Why Seiko is Still the King of Affordable Divers - 6 Reasons. 1 Year with the Samurai

[@JusttheWatch]

Sorry about the autofocus issues on this video, I was trying out a new lens. I'll make sure to switch that off next time!

[@DronieUp]

Watching this late at night. I assumed it was time for me to sleep. 😀

[@robert-francoismallon4988]

As a watch lover and collector Seiko has adorned my wrist . I am 61 years of age and for 45 years there has been a Seiko on my wrist. Heritage quality and design Seiko has it all..

[@JusttheWatch]

Love hearing that. Definitely one of the aspects of Seiko that I find really attractive. So cool to be able to have that much history and such a long track record of satisfied customers

[@fatharryxx1]

@@JusttheWatch New to your channel (have subscribed) I have have just bought the new black Samurai you recently reviewed at their London shop (think their only Seiko only shop in Uk). All you said I didnt know alot of it but you confirmed. I already have 3 Seiko, gone back to them as my mid purchase range.

[@williamsalin3509]

My most accurate watch is Seiko Samurai! Also just subscribed! I’m 75 had all the nice watches, but the Seiko offers value for me!

[@Kevins-Philippine-Retirement]

The Samurai is my next dream watch. I own a 5KS and I love the balance between the relative crudeness of the SKS, and enough water resistance for me. The Samurai has all the certified Diver's rating like the SKS, plus the refinement of the 5KS and beyond. Definitely worth the extra money.

[@lancetcaballes]

Great points. For me, heritage is value. I just feel great having Samurai on my wrist. There's just a feeling of confidence in wearing a Seiko

[@paulc9588]

@@BurntPlaydoh You could apply the marketing comment to pretty much anything, from watches to white goods to cars. I don't see the aggressive marketing and optimistic claims about quality and craftsmanship from Seiko that the Swiss brands seem to rely on. No, Seiko is not perfect but then no brand is. Personally I have not had any quality issues with my two most recent Seikos (2018 and 2020). They compare extremely well with similarly priced or more expensive watches from Tissot and VSA, including re. alignment and regulation. Maybe Seiko is not as good as it once was but it is still better than the others in my experience.

[@paulc9588]

@@BurntPlaydoh You should not have to hand over any money for an unsatisfactory watch still under warranty. Surely free repair or replacement is a statutory right? Call me old-fashioned but I only buy watches from bricks and mortar ADs where I can personally inspect the watch I will be getting. If there is a problem they will sort it out, which is not always the case online. Not worth the risk IMHO as you do not know where the watch has been sourced from or if it has been returned and repaired previously. This has happened to me twice, once with a Tissot automatic and once with an Omega quartz in the January sale. The Tissot was returned to the manufactuer for much-needed regulation and I received a voucher for a free Tissot service at 2 years old for the inconvenience. The Omega was refunded without question due to a faulty crown which I failed to spot in the store. That was the only one they had in stock at that price. They gave me the option of return to Omega for free repair but I decided against this as it transpired the watch had been in stock for several years. Too much of a risk as there could be other issues lying in wait. Both times everything was dealt with to my complete satisfaction. Every brand will throw up a certain proportion of lemons so better to be safe than sorry. Never had a duff Seiko though in 30+ years of buying them . . . at least not yet.

[@paulc9588]

@@BurntPlaydoh I understand how your location makes things difficult. My impression from hearing the experiences of others is that most of the big brands do not offer great customer service. That is why ADs are important as your contract is with them rather than the manufacturer and it is their responsibility to sort out any issues. I certainly would not want to deal with the likes of Tissot and Omega directly, more than likely an absolute minefield. Once they have your money the individual customer does not count for much in the eyes of the corporate big boys. I notice they don't mention aftersales service in their marketing guff!

[@JasonTheWatchGuy]

I love the Samurai line...I have 3 up to now and they're fantastic!

[@dylanharrington744]

Love the Samurai. It is my go to watch for Day to Day tasks. I wear it anywhere without a worry. I enjoy it's unique design too. I bought it nearly new for under £200, while it was still available for £429 in the shops. Bargain.

[@markbyrum4743]

Good vid. I purchased a Japan market Samurai from Long Island Watch in November last year (Black Friday Sale) and haven't regretted it at all. I wear an aftermarket bracelet BUT put a Seiko diver adjust titanium clasp on it. It's just excellent! Keep at it!

[@DeepsGnome]

Go with the Seiko King samurai. Sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel. Only slightly more than a standard samurai. Can't be beat. I love it. One of my favourite daily watches.

