Underwater Wednesday is a series which focuses on what is one of the most popular categories for men’s watches, the diver. Never mind that most guys give their dive watch no more of a workout than a couple of laps in the pool or a little snorkelling on holiday, these watches still have about them an aura of masculinity, adventure and perhaps even a little danger. And with all these things going for a diver’s watch, that’s why they remain so popular.
This week we have been fortunate to have Joe Kirk of ArizonaFineTime.com, supply an excellent article he has written on the hard to get Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver Limited Edition SBGA071. Arizona Fine Time is a family owned operation since 1960. They offer a great range of watches from respected watchmaking places including Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Japan.
This stunning sports watch is equipped with the revolutionary Spring Drive movement, equal if not superior to the best that is coming out of Switzerland.
Joe takes up the story of this goose-bumpingly good looking Seiko diver.
Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver LE
Seiko’s history with dive watches dates back to 1965, when they produced Japan’s first dive watch. Back then, diving was a relatively unusual sport that not many people partook in. Since then, the evolution of sport diving and the evolution of Seiko’s dive watches have come to full speed. The reputation Seiko has for a great dive watch is hard to surpass, and today, the new evolution of luxury and sport has come into one beautiful new limited edition.
The Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver Limited Edition SBGA071.
The Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver features a stainless steel case and bracelet, using Seiko’s impeccable Zaratsu (Katana Blade) polishing technique. Hands and hour-markers are designed with razor edges to deliver the best possible visibility and readability even in twilight. Even the materials used in Grand Seiko watches are special; the mainsprings in all the Grand Seiko mechanical and Spring Drive calibres are made of Seiko’s proprietary alloy, SPRON, which delivers maximum power reserve and durability.
The mirror quality finish can be found on the case sides as well as middle links of the bracelet. The case is 44.2mm wide, 14mm thick and has a solid case back engraved with with the watches 1-200 serial number. The crown is fairly large, and makes for very easy smooth setting, but is also guarded by a crown protector in case of any potential damage that can occur in diving. Should the crown be opened, there will be a red stripe exposed to help prevent you from jumping in the water before screwing down the crown.
The bracelet on this piece is quite special. Not only does it have an unbelievable finish, but also an elaborate expansion clasp for going over a wet suit. The ratcheting expansion is extended by pushing back on the locking mechanism of the clasp and pulling on the side of the bracelet where it extends out. When pushed back, you can extend the clasp to the desired position and it will lock in place when released, which makes for a quick and easy adjustment. On top of that, there are micro adjustments on the clasp to add even more comfort.
The movement is Seiko’s in-house manufactured and developed 9R65 Spring Drive calibre. There is much to be said about Spring Drive, all being great. For such a utility watch, only the finest movement is worthy of being inside of the timepiece. Spring Drive’s immaculate accuracy, durability, and 74 hour power reserve are the perfect fit for this diver. The gliding motion is mesmerizing, not to mention incredibly accurate. Rated at +/- 1 sec a day, the performance is most likely to fall within a 1-3 sec a month deviation, judging by customer feedback and personal experience.
The lume on this piece is very powerful. Helpful in the darkest of settings and made to last long throughout the night (or in really dark waters). The proprietary Lumi Brite luminescence is the same utilized in the highly acclaimed Seiko Space Walk. This is some of the brightest natural lume you can find in the watch world.
Retailing for $8,000, it is not inexpensive, but well worth every penny. Grand Seiko lives up to the Seiko slogan “Dedicated to Perfection” in every way imaginable. Perfection is something that is unattainable in most eyes, but when it comes to Grand Seiko, it is difficult to find imperfection.
Article and pictures courtesy of Joe Kirk of Arizona Fine Time
