Seiko SUMO Review | We Wanted To Love It... But Couldn't

The Seiko SBDC031 "Sumo" is one of Seiko's most popular dive watches. It offers a lot of bang for the buck, but once again falls short in a couple of areas. We wanted to love this watch but couldn't, find out why!
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[@billbailey1517]

I own a Seiko Blumo and love it with none of the problems of yours and would buy another any day.

[@JustWatchreviews]

I've heard that a couple of times now, sounds like I got a bad one. Thanks for checking in!

[@mrbacchus6127]

Ha I was going to say the same thing. I got mine for $350 with one of those ebay coupons and I feel it has the BEST value for money of any of my watches.

[@siamwatchaddict9072]

I also got lucky with my Blumo.. Perfect alignment at a way below MRRP Price. Also rums at +3 seconds a day...I guess its a bit of a lottery with Seiko... Mass production means less attention to detail..

[@MarkM58]

I just got my Blumo and it has no issues. It runs about 7 seconds fast per day. The bezel is tight, but not too tight. You don't want it too loose if you are a diver because knocking it around could give you the wrong calculations. Personally, I am a desk diver and don't really use the bezel that much. My only complaint is the bracelet. I don't like the sharp edges and have ordered a Strapcode Super Oyster that will arrive tomorrow.

[@planetdee3587]

It is ashame you got a misaligned bezel and a stiff bezel. I did not get these problems and that is why it is one of my favorite watches.

[@MarkM58]

I have 1 SRP313J1 Dracula Monster Gen 2, 2 Sammies, 2 Turtles, 1 SKX, 1 Velatura Yacht Timer and now, a Blumo that arrived 3 days ago. The watch has no QC problems. It runs about +7 secs/day. That will probably settle out as I wear the watch. The only thing I don't like is the bracelet. The underside edges are sharp and hurt my arm skin. I have ordered a Strapcode Super Oyster that will arrive tomorrow morning. As of now, I am loving this watch and feel it is a lot of watch for the money.

[@1968jpy]

I just yesterday received my Blumo from Japan 🇯🇵 and I have to say fortunately I have no bezel nor alignment issues at all . I did add an endmill bracelet because I actually bought the bracelet before I got the watch and have never adjusted a bracelet with pin and collar system. I’ve been wanting a Blumo now for over two years and I couldn’t be happier with this watch . I’ve noticed your review on the sbdc061 and that watch is $300 more than the Sumo and you mentioned the exact same issues with that watch as well. To me the Sumo is the clear choice in my opinion. The Sumo has a better case design and houses the same movement so to me an easy choice . Loved your review and just glad my Blumo doesn’t have the same issues that your watch has .

[@JustWatchreviews]

Thanks Joseph, enjoy the watch and congrats!

[@1968jpy]

Thanks my friend I’m definitely loving this watch 😀👍🏻

[@jeffd3802]

Joesph have u seen the newer sumo models coming out? Sapphire crystal upgraded movement and smaller bezel font😀

[@1968jpy]

Jeff D yes I sure have they look awesome. What’s your thoughts on the new Sumo?

[@roziroslan7891]

I have the 2nd gen sumo ...I love it!

[@clontstable1]

7 years with my 1st Gen SUMO. I had some regulation issues at first, but once they were ironed out, my timepiece has been running at about +5 and -5 seconds a day. There are no alignment issues and I've just always been amazed at its unique Beauty. At this moment I have mine on a Crafter Blue which was specially made for this timepiece.

[@M3LTUP]

I have a Gen 1 too. Had it for 10yrs. No alignment problems. 6R15 Movement is fine and keeps perfect time. I believe most of the QC issues w. Seikos started in the last 5yrs.

[@jasperdelossantos7151]

Mine is running at a max of +45 a day. How did you regulate yours?

[@KRW628]

Just checked my 031. Chapter ring - perfect. Bezel, stiff, but properly aligned (and I don't use the bezel anyway). Verdict - you have to spend a lot more money to get a little more watch than a Sumo.

[@JustWatchreviews]

Hi Michael, I'm glad you got a good one. Thanks for checkin in!

[@shipmate3577]

My biggest gripe with this watch is the lack of Sapphire Crystal for a watch ~$450-500. Hamilton field khaki ($350) has sapphire. I think the SBDC061 is intended to replace the SUMO.

