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3/31/2018 5 Comments

Seiko SRP777 TURTLE Automatic Diver Review - A Classic Affordable Watch

*My watch is equipped with a StrapCode Super Jubilee bracelet but this model does come with a Seiko rubber strap*

Brief History

The Seiko Turtle in its modern form is a re-creation of the older Seiko cushion case turtle divers dating all the way back to the 6105 models seen on soldiers during the vietnam war as Seiko did have stores in the main towns in Vietnam. The watch was robust, tough, comfortable on a rubber strap and suitable for a soldier who might be going through rainy and watery conditions. It worked, lasted, and was even featured in a popular movie “Apocolypse Now” where actor Martin Sheen wore it during the film. The watch was brought back after nearly 3 decades of discontinuation and were even sold out for months.

Case

The modern Seiko prospex “turtle” divers are comprised of 316L stainless steel with fine brushing on the top and highly polished sides, as well as the caseback. The crown stays true to history located at the 4 o clock position keeping away from the wrist. They also feature drilled lug holes which is something we do not see as often as we did in the past. This is a nice feature as it is super effortless and easy to swap straps. The case diameter is 44MM and is in a cushion shape which sits flat on the wrist very nicely. The case thickness comes in at 13MM thick which really is not that chunky for a 44MM diver capable of going 200M underwater. On top of the case sits a hardlex crystal which is Seikos own creation. The watch also features a 120 Click Uni-Directional rotating bezel which does not align with the chapter ring! Ha! This is nothing new to me as most people encounter the same quality control issues when purhasing new Seiko divers. It is something they really need to work on! The circular applied markers are filled with seiko lumibrite which is some of the best lume out there and it shines in a nice greenish hue. We get a day and date complication at 3:00 in Spanish/English for this example.

Dial

The black dial is very symmetrical besides the day and date complication. The applied double marker and round markers are very neat and filled perfectly with lume. The day and date is certainly legible at a glance which is easy on the eyes, especially if your getting older. For the most part it is a very simple, legible, and no nonsense diving dial. “Seiko” and the Prospex logo are printed in white as well as 200M. In case you did not know prospex actuallt stands for Professional Specification.

Movement

The movement used in the SRP777 is a well known Seiko manufactured movement, the 4R36. This movement beats at 3 Hertz or 21,600 VPH. It does feature hacking and hand winding which is always good, especially for a watch geek like me! This movement contains 24 jewels and a 42 hour power reserve. The 4r36 is also quite accurate, atleast in my example. I have owned this model for a year now and it stays within +5 seconds a day which is extraordinary for a $300 dive watch. This movement will last you a lifetime and it is as tough as nails.

Caseback

The caseback is screwed down and marked with your serial # , “Air Divers 200M”, and the famous seiko wave which is also featured on my beloved Seiko SKX. The wave is certainly more raised and a bit clearer than the Seiko SKX as an example.

Conclusion

The Seiko Turtle SRP777 is a modern example of a classic and popular dive watch at a super affordable price of under $300 USD. The movement is tough, simple, accurate, and will last some years without service. All around if you are in the market for a bit of a larger cushion cased diver with a slight vintage aesthetic this is certainly a watch to consider. I dropped my video review below and some links where you can grab one as well as the super nice Jubilee bracelet. Thanks for reading, Until next time!

Purchase a Seiko Turtle SRP777 Here
https://amzn.to/2q1DdqP

Purchase a StrapCode end fitted super jubilee bracelet
https://amzn.to/2Ec5obr

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3/24/2018 4 Comments

Nezumi Studios Corbeau Field Chronograph - A Delightful 60s - 70s Vibe with modern materials

Nezumi has released another piece available for Pre Order in a few days. They dubbed this model the “Corbeau”. We get a field style chronograph with a great Seiko movement and some excellent vintage aesthetics. The Bezel on this watch is somewhat similiar to the previous “Baleine” diver which was a delight to wear. Lets get into it!

