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- Seiko fans rejoice! There's a new 36mm field watch, but the price will snap you back to reality
Seiko fans rejoice! There's a new 36mm field watch, but the price will snap you back to reality
Two issues with the return of the small field watch - they're not available in the US and they're selling for a whopping $290
Vuk Radic
March 10, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
Hey friends, welcome to a new edition of It’s About Time. I have to thank you in the hundreds from Reddit for joining us here. Hope you enjoy it.
In this issue:
Seiko is back with a small field watch
Seiko has some custom Seiko 5 Sport models
Nomos covers their watch in gold and then paint it blue
And Ullyse Nardain has a new color on their not affordable tourbillon
And… invite your friends to win a Tiffany PRX
Today’s reading time: 6 minutes and 11 seconds
We’re starting off with a bang! We’re giving away TWO of this year’s hottest watches:
THE TIFFANY PRX!
This is the PRX Powermatic 80 we’re giving away. Not this one obviously. But one just like it.
All you have to do is forward this email to five of your friends and get them to click on the button below to subscribe. Both you and one of your friends will be eligible to win one of the watches
👂What’s new
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After drawing quite a bit of hate by killing off the Seiko 5 SNK series in 2019 to introduce the Seiko 5 Sports collection, it seems that Seiko is trying to get back into the good graces of Seiko field watch fans with smaller wrists.
They are reviving the Seiko field watch with the new Seiko 5 Sports Mid-Field Collection, five variations of the 36mm field watches. The first trio in the Mid-Field Collection is the SRPJ81, SRPJ83, and SRPJ85, a line of field watches with Arabic numerals and black or cream dials. You’ll also be able to get the SRPJ87 and SRPJ89, with a dial layout that's closer to a pilot's watch, and calls to mind that old SNK series.
The watches measure 36mm in diameter and 12.5mm in thickness, with 44.4mm lug-to-lug, a mid-sized companion to Seiko's existing 39mm field watches, and are waterproof to 100m. All five references use Seiko's 4R36 caliber, an automatic movement with 40 hours of power reserve that's been reliably serving in many of its entry-level models since 2011.
While a smaller field watch is much appreciated, I see to major issues right now. At launch, it seems that Seiko will not be selling these outside the United States. The second issue is the price. The SNK series was famous for being available at sub $100. The SRPJ series will retail for about $290. That’s a lot of money for an entry level watch, but some believe the price will go down as more SRPJs are produced.
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The Seiko 5 Sports Customized series of watches are the outcome of a campaign organised by Seiko under the same name. People all over the world were able to participate in four different campaigns and suggest ideas for a new and unique Seiko 5 Sports dive watch.
All four watches start from the same base - stainless steel case of the Seiko 5 Sports measuring 42.5mm in diameter and 13.4mm in height and the 4R36 movement and steel bracelets. Three have the regular silver steel case, while the Asisa Model has a rose-gold coloured case and crown. The bezel comes in four styles - three show a classical lume dot instead of the luminous triangle in the insert. The Japan Model has a silver insert with a black scale, the Europe Model has a black insert with a silver and red segmented scale, the America Model has a black insert with a scale in silver, and the Asia Model comes with a burgundy red insert.
The dials are also all different. The Japan Model SRPK03K1 has a silver dial, the America Model SRPK05K1 shows off with a bright orange dial, the Europe Model SRPK07K1 is a take on a classical black dial, with gilt details, and the Asia Model SRPK08K1 shines with a sunray brushed gold-coloured dial to match the case and bracelet.
The models are available worldwide through Seiko’s websites. Each of the four references is limited to 1,968 pieces, with the Japan Model, America Model and Europe Model costing EUR 320, and the Asia Model retailing for EUR 400
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Nomos makes beautiful watches. So it makes sense that the new Tangente Neomatik Blue Gold is a beautiful watch. While I poke fun at the name a bit, saying it’s not gold at all, Nomos claims the dial actually is covered in gold. But then painted blue. They say the blue sunburst finish shimmers and has a luster that is similar to a precious metal, and comes from a galvanization process that involves coating the base layer of the dial with a thin layer of gold.
