Seiko Tank Review

Ever since I found out that my IBSO tank was in fact an homage to the Seiko tank I was curious how they would compare, especially as the Seiko falls into the range of (for me) affordable watches. So I was gifted one over the holidays, and the comparisons can commence.

Starting the comparison with the prices: the Seiko is discontinued, but I found it as new old stock at a Seiko AD for 199 Euro while the IBSO is currently £25 on AliExpress.

Specs say: 28.4mm diameter - well, that is the shorter side of the rectangle - the longer is 31.6. Because of its shape it wears larger on the wrist than round watches with such dimensions, since the length of the diagonal is approximately 42.5mm. This is not a problem on my small wrist, but do not expect a tiny watch. The IBSO is even larger than the Seiko (31.8x36.9), but it wears a bit smaller due to different lugs and a different case shape (and a different band). Both watch are fairly thin, Seiko 6.5mm, IBSO 7.5.

The Seiko has a flat caseback, the IBSO's back is chamfered, with a smaller area of the back sitting directly on the wrist.

The biggest plus of the Seiko over the IBSO is the dial design. The Roman numerals on the IBSO appear a bit crowded on the sides while the smaller dial of the Seiko somehow found more space around them. Much better on the Seiko are the hands: they are just the perfect length and their black colour harmonises their appearance with the Roman numerals. The hands on the IBSO are a bit short. Their rosegold colour may help with readability in gloomy light conditions, but this is still a point to the Seiko. The one aspect of the dial where the IBSO scores a point are the hour markers along the inner rectangle. These are so small on the Seiko that their main function is to add a bit of blinging surprise; these are bigger on the IBSO and do play their part when reading the time.

The greater water resistance of 100m for the Seiko (over 30m for the IBSO) is welcome, but these are dress watches. You would not normally wear such attire to hunt for alligators in the Everglades. Mind you, you may want to, because the Seiko's watchband is a bottom-of-the-range fake-croc atrocity. No croc's were harmed in the making of this band, but the animals that were still loudly squeal to this day. IBSO's watch band is much nicer: not as stiff, I even prefer its buckle over Seiko's (both are branded). As a consequence, the IBSO sits nicer on my wrist than the Seiko.

The standard tank design requires a Cabochon-style crown, even my £10 Wwoor tank has this design element. And so does the Seiko, but not the IBSO. However, the points for the crown still go to the IBSO, because its crown engages easily - which you cannot say about the Seiko. In the shop, the saleslady set the time on the Seiko, but despite using a watchknife it proved - even for a professional like her - difficult to reach time-setting position.

The Seiko is run uncomfortably close by its homagee, and is in this respect not as good value as one might think, especially as you should consider replacing that watchband (23mm lugwidth) on top of the purchase price. Without that upgrade I rather wear the IBSO.

Seiko Tank Review

4.2
Yes No
5/5
4/5
4/5
5/5
3/5
  • beautiful dial
  • good size
  • well-proportioned hands
  • watchband is stiff and squeals
  • crown is difficult to engage
Reply
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It is lovely, though. 

My Pulsar is similar - though thinner - than the Ibso, which does come in a black dial. Only 12, 3, 6, and 9 are Roman, but it keeps the dial a bit less crowded. It's larger than either watch but still works on my woman's wrist. It would have been rated 5 bars until the first battery change. 

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Got this one refurbished from an Ebay bay dealer in India. About £25 with postage. I'll put it on a shiny black lizard or croc strap and keep it for the dressiest occasions. I think the proportions are actually more pleasing than the luxury brand tanks, and I utterly loathe cabochons on crowns, so my enjoyment of this watch is out of all proportion to its cost.

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If anyone's interested, he seems to have plenty more, with a variety of dial and case colours. Just search 'Seiko Tank' and you should find them 

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BrandNewDay

It is lovely, though. 

My Pulsar is similar - though thinner - than the Ibso, which does come in a black dial. Only 12, 3, 6, and 9 are Roman, but it keeps the dial a bit less crowded. It's larger than either watch but still works on my woman's wrist. It would have been rated 5 bars until the first battery change. 

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The Seiko has a sister model (for ladies), the SWR054, with the same design but a smaller case/dial. The very shop I bought mine from had this model too in its display.

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Churchill

Got this one refurbished from an Ebay bay dealer in India. About £25 with postage. I'll put it on a shiny black lizard or croc strap and keep it for the dressiest occasions. I think the proportions are actually more pleasing than the luxury brand tanks, and I utterly loathe cabochons on crowns, so my enjoyment of this watch is out of all proportion to its cost.

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If anyone's interested, he seems to have plenty more, with a variety of dial and case colours. Just search 'Seiko Tank' and you should find them 

From ebay india?

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babarsaeed

From ebay india?

Ebay UK, but the dealer/refurbisher is based in India and sent the watch from there. Estimated delivery time was about six weeks, but it actually arrived in about ten days.

Here's a link to another from the same seller: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353911158282?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=DB8X9F49TSi&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=W_9RZNMDSGm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

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I love mine.....

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I have the silver colored version. I will say the band is stiff It’s an overall 4.5 dress watch. I also have a Hamilton 1949 Darrel and that a 4.9. 

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Greetings from Taiwan!  Excellent review, all points are spot on.  Put it on a real crocodile strap by Herschel and it really shines.  Because the case back is flat and does not hug the wrist it wears larger than the proportions suggest.  I'd say like a 42mm as per your review.  It does work well with even smart casual and gets more complements than my Omega from everyday folk

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Churchill

Ebay UK, but the dealer/refurbisher is based in India and sent the watch from there. Estimated delivery time was about six weeks, but it actually arrived in about ten days.

Here's a link to another from the same seller: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353911158282?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=DB8X9F49TSi&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=W_9RZNMDSGm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It's most likely fake, there are some discussions about it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/1689nb9/seiko_tank_quartz_authentic/