Case

The completely 316L brushed stainless steel case comes in at 40MM ( 47 Lug to Lug ) which is a delight to see in todays times where most chronographs are 42+ MM. The thickness measures in at 11.75MM which is also super thin compared to a modern mechanical chronograph. The reason behind this is most likely the movement used inside this timepiece which we will get into further down the page. The crystal featured on this model is a genuine double domed sapphire crystal with a nice Anti-Reflective coating on the underside for extra legibility in high light conditions but please keep in mind the prototype is a bit different as the crystal is not domed as much but I have provided a picture of the actual crystal ( Case In Photo is Satin Finished and this will not be used on the final product ) that will be implemented on the production models. On top of this finely brushed case sits a Uni-Directional 60 click bezel ( on final version ) ( Sample Contains 90 Click ) with white markings for timing. I really am one that loves a rotating bezel on a chronograph for the simple reason I al getting more function for my money. The Pull/Push crown is signed with an “N” , and we do get 5 ATM water resistance or 50M which is typical for a chronograph.

Movement

The movement David at Nezumi decided to go with on this model is the well known Seiko VK63 Meca Quartz movement. This movement is a mix between Mechanical and Quartz components giving the chronograph hand a nice smooth sweep just like a fully automatic timepiece. The upside is we get the superb accuracy of a regular quartz movement, which no automatic movement can honestly compete with on a long term basis. As I stated earlier, the beautiful dimensions of 40MM and 11.75MM thick could of never been possible with a movement such as a Valjoux 7750 or another mechanical chronograph movement. I think this was the right choice and it helps keep the price down as well.

Dial and Hands

The version I have today is “Courbeau 2” which features a black dial, off white subdials with a nice circular texture going around them. I really love the semi Panda look we have going on here and it came out great. The sub dial hands are black to match the dial of course as well. The Hour, Minute, and Chronograph hand are done in an off white color that sort of resembles a faux patina color. They definitely play along with the theme of this watch as I believe it is inspired by the 50s-60s-70s era of timepieces. The arabic printed numerals and hands are filled with Swiss SuperLuminova in a vintage or patina color which look great in all honesty. There is not one part of this watch that does not go along with the other.

Caseback

I have owned 2 Nezumi timepieces in the past and the work on the caseback is always on point. They do a custom moulded screw down caseback with their logo at large in the center, company EST on the left hand side (2011), and technical aspects written around the outer edge which are small and good in size to keep out of the way of the beautiful raised N logo and “Nezumi” “Creating Bonds”.

Strap Options / Dial Options

The Corbeau comes standard with a very good quality NATO nylon strap which is super tough and certainly not one of those cheap nylons you see some other brands use. This one is meant to last and certainly goes along with the case perfectly. The color options available are black, burnt gold, grey, and olive. This model also comes in three different flavors as pictured below so there is a sure fit for each customers tastes.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the Corbeau offers a very distinctive style and design that you will not see elsewhere which is a big plus in my book. They definitely took the time out to design and create this timepiece which shows dedication, honesty, and trust within the founders of Nezumi. The materials used are top notch for this bracket and there are honestly no errors from what I have seen so far. The dial is super legible , the chronograph is snappy, and I LOVE a rotating bezel on a field style watch. The pricing for this model is listed below and you do save 20% off the final price by doing so.

Pre-order prices start at 20% off msrp:
Non-EU: 288 euro inc. shipping
EU: 316 euro inc. shipping

Retail prices when in stock will be 360 euro and 395 euro

Website Link: http://www.nezumistudios.com/product/nezumi-corbeau-black-steel/

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Seiko SRP777 TURTLE Automatic Diver Review - A Classic Affordable Watch

Brief History

Case

​Dial

​Movement

​Caseback

​Conclusion

Nezumi Studios Corbeau Field Chronograph - A Delightful 60s - 70s Vibe with modern materials

Case​

​Movement

Dial and Hands

Caseback

Strap Options / Dial Options

Conclusion

Archives

Dial

Movement

Caseback

Conclusion

Case

Movement