Audi-News » The Seiko Prospex SPB451 And SPB453

Seiko makes a lot of dive watches – it's largely what they are known for. However , despite a range of models representing multiple philosophies, aesthetic eras, and price points, some hit much harder than others. Among the heavy hitters, we have the recently announced Prospex SPB451 and SPB453 – two mass-appeal takes on the brand's '60-inspired line of tool dive watches. Representing the second generation of a very popular line of timepieces established by the actual SPB143, these new Prospex divers offer a slight rethinking in the hopes of delivering a more well-rounded solution for a daily wear jump watch. With the looming threat of the dreaded sophomore slump, it's worth considering the recent roots of the SPB453 - don't worry, I promise to be brief. This specific era was introduced in March of this year as a trio of references - the particular SPB453 (black), SPB451 (blue), and the limited edition SPB455 (black with gilt accents). All three represent a retooling of the so-called "20MAS, " which was typically the 2020 aesthetic re-edition associated with Seiko's first dive watch, the 62MAS.

Though the 20MAS line would grow to include a wide variety of colorways for the design, often the core from the range was the grey-dialed SPB143. I was, and remain, a huge fan in the SPB143, and I think it represents one of the best models Seiko has released in the past several years. I wrote a lot about it, and some on the context for this hands-on will build upon concepts established in my Week On The Wrist with the SPB143.
For this new trio regarding 24MAS divers, Seiko largely stuck to the same playbook while taking the liberty to tweak a handful of elements core to the design. The changes towards the new versions include slightly smaller cases, a new date position, a new movement, and a redesigned bracelet.

Seiko now lists the case dimensions as 40mm wide, 13mm thick, and 46. 6mm lug to haul. When I measured with my own calipers, I got 40. 2 x 13. 4 x 46. 6mm. The lugs remained drilled (amazing) as well as fit the exact bracelet's 20mm end links. The caseback remains a closed steel format, but thanks to a brand new design, water resistance is now 300 meters (compared to the 200m offered by the previous generation).

For the bracelet, the design tapers in order to 18mm at the clasp and also features shorter links along with a smaller clasp to allow for a far more comfortable wrap of your wrist. The case and band both feature Seiko's "super-hard" coating, the very bezel uses an aluminum insert, and the crystal is made of sapphire.
From a spec standpoint, these brand new divers use Seiko's 6R55 movement. It's an automatic movement that offers 72 hours involving power reserve (hence the "Automatic 3 Days" on the dial) while ticking at 21, 600 VPH. This motion is largely similar to the 6R35 in the previous generation, along with I've included a look at its accuracy below.

The final considerable change over the previous gen is a dial redesign that opts for more conventional colors/textures while also moving the day from three to 4: 30. The date is really a truly divisive thing, and while I'd always recommend that a company the size of Seiko just also produce a no-date version, I think they'd made the most out of the push to be able to 4: 30. You now get a full-size marker at 3, and Seiko says that was an element of the decision to move the main date, better adherence along with ISO 6425 (this is why they also started adding the luminous sign into later versions with the original spec).
Be that as it may, four: 30 dates are treacherous. Here, Seiko has opted to at least respect you in the process, as they've designed a time display that is unobtrusive and has its font aligned with the rest of the débouchent sur on the dial. It's not perfect, but at least we see attention and forethought. So many several: 30 times feel like an afterthought, like a casual hole punched in a dial to offer a view of a date wheel that was designed to display at three o'clock.

Not here. The SPB453's date is legible in addition to otherwise completely ignorable. On the blue switch SPB451, the date steering wheel is black (rather compared to blue), which is a weird choice, but you have to look very closely to even notice as the aperture is so small and is almost always seen in shadow. It's a compromised remedy, but not one that would be a deal breaker for me. But again, offering any no-date has a proven track record.
So , on wrist, plus I'm sure some of you can see this coming, the SPB453 wears very very similarly to the actual SPB143. And that's not a bad thing (like, at all). The updates to the necklace definitely make it more comfortable, and also the now-conventional dark dial and even bezel offer excellent legibility and the sort of lume you want from a Seiko dive view. The bezel and crown both feel nicely created. The viser has a heavy action with a light click and good alignment using the dial markings (though it can sometimes look askew given the depth of the call vs the particular depth of your bezel).

Basically, if you're happy with how the SPB143 wore, I can't imagine some sort of wrist where this new creation isn't just a bit more comfortable -- but the presence is largely the same. Take it from the guy together with three younger brothers, it's a blessing to have a handsome, successful, and widely-loved older brother. As a Seiko dive enjoy, the SPB453 has the same goals as its older siblings and benefits from being able to respond to the success of the 20MAS.
Being so similar to the SPB143, the other element at play here is timing, as competition is hotter now as compared to it was in 2020. The actual SPB453 (and its siblings) carries a list price of $1, 300. Back in 2020, you could get the SPB147 on a rubber strap for $1, 000 (and typically the SPB143 upon bracelet was $1, 200). And while I'd argue that this pricing is fairly standard for a watch of this caliber over the past four years, the SPB453 doesn't provide some of the special features that we have seen become more common in recent years.