The Nomos Tangente Blue Gold comes in two variants - the 35 and 39mm, both powered by the in-house made DUW 3001 movement. Both are available for order right now on the Nomos website. The smaller 35mm version starts at $3,070, and the larger Neomatik 39 (which actually measures 38.5mm – kind of confusing) starts at $3,390.
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Ulysse Nardin introduces a new execution of its Blast Tourbillon timepiece. Clad in rose gold combined with blue PVD coated titanium, it marks a premiere in this high-horology watch family. The Blast Tourbillon Blue & Gold is powered by the UN-172 manufacture caliber with an automatic silicium flying tourbillon and a power reserve of three days.
The watch looks like an absolute blast. LOL, see what I did there? It comes on a blue rubber strap and will break your mind with it’s price. It’s $67,000. Excluding tax.
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If you didn’t like yesterday’s Louis Vuitton, you will surely not like their new Tambour Moon Tourbillon Volant Poinçon de Genève In Green and Yellow Sapphire
A week ago I wrote about a Louis Vuitton diver that was by not means impressive and was way overpriced. While the brand makes some horrible watches, there is no denying that they understand high horology. It seems that they could easily become a watchmaking powerhouse if only they had a creative lead who understood and loved watches. Well, good thing Pharrell Williams, one of the best watch collectors today, is the new creative director of LV.
Until Pharrell takes over the watch division of LV, we can admire watches like the Tambour Moon Tourbillon Volant Poinçon de Genève In Green and Yellow Sapphire. The case, as the name suggests, is transparent sapphire, tinted green or yellow, which allows it to show off the openworked Calibre LV90 movement with an 80-hour power reserve and a flying tourbillon with a finely decorated carriage designed like LV’s Monogram Flower motif.
Yours for just EUR 400,000 (excl. taxes) on black or green alligator strap and limited to 20 pieces.
🫳On hand
Our selection of the best reviews we stumble upon
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⚙️Watch Worthy
A look at an off beat, less known watch you might actually like
Every now and then you learn about a new watchmaker and say: how is it possible I’ve never seen this before? That was my thought when I saw the Botta Design watches. Very interesting, very different, very cool and not outrageously expensive.
⏲️Wait a minute
A bunch of links that might or might not have something to do with watches. One thing’s for sure - they’re interesting
Fratello Watches has a very compelling breakdown of Jaeger LeCoultre, one of my top five favorite watchmakers, which I believe to be very underrated.
My mention of the Farer Moonphase the other day had a lot of people saying there are much better moonphase watches for the same price or even less. If you’re interested in any of them, look at this handy guide
Here we also link to non-watch related content. Often longform stuff that’s somewhat watch adjacent. Sometimes it’s just interesting. Just like this story of the hunt for the Fentanyl king
The Oscars are this weekend. So, you might be interested in how Saving Private Ryan’s Best Picture loss changed the Oscars forever
👀Watch this
One video you have to watch today
From award-winning documentary filmmaker, Stacy Peralta comes Patagonia’s The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez, a film that lifts the veil on one of surfing’s most enigmatic heroes.
😉Famous faces
Celebrities are just like us 😄
💵Pre-loved precision
Buy and sell your watches. Think of this section like old school classifieds - i don’t guarantee anything except that a bunch of people will see your ad and I’ll put the buyer and seller in touch. Want to advertise your watch? Contact us
For sale: Rolex Explorer I 39 mm Mark I, ref. 214270. Great condition, no box or papers. €7250, OBO. Reach out to us and we’ll put you in touch
For sale: Longines Heritage Skin Diver, box and papers. €1400. Reach out to us and we’ll put you in touch
Want to sell your watch to a community of passionate horologists? Reach out to us and we’ll put your ad up. $15 per listing without photos, $25 with photos. 10 available slots per day, discounts for multiple slots.
We’re starting off with a bang! We’re giving away TWO of this year’s hottest watches:
THE TIFFANY PRX!
This is the PRX Powermatic 80 we’re giving away. Not this one obviously. But one just like it.
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