[@quokkamode1484]

Shipmate a friend of mine is diver amd he said that mineral glass is more flexible than saphire so it is better in water where the temp. Can change a lot

[@MarkM58]

@@quokkamode1484 Exactly. Mineral doesn't crack as easily as sapphire. Sapphire doesn't scratch. Hardlex is mineral with a proprietary protective coating.

[@jeffd3802]

Just wait until the new sumos come out. They are sapphire crystals with a upgraded movement with smaller insert font. They appeared in basel. Will be a little cheaper than 1000 usd.

[@MarkM58]

Jeff D less than $1,000 but double the current price. SEIKO is moving price points upwards.

[@jeffd3802]

U should've kep it and carefully took off the insert from the bezel than reapplied too line up with the hour marker. The sumo is a little harder too do though. Thats why they sell the whole bezel with insert attached. Ive done a few in the past.

[@Barnaby_bo]

This watch is all about the steel. The case and the hands. So I think the black dial is the way to go.

[@surfitli]

Having the collars on the outside of the bracelet instead of in the middle. I don’t know why they did that. Makes it a pain to size. When I sized it a thought it was regular tension pins, but then the pin fell out and a saw that there was a collar on the pusher. Besides that it’s great

[@haybob2527]

You know on the Baby Tuna Padi, Seiko misspelled the word Edition (Editoin) and recalled the watches...)) I love the Sumo and I am a proud owner of one.Thank,s for your review and I enjoyed it..)

[@JustWatchreviews]

Thanks for watching Bob. I heard about the "typo Tuna", great collectors item for sure. Cheers!

[@inkitatus1]

Love it, but I agree that alignment issue would pee me off if I'd paid that much for a watch. Good review, cheers 👍👍

[@JustWatchreviews]

Thanks for checking in!

[@Teachering]

I like this watch, a lot! It's a great watch!

[@brynybach7741]

The watch bezel will ease up naturally with use. Not a good idea to live it as doing this will attract any dust or fine powder will stick to it and just clog up and cause it to wear more and actually stiffen up more. I have a Bluemo and love it. Yes the bezel was a bit stiff to start with but works lovely now. Chapter alignment is spot on on mine so no complaints with this one.

[@brynybach7741]

Sorry, that should say 'oil' it, not 'live' it. I hate predictive text.

[@JustWatchreviews]

Excellent, I'm looking forward to continued wear. Thanks for checking in!

[@MarkM58]

I have an Orient Mako II and the bezel was VERY stiff. I used WD-40 SILICONE (not regular WD-40) lubricant and it works much better.

[@billmurphy893]

I own the exact same one that you reviewed and I immediately put a strapcode angus jubilee, a double dose sapphire crystal and a fully lumed ceramic bezel on it. I had no issues with alignment but that would be a deal breaker on an otherwise beautiful watch. The best thing about Seiko is that they are so easily modded and so robust yet beautifully cased. It is spectacularly accurate when on wrist only loses less than a second a day over two weeks continuous wear but will lose about 5 or six a day in the box.

[@JustWatchreviews]

That sounds awesome, thanks for checking in!

[@chickenkipcrispystrips8760]

Do you have pictures of what your watch now looks like?

[@johnkennedy9078]

How hard is changing the bezel?

[@billmurphy893]

@@johnkennedy9078 it pops right off and is the easiest bezel to replace that I have seen in a seiko and have replaced many.

[@Smiling_mike]

My Blumo is perfectly aligned, best watch under $500!

[@JustWatchreviews]

I love the blue, I need to get one for myself.

[@juniorbullock838]

I love seiko, but those misalignments are ridiculous. Sort it out Seiko!!

[@siamwatchaddict9072]

Sent 3 Seiko watches back in the last 4 months including a SBDC053 JDM.. All with the same issues .Mis-aligned chapter rings and cross threaded case backs ??? Impossible to remove ,rendering the watches useless... The QC./QA at Seiko is total sub standard... No issues with the more budget models...????

[@GuitarD30]

So why do you love seiko then? They’re Chinese assembled garbage

[@clontstable1]

Mine lines up perfectly!😎

[@highpoints1983]

All in all this watch is still amazing! It could be worse. I’ve had no issues with my Seiko watches at least not yet. I guess it’s a hit or miss.

[@jigd0471]

Love the watch..and the profile...beautiful on a nato bracelet

[@FatSamEIE]

Jose Garrido even better on the Crafter blue- expensive on such a cheap watch but made it feel like a 2k watch

[@MarkM58]

@@FatSamEIE $500 is a cheap watch? I guess compared to some Swiss watches, it is. I guess it is all relative.

