I woke up, watched this video, posted on the Italian Seiko market group, bought one used like new for 1400€. It all happened within an hour. That escalated quickly!
Got mine 2 weeks ago as an addition to my collection. Now it has turned to my exit watch. Absolutely stunning. As a 50 years old man you don't need more watch than the SLA051. It's the 'Ingenieur' among dive watches. But younger colleagues, be aware, it may be the wrong watch for you.
@@wolfdna788 I still have it and everytime when I put it on my wrist I fall in love again. Every other watch that I have including Omega and Rolex are just jewellery accesoires compared to this monster of a watch. I just ordered an original seiko black rubber strap which is part of the SLA063J1 box. I'm very excited!!
Thank you for the great review. As the owner of the SLA051, I can say it's comfortable for daily wear, has excellent lume, and it doesn't seem Seiko cut any corners with the possible exception of not using ceramic for the bezel. My biggest challenge, believe it or not, is that I find the dial a bit too light in color. In muted light, the dial looks fine, but in direct light, the gray looks too light for me. I think I would prefer a darker dial.
Great review as usual, Bruce. I'm a big fan of the 8L35. With Seiko making this push into the luxury segment, I feel like many collectors don't understand that they are not the "brand of old" anymore. What I see is the obvious evolution of the production of more upscale movements. The use of better materials, like sapphire, and ceramic. I think that many collectors expect this change or shift to happen much like a light switch. I think what we're seeing is Seiko's vision of the "long game." Imagine you have a business, and you decide that in order to survive, you need to drastically change your business model. Many of these things are very costly to implement, and it takes time, and planning to work out the kinks. From what I see, I think that 5 to 10 years from now, Seiko is going to be a very different animal. A formidable opponent in the luxury segment, all its own. For reasons like this I feel like businesses in your space are integral to companies change, and evolution. You provide a gauge of how these changes are received by the market itself. Companies like Seiko Instruments Inc., Epson, and TMI, are well aware of their standing in the market. Long story short, I do feel like many changes that we as collectors desire, are coming. The market for these items is very competitive these days. Maybe more so than ever.... Thanks for sharing it.
"..... you can't mistake this for a Submariner, or a Seamaster, or a different watch, no, this is the 6105!" I think this video made up my mind to flip my Seamaster Co-axial Master; I can't stop wearing my SLA051 on the old MM300 waffle strap.
Another Seiko fan here and, I agree; this is a beautiful piece. It is a pity that this is so far beyond my affordability 😢. Nonetheless, I am glad that they got so much right, particularly that crown at EXACTLY the 4 o’clock marker, à la the original 6105. Thanks for maintaining the variety in your reviews, Bruce!
Thank you for a great review Bruce. I have been considering my next watch purchase for a looooong time and have not been able to find anything in this price range that really resonates with me. All the watches, that does resonate with me are to much money for my budget. But then I saw this review and within hours of watching the review I bought the blue limited edition version at a great price from a dealer in Germany (I’m in Denmark, Europe). The watch just arrived yesterday and it’s so beautiful..!!! Thanks again 🇩🇰😊
Nice watch with a solid movement. I've never been a cushion case fan , but that's a personal thing . If you're a fan of the cushion case , then you'll probably love this peice. I have an SLA037 and absolutely love that watch . Anyway, good video as always Bruce.
Nice video, Bruce! I have the 42mm Willard with the 6R35 and and I feel it's "close enough" to not be tempted by this. I also just added a GS SBGR315 to my collection. I'd say go the GS route - it's my first and it just feels so special and so nice on wrist. BTW, the GS movements are finished to a higher level and with better specs (and materials). Also note: The 8L35 is based on the 9S55, but the 9S65 (kinda the standard GS time/date movement at this time) has been updated in a number of areas - namely power reserve, the winding mechanism, etc. Thanks again for your videos.
My luck has mine running +1 second a day! I have it resting crown up at night and it’s dead on Quartz accurate for months. I don’t change the date so have to unscrew the crown only twice a year for that dumb daylight savings time. Extremely comfortable and robust watch.
Yes, if you are so inclined you can pick up a Swiss-made Chronometer for £900 / $1200. To be honest, I'm getting a little bored with ceramic bezels. I think they are now just too common.
I’m not sure if lack of ceramic is bad thing. Here you have the ceramic looks but also durability of steel. As a tool watch you don’t want smash or chip your ceramic bezel while using your watch out and about. Maybe that was the reason behind it, why seiko stuck with steel bezels. Nowadays ceramic bezels are cheap, 20$ on aftermarket.
I saw one of these in person a couple of months ago by my AD and it is definitely a very nice watch. Maybe I wouldn't spend the retail price on it, but anyway a great watch from Seiko.
