Seiko SRPD73K2 Review
This is my first SRPD, even though I already own an SRPE53 and an SRPG27, as well as other dive watches with NH35 movements. So I figured, I might own a Seiko dive-style watch as well.
I really hadn't been meaning to buy that watch, it just happened to be on sale on a grey market site, and the price was just too convincing, plus with an SRPD there may be some future modding potential.
I was a little bit surprised when i got it out of the box, as what appeared as white in photos, is actually a little off-white, some form of beige. It gives a little bit of an appearance of gilt, but not quite. The watch case is slightly larger than my SRPE, but you don't really feel it. Part of this experience being the band, which is a 22mm silicone strap. It is very comfortable and lightweight, making the overall watch very easy to wear. That is probably the only surprise: It really doesn't feel like a diver on the wrist. It has less of a presence than my SRPG27 (bracelet).
The dial is pleasant, with the typical Seiko diver pattern, but unlike most most of the Seiko divers it has a faint sunburst pattern. The case is brushed on top, and polished on the side. The bezel is aligned well, and there were no QC issues that I noticed. I don't think I need to say anything about the 4R36 movement.
In typical Seiko fashion the lume is also very bright. The bezel functions just fine, even though the coin edge could have been a little better.
You know how you have a pair of favorite sneakers that fit well, and you buy the slightly newer version in a different color? This is pretty much what is felt like to me: Very pleasant to look at, yet also very familiar. You'll put it on your wrist without thinking twice about it.
Seiko SRPD73K2 Review
Yes
No
- Very reasonable at grey market prices, even compared to what my friend Ali offers
- Very clean dial and well-balanced design overall
- Absolutely no surprises, a very consistent experience
- Strap is very comfortable to wear and lightweight
- It is a diver-style watch
- Bezel egde could be upgraded
What bugs me about Seiko is the price difference between the 26 movement watches and the 35 /36 movement watches. They all cost the same to build. The micro brands sell nh35 watches for the prices of the Seiko 26 movement watches with sapphire which the 5 series is without. They have watches in every price bracket and You can get a GS powered Seiko for far less than the GS. You can build the clone of that watch from Ali parts for under $200.00
They made all the Seiko parts in the first place except for the movement and they have clones of that too for half the price of the Malaysian ones.
What bugs me about Seiko is the price difference between the 26 movement watches and the 35 /36 movement watches. They all cost the same to build. The micro brands sell nh35 watches for the prices of the Seiko 26 movement watches with sapphire which the 5 series is without. They have watches in every price bracket and You can get a GS powered Seiko for far less than the GS. You can build the clone of that watch from Ali parts for under $200.00
They made all the Seiko parts in the first place except for the movement and they have clones of that too for half the price of the Malaysian ones.
I'm not sure if I follow. These are different watch series that differ beyond the movement. (I would expect a slight increase in cost through the change in movements, but not significantly so.) The SNK I own is however a simpler watch overall. Also, I bought SRPD for well under $200.
Based on my experience you will also be hard-pressed to match the finish of both the case and the dial with Ali parts, in particular if you expect the components to match an overall design. (There are online vendors that offer high-quality parts, but those builds aren't inexpensive.)
I would also be careful when comparing 4R36 to NH36 sold by Ali. Sure, the specs are the same, but quality differences were obvious, based on what I have received so far.
4R36 to Nh36 is just a designation as to own use(4r) and movement sale(NH) they all made in Malesia. Seiko Japan along with Citizen get a huge amount of parts from China. Japanese labour is too expensive to little more than assemble. Go to any hardware store in America and you will see all the power tools made in China without exception. Your Milwaukee brand too. I buy watch bodies from there branded Citizen from the case to the dial. Your SNK has the 7s26 5 series movement so its still entry level Seiko. Prices jump when its NH36. they also offer different levels of finish to movements in Malesia.
4R36 to Nh36 is just a designation as to own use(4r) and movement sale(NH) they all made in Malesia. Seiko Japan along with Citizen get a huge amount of parts from China. Japanese labour is too expensive to little more than assemble. Go to any hardware store in America and you will see all the power tools made in China without exception. Your Milwaukee brand too. I buy watch bodies from there branded Citizen from the case to the dial. Your SNK has the 7s26 5 series movement so its still entry level Seiko. Prices jump when its NH36. they also offer different levels of finish to movements in Malesia.
I'm afraid the above statement is incorrect. They are produced in Japan, Malaysia, but also by TMI in China. More recently there are also NH35 with unmarked rotors apparently not produced by TMI, and there has been a bit of speculation where they are being made. (Note: With "unmarked" I mean movements that have no country of origin markings, but also have no "TMI" markings. The country of origin is also not present on the rotors of TMI movements I have seen.)
