Seiko Diver’s 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation SPB143J1 / SPB145J1 / SPB147J1 / SPB149J1

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boatswain

Discussion Starter · Mar 5, 2020 (Edited)

11

SPB143J1 / 145J1 / 147J1 / 149J1

Just saw this getting posted about here and thought it may be worth getting it's own thread going.

https://www.seikowatches.com/ca-en/products/prospex/spb149j1

https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/products/prospex/special/55th-anniversary-limited/

It looks like an LE of 5,500 and a price of 140,000 yen.

Sapphire crystal

200m

Diashield

6R35

40.5mm diameter

47.6mm lug to lug

13.2mm thick

For my part I love the size and the dial, case and hands. No chapter ring.

I have been looking for awhile and I think It is almost my perfect seiko diver dare I say it.

There are also some non limited editions with grey and brown dials.

SPB143J1

SPB145J1

SPB147J1

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Kev161

· #4,515 · Dec 13, 2020

4

Local Seiko boutique finally has them, got to try on the new Willard and my 2 candidates, the SPB143 and SPB149.
Went with the SPB143.

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Kev161

· #4,517 · Dec 13, 2020

EEalexgawrys said:
Awesome pics and comparison. Thanks for the upload! What is meant by a Seiko boutique? Is this a jeweler that sells Seiko as one of it's brands. Or is this a Seiko specific store? I live in Los Angeles. Haven't seen a Seiko specific store.

Seiko Boutiques are Seiko and Grand Seiko specific stores, there are only 4 locations in the Americas, 3 in the US: New York, Miami, Beverly Hills (Grand Seiko only) and 1 in Panama (Central America).

Kev161

· #4,519 · Dec 13, 2020

DR Da-da said:
Great comparison shots! I picked up a 149 a little while ago and I'm also jonesing for the 151. However, I have been concerned that the 151 would be too big on my 6.75" wrist. In your pics the 151 doesn't look much bigger than the 143/149. Thanks for posting!

Thanks! I have a 6.25" wrist and I was interested in the SPB143 and SPB149 although they had the other 2 there, I decided I wanted to go for the every day type of look of the SPB143 but it was a tough one. The SPB151 is one that I didn't even considered before since I already have a turtle but it really looks and wears different.

Kev161

· #4,544 · Dec 19, 2020

KevJohn said:
What is your wrist size? Thanks

6.25"

Kev161

· #4,602 · Dec 31, 2020

gr8sw said:
still wondering if someone has real-life pics of the 145 to share?

If they still have it I'll take more pics.

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Kev161

· #4,912 · Feb 3, 2021

I don't think anyone else needs this side by side but just in case 😅

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Kev161

· #4,916 · Feb 3, 2021

5

Teddy Blanchard said:
Thats actually quite helpful! I was thinking the SPB14x was noticeably smaller than the SKX/5KX. Not so.

Thanks

Well... there's more 😂
Here's from another angle and the rest with a BB58 for comparison.

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Kev161

· #4,924 · Feb 4, 2021

2

SPB143 on C&B Chevron stone

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Kev161

· #4,988 · Feb 9, 2021

I may be in the minority here but I need the diver's extension. I have small wrists so the bracelet is short and the diver's extension helps so that the watch doesn't look like it's strangling the pillow when it goes back in the watch box.

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Kev161

· #5,000 · Feb 13, 2021

3

I just realized some of the images in the Seiko catalog are the actual size of the watch, I tried it with my turtle as well.

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Kev161

· #5,007 · Feb 14, 2021

jam3s121 said:
Anyone else have scratches between the lugs? I dont always wear the bracelet, now I don't want to take it off looking at them

Don't look in there 😆.
I've been using tape on the under side of the lugs.

Kev161

· #5,023 · Feb 15, 2021

scarab1st said:
I haven't visited this thread in a while so I did some back-reading and I didn't notice any SPB145 posted. Among the other variants I'm looking to pair it with my 149 so I'm curious about the experience of 145 owners.

I posted some pictures, check page 246.

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Kev161

· #5,047 · Feb 17, 2021

I've been enjoying this watch on the bracelet so much lately that it's the first time I actually leave the house wearing it on something else.
I've put it on this strap before but only for like 15 minutes.

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Kev161

· #5,057 · Feb 19, 2021

eomer said:
What do you guys think about Spb143 case and bezel with spb185 dial?

I think that would be killer

Not bad...still prefer the SPB143 as it is but this is not bad, maybe thinner hour and minute hands would make it even better IMO.

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Kev161

· #5,059 · Feb 19, 2021

Loevhagen said:
The beauty of the SPB143 is that all the markers on the dial and the hands all replicate each other (i.e. rectangles). The design is so coherent that the SPB14x really stands out in a - do I dare to say - sometime a psychedelic design language from Seiko (i.e. circles+triangles+rectangles+whatever in the same watch).

My vote for having another dial then the original in the SPB143 is a big; "NO!".

This is why I wouldn't change the SPB14x, it has the style of hour markers and hand set I've been wanting from Seiko in a more "affordable" package compared to the SLA 62MAS series.

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Kev161

· #5,082 · Feb 21, 2021

5

What are some of the shortest rubber straps out there? I own 2 Uncle Seiko's GL831 22mm short version but he doesn't offer a 20mm short version. Is there something out there that doesn't involve an exacto knife and sanding?
Here are some pictures to show what I'm dealing with:
OEM strap next to US GL831 22mm (short)

OEM strap on my 6.25" wrist

US GL831 (short 74mm x 124mm). The other one in olive drab color is a bit shorter than this one, I have to use a different hole on that one.

Even though I enjoy wearing my SPB143 on the bracelet and a C&B Chevron to switch it up, I would also like to wear it on a rubber strap without a long tail.

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Kev161

· #5,087 · Feb 21, 2021

FJR1971 said:
Barton elite silicon comes in a choice of standard (short) or long.

I've checked Barton's website before but didn't realized those straps came with both lengths maybe because I was looking for leather straps at the time.

Loevhagen said:
@Kev161 - Problem solved: ZULUDIVER 400 (MKII) Italian Rubber Divers Watch Strap

Does it need the skinny fat spring bars to fit properly or will it take the OEM?

konners said:
My wrist is about 6.5". I've got the US GL 22mm short and the regular 20mm. I didn't realise (or rather forgot) the 20mm was longer until measuring it recently. I'd say you'll probably be fine with it. Here's a photo of it fitted to my SPB151 on 4th adjustment hole. This position is pretty snug on my wrist (so tail of the strap is as long as it will get). Most often I have it adjusted to this or the 5th hole. Hope this helps!

Here're the 22mm short on my wrist, 4th hole while the black one I wear on the 3rd hole and I've tried them both on different watches to see if the L2L had anything to do with it. 8mm doesn't seem like much but I would like something even shorter than this.

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Kev161

· #5,106 · Feb 22, 2021

Loevhagen said:
That is a no-go for me. Nice try by Strapcode - aka close, but no cigar.

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Kev161

· #5,113 · Feb 22, 2021

They're counting on you to only look at your watch to tell the time or to shake your wrist and squint.

Kev161

· #5,126 · Feb 25, 2021

redhed18 said:
Sorry B&R? I'm slow at the moment... cheers

www.bandrbands.com

B & R Bands LLC

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