I really like what seiko have done with the sla range. They are amazing watches but I not sure they need the prospex logo on the dial. My sla043 doesn't have it , but just recently they seem to be adding it to the sla versions ? GS don't really make a great diver as yet by way of design, so the sla are about the best seiko divers out there. My spb051 has diasheild coating and still looks mint 3 years on the wrist despite me wearing it to work . It did pick up a few scratches on the bracelet, but I the head is still mint. I don't believe my sla043 has diasheild coating on it , so this must be fairly new on the sla range too. Obviously my 043 is the new ever bright steel so the coating would dull down the brighter look. It's also 1.7 x tougher than regular 316 steel, so maybe that's why they don't do it too ? I wouldn't go overboard on the new steel either as my rado captain cook is probably brighter than seikos special steel, even though the rado is just 316 as far as I'm aware ? That said I'm really happy with my sla model , it's as good in build quality as any watch on the market today . I honestly don't know how they could improve the 043, apart from regulating the movement, because the build quality is just amazing. I'm not a fan of the date at 4 , I don't know why they can't just do a date at 3 , but have in front of the full indices ? Would it spoil the dial , I don't think so ? I mean the day day dates look ok . Thanks again Bruce, it's nice to see you back with the likes of seiko.
I don’t know if you still have the watch or not, but what is the bezel diameter? I think for the turtle design the bezel diameter is a good indication of how it will wear on wrist
I have to laugh. When I first saw the title "Seiko has done it again", I thought oh no, Seiko has made another expensive watch with a misaligned chapter ring or bezel that didn't line up, or maybe the the bezel action was spongy, or the movement is 20 sec. slow per day on your time-graph. LOL. Glad to hear this one checks out. Yes, from a historical perspective this would be the one to have and I do love this case shape. With this movement the price seems reasonable. Nice Video!
I just picked up the SLA063, which I believe is this watch just in blue dial and bezel and limited to 500 pieces. I haven't received it yet so I'm hoping it wears a little smaller than its 44mm size. I have another SLA that I love and I think they are really a cut above most other Seiko watches, with the 8L35 movement and GS finishing. Hopefully I really like this one too and since I got it for $2400, I think it's worth it. Thanks for the review!
I watched your video when you posted it. Now I have watched it 3 more times and read a bunch about this watch. I am very tempted by this, or more specifically it’s limited edition blue brother
Absolutely love it mate. TBH I prefer my Willard to my Seamaster ( 😱) so I'm bound to love this! I've found 6r's to be less accurate than my 4r's tho... Thanks Bruce, excellent video 👍🏻👍🏻 Edit - I've found the diashield coating on my Willard has protected it from scratches far better than the sm300 ( I'm not precious with my watches, they're for wearing & enjoying )
A close up of the dial makes it look like the grain grey cardboard would have! Is that the original Crown being shown...?? Is it signed...?? Or was it replaced...??
Nice review. Always a pleasure to watch your contents. Are you going to do a review on Seiko LandMaster 30th Anniversary edition? Its all titanium, 8L35 movement, 200m WR, limited to 1000pcs and priced lowered than the SLA051. Also the compass bezel is not indexed so there is no risk of alignment issues. I like to hear your thoughts on it.
I love it, but opted for the SPB237J1 Willard textured gray dial with new blue lume that looks virtually identical, save date placement. And with the savings, was able to add the OEM Steel and SLA’s vintage rubber strap, along with the green and silver Japanese braided natos included, all for just under 1500. Did I get the GS movement? No, but runs comparably accurate-and I can buy another 1500 watch.
There entry level bog standard watches what you expect lol lightweight, cheap muck, just no no brand , get the grand seiko lol the better one, or be a real man and buy Rolex , Breitling ,omega etc
Let us be honest assume omega had their seamaster watch featured in a historically important and ward winning movie like apocalypse now instead of the popcorn James Bond movie, what would they have done promoting and milking that watch so here it is seiko was featured in that movie so historically this is an important timeless design and remember that apocalypse now is stored in library of congress which can’t be said about popcorn movie James Bond.
Being a collector with a few original 6105 divers in my collection, I love the general aesthetic of this watch and overall dial color. I think Seiko missed the mark with this watch as a tool diver. Cut the bling. Go with mat finishing on the bezel insert and hands along with more flat and square indices surrounds like the original.
For $3k, I literally picked up a very lightly used heritage black bay today. Love seiko but man, you gotta do a little better than that for that price. Also, go niners
I had an SRPC23, the anthracite dial turtle, and loved it. This seems like that watch on steroids, then suped up a few more levels. Terrific vid, Bruce. Go Niners!
