Seiko Champion

So what did the local Seiko Boutique bring out for us to look at and try on, at the recent GTG? Here’s a quick rogue’s gallery of the visitors, and what I would recommend from the bunch…

First were models from the (currently separate line) called Spring Drive Collection. Two on leather – SNR013 GMT with champagne dial on brown band (which I really like – RECOMMEND) and SNR015 with slate dial on blue leather. All have the 5R66 movement, recessed power reserve sub-dial, alligator strap, stainless case, sapphire crystal and display back, and 100 meter water resistance.


Image from Seiko.co.jp

These are also called the “Spring Drive Collection GMT II” models. A quite nice dress watch, less subdued than the GS line but still fairly elegant, reminds me of some quality German brands but with the Spring Drive movement and Seiko feel.


There was also a Spring Drive Collection model on a stainless bracelet – SNR003 with blue dial, which to me is not nearly as nice as the first two above, having more of a lower-end looking dial concept from afar in my opinion (although looking up close there is a nice off-center sunburst effect) plus an overly large and attention-taking power reserve arc.


Image from worldlux.com

There were also three Ananta models, which are the offerings modeled in part after the sharp lines of a katana, which is seen in the rotor shape. I was quite surprised to find myself liking the SRQ005 black/black auto chrono – RECOMMEND – quite nice, very masculine, somewhat comparable to my eye to a similar Breitling with a few more aggressive styling cues.


Image from Seiko.com

Image from Luxist.com

The other two Ananta models I tried on were the SPS007 silver/stainless Spring Drive GMT chrono, and the SPB017 automatic. Neither were my cup of tea, nice watches but for me personally the first I found overly busy and the second quite bland.


Image from WorldTempus.com

Image from WorldLux.com

A few women’s watches were brought along, including the SXD773 from the Premier line (stainless/stainless with diamonds), the SKA887 mother-of-pearl dial kinetic, and for something different (more jewelry than a really usable watch) the SZY545 black-pearl-necklace-look wristwatch. Sorry no, I did not personally try on any of these.


Images from bellawatches.com and matsuda.com respectively


Image from eBay vendor thewatchmall

That’s it for today. Two strong recommendations in this batch, next post I’ll review some of the lower and higher end models I had a chance to try on at this meeting, definitely a few more on the want list in that group.