A Seiko with a faceted crystal, but I challenge you... >>>

[Thomas]

Hello folks,


Yes, I bought another Seiko with a faceted crystal, but I challenge you to guess the model/series of this watch! 


Probably a VANAC, you say.


Wrong!!!


Well then, an ADVAN, or Lord Matic.


Wrong and wrong again!!


Okay then, how about Actus, Seiko DX, Laurel, Seikomatic, King Seiko, Grand Seiko, Crown, Bell-Matic, Skyliner, Super, Unique, or Lord Marvel?


Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!


Here is the package that arrived from Germany. It took quite a beating, but thanks to Benni's thoughtful packaging, no harm came to the watch inside.

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Inside was the popular, "local newspaper" technique! 

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And one layer down was a nice Seiko outer watch box.

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Here we see the wise decision to pad the inside of the watch box, so the heavy steel watch does not bounce around on its pillow inside during transit.

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And there it is! A 2006 Seiko SARB001, with the 6R15 movement that offers hacking, hand and automatic winding, with respectable accuracy and power reserve.


Did anyone guess this model/series?     I thought not!

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Here is a closer look. I *love* these models, that seem to have a silver base color to the dial with a transparent color applied on top. So the dial can "blaze" blue-silver in bright direct lighting, but have a darker "moody" blue when under indirect lighting.

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I do think the "color-matched" second hand is a bit "juvenile" and I have replaced them with the silver second hand from the SARB005 for my first group of these watches, but for now I'll keep this one original.

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Here is the crown side, with my favorite "S" logo.

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And here is the interesting other/plain/case/subject/common side of the case.

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A picture for those strange "claspers" in the crowd! 

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And here is the display back, showing the slightly decorated 6R15C movement. I have noticed that some of the early 6R15s have a poorly centered date display, but this one is just perfect. 

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I added back one link from the two that Benjamin had taken out, and it fits my "athletic" wrist just perfectly!     (athletic = "fat" = 7.25")

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I have heard some criticism of these watches, about "when would you wear a watch like that", but I find them very versatile.

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Well, I hope you liked the show, and the pictures. 


I should be getting another inexpensive Seiko vintage watch in soon, so stay tuned for that.


Then the next one to appear after that, should be a little more expensive!! 


- Thomas

[mar52]

Beautiful!  At first I thought you were colorblind and I wanted your new acquisition but the latter pictures show that it is, indeed blue.

I like the look of the square inside the round dial.  I have a couple 7006 series that also have that trait.  Nice collection.

[Thomas]

Apr 25, 2015 9:33:38 GMT -8 mar52 said:

I like the look of the square inside the round dial.  I have a couple 7006 series that also have that trait.  Nice collection.

Thank you ma'am, the "square" in the middle is just from the faceted crystal, the dial is a complete sunburst blue texture.


- Thomas

[mar52]

Thanks for the clarification.  Mine actually have a square in the center of the dial.

[feca67]

Stunning!  I really like this one.  The dial, the colour, the crystal, the case, everything, and it all comes together perfectly.  I think I have a new entry on my dress watch WTB list, but do I prefer this or the SARB065? 

[russtmurray]

Thomas, I have say that I really like these babies and in fact it was your post years ago that prompted me to get a SARB003. I 'm just curious as to why you bought another given you already had the blue one? Is it the movement or are you addicted? Sorry if that last question seems rhetorical. Your photos are superb as per usual btw.

[Thomas]

Apr 25, 2015 15:35:22 GMT -8 russtmurray said:

Thomas, I have say that I really like these babies and in fact it was your post years ago that prompted me to get a SARB003. I 'm just curious as to why you bought another given you already had the blue one? Is it the movement or are you addicted? Sorry if that last question seems rhetorical. Your photos are superb as per usual btw.

Hi Russ,

One thought was this may end up as a retirement present for my previous boss at the company I work at (he was pulled out of the position to head a special project). He would ask about my watches pretty much every day, since I usually wear a different watch every day! :-D

This blue SARB001 was his favorite, and he really liked it a lot. When I saw this rarity available for a reasonable price, I jumped on it, knowing that he would be blown away if I gave it to him.

Of course now that I have it in hand, I am very reluctant to part with it! :-D I am making all kinds of excuses to keep it, like how it would be nice to have a "spare" of a watch that I like so much and is so hard to find, or that I am sure it will increase in value and that I should put it away as an investment, and so forth. ;-)

- Thomas

[Thomas]

Apr 25, 2015 9:33:38 GMT -8 mar52 said:

Beautiful!  At first I thought you were colorblind and I wanted your new acquisition but the latter pictures show that it is, indeed blue.

I like the look of the square inside the round dial.  I have a couple 7006 series that also have that trait.  Nice collection.

Yeah, sorry about that, the pictures were a little purple, but I have adjusted them now. 


I had to have the video card in my big iMac replaced, and the color calibration is a little different. 


- Thomas


P.S. Sorry about the "sir" earlier, I didn't look at your forum name closely, and we are so used to this obsession being all guys, unfortunately. 

[mar52]

Thomas. that's quite alright.  Easy mistake.

[russtmurray]

Apr 26, 2015 7:23:06 GMT -8 Thomas said:

Apr 25, 2015 15:35:22 GMT -8 russtmurray said:

Thomas, I have say that I really like these babies and in fact it was your post years ago that prompted me to get a SARB003. I 'm just curious as to why you bought another given you already had the blue one? Is it the movement or are you addicted? Sorry if that last question seems rhetorical. Your photos are superb as per usual btw.

Hi Russ,

One thought was this may end up as a retirement present for my previous boss at the company I work at (he was pulled out of the position to head a special project). He would ask about my watches pretty much every day, since I usually wear a different watch every day! :-D

This blue SARB001 was his favorite, and he really liked it a lot. When I saw this rarity available for a reasonable price, I jumped on it, knowing that he would be blown away if I gave it to him.

Of course now that I have it in hand, I am very reluctant to part with it! :-D I am making all kinds of excuses to keep it, like how it would be nice to have a "spare" of a watch that I like so much and is so hard to find, or that I am sure it will increase in value and that I should put it away as an investment, and so forth. ;-)

- Thomas

Thomas, you know what you have to do. Make the man's day!