[@HRM.H]

Ive always loved the case shape and lume style of the samurai. It's such a recognizable and good looking watch.

[@whyFINAL]

yes! and this i why Samurai is my first seiko :) …

[@reggievanness]

I have recently bought two Seiko Samurai one being the Orange Version and the Black and gray in color for the Chapter ring i love both watches! Thank you for the review!

[@MarceloVaz]

Literally got my Seiko Samurai "Save the Ocean" today and absolutely in honey moon phase.

[@eric21881]

i ordered the srpe33 and it comes saturday and im stoked

[@kenohanrahan4745]

I think you just talked me into keeping mine, maybe it's more a summer watch for me but it's not getting much wrist time lately. Time to dust it off and get the sun onto that Save the Oceans dial 👍

[@Structureel]

13:35 Excellent shot of the misalignment on your particular watch. You can see that the chapter ring isn't lining up with the indices. It's especially visible on the 12 o' clock index, where the dividing line is positioned way to the left of the chapter ring index.

[@homemmoita]

Hi, Dave! For a period of time I didn't care very much about heritage but for the last 5 years it's been a feature that I appreciate and it helps me make up my mind into buying or not some new watch every now and then.

[@javierjimenez786]

I've excluded the samurai just because of my smaller wrist size, but it is a very beautiful watch. I love the bezel and crown texture as well as the case shape. Also, I just realized in this video that the hour hand resembles the helmet of a samurai (maybe that's the reason for the name, which I always thought was due to the sword like minute hand). Very good video Dave!

[@wibu.nomaden]

Beautiful review, already getting a samurai for this christmas

[@Pete…NoNotThatOne]

Just concerning the crystal, using hardlex is a functional choice by Seiko on their tool watches. Sapphire is much harder, but also much more brittle. Hardlex will scratch rather than shatter catastrophically. It’s the same reason the moon watch still uses acrylic for its lenses.

[@galacticcaveman4045]

non-sense. the only thing you have right is about the moon watch. only because they didn't want shards of glass floating around in the spaceship if one broke. hardlex is glass and it will shatter, there's no doubt about it. and let me tell you, if you smack your watch on something hard enough to shatter sapphire, glass will shatter too.

[@ThePlaiibox]

@@galacticcaveman4045 sorry but he was right. Sapphire is more likely to shatter. Of course ALL glass CAN shatter, but sapphire is proven to shatter MORE which is why hardlex / mineral has been a the choice for tool divers for years. NOT as a cost saving.

[@galacticcaveman4045]

@@ThePlaiibox ok einstein, why do sieko's north of $1000 use sapphire? and does rolex use sapphire? yes. pretty much all dive watches that aren't el cheapos use sapphire. it takes more force to break sapphire, it's just not a "bendy" as glass, but glass takes less force to break. this is an issue for phones, but not an issue for dive watches, as the pressure is uniform.

[@ThePlaiibox]

@@galacticcaveman4045 Hi, Einstein here. Did you know that Sapphire IS glass? And that regardless of your blind ignorance, the properties of the material will not change. Hardlex/mineral crystal will always be more shatter resistant than Sapphire, regardless of cost and is able to withstand greater pressure over the long term making it perfect for sports watches. You can't change the science. Luxury watches often have much thicker Sapphire crystals (over 3mm) which do a better job. But these aren't common at the affordable end of the market. It's cost vs longevity.

[@galacticcaveman4045]

@@ThePlaiibox wrong again einstein. sapphire is not glass at all. glass is made from heating sand, which is mostly silicon dioxide. synthetic sapphire is made from heating aluminum oxide.

[@manuelnegrete2168]

Dave, you nailed it. I only have one witch that I purchased used. It is the Samurai STO and it quickly climbed to the top of my divers unplugging 2 Orient divers, a skx007j and a Aquatico bronz diver that I saw you review and bought. If I could only have one watch it would be one of the 2 watches I mentioned or my Alpinist......thanks for making it so clear to us.

[@mach78fl370]

Great video. Getting into the hobby years back, I was so sick of hearing about Seiko, and being told I needed to get a Seiko SKX, that I never even considered them. I considered them ugly an overpriced, even back then. Only recently, after having been through many other types of watches, including much more expensive Swiss watches, have I come around a bit and given Seiko a try, and I kind of get it now. I still never bought an SKX, and don't plan to, as I just can't do the no hand winding thing, but I did get a 5KX on a whim when I found a good deal on one, and it clicked. I liked it so much that I have since acquired a Turtle, a Samurai, the "dressKX", and even the Flightmaster. Super fun and unique watches, all of them, and always seem to be my go to on the weekends, for vacation, swimming, fishing, beach, etc. I still love and wear my higher end stuff most of the time, but man I love these Seikos, and this Samurai is one of my favorites.

