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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coconutpolygon

· #7,030 · Mar 20, 2022

Still such a shame they ruined a perfect dial with the lume pip at 3 nonsense. I really wanted to get one of the new releases because I love my SPB143.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,032 · Mar 20, 2022

mi6_ said:
The lume pip at 3 o’clock isn’t even noticeable once you own and wear the watch. Such an overblown issue. This is like all the whiners constantly complaining about the Prospex logo.

I mean I noticed it with my SPB213, which is why I sold it. Although I confess it's probably a me problem, I am a designer and photographer in my day-to-day life so noticing details is kinda ingrained in my natural way of looking at things. So the asymmetry and "afterthought" nature of the fix really sticks out like a sore thumb. I do however really like the prospex logo!

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coconutpolygon

· #7,035 · Mar 21, 2022

leapinglizard said:
I'm also a designer and I don't give a ****. If it wasn't there people would cry that it's not a real diver and Seiko is cutting corners. Actually go on a night dive and get back to me when you see how vital lume actually is

Who would complain it's not a real diver? A lot of Seiko divers and other dive watches (sub date e.g.) have date complications without a lume pip there. I would have just been happy if they removed the date and had a full lume pip at 3 o clock, or offered it as a variant. Anyway it doesn't matter since this has been discussed to death here probably 😂 I'll leave it alone.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,064 · Apr 6, 2022

Puma Cat said:
I've had my SPB143 for about 4 months now; actually it's a JDM, SBDC-101. it's been one of my faves, and it's been difficult to take it off to wear other pieces in my collection (I'm a big Sinn fan, FWIW). Just a quick "lifestyle" test shot...shot with my Fujifilm X-H1, 60mm Macro, and a coupla speedlites lighting up a Giottos tabletop studio "softbox". Shown on a Worn & Wound Sage ADPT strap on a wooden "art board".

Overall, just a wonderful watch, and love the way the dial plays with light. I tend it wear it almost exclusively on NATOs, and my faves of late have been the Ribbed NATOs from Cheapest NATOs. Cheers.

View attachment 16545740

That nato looks great, gonna pick one up and try it out. I've mostly had mine on the bracelet or the OEM rubber strap but nato could be fun!

took this one yesterday, this watch still punches way above its weight.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,090 · Apr 12, 2022

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coconutpolygon

· #7,097 · Apr 13, 2022

KoolKat said:
Classic & pure. Maybe boring for some but this is my most favorite configuration that will stand the test of time.

Agreed. I just need to figure out why mine is now running -25 spd out of nowhere ☹

coconutpolygon

· #7,103 · Apr 14, 2022

KoolKat said:
I had a similar issue, except mine was running about +25 spd going the other way! I took it into Seiko SC and they fixed it for me under warranty. It is now running about +8 spd, still not great but I will settle for now.

These movements are so random. My SPB259 has been running +1 for 5-6 months now (which is amazing). But my SPB213 and SPB143 have been varying wildly with the 143 last going from +9 to now -25 lol. I'll see if I can get it looked at.

coconutpolygon

· #7,151 · Apr 28, 2022 (Edited)

Oh man my SPB143 just stopped running today. No matter how much I wind it or whatever it just doesn't run. I've been wearing it all week, too

. Time to send it to Seiko I guess...

coconutpolygon

· #7,157 · May 4, 2022

Got the US Oyster today, feels really nice! Unfortunately my SPB143's 6R35 needs to be replaced so I can't give it a proper test run yet. I've also got one of those clasps on the way so I'll post photos as soon as it's here.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,172 · May 8, 2022

fourcircle said:
Anyway, anyone know if this can be corrected? I think the watch has diashield. Dealer has indicated it can be buffed but they are an hour away.

I'd just learn to live with it, it'll happen anyway even if you're really careful.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,193 · May 19, 2022

Heinekin_Skywalker said:
does seiko refinish and rediashock a watch? when i send mine in for service in a few years or so, id like to slap a new bezel on it(small dings) and get it largely refreshed and looking new or as new as possible.

Im fine with wear and tear, love the watch but this is one particular watch that id like to be able to bring back to looking new or close to it periodically

I don't think regular seiko service centres refinish anything, they don't even actually service movements (they are mostly replaced as its cheaper to replace than it is to pay a watchmaker to actually service it). You could request them to replace the entire case/bezel, and then buy another bracelet too. another option for you would be to try and buy another watch in the line, and save it as a donor case/bracelet for when your "main" one is too dinged up. or just have it as a spare you can use down the line as "new old stock" essentially.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,195 · May 19, 2022

Heinekin_Skywalker said:
Kinda suspected that as they only mention servicing movements on their site. I'll probably just enjoy it, the case has no wear at all. The bezel gest some dings to its lip, the outside edge, at least one of the teeth in the coin edged part has been dinged but thats really not worth assessing as with the finish and how close together all the little ridges are makes its something you really gotta sit down and take your time to find. I may buy a few extra bezels and a bracelet though. I dont think that would be too expensive, i really dont want to buy a whole second one as thats a ton of cash, this watch is twice as expensive as any of my other three watches at least. It would be nice if they could refinish watches if you felt like paying extra but oh well.

