What time is it? Watches and horology

the limited edition hi beat version was listed at over 9 thousand Aussie dollar bucks. Nope.

It's fucking beautiful though

I know it isn't the right attitude, but I do not think I could drop £5,000 on a Seiko.

I know what you mean, especially since over the last few years most of their midrange dive watches have been referencing the same two or three vintage models.

The 313 is one of my favourites for two reasons though, I love the white dial with dark hands & markers, and it’s also one of the slimmest Prospex divers they’ve made. With the short lugs as well, it wears unusually nicely.

TBF the SLA017 was ~£2.5k IIRC and has held its value. Not sure how the £5k hi-beat SLA037J1 has held up but it's a lovely thing.

Vintage swedish watch today. Mad what £30 can get you.

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Great picture

That is lush!

The lugs look superb

Looks awesome..

The SLA017 was about £3k new in 2017, maybe a fraction under. [edit: some evidence that they were €3800, don’t remember them being that much]. They are worth about £4.5k now, maybe slightly more. [data: C24 and their “new and improved” value charts]

The SLA037 (hibeat) was in the region of £4.7k new and now seems to be about £4.2k. Which seems a little surprising given it is twice as rare (1000 pieces vs 2000 for the 017) and it is a higher spec watch, but it also took a lot longer to sell through in the first place (seems it still might not have). I think they simply went too high on the price, well into GS territory. The 017 was already punchy given the spec was not really significantly different to the Marinemaster 300 line, which were around £1500.

However, the SLA017 hit the spot with collectors in a way the others haven’t, despite the very high price for “just a Seiko”, and I suspect it is because it’s the only one with the original 62MAS colourway (grey sunburst dial).

IMO it would not be hard for them to do a better version with applied markers and logo, more like the original, and make it a little smaller and thinner, and SLA017 values would probably collapse. It’s still a great watch though.

Really ace, love the lettering and the way the date numerals are drawn to fit the trapezoidal window.

^^^^^
Thanks. Quite like it. Now show me your vintage stuff!

Yeah, I bought one of these at retail and took a big hit when I sold it. They can be had for $1200 AUD from Japan - but I don't know how import taxes in Aus work. I think at that price, its fair game. It's annoying they don't sell the SPB143/SBDC101 on a strap so that it's cheaper. I immediately took mine off the bracelet and only put it back on when I sold it.
I really liked it, but the bezel was just a bit chonky.

I have since handled an SLA017 and there's no contest. Yes, more expensive, but so much more refined. Also wore a couple of actual 62MAS references and the size was so perfect, and the price so close to an SLA017, that I'd probably get one of those if I were in the market.

Fabulous 😎

62MAS are a lot smaller than the SLA017, like, a surprising amount. Almost too small for me. But beautiful.

The hard thing is finding one that isn’t completely rotten (they weren’t particularly watertight). I’ve seen pics of like one example for sale that didn’t have really bad lume rot, and that may well have been a relume.

Yeah, its pretty dinky. I was surprised. I liked it. But you're right, this is one of the ones I tried on. Bit of a shitter, and the bezel was roooooouuuuggggh, but still cool.

They had the blue sla037 there, apparently the last one. It's the one I'd go for...but... It wore a bit like a hockey puck. Very tall and didn't feel that well balanced. And at that price I'd be looking elsewhere.

The spb143, yeah, you're right, the bezel was too thick. Otherwise it does sit nicely.

As with all watch shopping I've gone off my own brief anyway... Was originally searching for a viable daily diver with vintage vibes. And under a grand!

Yeah that’s what all the ones I’ve seen IRL look like. Nice case on that example. Still cool, as you say.

I think that’s a pretty fair assessment of the SLA037, it’s my thickest watch by quite some margin but because of the short lug to lug and the shape of the mid-case it kind of gets away with it. It’s actually thicker than the Pelagos but wears completely differently.

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A lot of the SLA’s height is in the box crystal too.

the Pelagos is compensating for a thicker case with a tiny bezel

I wish I had a wrist that could pull it off, I love the blue Pelagos dial.

Wha aba deh Pelagos 39?

Ha, well on the OG I like how the markers are set into the chapter ring and also the self adjusting bracelet clasp.

The main reason I stopped looking is I spunked all my money on the SLA.

I wish I had a wrist that could pull it off

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