[@APXA1]

Ok, timekeeping with an SKX is no fun...but, ugly? My SKX with a Miltat Oyster and Seiko clasp can deal with many much higher priced watches. The design is timeless and looks amazing, although my samurai gets the most wristtime.

[@Trump2024Kentucky]

To me I like what Orient is putting out now and put Seiko a very close second.

[@1968jpy]

Kevin Meeks totally 💯 agree with you as far as Orient goes . I own now the new 2020 Orient Mforce, the Mforce Bravo and a Orient Triton. All three of these watches in ways are putting Seiko to shame .

[@kronossonork6994]

@@1968jpy Orient and Seiko are part of the same Corporation.

[@1968jpy]

@@kronossonork6994 I’m aware I own both Seiko and Orient and are owned by the Seiko Epson group .

[@haping1]

I have an Orient Ray II with modified bezel. A very nice watch and love to wear it. But not ISO certified as Seiko...

[@henryperez3559]

Orient is terrific and citizen is too. But psychos watches have a personality that orients and citizens do not have. The monster, the tuna, the samurai, the sumo, The turtle, You probably know what they look like just by saying the name.

[@alextomlinson1725]

Excellent video Dave and well reasoned. You can't really argue with Seiko going up market (slightly in the case of the Samurai) with all of the microbrands out there. Also, it leaves the field open for Orient. Love my white dial King Sam.

[@JusttheWatch]

That white dial king samurai looks awesome. If it was available when I bought mine I might have held out for it instead of the one I got.

[@late4086]

Love the Samurai, IMO unbelievably comfortable for its size. Definitely staying in my rotation.

[@suikakujun]

I'm still rooting for citizen when it comes to affordable certified divers. I must agree the samurai looks nice though!

[@kronossonork6994]

They have a 300m eco-Drive with silicone strap under $170

[@limacuan]

Same here, Fugus rock

[@pa1ncak3]

@@kronossonork6994still looking for one under 260$ if you know where to find one around 170$ I'd love to know :)

[@kronossonork6994]

@@pa1ncak3 The model no is BN0085-01E

[@kronossonork6994]

@@pa1ncak3 Also there's BN0118-04E

[@edwinarose1848]

I love all my Seikos, especially the Samurai, which I purchased a couple of months ago. It looks amazing and wears comfortably despite my small wrist. I have a Certina PH200 and I’m considering to get the Orient’s New Triton, so yeah, tradition and the heritage is a big thing for me in watches. Also the Samurai’s ISO-certification meant a lot when doing the comparison with other divers, and no, I don’t do diving, but it is a merit for the Samurai, as you mentioned. Your channel is great, keep up the good work! Greetings from Finland :)

[@brianbuchert6382]

As a former police search and rescue diver the watch on your wrist has no bearing on being able to tell how much air you have left, that is read on the air meter that is connected to the tank .,the factors that go into how much air a diver consumes is kind of shape the diver is in,depth of the dive,,activity,and basically how fast or slow you breath so the more stressful the dive the more air is used,and other variables.But it is a common mistake to say the watch tells you how much air you have left.the watch is mostly used for how long your dive is and for factoring ur decompression.

[@markgrieves1307]

Great review Dave. You're still my favourite watch reviewer. The case you made for the Samurai is unassailable. However, having said that I wouldn't buy another Seiko over a certain price, the SRPE71K1 arrived today. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. As you said you take your luck that everything lines up and it does. Modding was actually a consideration for maybe a different bezel or sapphire crystal. Given that I'm never going to go diving I'm happy with it at half the cost of a Samurai, but if my life depended on it, the assurance of the Samurai being a true diver's watch would win every time. Love from England. 👍🙏🇯🇵🇬🇧

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Great video Totally agree with all your points 👍

[@martintanz9098]

I got a Samurai in a trade about 3 months ago and I am surprised how much I like it, as I don't usually go for big watches. I have a lot of watches, but I own more Seikos than any other brand. At least 10 last I checked.

