Seiko SARB033 vs Lorier Falcon III

3906 Views 60 Replies 35 Participants Last post by DaveMac, 1 h ago

Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · 5 d ago

2

Hi,

I'm seeking help here. I'm after a watch for a daily wear for around the £500 mark, I have narrowed it down to Seiko SARB033 (Ebay) and The Lorier Falcon III (Brand new). I can only buy one. I really really like the look of both of these. I just cant decide on which one to buy, a SARB033 from ebay or a Microbrand.

Which one would you choose? and Why?

Seiko SARB033

Lorier Falcon III

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CPTX

· #21 · 4 d ago

If they are the same price, I’d choose the Falcon.

Others to consider in this style include:
Astor + Banks Fortitude.
Charlie Paris Concordia
Venezianico Redentore
Seals Sea Storm
Monta Noble
Traska Commuter
Atticus Icarus
Zodiac Olympos
Timex Galli S1
Monbrey

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Reactions: 2

el_duderino

· #22 · 4 d ago

Lupinthe5th said:
G shock is a totally different kind of watch😂 they look very childish/plastic to me IMO. I do have a square GW-5000 tho which is kept in amazing condition for the last 10 years

Yes they do look ... well, like G-Shocks. When looking at watches as functional jewellery, they are hopeless. But honestly, coming from a GW-5000, both of your picks would be a massive step down in quality.

Nokie

· #23 · 4 d ago

Might look at Second Hour Watches as well.

Aldus Pagemaker

· #24 · 4 d ago (Edited)

One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier reply:

If it does not have to be one of the watches in question, I would take a serious look at Orient Star watches. They are usually offered below list price, so with your budget you could get a magnificient Orient Star.

FullFlavorPike

· #25 · 4 d ago

Seiko.

The Lorier is eye-catching up front, but you'll get bored with it. The Seiko has real staying power.

Reactions: 2

MrDisco99

· #26 · 4 d ago

I'm wearing my SARB033 today... and I'd say go with the Lorier. I had the Falcon II for a while and I kinda miss it sometimes.

The SARB033 is nice, but $500 is too much for it. The Lorier has a better movement, better case finishing, better bracelet, better dial legibility, and more interesting design.

CURRENT: Casio G-Shock DW5600E; Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm; Longines Conquest VHP 36mm; Omega Aqua Terra 38mm; Seiko SARB033, SKX007 (NH36 upgrade), SNA411, SUP880, SZSJ005; Swatch Clearly Gent; Tissot Seastar 1000 36mm; 天津手表厂 1963

FORMER: Casio GWM5610; Glycine Airman GL0064, GL0066, Combat Sub GL0088, GL0185, GL0249; Invicta Pro Diver 9094OB; Lorier Neptune III black/silver, Neptune III blue/silver, Falcon II PVD gold/white, Falcon II white, Hyperion black/gilt, Gemini white; NTH Barracuda Vintage Black, Amphion Vintage Gilt; Orient Bambino V3 blue, Ray II blue; Rodina R005; Seiko SKX013, SKX173, SSB033, SNK809; Swatch Once Again; Timex Fairfield Sub-Second, Weekender 38, Easy Readers; Tissot Automatics III, Le Locle, Le Locle Chronometre, Seastar 1000 40mm; Восток Aмфибия 420059, 420927

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kipLightning

· #27 · 4 d ago

It is too bafd you don't have a little more to spend the new The Twelve from CW is top of the line in this stype IMHO.

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Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · #28 · 4 d ago

blackcutlass said:
I have both and love both. All other things being equal (discounting the fact the SARB is used), I would go SARB if it were me. It fits me perfect—even the stock bracelet, which some people have trouble finding a good fit. It has an absolutely classic design that will never go out of style, and it looks good in pretty much all lighting. The trade off is it can be boring.

While the Falcon implements classic design language as well, it does so by harmonizing Omega and Rolex. So it has less identity in that respect, and sometimes feels less cohesive compared to the SARB. But it wears very well, and can blend in to any situation. The dial plays well with the light. Catch it at the right angle and it looks upscale:
(Will add pics later—I’ll getting server errors)
At other angles, the puffy indices exude the vintage character:

I otherwise prefer new watches and so would go with the Lorir unless the SARB you’re looking at is immaculate. Both movements perform similarly for me. The SARB is a modern classic whereas the the Falcon has a better size IMO.

Hey thanks for the reply, Seems we have the same taste in watches. The Sarb would be used. This one
Still cant decide

Reactions: 1

Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · #29 · 4 d ago

Aldus Pagemaker said:
One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier reply:

If it does not have to be one of the watches in question, I would take a serious look at Orient Star watches. They are usually offered below list price, so with your budget you could get a magnificient Orient Star.

Hi I have looked at these and their is far too much happening on the dial for my minimalist liking

Reactions: 1

Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · #30 · 4 d ago

kipLightning said:
It is too bafd you don't have a little more to spend the new The Twelve from CW is top of the line in this stype IMHO.

