Seiko Tuna Homages, and why
People might purchase a "homage" watch for many reasons, all of which are valid. Having just ordered a couple "Heimdallr" Tuna homages, my main reason has always been that Seiko does not offer exactly what I want when it comes to the Tunas. The 48mm 300m Tunas are the "standard" looking ones to me but I have always wanted these watches with a mid tier automatic movement (6r15 or something like that) It just so happens the homage market has exactly what I am looking for. I know that part of the identity of the Tuna is its custom designed quartz movement but I am just more of a mechanical movement guy. I wonder how many other feel similar about the Tuna? If Seiko does release something like this, I would pull the trigger on that.
The homages look quite nice and also feature Seiko nh35 movements:
love all sorts of watches, particularly affordable hardwearing mechanical watches. Seiko fanboy.
I'm wearing a yellow fin Tuna (same as the one in my profile picture) right now, 4R36, 48mm shroud, gets called a "Baby Tuna" but SEIKO gave it the mega snappy "SRP639K1" title.. they're so on point.. anyway, it was part of their "Prospex" range.
Comes on a proper tough feeling rubber strap which is in my watch box, and it's currently on a 22mm Barton black and yellow stitched silicon strap, which works well enough but feels much nicer. I'm going to chuck it on an engineers type bracelet soon.
RRP was nearly £400 when new, but I think it was discontinued in 2014
And to be honest, I think you got a better value watch.. by a long way.
I had seriously considered one of the baby tunas when they came out. I think they are a great watch which keep the true tool aesthetic of the OG Tunas. This is unlike some of the newer solar and 4r36 tunas which seem more fashion oriented and have lost some of that tool vibe. For me, the bezel on the baby tunas make them feel like a shrouded monster (I already own a 3rd gen monster). I really wanted the OG Tuna look. The baby monsters are great watches though, and the closest think Seiko has offered to what I want as a shrouded type of automatic