Rolex vs Seiko! Head to head!

A commenter asked which was better: Seiko or Rolex. Since “better” is subjective, here’s a H2H almost totally devoid of hard data. We've got a Rolex 168000 “Triple Zero” from 1987 vs a near-NOS Seiko 8L35-0010 Marinemaster mm300.
PSA: This video contains sub-optimal levels of editing, usually none. We have zero script, no planning, basic editing, etc. Same for the sound - if you can hear anything count that as a win. Even if that "anything" is tuneless humming. I did pump up the volume though. YMMV if you choose to blow part of your life on this. No Refunds. Enjoy!
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[@oscargustavoarcosruiz8793]

I have Seiko I have Rolex. I love my two watches but currently I'm not able to buy another Rolex, they are ridiculously expensive and the real value of the product does not justify the investment (I'm not a speculator, I buy my watches to use and enjoy them not to keep them in the bank ) In that sense Seiko wins for me.

[@georgecupac1202]

Seiko is the clear winner in my opinion .

[@turradi1126]

Excellent video. To me it's the MM all the way, a proper man's watch. Thank you.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

It's a bit apples to oranges if I'm being honest. That said, the MM300 is on my wrist as I type this.

[@Supercruze]

The engineering that went into the MM300 case is just insanely good. You have to disassemble one to really appreciate that. I appreciate the history and legacy of the Submariner as a tool watch. The whole history of Rolex and their partnership with Comex is fascinating and their testing of the helium escape valves for decompression which later led to the Sea Dweller. The one thing I do not like about the modern Sub is the magnifier lens on the crystal which the Sea Dweller does not have. I love my MM300 as a pure tool watch aesthetic. The MM300 is a large watch that actually wears smaller than its size which I appreciate. Seiko goes their own way and nothing else looks like it. Thanks for the review.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Great post, thank you!

[@mikes.4136]

Your comparison is thoroughly enjoyable.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Thank you! I appreciate that sincerely.

[@GapBahnDirk]

Very good. How does the watch make you feel? Two jewels to the MM300 and one jewel to the Sub.

[@rozinant1237]

Thanks for this. I always assumed Rolex had wildly superior movements and that’s what justified the high cost. Lately, by watching videos, I am learning that is not the case, you are simply paying for branding and I refuse to do that.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Between us, the Rolex is just a watch.

[@carlosgj1308]

100% agree Rolex is just a status there is a lot of Swiss brands same quality at half the price 👍🏼

[@coffeeisgood102]

I like the Seiko. It looks better, dial, hands and bezel than the Rolex. And it is larger than the Rolex, a big plus. So side by side, I’ll purchase the Seiko. It’s a better watch.

[@clark3830]

The first bead for rarity is actually a wrong deal. Rolex makes more Daytona's than the MM300 Marine Master's. Lume Seiko beats everyone. Legacy is also a Seiko equal with the Captain Willard. I wore one in Vietnam flying F-C/Ds and bought a new version for my younger brother recently.

[@MarkCreighton-tc7sy]

I BOUGHT A SUB NEW IN 1991 AND SOLD IT IN 2010, HAVING FOUND i DIDN'T WEAR IT ENOUGH FOR FEAR OF LOSS/DAMAGE. I CONTINUE TO GET FAR MORE ENJOYMENT OUT OF MY SEIKO 6306, 6105, 1984 ARNIE AND 3 X 7548S.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Seiko is better any day, Rolex is just a name...

[@gavinBsussex]

Don't be daft

[@joshb7415]

why is he daft@@gavinBsussex

[@jeff1176]

For me, I'd rather have the marinemaster. As I am hard on stuff like jewelry and watches. I want one that can take the abuse of daily wear and with my old eyes, legibility is a very big plus. Put a cyclops on the date window or a bigger date window, and it's a no-brainer. Hands down marinemaster all day everyday.

[@jamessmith6402]

Let’s be honest both are fabulous watches 👍 thanks Spencer great video

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Thank you Mr. Smith.

[@patzguitarz]

Nice comparison. The sub is a classic design, but I have always preferred the look of Seiko's fully graduated bezel.

[@TheWayofGrace89]

Can’t wait to watch this! I just bought an SBDX017 and it comes in very soon. Can’t wait!

