Seiko Prospex Kinetic GMT PADI Edition

Released together with the Pepsi Turtle, the Prospex Kinetic GMT is another PADI Edition released by Seiko.

The difference between the two is that the SRPA21 Pepsi Turtle is a mechanical automatic timepiece while this SUN065 is the Kinetic GMT Diver's in PADI's traditional blue and red livery.

So what is Kinetic? Seiko developed this analogue quartz technology that uses the body's motion to generate energy to power the timepiece. So like an automatic timepiece, the "automatic winding" winds the timepiece that powers the quartz movement. The winding helps store energy in the rechargeable battery for up to 6 months. 250 swings will reserve up to 1 day of power. When power reserve is down to about 24 hours, the seconds hand will increase in 2 seconds interval.

The Kinetic also comes with a rather cool power reserve feature. Located at 2 O'Clock is a button when depressed will use the seconds hand to display the power reserve. The instruction manual tells you that is is best to push the button when the seconds hand reaches 12. When the button is pushed, the seconds hand will advance forward - if it stops at the 5 minute marker, it has more than 1 day of power reserve. If it stops at the 10 minute marker, it has more than 7 days power reserve. And if the seconds hand stops at the 20 minute marker, the timepiece is suppose to have about 1 month of power reserve. And when the seconds hand stops at the 30 minute mark, the timepiece will have about 6 months of power reserve.

And the even cooler part is that the timepiece will continue ticking at the correct time after displaying the power reserve as the time catches up.

The case is rather interesting in that it features a two part construction first made in 1975. Nicknamed "Tuna", the derivative came about as the case resembles that of a tuna can. What is different for the PADI version is that the inner case is blue.

Sized at 47.5mm, the timepiece does not wear like one. The shorter lugs made this monster a wearable beast. Comfortable for my puny wrist. Well machines and finished in brushed steel. Top quality for a timepiece at this price point! The "outer" case is secured to the inner one with four screws - two on each side.

The rotating bezel is as smooth and exact as one would expect on a professional diver. Well done by Seiko! The bezel mechanism is a 120-click uni-directional type.

The timepiece also has a GMT feature. But what is exceptional is that as one advances or reverses the hour hand to adjust to local time, the date also advances forward and reverses backward.

The finishing on the GMT hand is also in the PADI red unlike the normal hands in white. The sword like hands is also coated with lume filling.

The minute and hour hand is steel and also filled with lume. But I cannot understand why there is the black line right in the middle of the hands.

Speaking of lume, the lume shot of the Kinetic GMT.

No doubt a Seiko...

The sunburst patterned dial is not as attractive as the Pepsi Turtle aka SRPA21. Despite its larger size, the dial of the Kinetic GMT looks smaller than the Pepsi Turtle.

The minute markers are angled inserts with lume filling. Lovely detail that adds a nice overall touch to the timepiece. The bezel is in matching blue with the dial colour.

The case back of the SUN065 features the usual tsunami logo and all the relevant information. Beating inside the Kinetic is the Caliber 5M85. As explained, this is a quartz movement but the winding is mechanical in nature. As one shakes the timepiece side to side to activate the winding mechanism, one can hear the whirring sound of the rotor unlike a traditional automatic timepiece which tends to be quiet. I guess it has got something to do with the Kinetic calibre.

The caliber number is clearly indicated on the dial side as with many (if not all) Seiko timepieces. Seiko says the accuracy of a Kinetic timepiece is to within 15 seconds deviation per month.

My only gripe is the rubber strap on this timepiece. Don't get me wrong, the strap is correct for its actual purpose but I am a land diver and no plans to go diving with my timepieces. And because the timepiece is made to be worn on the outside of a wet suit, the straps are extra long. So I have to swap this out for either a Nato or for a leather strap.

The timepiece retails at S$639.60 inclusive of GST and it is only slightly more expensive than the regular version of the Prospex Kinetic GMT. So between the Kinetic GMT and the Pepsi Turtle, which do you prefer?

Seiko Prospex Pepsi Turtle PADI Edition

Seiko is perhaps the largest watch maker in the world and they have the range to show for. In a collaboration with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), they release two new timepieces one of which is the Prospex PADI Automatic Diver SRPA21K1.

The Prospex PADI Diver also affectionally known as the Pepsi Turtle reference SRPA21-K1 is another beautiful addition to the range. PADI is the world's largest network of professional divers. Founded about 50 years ago, their network spans more than 6,300 dive centres and more than 136,000 qualified PADI professional instructors around the world. So it is interesting that PADI and Seiko has gone into collaboration as both are closely associated with diving - Seiko having had a range of dive watches since the 70s.

This particular diving watch is a Special Edition. No numbers have been offered by Seiko but what we understand is that it will be produced for a short period of time. Go to this site for more information about how the Seiko dive watch came to being developed. In short, the first Seiko dive watch was developed in 1965 and within 10 years, created the first titanium case Professional Diving watch able to withstand depths at 600m.

