Lately i've been wondering around in the world of Seiko, and i'm quite impressed with the quality and build that they have. Not to forget their price range.
When I was browsing around some of the legendary Seiko, I was really drawn by one particular watch. However from the info that I got, the watch has been discontinued for quite sometime. So for a while I can only dream of wearing it.
Until recently I finally managed to get one of it. The watch that I’ve been dreaming about is Seiko Orange Samurai or SBDA005, I believe there are other variants and limited editions series as well, but I think the orange is the one that I like the most, second would be the black Ti.
Dial
I find the Orange Samurai very unique because of the dial color, this is my first orange dial color. Personally I think compare to Orange Mako I / II, Sumo, or Monster, the orange is this one turn out better than the others
The print on the dial is excellent, as we can expect from Seiko, sharp and crisp, even the small text of Japan, and engine type.
Dial : 10 / 10
Hour Marker
The hour marker is quite unique, combination of mirror polish and lume marker on top. I would love it if the finishing of the hour marker is in titanium as well to give more unify look to the watch. But all and all, it’s good.
Hour Marker : 8 / 10
Chapter Ring
At first I didn’t really notice the chapter ring, I thought that’s just part of the dial.
The markers on the chapter ring are printed really nicely as you can see on the photo.
Chapter Ring : 9 / 10
Date
The print on the date wheel is crisp and nice, as you can expect from Seiko. Even though I’m not so sure about the black date on white wheel. Legibility wise it is easy to read, but from design point of view, I think it’s a bit out of place.
Date Wheel : 7 / 10
Hands
At first I found the hands look a bit funny, the hour is too short and to wide, but after further inspection, it start to grow on me, the hands really compliment the whole dial and watch. The small second hand has a very unique shape design.
I don’t know where the nick name come from, but it’s probably from the hands, as they all look like three swords but in different size, I think the black hands really stand out from the orange dial.
Hands : Design : 9 / 10, Quality 9 / 10
Bezel
I tried to count the amount of clicks, but I always accidentally skipped a couple clicks, because looks like there are two different clicks, one big one followed by one small one. Not so sure about this, but compare to Mako II / Hogrider, the Samurai is a bit softer and looser to turn.
If I have to take a guess, the bezel probably one of the reason why they called it the samurai, some how it remind me of the Rising Sun symbol from Japan. The stripes and shape of the first quarter also reminds me of the precision cut made by the samurai. Well that’s just my imagination runs wild
The side of the crown has the same finishing as the crown, knurled edges – correct me if I’m wrong about the term of the finishing – It give a rugged look to the watch.
Bezel : 9 / 10
Glass
My samurai come with Saphire Crystal, so I cant really comment about the hardex mineral. I would prefer it with AR, so the dial can stand out much more. But for now this should be enough.
The glass recess from the bezel. Seiko love to build their watch like this, probably to protect the glass by using the bezel.
Glass : 7 / 10
Case
I generally wear big size watches 44+, the samurai size is 42mm but I think it wears smaller than the size. From what I found, the orange one only comes in titanium. The first impression when I strap it on my wrist, damnnn it’s so light, as if there’s nothing on my wrist.
I love the color of the titanium, looks like a gun metal color and I heard it’s scratch resistance, but I don’t care, because scratches gave your watches personality J
While the top part has that titanium look, the side and the back finishing is in polish mirror. The construction of case gave an impression as if the watch is being hold in place by the lugs, it is created by the different in finishing, as it is actually one whole body.
Case construction is excellent, a lot of hard cut edges that made the watch looks tough and masculine. I really like the design of the case and the finishing, the overall case made the watch look like the right tool or diving watch.
Case : 9 / 10
Crown
Even though there are crown guards, but I found it so easy to unscrew the crown, mostly because of the large size crown. The finishing of the crown is the same as the side of the bezel. Really compliment the whole watch.
1st click is to set the date, and the 2nd click is to set the watch. Straight forward.
Corwn : 9 / 10
Clasp & Bracelet
The orange samurai only come with rubber strap. Perfect combo, firstly because I’m not a big fan of steel bracelet, and secondly this is suppose to be a diver watch, so rubber diver strap should be on it,the buckle is also a titanium in dark color. Perfect combo.
Rubber Strap : 9 /10
Movement
The movement is very quite and reliable, after my initial test the power reserve stand for
Movement : 8 / 10
Lume
Gotta love the lume. It’s not as bright as I expected, but it’s good. The lume color on the hour markers is a bit greenish, and the lume color on the hands are a bit orange on tis particular watch, though I’m not sure with the other dial color.
Lume : 8 / 10
Price
The price is a bit border line. Can really put the specific price for this item, because it’s no longer available over the counter. But for what I paid for, I think the price is very fair.
Price : Vary
Overall
Overall, I think the design of the samurai, will be a classic design, the detail of each parts are from the dial to the bezel are well though. It wears smaller than what I’ve expected, Sure there are some parts that I wish it would be n different material or design, but overall, I love this watch, and I will never ever sell this watch. I might give it to my son someday, but I will never sell it. That’s how much I love this watch.
My advice, if you can get one, snatch it as soon as you can
Overall Score : Orange 9 / 10, Black 8 / 10
[nomedia]www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwT-ALD7-PI[/nomedia]
i tried to embedded the video, but cant find a way to solve if. anyone can help?