[@user-cy4fz7mo7v]

How is your SBDX017 I’m also thinking of taking the plunge

[@1968jpy]

I’d pick the Marine Master all day long 👍🏻

[@gotshpilkes]

Rolex Submariner w/date is the best $5,000 watch you can buy for $10,000. Except, you can't buy one.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Between us it's just a watch. In a vacuum, the Rolex is no better in most respects than any number of other watch brands I've gone through. I put a Rolex 1570 straight up against a Seiko 6216 - both movements made near about the same year - and the Seiko BLEW the Rolex away. Jeweled upper & lower arbor ports, hacking, 4x the diafix settings (IIRC), and overall better finishing. The Rolex not having any jeweling for the mainspring arbor still just mystifies me. Also, the Rolex casing system (two screws that hold the movement directly into the case) is literally a pocket watch setup. Seiko's casing is superlative; one of their greatest strengths. I've always suspected that Rolex has been coasting for a long long time. Innovation is Seiko's thing. JMO

[@ahmedkassem7679]

You know they right owning Marine Master is having akea furniture match butter value and much better quality than all ads no action

[@SheshankReddyS]

I prefer the larger indices and hands on the Seiko. I also like the sophistication of the case design. If I wanted old-fashioned, I'd get the 62 Mas or a Deepstar Aquastar. The Rolex just doesn't tick any boxes for me. I don't like the amount of dial text on either watch. The bracelet links are a little too thin on the Seiko IMO, for such a chunky watch.

[@conorwhitworth5182]

You could call the MM a remarkable looking watch and the Rolex quite unremarkable. Which is not a criticism of the Rolex. Rolex is a Rolex is a Rolex. But the MM is quite definitely a remarkable looking watch.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Yes.

[@truebluemiata]

Hey Spencer! Good stuff! I liked the link to the Magic Lever as well. Regarding your comment about the MM being the only Seiko lost at sea, I recall that 7a28 7049 that was under water for what, a year? Came back up and still in great shape. Then there's the saturation diver without a helium escape valve. You have to hand it to Seiko, they have (had?) some great engineers 👍

[@seancatacombs]

Oh the days when you could pick up a preowned SBDX001 for $1200... No one wanted them because the four-liner dial text "looked bad"

[@nintendokings]

The sub was amazing quality and value for its time in the 80s and before. Nowadays, these old watches still being $10k? Totally inflated.

[@Leftystrat]

Getting the monobloc case will limit where you can get it serviced, regulated. Apart from that the seiko is cool tough looking, but the sub is no slouch either

[@dodgydruid]

I got caught out as a knowlessman having put a Rolex deep sea glidelock on my Alpha Industries Paul Newman Daytona mech chrono and I like a lemon was bemoaning the drop between end link and lug arm... then it was explained to me that is how its supposed to be d'oh Looks bloody good mind, bracelet is prob worth more than the watch hehe

[@kurts4867]

MM's are $3 to 3300 .....

[@theenavybluemonster]

Marinemaster is best worn on the OEM rubber strap for me. Takes all that weight off and the strap holds the watch on my wrist perfectly most of the time depending on wrist swell.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Thanks!

[@dennischen8887]

I used that mm300 rubber strap on my speedmaster pro lol. Fits perfectly.

[@theenavybluemonster]

@@dennischen8887 Oh….I’ll have to try that when I get my Speedmaster.

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

A very interesting look at these two wonderful watches, I have in my collection, a Rolex Sea Dweller (Deep Sea) 116660, its my fav and my most worn watch, I also have a Seiko 7A28-7070 (I do love and respect Seiko), Omega Speedmaster Pro, Omega Seamaster (America's Cup edition), TAG Aquaracer 42mm (Automatic). Since I saw your other review on this Marine Master where you fixed the bezel and so forth, I went and checked on the prices of the Marine Master because I think its a fantastic watch, almost akin to the Sea Dweller which I much prefer over the Submariner. I find subs wear small and to be honest I was disappointed when I tried one on, and this was how I ended up with the Sea Dweller, much more watch going on there!! I am going to add two Seikos to my collection for sentimental reasons, a 6139-7060 Chrono, and a A158-503G (LCD), so many great Seikos out there, but NOW, I am hunting a Marine Master, I feel they are an extremely nice dive watch, to me dive watches should be bulky as they are work watches that have a particular purpose.....Great video!!

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Great comment, thank you!

[@raniehingpit2279]

When rolex have cyclops they love it, when seiko have it too, they don't like it. WHY??

[@kurts4867]

Could the MM be made in titanium ?? Would lighten it up .... Can a monocoque case be had with titanium ???