Interesting watch for sure. A little bit too blingy for me.

Reactions: 1

Aldus Pagemaker

· #31 · 4 d ago

Lupinthe5th said:
Hi I have looked at these and their is far too much happening on the dial for my minimalist liking

Yes, I can relate to that. I think Orient would do themselves a favour by releasing some Orient Star models with a more minimalistic approach and design

Would probably attract many new buyers too.

Reactions: 1

blackcutlass

· #32 · 4 d ago

Lupinthe5th said:
Hey thanks for the reply, Seems we have the same taste in watches. The Sarb would be used. This one
Still cant decide

It looks pretty well loved. I would pass, personally, but it's your call. There are some other SARB-ish watches out there (Seiko SZSB012 and the Citizen NB1050-59E) if you want to check out that style later. If you're OK with quartz, there's the Seiko SUR319P1 at 36mm. This particular line has the near-GS styling you get with the SARB, sapphire, and 100m WR. The SUR319P1 is 36mm but may be hard to find these days. The SUR311 is the same watch but at around 39-40mm. I think maybe give the Falcon a go.

MrDisco99

· #33 · 4 d ago

Lupinthe5th said:
Hey thanks for the reply, Seems we have the same taste in watches. The Sarb would be used. This one
Still cant decide

Yeah… I would not pay anywhere near $500 for that.

But of course I already have mine, which affects my perspective.

CURRENT: Casio G-Shock DW5600E; Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm; Longines Conquest VHP 36mm; Omega Aqua Terra 38mm; Seiko SARB033, SKX007 (NH36 upgrade), SNA411, SUP880, SZSJ005; Swatch Clearly Gent; Tissot Seastar 1000 36mm; 天津手表厂 1963

FORMER: Casio GWM5610; Glycine Airman GL0064, GL0066, Combat Sub GL0088, GL0185, GL0249; Invicta Pro Diver 9094OB; Lorier Neptune III black/silver, Neptune III blue/silver, Falcon II PVD gold/white, Falcon II white, Hyperion black/gilt, Gemini white; NTH Barracuda Vintage Black, Amphion Vintage Gilt; Orient Bambino V3 blue, Ray II blue; Rodina R005; Seiko SKX013, SKX173, SSB033, SNK809; Swatch Once Again; Timex Fairfield Sub-Second, Weekender 38, Easy Readers; Tissot Automatics III, Le Locle, Le Locle Chronometre, Seastar 1000 40mm; Восток Aмфибия 420059, 420927

Reactions: 1

Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · #34 · 3 d ago

MrDisco99 said:
Yeah… I would not pay anywhere near $500 for that.

But of course I already have mine, which affects my perspective.

its more than $500 more like $600

Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · #35 · 3 d ago

Okay so I've just seen the Lorier Astra, thats a beauty

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VincentG

· #36 · 3 d ago

4

There is a good reason that the Sarb was an instant classic, it was simply kismet, the combination of details and dimensions in the watch have yet to be duplicated and certainly not for the original $425 msrp, let alone it's street price back then. I love my Sarb, I love it so much that when I had the opportunity I purchased the alternate dials hands and date wheel, I just received a new NE-15 from Cousins UK and I think I will do the 037 1st, I am planning to set up two extra movements complete so that swapping from one to the other is a simple matter. I also have one of Larry's half links and I did a buckle mod on the oem bracelet, I will likely purchase a US president bracelet for it and maybe also a BOR as well. How much versatility and options would you like? Last pic is an internet pic

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Stelwick

· #37 · 3 d ago

Lupinthe5th said:
Okay so I've just seen the Lorier Astra, thats a beauty

I just came on this thread to say that the best Lorier alternative to the SARB is the Astra. I'm partial to the one with the blue dial but the champagne color is nice, too.

Reactions: 2

Earthjade

· #38 · 2 d ago

FullFlavorPike said:
The Seiko has real staying power.

Truth.
My SARB033 lasted a whole 4 months before I sold it.

Lupinthe5th

Discussion Starter · #39 · 2 d ago

Earthjade said:
Truth.
My SARB033 lasted a whole 4 months before I sold it.

How come you sold?
What watch did you replace it with?

Earthjade

· #40 · 2 d ago

Lupinthe5th said:
How come you sold?
What watch did you replace it with?

Bracelet was bad cheap and easily scratched
The movement (6R15) was erratic - I will never buy another 6R movement again (I've had 4, only 1 was good)
The indices started to bug me. They are applied, but they felt like cheap silver plastic.

But the hands are nice and the size was good. I didn't really replace it with anything. I think the watch I bought right after that was a Squale dive watch.
Also, I really think the SARB033 and 035 are yesterday's news. The fact that people are still getting hung up on them just goes to show that Seiko really hasn't made anything good in the past 5 years to match it.

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