[@normcote270]

After doing ton's of research and having undependable battery operated watches die I bought my Seiko Save the Ocean Samuri in Ocean Blue color. I've had it around 5 year's and I love it!!!!! I almost never take it off, even in the shower or swimming!! With the other past watches I've owned all stopped running if they were near steam or light moisture. That said I had Bulova, Timex and many other diver's watches ans ALL failed at some point. Best review I've seen on Seiko my friend. You are right to the point and I LOVE it!!!! So I guess you could say that after owning a Seiko Samuri and having owned other not good watches I truly AM a Seilko fan boy!! That is I LOVE their watches and I'd like to buy the new Monster,...NOT to replace my Samuri BUT just because I love them and for good reason!! AWESOME review my friend,...thank you very much SUPER informative!! 💙

[@timmcdonald5335]

Mini turtle is another great watch. Just one correction. The dive watch does not measure air in the tank but the bezel is used to time decompression stops or a dive plan. The best example of this is the Doxa bezel. This is because some people breath differently or the tank may not be 100% full so you cannot use it to measure air in the tank. A gauge connected to the tank is used for this.

[@JusttheWatch]

OK, that makes sense!

[@JeeGee114]

The Samurai STO mark 1 is not going to leave my collection any time soon. I love wearing it in the summertime. Eventually I will replace the hardlex and pop on a milled clasp. It is a chunky piece but lug to lug is just fine. No Zelos or any microbrand gives me the same briljant brutal case design and a dial that pops under sunlight.

[@redentorroque262]

You made a good point regarding availability of parts (whether OEM or mods) for Seiko as a plus. I have difficulty sourcing OEM parts for my Orient Triton, as there is only one authorized service center for Orient in my country. They gave me a $175 estimate for the replacement parts and additional "service" WITHOUT replacing the whole movement itself, which I found unacceptable for a watch costing $320. On the other hand, my entry level Seiko diver (mini turtle) was serviced by the Seiko authorized service center for $20 2 1/2 yrs. after I bought it and now runs about 3 secs. fast/ day. In fact, most watchmakers can service a 4r movement and failing that, one can always replace it with an NH35 movement which is cheap and available. Having said all of that, my limited experience with entry level Japanese automatic watches made me realize that the best entry level diver is probably the citizen promaster eco drive. The only reason I have yet to buy one is because I am trying my best to avoid buying entry level watches at the moment.

[@glenoxman7904]

I've got one, had it for 18 months, the thing is tough as old boots, feels and looks good on the wrist. I'm very happy with it. Also I actually quite like the bracelet it came on, feels solid.

[@dylanharrington744]

Same here, the Clasp isn't anything fancy, but always feels nice to close for some reason. I think they get a bad rap for their straps, but I'm with you.

[@gmotionedc5412]

I love seiko I’ve been on a buying spree lately. With all the variety, history, availability, and modding I think they are the best brand overall!!

[@MrShinobi797]

I'm now tempted to get a Samurai...EXCELLENT Content Dave 👌🏽

[@glenoxman7904]

You won't be disappointed 💯

[@Padist3r]

I absolutely love my king samurai! Have had it for about 3 months now, yet to test it diving but i know its going to be great.

[@iliketurtles4463]

Samurais, Sumos, Turtles, the solar roller looking one... Can't go wrong with a Seiko Prospex!

[@haping1]

Still feelings for Seiko, but the price raises of the last years makes me look more and more to other brands with a heritage. The best diver in my opinion is the Citizen Promaster Diver Eco Drive for about half the money from the Seiko Samurai. As unique as the Samurai and great lume too.

[@rankbadyin4147]

And perfect alignment too....

[@Bonpu]

There is also still its auto ancestor for about the same price: NY0040 - with actual military heritage, no alignment issues and typically great accuracy. I own both.

[@alblahut2519]

Citizen watch available all titanium, but date does not have magnifier.

[@JuanDelaCruz-qt5ok]

I agree that Citizen is a great watch and equally quality and shares history with seiko's but the Promaster Eco Drive is not as great as what Seiko is offering with their mechanical diver's wathes simply because of the movement. You really cant compare the beauty of science and the passion of creation of mechanical watches. Quartz, Its simply not comparable. Personally, I compare quartz as a not genuine leather where as mechanical watches are the ones that's genuine leathers that undergone through an intricate process of perfect creation. While quartz is just a machine made circuit boards and then assembled by just snapping the partz with screws and then done.

[@haping1]

@@JuanDelaCruz-qt5ok Just wanted to make a statement that I think Seiko gives us the opportunity to look to other (micro) brands the way they overpricing their watches now. If you don't want a quartz, buy the NY0040. For me a quartz watch can be interested as a mechanical movement. Big advantage is that I can put on the watch after a time and don't worry about setting the time. A mechanical movement is a useless complication in a way. But I like also my Samurai, Paddy and Turtle😁 Just serviced my SKX. It's more fun to do than quartz. But on the other hand, I never had to service a quartz. Buy the way: what do think about a Spring Drive? Cheers.