Love the Willard style Seikos, and while this model is a bit better at everything then SPB237, I’m not sure if that justifies the 2.5x times the price tag. Is it just me or is that bezel misaligned by a bit? Might be just my Seiko ghost appearing every time I see one of their divers
I bought the green dial, saw it immediately wanted it , had the steel dive captain Willard few years ago & gave it away because I wanted a seiko, when I got it & it came on stainless bracelet… but ordered a woffle strap for it … went to take the strap off ….. all the drilled lugs were not drilled through 😳….. seriously… watch was perfect otherwise…. So it’s been sent back to seiko……
I like Prospex , built like tanks. However the movements are hit and miss. My 4r movements are more accurate than my 6r in my Spb149, what’s the point of a 70 hr power reserve when it’s running up to 40 secs fast after that period if it’s not on the wrist. I will never buy a Seiko with a 6r movement again. I considering the one your showing but I’d expect chronometer performance at that price, I like this watch.
Great looking watch but crazy expensive. My 6309, that I’ve owned for 35 years is running at plus 3 seconds, thanks to a recent service. I think it will out last me. I had a SRP773 turtle a few years ago that was terribly inaccurate. ( sold it for cheep at a pawn shop) I long for the quality of the past!🧐
Measure it... these movements are hand assembled and regulated at the same factory as its GS siblings. Expect -3 to +5 with every one of them....and better with most.
This one just looks odd to me Bruce and a bit bland. I say that as a massive 6105 / 6309 fan. It just doesn’t seem to have the X factor of those original pieces. I know it’s not trying to be but I really think Seiko have missed the mark with these Willard re-issues
I don't know if you have seen the leaked photos of the 6105-8000 reissue coming. Not sure if this is true, hope so, much prefer the case of the slim Willard.
So basically its a glorified 3k turtle with a better movement and some polishing. They didnt even bother to sign the crown. Not for me, but seems like people are buying them.
The amount of new Seiko releases is getting too much for me. I am getting lost. It's too much. So i will hold on to my Skx007 and Skx009 and maybe, MAYBE i will sell my SPB143 J1. That being said, i am in love with Seiko divers. Yes, i know......
it’s beautiful but for the money it lacks ceramic bezel, lacks frame on a date window, SEIKO inscription should be applied not printed, and it should have a display case on the back… 🙄🤷🏻 now that would be perfection 👊🏻💯
strange edges on the case, resemble SARB033 where they have a technological purpose related to machine polishing and brushing, why use them here, completely ruin the watch for me
While I loved your review I think I’ll keep $2,7000 dollars and buy another Long Island watch with great specs and sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel and the good old nh35 or nh36
I understand Seiko has great designs and I see the appeal of the Willard, Alpinist & 62mas, however, their lack of innovation at this price point is what frustrates me the most. Right now this just feels like an Incremental update for your uncle that already owns 30 Willards. I'd like to see a Seiko Spring Drive in a watch below $2K, more than this tho, I'd like to see Seiko doing something completely unanticipated.
Spring drive under $2000???? 😂😂😂 tell me, would you demand a similar price for the Co Axial? The two greatest innovations in escapement since Breguet are arguably the Seiko Spring Drive and George Daniel's Co Axial... the latter he obviously licensed to Omega. These are premium technologies. And as for seiko not being innovative???? Really???
I think Seiko makes the best looking watches in the business, but I won’t buy another one while they continue with their crappy, unregulated movements.
Seiko does absolutely under promise and over deliver. And that works fantastically for their watches around the $1000 USD level. Not so much when they try to charge $3000-$4000 for their SLA lineup. At that price point consumers look at Swiss brands that are certified chronometer accurate; that we don’t need to take the manufacture’s word for. Just sort of head scratching from Seiko. It’s a fantastic watch, no doubt. But the lack of certified accuracy, poor bracelet (really, is there any difference in this bracelet from their $500 offerings?), bezel that is often misaligned, metal bezel, etc makes it a tough sell when comparing it to something like a Pelagos. Just don’t see why this watch costs $3000. Clearly Seiko is trying to push upmarket, perhaps to allow them to push Grand Seiko even further up market, but I don’t see the value.
These bracelets are a substantial step up from their $1000 level ones… This movement is a step up from their $1000 range…. The finishing on the metal is better then most Swiss brands….The movement is in house and easy to regulate compared to most Swiss brands ETA movements at the price range….
Why don’t you be honest with people watching this? It’s a nice watch, sure, but what it’s NOT is a $3,000 watch! You’d have to be a total and complete SIMP to buy this at that price. I don’t care how much of a fan you are of Seiko. There are hundreds of better choices for that money. It’s garbage like this that makes people buy and create duplicates for $150.
