Watching your video after 2 years... I bought this watch (black dial) about the same time. That time I got a great deal of $150 and today this watch is priced around $500-600. Quite happy with my purchase.
GREAT REVIEW! I actually like the “faux” 5 piece link on both sides of the bracelet near the bezel. For the size of this watch it adds a lot of comfort for a wrist size of around 6.5-7.25 inches IMO. Great work👍That opaque white “sunburst” dial speaks volumes in person‼️
Ged Canonizado You are most welcome, thanks for watching! I agree - I would love to add a SARB to my collection one day but the street price is so ridiculously high now to where I don’t think it’s worth it. I hope you love this watch if you get it. I love the Bambino’s too, by the way. Fantastic watches for the price. Highly recommend looking at WatchGecko, they sell a really nice Milanese mesh bracelet in the 41mm lug size (for about $40 US) which is a great replacement for the cheapish bracelets that they ship on.
Wolf S Yes! Only downside is the 4R instead of the 6R found in the SARB. However - do note that I think this has been discontinued (a few viewers have told me so but have not verified myself), so catch it while you can!
visiblemode Yeah - I mean don’t get me wrong it’s a fabulous watch but I think the combination of the hardlex crystal and the cheapish bracelet on the cocktail time brought it down. The crystal on that felt just like the hesalite crystal on my Tissot 1948 which is weird because hesalite is plastic where hardlex is allegedly a mineral crystal. It’s a great watch with real personality but it lacks the solidity that this guy and both my SARXs have. With that being said I am really curious if the Japanese cocktail times feel any different.
Ok, new insight on my end. I actually got to handle one today. I was really surprised about a number of things. Strap was unappealing but that I’d expected to replace anyway. The crystal was one issue though. It wasn’t terrible but it did seem almost hexalite like, as you said. Funny because I have Hardlex on my Seiko diver but in this boxed format it feels odd. The main issue for me was size. I was surprised how small it wears. 40 is definitely the bottom of my comfort zone, but it wears small imo, even so. As for JDM versions possibly being better, I wonder too.
visiblemode Hi!!! I am so sorry - RU-vid doesn’t notify me of replies on comments which is really annoying so I only saw this because I just came back to this video to respond to another one. ANYWAY, yes that’s what kind of turned me off to it because we also have a number of Seikos with hardlex crystals and that one to me like plastic/acrylic and not mineral which the hardlex is, so maybe it is different if you felt that way too? And yeah I just felt like it looks so good in pictures but then in person the quality lets it down especially compared to what one can get for $500-1,000 with Seiko or even the watch in the video for the same price.
Josh James yeah, it’s odd. I have hardlex too on my Seiko diver, and while it has accumulated maybe two fine scratches after years of regular use, it’s otherwise nice. It doesn’t have that premium look/feel of sapphire, but when flat it passes. Comparing domed crystals though, hardlex manages to seem so much more plastic-like, despite being glass. I recently handled the Longines Legend Diver and that domed sapphire really stands out as being far nicer. Of course they’re in a completely different price range, but I’m strictly comparing the materials.
I have this watch quality is amazing regulated mine to -3 per sec per day love this beauty much more than a sarb. Many mistake it for a GS And you absolutely right about those price point's.
Enobwaj Hi there! I hadn’t realized until your comment came through but I don’t see it listed on the Seiko.co.jp site so I’m guessing that it has been retired recently!
just purchased the white dial 2nd hand for $150, I actually own the black version, but the earlier incarnation of the black dial Sary has mirror polish centre links on the bracelet. I purchased the white dial as it has the brushed centre links so can switch out the bracelet. the mirror polish link version is way too showy to the point its unwearable.
Manish Soni I’d go for the SARB at that price. That’s about what they used to be, if you can find it from a reputable seller (or a seller you trust), go for it! Both are great watches but the 6R is definitely worth $100 more in my opinion.
VinzSar I definitely did. I don’t think I’ve ever had a watch where I didn’t. Unfortunately this was a while ago and I can’t remember how many I removed.
That’s a GREAT question, I should probably do an updated watches under $1K video. To your specific question, it depends on your budget. This is a great watch that I think wears well on the steel bracelet and leather, but if your budget is anything under $1K, I’d go for the SARX033 instead. Much higher fit and finish quality, more precise detail, better movement, etc.
CONROW This might be just a hair large, but in general I would say it’s fine. That’s totally your personal preference. It’s 42mm wide, though so it does wear quite large and a bit heavy