[@bensieber6960]

Great video! So many excellent points about the qualities that have led to Seiko becoming the king of affordable, dependable, desirable daily wear watches.

[@blindriv3r]

Great review, I believe the ISO certified also means that every single watch is QC'd for pressure and movement etc, of course no guarantees the bezel/chapter ring/indices will align, per standard Seiko QC lol

[@jouzel8951]

My favourite watch channel, thanks for your hard work!

[@WorthAWatchReviews]

Great video Dave 😊👍 I like the final thoughts at the end 👏

[@trypticon3293]

I'll never stop using Seiko. I have a 20 year old SHC039, and it's gorgeous and classy! I still use it while freediving!

[@jeffreygleaves2931]

My dad bought a Seiko at a garage sale and wore it for decades. He gave it to me and I wore it for another ten years before I destroyed it by smashing it under a hood of a car. It sat in a drawer mangled and still running. So yeah, I'm a fanboy. You would never see that with a Timex. I've been buying a couple of Orients because I consider them Seikos. I can't see spending thousands on a watch when you can have something beautiful that will run forever for $100 bucks. I don't care what the yacht club thinks.

[@1968jpy]

I bought a Seiko sbdc033 Sumo over two years ago at $420 . To me a first or second generation Prospex Sumo is the best ISO rated diver money can buy . Your samurai is a great watch and I’d say is equal with the Seiko Turtle. The reason I prefer the Seiko Sumo is because the case design and finishing is almost at a Marine Master level and it houses a 6R15 movement. I also own three Orient divers as well. The Orient Mforce 2020, Mforce Bravo and a Orient Triton all have sapphire crystals with AR coating and are all ISO rated diver watches as well. As far as affordability I believe Orient has become the new Seiko as far as outstanding diver watches at a affordable price .

[@mylesmooney7505]

I bought a steeldive yes cheap, looks good , wore it a year absolutely never missed a beat but bought a seiko turtle padi Pepsi & you can see the quality difference… hands down I’ll have it for the rest of my life

[@swilkobarfingtoniii1642]

I've got a few Seiko watches and I've also bought 3 Steeldive watches. I just don't see any difference in quality of case finish at all. All of them run well and are dependable. In fact the alignment is better on the Chinese watches compared to my Samurai- which is close, but not perfect. Considering that Seiko placed an increase of more than $100 just for a sapphire crystal and a ceramic bezel insert and one of my Steeldive watches retailed for slightly more than $100 w/ the exact same movement- my days of overpaying are over!

[@stevefox8605]

Spot on. Exactly why I've had more Seikos in 30+ years of being into watches than any other brand, and why microbrands haven't figured in my collection yet. Good video, Cheers Dave 👍🏻👍🏻

[@swilkobarfingtoniii1642]

There's a lot to be said for SEIKO's repair and parts network too. I get my watches repaired and serviced as needed and I've never heard "I'm waiting for a part."

[@stevefox8605]

@@swilkobarfingtoniii1642 absolutely, good point 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ozziebrito4527]

Well said Dave. Love how you review watches.

[@edteach3r]

Thanks for another thought-provoking video, Dave. Having worn Seikos for the past 50 years, I think you have hit the nail on the head. Seiko’s reliability is second to none and, when something does go wrong, I am still able to find OEM parts for a 50 year-old watch. I can’t even find a bracelet for my 4 year-old Christopher Ward C60 diver. Seikos are still affordable if you are prepared to shop around.

[@oktc68]

Some of Citizen dive watches are certified as are some of the G-Shock watches, both at lower prices than the Samurai, which I really like and own the black dial version. It is a nice looking watch once it's on a decent bracelet or strap.

[@garywillacey9979]

I get what you're saying, but most of us who love dive watches don't ever & will never go diving. We will go swimming in a pool or sea & even a Jacuzzi. I have a collection of Seiko divers which I am very fond of, but I also have other divers such as the Invicta Pro Divers & I've swam hard with these watches with no water getting inside. Maybe they can or can't go to 200M but who cares as long as it holds up to hard swimming & diving down to 20 or 30 feet, most of us don't need anymore than that. I no longer go for Seiko but I do go for their sister brand, Orient. They produce amazing dive watches & yes I know there's no certification on depth, I find they do way more than the average man/woman requires, also they look great! Microbrands are the way forward I think, you get the best of everything as well as QUALITY CONTROL! Seiko cares nothing of QC in the lower end market. Bless

[@d3xmeister]

Great video, came to rewatch it.