[@FatSamEIE]

I’m considering selling my Marinemaster to go back to a blumo on a Crafter blue as my beater. I just miss the shape of the case, that slightly slimmer case makes up for the lack of finishing compared to the mm300. However the hands, bezel and movement are significantly worse so I’m not sure. Also the phallic hour hand and camel toe 12 marker can’t be unseen...

[@walterlee4796]

FatSamEIE OH MAN I thought I was the only one to notice that ! 😂😂the seiko sexo

[@AMREPRESENTACIONES]

I have three sumo. No problem with misalignment

[@JustWatchreviews]

I really want to try another one, thinking about the all black one, or the pepsi

[@22Phanatic]

Luck of the draw, I’ve had 1 Sumo and 2 Blumos and they all lined up perfectly however the bezel was stiff on one of them. Sadly they are all gone! An 063 is in!

[@JustWatchreviews]

Nice, how do you like the 063?

[@MarkM58]

I just got my Blumo on 2/28/19 from Japan. They are not sold in the states.

[@walterlee4796]

We all of course as consumers have the right to critique but dont you think the bezel and alignment issues are QC problems that should be held against Seiko generally and not as a design flaw specificaly against this model, maybe? also I agree with you totally about the handset, great looking dial.I own two non diver Seiko's SARY055 and SARY057 off your reviews and I'm looking at Seiko divers, this one is moving up on the list, anyway thanks Mike keep 'em coming

[@FatSamEIE]

Walter Lee to be honest Seiko are known for it. No idea why but even the expensive Marinemaster often has misaligned bezel. I love Seiko for their faults not despitebthem as it adds to the character in my(weird wis) mind

[@lonewolf30531]

No problem with alignment for me. I guess it was just luck.

[@valueink]

Is stiff bezel because of the gasket needing to be lubricated or is it the friction between the bezel and the case? Mine is a little stiff too, and I’m thinking of popping up the bezel and lubricating the gasket.

[@e28forever30]

No need to pop it off. Just spray the gap liberally with silicone oil. Rotate it to spread the oil. Rinse off afterwards. Repeat if necessary.

[@steveo8533]

So if it aligned like many do and the bezel turned ok like many do then what would you grade it?

[@JustWatchreviews]

Good question, I'd bump it up at least a grade, or a grade + for sure.

[@steveo8533]

Thanks I’m definitely going to sell my samurai padi to buy a Blumo.

[@MD-go9vu]

You were in the danger zone changing the date.

[@nilsmagwalt1308]

Sumo or Orient Triton??

[@JustWatchreviews]

Sumo

[@phillippugh2161]

Sumo duh !!🤨

[@smilingskull7827]

To bad for you, I love mine!

[@nathan2483]

My save the ocean turtles bezel is like butter. Bezel issues are fixable, but honestly, why should you have to. Definitely saddens me that it was let out of the factory like that.

[@siamwatchaddict9072]

Seiko have tolerances way too much slack. Mass production ,maximum profit... Even identical watches have issues when you switch the bezels .. Machined to a ball park figure.. Not acceptable Seiko !!!

[@voiceofexperience]

The one Seiko diver that never did it for me at all.

[@JustWatchreviews]

It's funny, I never liked it in photos, but really like it in hand and on the wrist, I really enjoy wearing it. Even with the two minor flaws. Also, it's great on a NATO strap.

[@FatSamEIE]

Just Watch I agree 100%. It looked completely meh but then I fell in love with it. Try it on the Crafter blue strap- it’s the best thing I did and I’m seriously considering selling my mm300 and going back to a blumo on a Crafter blue. The strap made the watch twice as good- honestly it changes the watch so much for the better

[@johnkennedy9078]

I've been kinda obsessing over the Sumo lately.. It's just so hard for me to buy when I prefer the art value of the Turtle more. Also it looks too "diver generic" in my book.

[@AkuNoHana]

Camel toe 12 o'clock and 20mm lug width. Utterly overrated garbage!

[@JustWatchreviews]

I like the 20mm lug width better than 22 for most watches. Why don't you like it?

[@AkuNoHana]

Just Watch I don't have issue with 20mm lugs but for a watch of this size I think it's simply disproportionate. I'm probabaly feeling strongly about this piece because the case, bezel and hand sets are simply gorgeous but unable to love it because of the lugs and damn camel toe.