Yeah I agree with you, I have a spare bracelet for my SPB143 since that's what gets the most wear (mostly from rubbing against itself). The diashield coating has held up really well for me, over the past year and a half I've had mine. It's the watch I wear the most as my "tool" watch, it's usually brushing up against rocks and what not and there's not a scratch on the case.

Sadly the movement died and it's back with seiko to replace the 6R35 so... not all rainbows and sunshine 😂.

coconutpolygon

· #7,250 · 12 mo ago

My SPB143 has been with Seiko UK for about 6 weeks now... I wonder how busy they are.

Since they don't service movements, and they just swap them out, I'm curious whats taking so long. A movement swap takes 20-30 minutes if you go slowly and do it properly making sure the hands are aligned and the date clicks over at the right time. What's left? New gasket and maybe a pressure test on the case? They don't regulate/adjust movements either...

Maybe they just have a ton of watches to get through, and it's just a handful of people working there? 🤷‍♂️

All this to say, I miss my SPB143 quite a lot 😅

coconutpolygon

· #7,252 · 12 mo ago

adt89 said:
That's a really long time, I just sent mine to service (in USA) a few days ago (terrible accuracy, worst of my many Seikos with low-end movements) and they received it two days ago and today it shows the watch is ready for shipment.

I called to ask today and they said "first week of July" and I cheekily asked "could you just send me the watch and the new movement I'll do it myself" and they said no 😂

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coconutpolygon

· #7,272 · 11 mo ago

Wobbley24 said:
The reason I mentioned the Rolex or GS high beat is that your expectation can change. They quote +-2 secs as accuracy so you can expect the GS/Rolex to keep time and expect them to do something about it if the watch isn't accurate.

Which GS mechanical quotes +-2 seconds per day?

coconutpolygon

· #7,274 · 11 mo ago

Wobbley24 said:
Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't Rolex quote +-2sec a day as their accuracy.

Yes Rolex does, but GS is generally -3/+5 (but -1/+10 on wrist)

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coconutpolygon

· #7,285 · 11 mo ago

konners said:
What

what on earth are you on about?!

I literally thought this person is just posting various random copy pasta

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coconutpolygon

· #7,312 · 11 mo ago

HayabusaRid3r1080 said:
Could some one post a watch to break up these walls of text.

I would but the 6R35 in mine broke more than 2 months ago and is still with Seiko 👍

coconutpolygon

· #7,330 · 10 mo ago

So just my luck, I get my SPB143 back from "service" from Seiko UK after 3 months (they had to swap the movement but they didn't have any 6R35s so they had to get one from Japan? or something). Anyway I get the watch back and it looks like they've swapped the dial... and this one has a misprinted minute track, or all the indices are wrong, or something but it's way off (very clear at 12 and 6) 😂 back to the AD I go... my luck with this watch is awful.

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coconutpolygon

· #7,361 · 9 mo ago

One-Seventy said:
Also, mail order only from one location. Interesting how people nowadays seem to value the entire Seiko supply chain and the ability to buy, and service, them in over 100 countries at zero (same goes for all other brands avaliable "in the shops").

But then value is nothing and price is everything to the new breed of buyer. Before, they were able to make the distinction. So what happened?

I think it's probably because a lot of people coming into watches recently have not actually owned a watch for more than a year. They haven't had to have it serviced, or repaired, or had a bracelet link/clasp/whatever replaced, or a gasket or whatever replaced etc etc. and haven't had to actually deal with the brand post sale.

I've had experiences with a handful of brands now after a mere 3-4 years collecting, and some of them are far far far nicer and approachable than others. Oris, Nomos, GS, and Longines have been fantastic. Emailing them and asking a question about the movement, or getting a replacement strap, or link, or screw, or arranging a service has been efficient and clear.

Rolex? Very slow, but at least it's decent. Seiko? Almost as bad as Rolex, incredibly slow with almost no communication, but also with awful work. (My SPB143 was with them for 4 months because the mainspring failed, they took ages to replace the movement and ended up mashing up the crown, and replacing the dial with a misprinted one, and god knows what else - so it's back to them now and has been for a month+).

Going forward if I buy a watch that I know I want to keep in my collection long term, I want to know that the people who will eventually be servicing it etc actually care about me as a customer and user of their product. Not expecting them to go out of their way, but at least having a reasonable open line of communication and some transparency goes a long way. Will they have the parts in 10+ years? will they even exist in 10 years (unsure about a lot of micros that might disappear).

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