[@Vaco67]

I was on the fence with seiko until recently. I purchased a green solar street tuna. F&$@ing love it. Alignment is perfect.

[@AlexzVaryag]

You got lucky, mine was pretty misaligned, had to open it and align everything myself.

[@mikaelhedqvist3876]

3 years ago I got the "Great White" and it is the best buy I ever done in 64 years!

[@lookatwrist]

Very well stated. I think you touch on all bases in a very fair and even manner. Really nice.

[@MARKSFINCHES]

I'd go for the Orient Kamasu (red dial ) over anything Sekio has to offer atm !!

[@Chromegrillz]

I have the blue dial and nato band.

[@ThePlaiibox]

I have a Kamasu and it's great, but it's not a certified diver. Watches that are certified are individually tested for water resistance. The kamasu will only have been tested a few from each batch. So it may not be as robust if used as a diver. I do love orient as a company tho. I have 6.

[@SilverSergeant]

I have the red and blue dials. They are much better value than what Seiko is producing now.

[@martinbacon847]

62 MAS design was “borrowed” from Blancpain, I believe.

[@mrbacchus6127]

They don't look much alike

[@FT4Freedom]

62MAS is square cut lugs. Similar to a number of divers of the day. Seiko simply followed suit. Still a beautiful watch 62MAS.

[@wescobts]

I really appreciate the discussion about how important the ISO rating is, it means a lot to me, and i don't even dive. I am a proud Samurai owner and i am in the fanboy club.

[@matyasd007]

He is wrong about the ISO rating. The rolex submariner and the blancpain fifty fathoms are not ISO certified. The grandfathers of dive watches.

[@ddo7802]

​@@matyasd007 That's probably because Rolex and Blanc Pain know people come for their watches for reasons besides a diver certification, in fact, probably because they are the grandfathers of dive watches. In fact, I bet Rolex meets the ISO certification, but doesn't even bother to advertise it. But Seiko, they stand to benefit from indicating they meet the certification. I think he is right about the ISO rating. In this video from Long Island Watch, Mark discusses the ISO 6425 and how including the term "diver's" is indicative of meeting this stringent standard in which EACH individual watch is pressure-tested, instead of merely one out of a batch of however many, in addition to all the other requirements to meet that certification. So, it does mean something when it says "diver's 200m." kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2axm6V9had4gdUsi=lUN-R_GvXHugHBVL&t=615

[@kronossonork6994]

The SKA371 is the best divers watch for the money. It's accuracy is on par with GPS.

[@anonimushbosh]

I know I missed the honeymoon for this vid but still worth pointing out Omega (and probably a few others) specify their depth ratings refer to actual meters under the sea, not just a static pressure in a lab.

[@michaelgialogo7568]

Hear hear! Hope Seiko wakes up and realizes that their biggest consumer base is still those that want to buy watches that have the best value proposition. Awesome sound bytes by the way! Your vids are just replay monsters!

[@AleksiJoensuu]

I thought the timing bezel is for the pauses you need to take while resurfacing to avoid decompression sickness, instead of how much air you have left. But I'm no diver. Anyways, for me the big appeal for the "Diver's" rating has always been individual testing. I.e. sure you can make a watch with all the specs for your 200M water resistance and label it as such - but for the ISO certification you need to test the cases individually. Meaning, the watch you will be wearing on your wrist will have been tested. At least, that's how I've come to understand - please correct me if I'm talking out of my behind. I'm usually the kind of person who cares less about how long a warranty is and more about how likely a product is to break.

[@brianbuchert6382]

Yes you are correct it’s not only used in decompression but also to keep track of how long you’ve been down at a certain depth to guage if you even need to decompress in the first place! But no watch tells you how much air is left in your tank that’s on your octopus which had a gauge attached to your air tank!

[@KB-kw8ni]

Its for both

[@AleksiJoensuu]

Accepted! Thanks for clarifying. In any case I'm more likely to time almost anything else than diving with my diving bezel. BUT my original point I do still subscribe to: A diver's ISO rating promises me my individual watch has been tested to withstand a given WR rating. And that gives me just a little bit more peace of mind.

[@deanspeer1]

IMHO it's Orient that makes the BEST affordable dive watches.

