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I personally don't like the light blue painted seconds hand, I think it cheapens the 62MAS design. And the blue dial also looks cheaper to me than the very nice grey-blue of the SLA037. But as a watch, it's basically the same as the SLA017 so if the colourway works for you then go for it. Couple of very minor differences - the crown has the Seiko logo recessed rather than embossed and the rubber straps (you get two with the 043, blue and black) have a slightly nicer pin buckle than the o17 had.
You don't get the steel bracelet that came with the 017 but it was crap anyway and infamously has a tendency to scratch the case.
Regal-
I personally don't like the light blue painted seconds hand, I think it cheapens the 62MAS design. And the blue dial also looks cheaper to me than the very nice grey-blue of the SLA037.
I don't mind the hand, but then I did think the dial isn't up to the same standard as the SLA037.
The case is brushed too, whereas on the 17 and 37 its a polished / brushed mixture IIRC.
I think it's a bit of a confused watch when compared to the 17 and 37 - but objectively quite nice. But then I can't stretch to what people want for a used 17 or 37.
I should probably just go without.
Howard
Can Regal or Inchpincher remind us why the SLA043J1 is bad buy so that I don't get one that's going "cheap". Ta.