What was interesting was the textured bezel and dial as seen in the photos. I had first acquired this piece and was sharing this with friends at our get-together under dim light and had not noticed the bezel. But the picture is clearer - matt textured bezel and a sunburst blue dial. And typical of Seiko timepieces, the calibre number is found at the 6 o'clock position. Another interesting feature is the red minutes hand - that got my attention immediately! And was the one that sealed the deal too.

The case is interesting - shape reminiscent of the turtle shell, hence the nickname. Crown is located at the 4 o'clock position and the screw down crown is unsigned. The rotating bezel is unidirectional - anti-clockwise and advances every half a minute ie 120 clicks around the timepiece. Smooth and very exact as one would expect of a professional dive watch. And I believe the folks from Seiko has taken that into consideration.

On the top half shows the Seiko and Prospex logo. What would have been nice was to remove the two bottom rows "Automatic" and "Diver's 200m". Makes the dial a little crowded. Simple would have been better in this case.

If I had my choice, I would have moved the Prospex logo to the bottom half above the PADI inscription and removing the "Automatic" and "Diver's 200m".

Here's a close up of the dial showing the sunburst and textured dial and bezel. The timepiece also comes with a Hardlex crystal.

The red minute hand is well made and so is the hour hand.

A close up of marker also reveals that they are well made and especially for a timepiece at this price point. I have to say this over and over again. This is a timepiece that gives great money-to-value ratio. Sure hell beats many Swiss brands that are priced 10 times more. A particular P brand comes to mind...

Typical of Seiko timepieces with the day/date window, the Day indicator shows a Blue for Saturday. Look at the lovely red hands.

And for Sunday, the wordings are in Red.

And Black for weekdays.

And what is the Prospex Diver without a Lume shot?

The timepiece comes with a solid case back. Underneath is the Calibre 4R36 automatic movement which beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour. The only "downside" is the 41 hours power reserve.

The steel bracelet comes with a triple lock mechanism.

And just in case you are wondering on the colour combination, the blue and red is the colour combination of the PADI organisation.

The way the timepiece is designed is with large indices and broad hands for better legibility.

The next thing I need to do is to swap out the bracelet for a strap. My friend Sean suggested a NATO or Cordovan strap and I am leaning towards a NATO. Time to go a hunting again. The SRPA21K1 is retailing at S$667.70 inclusive of GST.

And then there is the Kinetic GMT Diver's reference SUN065. Also developed in concert with PADI, this features a unique Kinetic caliber, which, powered solely by the movement of the wearer's body. This piece comes with a GMT function and is accurate to +/- 15 seconds per month. Instead of a red minute hand, the GMT hand in this version is red. Look out for this one - hopefully coming soon.

Seiko Prospex - Golden Charm!

Seiko Prospex Aviator is what I call this timepiece.

Why the aviator? Well the timepiece reminds one of aviation style - the aeroplane seconds hand and the altimeter-style date window are some clues.

Somehow, I like the gold version better than the black ion finishwhich I reported previously.

As I have said in my other post, the date window feels a little off (pun intended) with the marker at the 17 minute location as opposed to it at the 15.

And typically, the window should display three dates but the Prospex displays 5.

The bezel has a sand-blasted finishing and gives the watch a more rugged feel about it.

And the crown is protected by the crown guard but it is a normal push in crown without a locking mechanism.

The SRP580 comes with a normal tang buckle and fitted with a leather strap.

I really like the Seiko marque - very well done.

Although it is a Limited Edition, Seiko does not divulge how many are made - these are non-numbered Limited Editions. I find that somewhat odd. But the timepiece is priced right. Priced below $400, the Seiko Prospex is a winner for me.

Seiko Prospex - Oddly Attractive!

Seiko is perhaps the biggest watch company - they sell the most number of watches and has pieces for every price range.

Today I feature the new Seiko Prospex range - a series of Limited Edition pieces. I have two of the timepieces the SRP579 and the SRP580. The SRP579 is what they refer to as Black Ion finish while the SRP580 is gold coloured. Both are steel cases. First the Black Ion finished SRP579.

The 45mm timepiece wears pretty nicely on my small wrist and it is definitely a rugged watch for the outdoor.

While the dial display is more of an aviation style with the altimeter-style date window and the aeroplane seconds hand, the bezel is more of the Landmaster style.

But I find the date window a little odd - the pointer is slightly below the 15 minute mark - notice the red marker somewhere near the seventeen minute mark?

The dial shines like it a sunburst and the markers are printed.

A close up of the applied Seiko mark.

The crown is a “normal” push in crown unlike the diving range where it is a screw in crown. This crown is protected by the crown guard.

The movement is the 4R35 calibre hacking movement. Simple.

Overall a nice piece to own - as with all Seiko timepieces, they are functional.

I shall be doing a separate post on the SRP580 - the gold coloured version.