I might have been influenced by another comment. I don't remember reading one, but that doesn't mean I didn't. It's true none-the-less. She also talks along to Phillip DeFrancos Intro and outro and tries to imitate Linus from Linus Tech Tips as well.
I do own one and love it! I wear it more than any of my other watches. I did adjust it after several months...it was running +11/day and now running +3 with .1 error. Cheers!
Ok a few years on and I've bought a sla043. It's very similar but built with seikos ever brilliant steel. I always wanted a sla017, but I have had to settle for 2nd best. The 043 costs about 4.5k dollars without a bracelet, so the 017 , was a bargain after all . Would still love an 017 though. Amazing watches .
@@randallk2556 just like you , watched most of them. Makes you just as bad, at least I give an opinion on them , which is kinda the point . Lets face it, it's an obsessive hobby for most of us . If it's any comfort , I think I'm cured now , I've got the sla, I think it's the best looking diver , outhere, but you know that already , lol.
I'm torned between getting a 043 (blue, no bracelet) for little less than 4k or the 017 (which has a better color to my taste and a bracelet) for like 5.5k. Do you still feel a "craving" for the 017?
A honest and realistic review. I have a love/hate relationship with Seiko which makes me buying and flipping them on a regular base. My approach to watches is pragmatic: it has to look good on me, I appreciate a decent fit and finish and it has to be reasonable accurate, all this for an affordable price. So just the other day I received my Baby Ice Monster from Drop and for now - after replacing the so-so bracelet with a Milltat/Strapcode one that was sitting in my drawer, I'm a happy camper. Good news is that the accuracy is about +7 seconds a day, which is great for a 140$ watch I think.
I bought San Martin after watching your review...the thing just arrived today. It ain't Seiko but who cares...I'm sure I will enjoy my time with it. Thank you for the review 👌😆
Hi Jody and watch fans. I own a SLA017 and I did pay $4,000 for it (ouch!) in March 2018. I just fell in love with it, I couldn't help it. I do wear it very often, the watch I wear the most by far. Jody is right, I still haven't heard anyone say anything about it, not even some friends that are watch connoisseurs; that's something I like, and for that same reason I wouldn't like to wear a Rolex. I'm not a bracelet guy, and the rubber strap is too long, so I wear it with a sailcloth strap from Watchgecko that suits it perfectly. I also have a tropic strap from UncleSeiko that fits very well, more retro. Mine runs at +5 s/d, tested many times; that's pretty decent, so I only have to wait for 30 seconds once a week to get it back on time again. I do own other watches from Oris to IWC, but this is the one that earns most time on my wrist. I think it's really worth the price I paid. If not, I could sell it and recover the investment (just checked today and it quotes between $5,500 and $6,000 pre-owned on Chrono24), but I doubt I will ever do that.
That is absolutely gorgeous, rubber strap notwithstanding. It's a rare example of Seiko's Japanese aesthetics executed in a way that actually looks universally cool, instead of looking good only in the eyes of fanboys. It kinda reminds me of how most Toyotas look pretty lame, but then the Lexuses (?) look amazing while maintaining some sort of a Japanese design language (as opposed to copying the European styles). In summary, I love it and I wish more Seikos looked like that. Why they made it a limited edition $3k watch is beyond me. They should have made it a $500-1k watch and just sell it outright.
Movement is not in the same league of course, but I also own the watch and the case cannot get much better. Nice back case also. Only one complaint ; the stem feels a bit short
At that price, the 8L35 should have been more accurately regulated. But, I'd rather opt for one of the many, many homages available with an NH35. Lots and lots of them in the $450 range starting with the Armida A12 that comes with a MUCH better bracelet. The rest of the 62MAS homages are even less. I'm a fanboy, but given it's shortcomings and ridiculous price, I'd have to pass. I'd opt for something else in the Seiko Prospex or Grand Seiko line. I think your assessment is spot on Jody.
I had one of these. It's hard for me to say it's overpriced because it is close to my perfect ideal of a dive watch. At least in theory. In practice mine was about 10-12 spd fast, and as it was the most expensive watch I'd ever owned I found myself too apprehensive to really enjoy it. I eventually sold it without ever having put it on the bracelet.
I owned the watch and in general it’s a very nice piece. It’s ownership was let down by a couple of points. 1. Mine suffered from a slightly misaligned bezel. 2. The rubber strap needs a second keeper, though the day I was for ever having to place the end of the strap back into the keeper! Otherwise a great watch!
When swiss made watch made like that and priced more, everyone says its a swiss made...but when japanese watch make something like this with that price, everyone says what the hell, seiko should be cheap, and talking trash about seiko...