[@alaththar819]

Citizen does that.

[@MattMorris481]

Here’s the way I look at Rolex is Rolex but the Seiko is a very fine watch just as tuff as the Rolex. I mean I have a 6309 it’s 36 years old and never been opened and I still wear it I sure the Rolex would do the same, but I don’t have $10,000 or more way more.

[@MrPINKFL0YD]

Rolex are not hand built, not hand lumed etc. Rolex if they had only gone up with inflation from the 58 one would be the same price as the seiko. The seiko is a better watch.

[@zimankhan7411]

sub tin can bracelet on the rolex , much less legible than the seiko, worse finishing on the rolex, seiko is a quarter of the price

[@dennischen8887]

I have both as well, actually the newer generation of both of these and have to say the Rolex is still better. However, with the markup on these Rolexes, they are not worth it for the price. For the $2300 I paid for my brand new mm300, that was worth it. Bracelet is garbage though.

[@aleksandarmarkovic4992]

I don't have the sub but i have 10 sub homages and a mm homage, so i have some idea of the models in question. In my opinion two very different pieces, i can't say whitch one is better

[@christopherjefferson3561]

Spencer I would LOVE to see you compare the MM300 with the Proxima Monocoque cased replica to see what differences there are, if any. Just the nerd in me.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

I'll need to look that up

[@chuckgladfelter]

I have a Tudor 41mm blue bezel Black Bay diver and a Seiko Willard blue bezel SLA049 diver and the Tudor has the edge on the Seiko, IMO. Lume is a little better on the Seiko but the bracelet is a lot better on the Tudor. Legibility is a little better on the Todor. They're very comparable, though.

[@Drive-n-Vibe]

I have been scouring ebay for months trying to find one of these. The odd one that does pop always has some serious damage (usually a huge dent in the lugs). One day i'll get one. I assume they just weren't imported to the UK in huge numbers.

[@patrolmanmalik3121]

I have one what you looking for! Let me know I will sell it for you brand new few time’s wore .

[@Drive-n-Vibe]

@@patrolmanmalik3121cheers mate. closed on one in mint condition last week actually. Should be arriving any day now.

[@user-cy4fz7mo7v]

@@patrolmanmalik3121 Do you still have the MM for sale ?

[@joshuajovansantoso7353]

This is not head to head. If you want to compare 5 digit sub with seiko you gotta go with SKX031 or SKX028 classic 2000’s

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

Head-to-head means direct competition.

[@BiffTannenBTTF]

Did you know that Rolex makes the crown side lugs thinner than the left side? This is to balance the watch visually because of the crown.

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

I did not know that! Thank you! It makes me feel better about mine; I've thought the case was roughed up pretty badly, so this is nice to find out.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Happy Saturday!

[@d3xmeister]

Awesome video

[@natjes6017]

Nice comparison 😃 I wasn't aware that the SBDX001 had a sapphire crystal, always thought it was hardlex. I've been on the cusp several times buying a MM300, but it wears so small. Side by side with my SMP300 and they look about the same, probably because of the large dial on the SMP and the smallish one on the MM300.

[@nedhourani]

They are hardlex, could be Spencer’s is replaced with a sapphire.

[@fhaquuu]

Marine master is closer to the 6 digit bit man I love Rolex 5 digit

[@mohnnadmercedes8246]

Modern rolex is like wearing bright colors LV bags

[@adrianhargreaves2854]

I used to be on the fence with these two but living with them, then there’s no contest . The sub wins hands down every day. The mm300 , I’ve owned twice simply is no good as an every day watch and ends up keeping your watch box weighed down in strong winds 😂

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

The MM300 being so heavy is far & away the biggest negative of the watch.

[@conorwhitworth5182]

Trouble with the MM is the crown. A point of weakness for the watch. You get a triple lock on the Sub. In terms of 'value' the MM wins. In terms of daily wearability and comfort the Sub wins.

[@nedhourani]

120 clicks, not 160 ✌🏼

[@SpencerKleinVintageWatch]

I don't brain good on the best of days

[@nedhourani]

@@SpencerKleinVintageWatch 🙃 you’re not alone 🙌🏼

[@joshb7415]

the seiko is too bulky

[@dicklarge1901]

There are better dive watches out there than these 2 watches. Both are hard to read underwater. You need color on a dive watch. Color minute hand and a color warning on the bezel. A watch like a ocean crawler for diver is much better.