For 2020, Seiko has launched a brand new high-end homage to its unique “Tuna” dive watches that had been initially launched within the 1970s. Actually, there’s a slew of recent Prospex Tuna watches for 2020, however this explicit Seiko Prospex Tuna S23631, for my part, will probably be of explicit curiosity to lovers looking for one thing cool-looking, comfy, and extremely evocative of the unique Seiko Tuna watches. The Tuna itself was initially launched in 1975 as a mechanical watch, after which, a couple of years later, Seiko added quartz motion variations of its now iconic diver’s watch design. On the time, quartz was the motion expertise everyone wished, and with its concentrate on utility, this “tuna-can-looking” skilled diver’s watch began its lengthy journey into the hearts of lovers.
Seiko has by no means shied away from rendering the Prospex Tuna in so many alternative variants that it might probably simply boggle the thoughts to think about all of the instructions Seiko has gone with the gathering. That makes it very difficult to match one Seiko Tuna to a different. In my view, folks excited by a Seiko Tuna watch must first take into account two questions. The primary query is what dimension they need the case to be, and the second query is which motion they need contained in the Tuna.
The Prospex Tuna S23631 has the next solutions to these questions. The case is on the bigger dimension of the style at 49.4mm-wide, however that quantity is a bit deceptive on the subject of sporting consolation. As a lugless watch, the Tuna wears smaller, and it additionally wears comfortably because the piece type of sits in your wrist, versus feeling as if it’s strapped to your wrist. If that isn’t clear, you then’ll most likely must strive a Tuna watch on to see what I’m referring to. Suffice it to say that these watches are far more wearable and cozy than they might seem in footage.
This explicit mannequin has 1000 meters of water resistance, now a domed sapphire crystal, and is produced with an all-black case that mixes “ceramics,” titanium, and metal. I additionally wish to point out that regardless that the S23631 is supposed to be a homage to the unique 1975 Seiko Tuna, it’s not a 1:1 copy the least bit, with a lot of little variations right here and there. What I really like about this watch is that it very a lot evokes the core parts of what I respect in a Tuna timepiece, in a design that I discover to be refreshingly easy and likewise utilitarian.
Such a design philosophy goes to the center of what the Seiko Tuna was initially purported to be about — and that may be a dependable, sturdy, and really legible timing instrument for skilled divers. The benefit of studying the dial in darkish or murky waters, in addition to having the ability to match in your wrist over a wetsuit make for each nice utility, but additionally lots of practicality if you wish to put on one in every of these as your every day timepiece nowhere close to a physique of water.
Contained in the watch is Seiko’s in-house-made caliber 7C46 quartz motion that contains a day/date complication on the dial along with the time. Whereas Seiko affords all the pieces from Spring Drive to computerized variations of the Tuna, I’ve at all times most well-liked this timepiece as a high-end quartz piece. I’m a bit unclear as to the general case building, however I imagine that almost all of it’s coated titanium with a ceramic insert on the rotating bezel and probably ceramic for the outside “hood” that goes over the internal case, what offers the Seiko Prospex Tuna its distinctive look. Word that additionally launched for 2020 is a sister mannequin to the S23631 which is the marginally smaller (47.7mm-wide) and in hard-coated metal (not in black) Seiko Prospex Tuna reference S23629. Each watches have related dials, sapphire crystals, and share the identical quartz motion, however the value distinction between the 2 fashions is almost $1,000. Why would possibly that be?
My guess is that it’s associated to the S23631’s case supplies, which embrace titanium and ceramic components. Whereas these components will not be unique inside Seiko any longer, the model is actually specializing in the outside high quality of the case and making certain that the timepiece shouldn’t be solely mild but additionally wards towards of indicators of damage as a lot as attainable. The most effective causes to get a high-end Japanese watch like this mannequin is as a result of they’re made to look good for so long as attainable. The Swiss will not be practically as excited by scratch-resistance (for instance) because the Japanese are, on common. So, if you’re asking your self why this explicit high-end quartz watch prices practically $2,500, it’s as a result of Seiko particularly designed it to look nearly as good as attainable for so long as attainable.
For those who deal with an unique 1975 Seiko Tuna, what you’ll instantly respect is how un-retro the watch appears. One thing in regards to the design feels persistently trendy regardless that the gathering is 45 years-old. In the present day, the Tuna won’t be as contemporary because it was in 1975, nevertheless it nonetheless feels extremely up to date and distinctive. Connected to the watch is Seiko’s additionally distinctive diver’s type strap, which right here is in high-grade silicone (versus rubber, which is used a bit much less steadily as of late). Worth for the Seiko Prospex Tuna S23631 watch is $2,400 USD. Study extra on the Seiko web site right here.