When I was browsing around some of the legendary Seiko, I was really drawn by one particular watch. However from the info that I got, the watch has been discontinued for quite sometime. So for a while I can only dream of wearing it.
Until recently I finally managed to get one of it. The watch that I’ve been dreaming about is Seiko Orange Samurai or SBDA005, I believe there are other variants and limited editions series as well, but I think the orange is the one that I like the most, second would be the black Ti.
Dial
I find the Orange Samurai very unique because of the dial color, this is my first orange dial color. Personally I think compare to Orange Mako I / II, Sumo, or Monster, the orange is this one turn out better than the others
The print on the dial is excellent, as we can expect from Seiko, sharp and crisp, even the small text of Japan, and engine type.
Dial : 10 / 10
Hour Marker
The hour marker is quite unique, combination of mirror polish and lume marker on top. I would love it if the finishing of the hour marker is in titanium as well to give more unify look to the watch. But all and all, it’s good.
Hour Marker : 8 / 10
Chapter Ring
At first I didn’t really notice the chapter ring, I thought that’s just part of the dial.
The markers on the chapter ring are printed really nicely as you can see on the photo.
Chapter Ring : 9 / 10
Date
The print on the date wheel is crisp and nice, as you can expect from Seiko. Even though I’m not so sure about the black date on white wheel. Legibility wise it is easy to read, but from design point of view, I think it’s a bit out of place.
Date Wheel : 7 / 10
Hands
At first I found the hands look a bit funny, the hour is too short and to wide, but after further inspection, it start to grow on me, the hands really compliment the whole dial and watch. The small second hand has a very unique shape design.
I don’t know where the nick name come from, but it’s probably from the hands, as they all look like three swords but in different size, I think the black hands really stand out from the orange dial.
Hands : Design : 9 / 10, Quality 9 / 10
Bezel
I tried to count the amount of clicks, but I always accidentally skipped a couple clicks, because looks like there are two different clicks, one big one followed by one small one. Not so sure about this, but compare to Mako II / Hogrider, the Samurai is a bit softer and looser to turn.
If I have to take a guess, the bezel probably one of the reason why they called it the samurai, some how it remind me of the Rising Sun symbol from Japan. The stripes and shape of the first quarter also reminds me of the precision cut made by the samurai. Well that’s just my imagination runs wild
The side of the crown has the same finishing as the crown, knurled edges – correct me if I’m wrong about the term of the finishing – It give a rugged look to the watch.
Bezel : 9 / 10
Glass
My samurai come with Saphire Crystal, so I cant really comment about the hardex mineral. I would prefer it with AR, so the dial can stand out much more. But for now this should be enough.
The glass recess from the bezel. Seiko love to build their watch like this, probably to protect the glass by using the bezel.
Glass : 7 / 10
Case
I generally wear big size watches 44+, the samurai size is 42mm but I think it wears smaller than the size. From what I found, the orange one only comes in titanium. The first impression when I strap it on my wrist, damnnn it’s so light, as if there’s nothing on my wrist.
I love the color of the titanium, looks like a gun metal color and I heard it’s scratch resistance, but I don’t care, because scratches gave your watches personality J
While the top part has that titanium look, the side and the back finishing is in polish mirror. The construction of case gave an impression as if the watch is being hold in place by the lugs, it is created by the different in finishing, as it is actually one whole body.
Case construction is excellent, a lot of hard cut edges that made the watch looks tough and masculine. I really like the design of the case and the finishing, the overall case made the watch look like the right tool or diving watch.
Case : 9 / 10
Crown
Even though there are crown guards, but I found it so easy to unscrew the crown, mostly because of the large size crown. The finishing of the crown is the same as the side of the bezel. Really compliment the whole watch.
1st click is to set the date, and the 2nd click is to set the watch. Straight forward.
Corwn : 9 / 10
Clasp & Bracelet
The orange samurai only come with rubber strap. Perfect combo, firstly because I’m not a big fan of steel bracelet, and secondly this is suppose to be a diver watch, so rubber diver strap should be on it,the buckle is also a titanium in dark color. Perfect combo.
Rubber Strap : 9 /10
Movement
The movement is very quite and reliable, after my initial test the power reserve stand for
Movement : 8 / 10
Lume
Gotta love the lume. It’s not as bright as I expected, but it’s good. The lume color on the hour markers is a bit greenish, and the lume color on the hands are a bit orange on tis particular watch, though I’m not sure with the other dial color.
Lume : 8 / 10
Price
The price is a bit border line. Can really put the specific price for this item, because it’s no longer available over the counter. But for what I paid for, I think the price is very fair.
Price : Vary
Overall
Overall, I think the design of the samurai, will be a classic design, the detail of each parts are from the dial to the bezel are well though. It wears smaller than what I’ve expected, Sure there are some parts that I wish it would be n different material or design, but overall, I love this watch, and I will never ever sell this watch. I might give it to my son someday, but I will never sell it. That’s how much I love this watch.
My advice, if you can get one, snatch it as soon as you can
Overall Score : Orange 9 / 10, Black 8 / 10
[nomedia]www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwT-ALD7-PI[/nomedia]
i tried to embedded the video, but cant find a way to solve if. anyone can help?
