, and it doesn't always work.
Great comment @hbein2022
Seiko is very interesting, I think they used to be amazing value watches but they have gone up the price spectrum in recent years.
I am not hating on the brand but some of their offerings are definitely quite pricey. I actually have 2 Seikos on my cart right now, I will likely pick one up unless I end up going the Grand Seiko route.
In terms of alternative quality divers, I’d say the Citizen Promaster on the middle range (couple hundred to a thousand bucks), on the more affordable range (sub or close to a hundred bucks) it would be the Casio Duro.
I cannot comment on the Seiko price-value offering myself. I have friends who love Seiko but even they will admit that some of the more recent releases are really creeping up there.
I agree, we are not hating on Seiko just saying what we see.