Swiss make watches like chronographs with Valjoux movement, 200m, beautifully crafted steel bracelets and price some of them at 1200€ or $1600 - half the price of this Seiko. And the bezels all align perfectly on Swiss watches !
@@mediastarguest Seiko movements are just work horses 🐎 especially on the high end Seiko's will work for a lifetime without having to service them. Just like Japanese cars total work horses can can do very high mileage without problems
My brother ordered one but resold it. And yes he is a Seiko diver fanboy, but the video does not do it justice. It really is the most beautiful Seiko I've seen. Understated elegance in a diver and maybe the best dial I've seen in person. He has the original 62 MAS that it pays homage to but I have to say I would take the reissue if given the choice.
I find it just beautiful! I think the inaccuracy in keeping time is really a shame considering the price. I don't understand the obsession so many people have with the boxes watches come in, sine I don't care about that is going to go into a drawer and never used.
I just bought a 62mas from Heimdallr same as the San Martin it’s a beauty and didn’t set me back 3500 usd or whatever it was very reasonably priced and personally I think it’s every bit as good as the seiko
I love seiko, but when your spending this amount of money it's just not on the cheap box/packaging & the usual bracelet not up to scatch. As someone commented and I couldn't agree more is you get a better all around watch with one of the well known model offerings from Tuder at a lower cost, and I should know because I personally own both a Seiko MM300 & Tudor BB and can first hand point out the differences.
I've seen these go for over $4000. It's nice but for that money it better say Grand above Seiko. Even still, I would rather a Tudor BB58 39mm for $3500 take the leftover $500 and get the Armida 62 mas or a san martin and throw in an orient to take up the loose change. Awesome review as always. Looking forward to the comparison with the san martin though just to see how well I spent my money.
Great review and stunning watch. I would not be happy with the lack of accuracy at that price point though, can't it be regulated better? Perhaps I just got lucky, but the NH36 in my Sharkey SKX that was regulated by Heimdallr is about 2 seconds slow per day on wrist, but by putting it on the nightstand crown-down when I got to bed I've managed to keep it within a second or two from atomic time for about 6 weeks now. If this low-end movement can do that I would expect the same or better from that much higher end movement, is that unrealistic of me?
storm3016 Funny you say that I have an NH35 in a same factory diver (himq Proxima 62MAS) and it is also super accurate (about +2s on wrist and the same in several positions) and I love it. I wonder if they do actually regulate them again in the factory.
@@jacc88888 I'm not really sure how it works with that factory and all the different brands Like Heimdallr, San Martin, Himq etc. But I did send a few questions to Heimdallr before I bought this watch and they stated that they regulate the movements and pressure test these watches in-house before they sell them. Good to hear I'm not the only one that got lucky with these though, enjoy the watch!
storm3016 Wow. That’s amazing - makes the relatively low price of these watches seem even more impressive and puts the big boys of Seiko and many other Swiss brands to shame.
Omega Seamaster nice watch ⌚️ hopefully nobody's going to Stab you for it. Great thing about Seiko LX and other high-end Seiko watches you are invisible to the McDonald's not Great video
Sbdc051 is the same watch with a 6r15 movement which is basically the same movement minus a couple of jewels, the case back is better, and you save around $2500 bucks. It also has a 20 mm band width which is better than 19 mm, that’s my take.
My 1969 Omega Seamaster 120 also has a 19mm band. The original beads of rice bracelet fell apart in under one year so to the past 50 years I have struggled to find straps. Before the Internet it was especially difficult. I often trimmed the ends of straps with an exacto knife. Style of the 62mas is a lot like the Seamaster 120. Honestly I cannot Scuba dive with the Seamaster anymore and Omegas are out of my price range now. I bought a Heimdallr 62mas homage.
I remember my Seiko diver back when I was scuba diving in the 60s. Never could warm up to the rubber strap. Switched to a watch with an Oyster bracelet.
I am a Seiko fan but in that price range I recently bought a pristine ,used ,Breitling Super Ocean Heritage 2. This Seiko is very nice but imo it's far over priced. Thank you for your videos.
Maybe I'm biased but I love my king turtle more.and the strap is almost the same just not milled.and I took it off for a rubber strap which shows off its curves.oh and the price was great too.i paid a month ago in the sales £413.00 bargain.
Jody, another awesome video! Pretty sure being a LE Seiko knew it would sell out, so figured why put more money into the watch.. As a point of pride I would think since only 2000 pcs & high cost Seiko would want this watch running at specs closer to the Rolex Submariner, the fact that it could be running up to 14 seconds fast a day for over 3000.00 US is just being lazy. I'm a fanboy of the vintage divers from the 70's/ 80's that I expect not to keep the best time in the world and pick them up on the cheap. I wont be owning this watch, in that price range there are many amazing Swiss & German pieces that out perform the Seiko.. Keep up the wonderful work!!