Nobody denies that Seiko produces overseas, and even a Breitling SmartWatch is technically "Made in China". But that doesn't necessarily speak to the quality, as even in Asia you get what you pay for.
I have a Guanqin Chinese watch, which was a very good buy. But the feel of its NH35 while operating the watch is not even close to the Seikos I own with an 4R35.
Strictly speaking, these unmarked 4H35 may indeed violate US import regulations:
see here: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/rulings/informed-compliance-publications/marking-country-origin-us-imports
But even Seiko is inconsistent in their markings, to be honest. My SRPE however was clearly produced in Japan, including its 4R36 movement. The SRPD did not state a country of origin.
What bugs me about Seiko is the price difference between the 26 movement watches and the 35 /36 movement watches. They all cost the same to build. The micro brands sell nh35 watches for the prices of the Seiko 26 movement watches with sapphire which the 5 series is without. They have watches in every price bracket and You can get a GS powered Seiko for far less than the GS. You can build the clone of that watch from Ali parts for under $200.00
They made all the Seiko parts in the first place except for the movement and they have clones of that too for half the price of the Malaysian ones.
How much would you charge for a custom build Seiko mod? And how one start if one wants to get a modded/custom piece?
@BRSEvolve and @KiwiSeiko among others do the custom work. I'm still a novice at it. The Chinese watches suffer from poor QC everywhere but the higher end watches. They usually use the NH35 clones they produce calling them Actual NH35. Pagani, Cadisen, Steel dive and Invicta use the real ones. The fake NH35s retail at $30.00 and they can make a fake rotor saying anything on it.
this is one they say is NH35
How much would you charge for a custom build Seiko mod? And how one start if one wants to get a modded/custom piece?
thanks for the shout out Snafu.
if you are looking into custom seikos, either find a modder whos work you like and ask them to build your idea or build your own from frankenparts. The second suggestion is a bit more challenging, I have seen stuff I liked the look of on aliexpress for handsets and parts only to find them to be utter trash once they arrive. I tend to stick to a few dealers for aftermarket parts who have over the course of several builds/orders sent me awesome parts. I tend to stick in the NH35 and NH36 genuine seiko movements, they fit a lot of projects. I tend to also go for skx007 style conversion cases as well as explorer style cases and nh35 compatible yacht master cases from a select few aliexpress guys who I happen to know make cases for other brands that have exhibited higher quality. I can do a lot of my own finishes and fixes to make a case and project pretty customized but I have found the the Namokis cases are pretty baller right out of the gate. Since the genuine nh3x are pretty easy to get Id concentrate on what style of case you want and then source parts around that. EVEN IF you arent building yourself and you want someone else to do the build, definitely start with the case style want and definitely spend for the quality. HMU if you need any links or whatever.
best-
thanks for the shout out Snafu.
if you are looking into custom seikos, either find a modder whos work you like and ask them to build your idea or build your own from frankenparts. The second suggestion is a bit more challenging, I have seen stuff I liked the look of on aliexpress for handsets and parts only to find them to be utter trash once they arrive. I tend to stick to a few dealers for aftermarket parts who have over the course of several builds/orders sent me awesome parts. I tend to stick in the NH35 and NH36 genuine seiko movements, they fit a lot of projects. I tend to also go for skx007 style conversion cases as well as explorer style cases and nh35 compatible yacht master cases from a select few aliexpress guys who I happen to know make cases for other brands that have exhibited higher quality. I can do a lot of my own finishes and fixes to make a case and project pretty customized but I have found the the Namokis cases are pretty baller right out of the gate. Since the genuine nh3x are pretty easy to get Id concentrate on what style of case you want and then source parts around that. EVEN IF you arent building yourself and you want someone else to do the build, definitely start with the case style want and definitely spend for the quality. HMU if you need any links or whatever.
best-
Thank you! for the info i am planning on getting a custom piece in the near fortune. I did look at NAmoki cases before. Will def. Hit you up for more info. Thank you.
Agreed. It really doesn't pay to build/mod primarily with the price in mind, unless we're talking about practice pieces. A Namoki case isn't cheap, but you will get exactly what you want. I had luck with inexpensive hand sets a few times, but it is truly a gamble, similar to dials. There were a few from Ali that I immediately tossed toward my cat to play with.
Just thought I'll share my mod of the same watch I own. I like how it turned out.
Looks great. It seems like you replaced the crystal, the chapter ring and bezel insert, or was it the whole bezel?
Looks great. It seems like you replaced the crystal, the chapter ring and bezel insert, or was it the whole bezel?
Exactly what you mentioned! Just the bezel insert though
I was wondering how long it would be before I started modding. Based on the original post, about one month. 😉
Belated thanks on this great, helpful Seiko review! 🤙
got the navy blue one here