[boatswain]

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

 

[boatswain]

SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

Nice to see the other variants!

I like the 143 in what appears to be a grey sunburst dial.

Hoping those come in a little cheaper as they appear to not be limited.

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

This would look great on tropic rubber I bet

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

I don't think I have been this certain and excited about buying a watch in a long time.

That grey dial 143 with 62MAS inspiration at hopefully a price point in line with the 51/53 and 61/63 series of recent reinterpreted divers is just exactly what I was hoping Seiko would make but frankly I never imagined they would.

Love the size
Love the case
Love the dial
Love the hands
Love the bezel
Love the crystal
Love the simple bracelet

That is a lot more "loves" than I have hit on this one than any other seiko diver for me. Including the blue mm300 that I have been eyeing.

Hopefully more details on the non limited models come to light soon. Especially pricing and availability.

Are they likely to be released at the same time as the LE in June or does Seiko usually stagger the non limited models behind later?

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

I'm leaning toward the non-limited grey. However it appears to have a browner tinge than the SLA017

Brother of OoO

It does seem a bit brown.

I hope it is the same as the SLA though.

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

That 143 is the watch I've been looking for for a couple of years now.

I could see this displacing a few of the watches in my collection.

Agreed. I've been tempted by 62MAS inspired watches but I am glad I resisted as this is spot on.

I have already mentally sold some of my collection to make room

I'm thinking the bezel appears to be a coated brushed steel. It might have a nice semi-matte feel that pairs well with the dial. Any translations of the Japanese sites that may shed insight. I doubt it's ceramic.

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

You know they have an English site right?

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

Thanks!

Updated the OP with English links
(Japanese originally)

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

Bigggggg appreciation to @wristos on instagram. First in line at Wako this morning. Note that this is a prototype.

That looks great!

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

The non-limited ones on stainless steel bracelet will be 130,000 JPY, so over. The Limited Edition blue one is 10,000 JPY more, but comes with a stainless steel bracelet as well as the silicone strap it's on.

Thanks! Good to hear.

I was hoping the non limiteds would be cheaper . But I'm still not daunted yet

However things often drop below MSRP with Seiko...

How does 130,000JPY compare to the MSRP for the SDBC051 and 061 series?

 

[boatswain]

SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

I suppose the newer 6R35 is the justification for the non limiteds being more expensive than the 51/61 series...

I was hoping it wouldn't be more expensive than the 61.

It seems that prices are about 15-20% less than MSRP from reputable dealers right now on those.

I think when I got my SPB079 it was about 15-20% less than MSRP "on sale" from a good AD shortly after initial release.

So is it reasonable to assume that these will be available around 105,000 JY? Putting it right around $1,000USD?

That's not cheap.

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

These watches seem to deserve a good nickname.

Since "6RMAS" is already taken by the '51 series....

?

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

For some of the pics the bezel looks like it may be engraved. And with the samurai getting a ceramic bezel I believe I am now beginning to wonder and even hope that the insert is brushed ceramic.

I kind of like "35MAS".

a Japanese sea critter name would also be great.

 

[boatswain]

Re: SPB149/SBDC107 Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation

Wonder no more my friend, brushed ceramic it is
https://monochrome-watches.com/seik...spb149-modern-62mas-reissue-1965-specs-price/

That is great news

Brushed ceramic is .

Especially combined with the recessed lume pip.

I have loved the couple watches I have handled with brushed ceramic inserts.

Best of all worlds I think.

as much as I love fully lumed inserts for the light show. I don't like that they can be susceptible to discolouration and damage to the exposed lume paint.

 

[boatswain]

Re: Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation SPB143J1 / SPB147J1 / SPB149J1

Thread title renamed to include the 143 and 147

 

[boatswain]

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

The SPB145 exists as well! That looks very similar to the 143, because the 143 is a charcoal grey which has a hint of brown in it as well, but has a brown dial and "vintage-look" faux-patinated lume instead of green lume. It's hard to tell he difference from the dial colour, it's easy to get them mixed up, so it's easier to tell from the lume colour difference. It's different to the golden-brown dial of the 147, it's closer to the 143's dial in shade.

I'm not Polish, I don't have that many jczwcjyz's in my name!

I thought that there was a missing number there Thanks

I think I have it sorted now.

143- grey dial, green lume

145-brown dial, vintage lume, steel hands and indices, white bezel markings

147- brown dial, vintage lume, gilt hands ,indices, and bezel markings

149-blue dial, green lume, Limited edition.

I will update the title and original post

 

[boatswain]

I like the 14x series dimensions and softer case shape personally. The case looks more modern and refined as is natural for this series as modern look at the 62MAS.

I imagine the broader bezel and compact dial will make these appear like 38 or 39mm on the wrist, which I personally really like.

If I was tweaking the design to my ideal tastes I would have the bezel triangle have a broader base like the MM300s and add a frame on the date window. But really this hits a lot of marks for me and is closer to my ideal seiko diver than any others I’ve seen.

 

[boatswain]

Re: Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation SPB143J1 / SPB147J1 / SPB149J1

Hmmmmm, firstly we'll have to disagree on Armida's quality. The Armida was, for the price point especially, well finished and robust. Not shoddy in any way.

Secondly you're missing my point, which was about geometry and proportions. The point I'm making is that small changes in the proportions, such as the bezel width in relation to the case size and dial size can significantly alter the look and feel of a design. Seiko seem to have changed the proportions/geometry here and that's what is concerning me.

Look at the slew of 62mas homages there were and how these all looked subtly different depending on how the interpretation of the original dimensions.......

Looking at the A12 I was always held back by the lug proportions. They appeared slightly too long for the case design to my eye and I believe also left a gap between the case and strap.

Like the original this case style benefits from short lugs I think.

For the 14x series the lugs appear to be short and proportional to the case for my tastes and the additional bevelling to smooth things out looks great.

 

[boatswain]

Re: Seiko Diver's 1965 Modern Re-Interpretation SPB143J1 / SPB147J1 / SPB149J1

I'd agree, but I remember poring over images of the various 62mas homages (no way was I forking out for the SLA017......) and they all had subtle differences that changed their looks, so hence my concern here with the bezel width.......

I totally appreciate and respect that details impact how we each view any design. Little changes that one person loves another may hate.

In the case of these the details are working for me. But I fully understand and respect if something like the bezel width or any other aspect turn someone off.

I understand that seiko would do something like change the bezel width and indices so that it is different than the more direct (and expensive) SLA 62MAS versions.

Right now I'm still pumped and will remain cautiously optimistic until we see some more real life pics to confirm what they really look like.

 

[boatswain]

I have to admit I'm already contemplating strap combos...



Need something to fill the wait

I reckon that these will look excellent on rubber straps not just the bracelet.

So far I'm thinking tropic style rubber, Scurfa rubber or Barton elite in black or grey.

I do also like the look of the Seiko rubber for this series and look forward to seeing some more pics of it.

 

[boatswain]

Good options CK.

I suspect a nice dark grey single pass seatbelt NATO would be sweet for the 143 grey dial.

The shark mesh looks great. I haven't had one in a while but enjoyed it when I did.

While I have respect for the waffle ?and it's place in Seiko history it isn't my personal cuppa. I can enjoy it vicariously though!