I thought you were going to say it cost 700 to 800 US dollars but for 3400 and you love Seiko, you might as well a Grand Seiko on the used market probably for the same price or maybe a tad more. I am not as they have a huge range of price. Nice Review Jody. It is a nice watch but I sure can't figure out how it is worth what they are charging. So many options in that price area and even less. Tudor, Oris Breitling (USED) many others I can't think of.
It's a beautiful watch - period. One that I can't afford as a student sadly and I will never own one surely. That's why I went and bought a Sharkey/Heimdallr 62mas homage. It's the least expensive watch in my entire collection, yet the one I tend to grab more often. I know the SLA017 is a limited edition and only for "the diehard fans" but I just don't get Seiko with this one. Why not price it ~ $700-800 and produce a larger quantity? They would sell like sweet lemon juice on a hot day and keep the history of the 62mas alive...
After my experience with screw in pins in bracelets...I prefer push pins any day of the week! Screws have to be glued stuck in the bracelet or there is a danger of losing the watch completely.... I had the bracelet come off twice with screw pins (that were vastened perfectly...but not GLUED). They are just a lot safer than screw down pins... whatever a snob might say. ;-) And boxes are always a surprise...Rolex does the same BS with their box...while some 400 dollar watches come with gorgeous display boxes.
Ive been wearing my (MSRP 829$) Squale 1521 w/the ETA 2824-2 movement and this thing keeps great time! I don't own a timegrapher but, I would say it's been running anywhere from +3 to maybe +4 spd. I set it against my g-shock when it came in and its been on and off my wrist for 2 straight weeks and only gained a total of about 50-55 seconds. I also wind it every other day to be safe. So for the price, I cant see the justification. Seiko is just asking too much for this one IMHO....
Great video, Jody! And the watch is just stunning! I think it is the looks and "inversed sobbery' that get me... I am even ok with +9 sec/day. 9 seconds is a low price for this beauty...
Hiya! I have watched a few watchmakers channels now and accuracy and deviation of mechanical movements is a bit of a parody. This is why I love quartz? I had one exprience with a Seiko 5 and its timekeeping changed like the weather! Grrrrr. Cheers.
I love your reviews. I am a hard core watch guy. brilliant. I do apologise though, I have a Scottish heritage myself , and your accent is really good ! I find myself mimicking it, but I mean no disrespect.
thank you jody for making this video, I have been fantasising on getting this sla017, instead I pulled the trigger (gotta admit it's a tough one too) with the sbdc085, with a already pretty hefty price tag for a seiko diver imo. but I am very happy with the performance and craftmanship of this sbdc085, even more so after watching your video lol. in particular comforting seeing my 62MAS reimagined stealth version with 6r15 is keeping a strong +2 seconds per day.
I was almost sold an IWC Little Prince for that amount! I like this one, but nothing about it suggests $3,400, unless they slapped a Spring Drive movement inside.
Great review and funny title! Fortunately, I own one, and it’s a great timepiece! You are exactly right in that it is not for everyone. It’s for the collector with numerous watches and have had the opportunity to experience various higher-end luxury brands and complication. Not everyone will appreciate GS and the higher-end Seikos, but the ones that do end up adding watches like the SLA017 to their collection just because... 😉
I would never pay that much for a regular Seiko, though I do agree it is gorgeous. I'm glad at least the rubber strap is extremely nice. That bracelet is terribly disappointing. I'd honestly have rather seen a 6 series movement, non-limited, and a $900-1,100 price (depending on if it came with strap and bracelet). It's obvious that higher end movement isn't buying a ton in accuracy. Considering all the other more expensive watches that deserve the price, I'd rather just get a San Martin to fill the desire for this look and save for something worthy of a higher price. Thanks for the solid review of this watch.
Put them side by side with the San Martin 62. With that NH35 mine is -2 to -3 sec per day for 230$. They look way too much a like for the price difference. Yea, youve got all the details, the Seiko on your dail (dont get mi wrong, i love seiko), but i wont even think givin 3,4 K for that 017, even if i had them.
Nice video Pal, but I think your slightly wrong: this watch is Not for a Seiko fan but for a Seiko Lover, coz only a mother or a lover would dismissed those 5 "details" while paying $3k... And I was considering all these while consulting internet bank financing options in my country 😅... Nice video as always, saludos desde Mérida👍
That one seiko was really overhyped, for the price it's really not all that special. I've never wanted one and I still dont . Thanks for the honest review jody 👍👍
@Ray Han Rolex has been in a bubble for awhile. There are some people that have the money but feel alienated having to wait for a Rolex. Some of those people are looking elsewhere.