I'm talking about quick-release for the bracelet or tool-free micro adjust for your clasp. Heck, I'm a new diver, together with I'd still definitely trade the dive-friendly wetsuit extension (which often the SPB453 does have) for an everyday friendly micro-adjust in the clasp. As it stands, the new clasp only offers 2 micro-adjust positions. For those who have asked, the minimum bracelet size capable for these new types is 11. 1CM (4. 37 inches) with all of the hyperlinks removed. It's mostly clasp and case at that point.
I know it seems like I'm picking on the bracelet, however let's be clear: I am exceedingly picky when it comes to bracelets, and I almost never wore my 143 on the pendant. Seiko did a great thing by re-tooling this bracelets for much better wearability, but it still feels a lot like an even more sturdy and refined version of a accessory you might have gotten on a Seiko 10 years ago. The wetsuit extension is exactly like that on my Orange Monster's bracelet, as well as the links utilize pin-and-collar construction, even in an era when boutique brands offer you single-sided screwed links (not to mention quick change as well as micro-adjust) within bracelets with regard to watches which cost less when compared with $1, 000.

This helps explain two points. First, Seiko should offer a edition on a rubberized strap regarding $999. It would sell, and these cases are incredible in straps. Second, If you're going to refresh your bracelet, give it all the goodies that are becoming more and more popular at this price point.
Now, let's address the number one question I got while I was focusing my efforts on the SPB143 a couple of years back - the exact accuracy belonging to the movement. While my SPB143 was a fairly accurate example, you don't have to Google all that hard to find folks who had some trouble with their 6R35 or similar not keeping great time.

While I only really care about a good watch's accuracy to the point where I don't notice it being fast or even slow, this is a crucial aspect for mechanical watches, and it's not 2007 anymore; people aren't paying $110 for any 7S26-powered Seiko that keeps iffy time. As such, while neither the SPB453 nor 451 triggered my very own mental precision threshold, I did put both of them on a timing machine. This data is anecdotal, to be sure, but these are early examples that came directly from Seiko.

My time method was to measure over six main positions and also three phases of wind (full, after 24 hours, and after 55 hours). This gives us 18 measurements for reliability across the six positions and at three stages of blowing wind, which feels like a fair (if brief) gauge. For the SPB453 (the dark-colored dial), the very six-way average for the 3 phases had been -5 s/d (full wind), -12 s/d (less 24 hours), along with -15. 8 s/d (less 55 hours). For the blue dial SPB451, I got -4 s/d, -6 s/d, in addition to -11. eight.

That means that will over the course of a full wind, the main SPB453 averaged at -10. 9 s/d, and the SPB451 averaged -7. 3 s/d. Given that Seiko says that the 6R55 is actually accurate for you to -15 to help +25 seconds a day, both of these watches fall within the stated range of the movement, yet both were running within the slow side of zero. I will venture a guess that Seiko regulates these movements in dial-up or down positions, because both had been significantly more accurate in those two jobs.

How much all those numbers weigh into your buying decision is actually a subjective concept. For me, none would keep me from getting a see that I otherwise very much like. Nevertheless, I do think in which Seiko ought to restructure how it manages and ensures the accuracy and reliability of its movements since competition has increased at the price point, and more within the major players (of which Seiko can be included) have started to push for more brand-led consideration connected with accuracy.
All told I have been thinking of this new 24MAS technology as though it's the follow-up album from a brand that experienced a killer debut. Seiko is the label, the band is the 20MAS-style watch, plus the SPB453 (and its siblings) form the actual highly anticipated sophomore record that has to deal with the cult-like success of the first recording.

The SPB453 will be entirely recognizable and comfortable to anyone who knows the particular SPB143 (or similar). Sure, you may not love track #8 "We Moved the Date Window, inch or maybe you find the cd to run a little slowly at times - nevertheless it's nevertheless a tight collection of Seiko dance watch themes layered in a manner that makes for the sort of observe you can't stop wearing. No, it's not perfection. But hey - this took Pink Floyd nearly 10 whole albums.
Seiko had quite a challenge in returning to the drawing board to improve typically the SPB143 without spoiling any of what made it so good. For your SPB453 (and similar), I believe they did some largely great job in tweaking the execution without missing the primary message. It can still a handsome, solid, and tool-ish everyday ski watch of which does a congrats of not messing with what was already working.