[@danielt.9154]

Citizens are good too

[@jimipane2013]

Couldn't agree more. I own a Kamasu, Orient Star Outdoor and a Sun & Moon V2

[@elarson312]

The best review of a Seiko Samurai. I have had a Seiko dive watch in my collection always. They are just great watches.

[@spursblood1]

I own a 2021 Save The Ocean King Samurai - ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal, for me, it's an absolute design classic and has the specs to match in terms of being a certified dive watch. Everyone needs at least one Samurai in their collection.

[@jeffwenger5610]

I am sold, waiting on a Black King Samurai from my AD. It's a dependable tool.

[@JusttheWatch]

Nice

[@normcote270]

Great review, had my Katana 2.5. years, love it!!!

[@ryejack]

Most of my collection consists of smaller brand watches but I do own one Seiko 5. I plan to purchase a Seiko diver at some point though, for many of the reasons mentioned in this video. Probably not a Samurai, because of the size, but I'll likely pick up one of the sub 42mm Seiko divers.

[@waynemorris8388]

I will probably never take my seiko diving watch in a swimming pool but I love it. I just like looking at it on my wrist 😂

[@andytheturtle87]

I picked one (an SRPB53) for about $260 bucks a few weeks back and am very happy with it,. It's not just another homage to the sub/MAS/Blancpan and the rubber strap is much easier to keep clean for infection control purposes.

[@Matchedfilter]

Nice overview! I agree with your points and also think the same points also apply to the turtle whose case shape some may prefer to the angular samurai and is around the same price point.

[@JusttheWatch]

Definitely, I think the Turtle has even more heritage behind it, Seikos been working on that case style for a long time.

[@cheapdrummers]

Not gonna lie, you had me in the first half

[@MortalMechanica]

not gonna lie

[@TheDevilmayfart]

Lie gonna not

[@michaelriera6277]

Common not even a white lie?

[@Butterfly07949]

Yes love this watch as it was the watch my dad had and owning one would be a great reminder of him.

[@FortuneCookieMeditation]

I love Seiko and have a few myself. Orient is another great watch thats part of the Seiko family now. Best value for the majority of us that love watches and have small pockets. Thanks Dave.

[@JusttheWatch]

I love Orient, probably my favorite brand for shopping on a budget!

[@harryborsalino1276]

Excellent video...Seiko has been a go-to brand for me since the mid-70s, when I got my first quartz watch. I have to admit, I'm glad I purchased my SKX a couple of years ago before the price started creeping up (and before the SKX line was discontinued), and it is still a favorite as a daily-wear watch. I agree, for the money, in addition to other factors in its favor, Seiko has some of the best lume of any watch on the market; that's always a selling point for me. Problem is, a lot of people get confused between an actual diver and a watch with diver aesthetic and don't understand why a watch for under $100 doesn't claim 200M WR, or fails to deliver if it does. If a person wants an inexpensive diver-style watch (as opposed to affordable, which is not necessarily the same thing), the Casio Duro is still around and available for 50 bucks or less; it claims 200M water resistance but who knows? Citizen is also a good option, although I prefer their field watches. Thanks for the great post!

[@mubarak3457]

I have a bunch of Rolexes ,Submariner, Gold Daytona ,Thunderbird also an Offshore Panda AP a Patek Nautillus , a Breitling Chronomat , but also few Samurai’s that I really love 😉

[@robbiecleighmarks3088]

I one have one Seiko among a collection of more expensive pieces, and this is the one. I slapped a sapphire crystal on it and it's a tank. It's my most sentimental watch by far, as it was my first automatic gifted to me by my wife. Had on my wrist the day my son was born, and it hasnt missed a beat.

[@pk464]

Well done from another Samurai fan.

[@RickStegman]

Love the Samurai! There are lots of great micro-brands with great specs. But if I need to rely on something, ISO certification (or the Japanese equivalent) means a lot. Plus its a perfect fit for my larger wrist size (8 in / 203 mm). Plus plus the "Save the Ocean" dials are gorgeous.

[@H0kram]

Also, a Diver's certification means that every single watch's water resistance, is tested before leaving the factory. As opposed to a few selected of every batch on a regular non certified watch ( no matter the water resistance claimed ). I see some Alie watches with the '' Diver's '' on the dial yet it is a shady use of a registered label. They don't have the ISO certification.

[@perfectwrist23]

Thanks for this Dave. Have just come around to the Samurai myself, for all the reasons you mention. I'm 7.4in wrist but still would prefer a smaller case size with this design

[@SilverKeyMan]

Sorry, but when I don't actually dive, and can pick up a Zelos Swordfish for half the price (at least in Canada), it's hard to justify the Samurai.