That rolex bubble will never burst so long as the inherent human nature of exploited ignorance and greed remain prevalent. The demand is met mostly by immediate flippers; take a good look at the used market flooded with their watches. Rolex has become a status symbol like diamonds, which are essentially worthless and synthesized economically for professional drilling. The tulip flower was a status symbol before. Like many things in life, it's important to look at the underlying value of something, not just what everyone else thinks it's worth. The bubble bursts once that status symbol position is lost. There are so many better watches with better value, if not, far greater quality and engineering for the price you pay for that sub for instance. People will have to look elsewhere if they do not wish to contribute to this insanity.
I don't really think of the Rolex situation as a "bubble", they'll always be worth thousands. Rolex is playing their games with exclusivity, not value, of their steel "sport" models, first with prohibitive price and then with sheer availability. They want their luxury products on the wrists of people with thousands to burn, not those who are saving up for a "grail" watch. Steel Subs are actually worth a few thousand tops with consideration to design and construction, material and movement quality notwithstanding.
G'day Jody congratulations on another great vid. I agree a lovely watch that probably is $2000 overpriced. Seiko seams to think they can get away with charging Swiss prices for their their average bands, poor packaging and questionable accuracy. Simply re-issuing an old favorite is very lazy and i'd imagine there is plenty of these sitting in AD's awaiting a sucker to come along. Good work pointing this out to your audience and keep the vids coming.
If you are a commercial diver your favorite watch of all time is (probably) the Casio Men's Black Analog Watch $49.99 from Walmart, or Amazon, or the drug store. This watch is bomb proof. Takes a beating, looks great and can be replaced for $50. Wear it for your entire diving career and then, when you retire and have a little extra cash, buy the Seiko, or Rolex and wear it proudly around the golf course, or retirement home or the weekly, local AA meetings until you have to pawn it for rent.
Nice watch. I picked up your comment on its weight and that it typical for today's watches. Why? It doesn't have to be so heavy and heavy doesn't mean its quality, it just means its now uncomfortable and needs a special clasp so that you can use it daily Go back 10 years and quality dive watches like a Rolex sub were under 100g. Thats less than most modern titanium watches. With simple clasps and bracelets and being more comfortable for daily use. l think that watch manufacturers including Rolex have lost their way
It would be a good boxing match the Heimdallr with its 300 m water resistance vs the seiko s 200m and the Heimdallr has a waffle strap I ve bought the waffle and the bracelet so I’m all good I’m sure they send you out one if you ask them nicely
Its about 2000.00 over what I would pay for it imho. Many many more offerings to be had at that price that would blow it away in almost every category, and I am a Seiko fan myself but thanks no thanks. I still enjoy my Seiko 1st Gen Black monster though, its my daily desk diver of choice and since I upgraded the movement I enjoy it all the more. Good review though.
Hi Jody, I think you should review a Marathon GSAR diver if you have the chance. Those watches are incredibly high-quality Swiss timepieces which are a good value for what you get.
So glad sensible brands like Armida and San Martin brought this design with a reasonable price with great quality. Feel like "homage" or however you wanna call it brands exist, they deserve some more credit from "enthusiasts".
You can get that same look for MUCH less with the Chinese San Martin you reviewed not long ego. I wonder why you didn't mention it. Great review as always!
It's a beautiful piece don't get me wrong, but at that price point I would much rather get a Rado Captain Cook, it has the similar retro diver style, and the looks are congruent with the price.
No way not for that kind of cash! This watch should be selling for under $1000 not $3400. For the same money I have the Tudor Black Bay 58. The best decision I ever made. The watch is so beautiful and makes me feel special every time I wear it. It's nicely finished and is very accurate.
Hi Jody, I like your watch channel and your in depth and informative reviews. there are certainly a few Swiss, Japanese, German and even Chinese watches that have sparked my interest. One thing I've noticed is that I haven't seen you do a review of a British made watch. What's that I hear you say? 'Is there a viable British alternative or two?' , 'is he serious, British watches?'. I would really like to see if there are serious British contenders which are good quality, have some sort of legacy/history and the eternal hope from a fellow Scot, create a real value proposition. So, what do you think- any thing you could review? Cheers, Carlos
Another way to look at it would be this is one of the cheapest, most sensibly sized Grand Seiko diver with a heritage one will ever find (at MSRP of course) and has already gone up in value (Ugh...)
I'd just get a Seiko sbdc077 and spend the rest of the money on a couple of rounds of drinks to talk watches. Hell of a hangover I imagine, but money better spent :)
You should do a head-to-head video between this and the lowest cost Seamaster you can find. It would be interesting to see just how far ahead the Swiss manufacturers really are.
I love the looks of it. If I were going to design a watch, it would look almost identical to that. If it was $500 (and I could get one) I would. $3400? No way.
