Sunday, January 24, 2021

Down With the King

Now I would not claim to be the hippest cat out there. Tik Tok and its allure is still elusive to me. I depend on Instagram and like, everyone else born before the 80s, Facebook for a sense of what might might be cooking in the watch world's collective subconscious. And I've noticed a rather curious trend. Grand Seiko is still a very much the darling of the media arm of Watch Town, and fair enough. But what I've seen bubbling up lately is... well you can't really call it a cult as that would require membership, organization (and occasionally a saffron robe and bargain Nikes). No, this is very much a watch sub culture that exists in an organic state, feeding off passion, not hyperbole.

Now having said that, there is one non-Grand Seiko that is a bit more upmarket. At an MSRP of $3,300 it is decidedly a bit more aspirational than the Seiko 5 Sports or the Presage. And proof positive that the right design and concept will capture hearts and minds regardless of what Seiko clique you identify with.

Courtesy of Seiko

This is the King Seiko SJE083. And as mentioned, it has caught the eye of both my well-heeled colleagues in the Fourth and Fifth Estate, as well as the guys and gals who passionately collect the Grand Seiko's more affordable cousins.
Courtesy of Seiko
This is one is limited to 3,000 pieces.

And here are the pertinents -

MOVEMENT
Caliber Number
6L35
Automatic with manual winding capacity
Accuracy
+15 to -10 seconds per day
Power Reserve
Approx. 45 hours
26 jewels
Date display
Stop seconds hand function

CASE
Stainless steel (super hard coating)
Screw Down Case
Thickness: 
11.4 ㎜
Diameter: 
38.1 ㎜
Length: 
44.7 ㎜ 
Water Resistance:
5 bar
Crystal:
Box shaped sapphire crystal
Crystal Coating
Anti-reflective coating on inner surface

STRAP:
Crocodile leather

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