[@rsagape7300]

No way a zelos is cheaper.

[@matyasd007]

And it’s nevet in stock😂

[@DFlemming]

In 3 years since this video was made Citizen has taken the crown 👑

[@porscheguy19]

What a great video. Perfect analysis. I've always thought that if I needed a dive watch to trust my life to, I'd buy a Seiko. It's not my favorite style, but it's an amazing watch. Your channel is maybe the best watch review channel on KZbin.

[@vailmcc]

Nice video Dave, thanks! Although I’ve owned several micro brands, and many are very good looking and without a doubt there’s good ‘bang for the buck’, I also know that a very high percentage of these companies won’t be in business in a few years. So when my crown gets jacked up where do I get parts? I won’t ever have that problem with Seiko..

[@robcrochet2025]

I don't like divers, but I like this one. The design is not derivative of the submariner at all; very much it's own thing.

[@salty_terminal_civilian5374]

It takes cues from other watches.

[@islandterror5198]

Volvo , "Boxy but Safe" 😂 lol

[@AntonioHorhes]

In the 1970s and 1980s, divers wore dive watches because it was the standard way to track bottom time while scuba diving. Today, with dive computers being the norm, divers wear watches as symbols that identify them as scuba divers - according to PADI, so it looks like dive watches are more of a 'identifying' than 'betting your life' thing. And that is still valuable, od course, but exatly as emotional and related to heritage.

[@larrydalton2205]

Dave, I agree on the Samurai. It was short sleeve weather today and I was wearing my SRPD23 STO. It is fine on my 7 inch wrist and the quality of mine is very nice. This one doesn't need ceramic bezel. Sapphire crystal would be nice but the watch is so distinctive. I love the sloped bezel with grooved insert and fascinating dial. The bracelet is plenty good to me even with the pressed clasp. I like it equally with my Glycine Combat Subs and Orient Mako USA 2's. The price was right as well.

[@tobiasrottenbach1769]

Great video Dave. Cheers from Stuttgart, Germany.

[@harrysmith3502]

I have a turtle, Sumo and a King Turtle. Defo upped there game with the ‘King’ range. With a bit of regulating where required, leaves you with a more than adequate dive tool.

[@djapojunior]

Well, Citizen dive watches are ISO diver certified, they have history and heritage, their designs are functional and beautiful (that depends on taste, but they have a variety of models), their lume is amazing and would say it is equivalent to Seiko in most cases. Their watches are virtually indestructive and now come at a better price than Seiko, yet they are always overlooked as kings of affordable divers. Don't get me wrong, I really like Seiko watches, but lately I'm definitely in team Citizen and I doubt that will change anytime soon.

[@JusttheWatch]

Citizen definitely is another great diver to consider. Like you said, many of the same benefits to Seiko.

[@STROND]

Seiko is always a good buy, and if you can stretch, a Grand Seiko are great !

[@hugohernandez3651]

I just got a King Samurai Dark Manta. Sapphire crystal, Ceramic Bezel, and an improved version of the rubber band. The watch is simply gorgeous. However there is a tiny misalignment in the dial 🤦‍♂️☹. QC is still an issue. With that being said, a $US450 is still unbeatable for what you get. Thanks for the video.

[@Randy-1967]

I love the rubber strap because it feels amazing

[@blackburnheart]

I never pay Seiko's MRSP, if you look for or wait, there are always sales and deals for Seiko, and at discount most Seiko offer great value.

[@joasheedesilva386]

Seiko always!! For all the reasons you pointed out!!

[@03flhtcui]

Great video. The Seiko watches offer amazing value from a legacy brand that you can trust. Quality, heritage, good specs and affordable. I see no point in even considering any of the Chinese brands you mentioned.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Citizen offers just as much with their ISO divers for less.

[@bigboiganiga8356]

Citizen dive watches design are wonky and rad as fuck. If only it is automatic, most of their available 300 or below dollars divers are solar quartz.

[@NathanChisholm041]

@@bigboiganiga8356 I only buy Eco-drive! Won't touch a Auto...

[@gregorybarry4564]

I had intentions of buying the "Save the Ocean" model about three years ago, but I was new to dive watches. Dave makes an excellent point, there are hundreds of new microbrands offering the same and better for cheaper. Seiko's heritage is a big factor for purchasing the older models like "Samurai". Don't get me started on the new range they brought out to replace the SKX. It would be nice if microbrands went about getting diver certification.