Ty and I have gone back and forth a little about our thoughts on the Spring Drive 600 as we purchased them at the same time. We both tend to agree on our observations and thought others may be interested in what we found.
The Marinemaster 300M automatic has probably done more for Seiko?s ?reputation? among the various watch forums than any other Seiko in production. Until the 300M was released, most hardcore watch collectors thought of Seiko in terms of producing a high quality low cost 200M diver that fit into any watch collectors? collection as a nice beater. The introduction of the 300M Marinemaster automatic changed this.
Back in the 90?s, there was some peripheral knowledge on the forums that Seiko did produce a ?Grand Seiko? watch. I distinctly remember a few conversations on Timezone around 1998/1999 from folks who were very curious about what a $3,000.00 Seiko was like. Of course, back then, I don?t remember anyone buying one. When the Marinemaster was introduced in 2000 at about $1,500.00 street cost, the price of admission for a high end Seiko was now significantly more attainable than that of a GS. At this point, people took notice and slowly started buying Marinemasters and ever since, the buzz has continued to build. Now you rarely see anyone making the ?it would be crazy to spend that much on a Seiko? comments that were so prevalent up until the last couple of years. The Marinemaster has done much to dispel this in that many of its buyers who have also owned Swiss, now had the chance to see how nice of a watch, Seiko could produce. I always get a kick out seeing someone who previously bashed an MM announce on a forum??look at my new Marinemaster.?
The 300M Marinemaster is a wonderful watch, and to me, compares favorably to any of the established dive watches from the Swiss makers. In person, the SBDX001 is an impressive piece. The hefty case, the captivating brushing and polishing of the hands, a thick domed crystal, the highly polished ebony bezel, a completely in house movement, and a divers extension bracelet second to none all contributed to the impression of an expensive and classy jewel-like diver. Seiko took all the qualities that the Swiss makers capitalized on that make a watch feel expensive and rugged and expertly integrated them into the 300M auto.
With this in mind, you can imagine how high my expectations were with the introduction of the new 600M Spring Drive. I knew how far Seiko had gone with the Marinemaster and I expected that they?d take everything to a new level with the 600M.
They didn?t, and for my first week of 600M ownership, I was a little confused?.not disappointed, but not thrilled to death either. I was expecting a new updated Marinemaster, and what I got was a watch built along a different design philosophy.
The new 600M is cut from a completely different cloth than its predecessor. Where the 300 is bright, heavy, shiny and Swiss-like, the 600 is subdued, lighter and gives off a much more business tool like vibe than its older relative. With the exception of the general case shape and finishing, these really are two distinct watches with completely different considerations in regards to both design and look. Seiko?s choices in size, dial, hands and bezels are what define the major contradictions in impressions one gets with these two. It is these differences that have inspired me to write this review. Hopefully I can illustrate how different these two watches are in ?feel?.
Dial/Hands
When we first saw the preliminary photos of the 600M, I think many of us were disappointed with the bland-ness of the GMT hand. How cool would it have been if it was red, yellow, or even an anodized blue like that of the Cayman Pipin? White was just so?well?plain. It seemed like a genuine design oversight to make the hand so simple and boring.
After seeing the watch in person, I instantly realized how right Seiko had gotten it. The GMT hand is absolutely unobtrusive when you are looking for the time. It really does seem to disappear; unless of course you decide to ?look? for it, and that is perhaps what you really want in pure functional terms in a GMT watch. The legibility of the 600M SD is as good as or better than any watch I?ve ever owned. When you glance at it to read the time, it?s the hour and minute hands that instantly register in your brain. There?s no dwelling or admiration on the color or shape of the GMT hand like I get with my Landmasters. With the 600M SD, it?s all business.
After I had worn the 600M for the first 24 hours, I was anxious to get my 300M out to compare them both. Grabbing the 300M after having the 600M on all day was startling. This may surprise many, but my first thought that moment was how ?busy? the dial was on the 300M. Obviously this seems like a contradiction, but it?s an impression I continue to have to this day.
The effect is I assume due to the fact that there is considerably more black in the dial on the 600M SD. On the 300, the hands are shinier and more dimensional, the second hand displays more prominently, there?s more writing on the 300M dial, and the printed markers on the 300M dial are considerably bolder than what one sees on the 600M. Then, when you take into consideration that the dial markers are the same size on both watches, it?s easy to understand how the 300M dial can appear more cluttered than its larger more muted successor. While it isn?t immediately apparent in pictures, in person, it?s a very noticeable effect.
To me, one of the most interesting aspects of the 600M design is the dial itself. I?ve never seen a dial constructed like this before in that the dial is actually built up around the markers. That is, the markers are actually part of the dial. The finish is unusual too. It?s extremely flat and smooth with none of the grain that you see in most dials..300M included. I?ve never experienced another dial with the same look as this. In fact, and I don?t mean this in a bad way, but the best way to try to explain it is to say that the whole dial almost looks like a piece of molded plastic like that which you?d see in a high end automobile. Don?t get me wrong, it?s not a cheap look, it?s just different than what I?m used to seeing. In fact, I would not be surprised at all if there was some sort of engineering reason for this particular design, it?s just different enough to make you wonder if there is a ?story? behind its development.
Let?s talk about the hands. The hour, minute and seconds hand on the 300M Marinemaster are (to me) the coolest on any diver out there. The beveled edges with the brushed and polished surfaces convey an attention to detail that you rarely see on any hands on any watch at any price level. Impressive for sure. No doubt, when you compare these to the hands on the 600M, you will be let down. The 300M hands scream ?look at me? quality while the hands on the 600M are simple and tool like. While there is the slightest bit of brushing on the hands, it?s barely noticeable, all the eye picks up is the overall shape and the contrast of the hands against the dial. Nothing fancy by any means. One peculiar aspect of the 600M minute and seconds hands is the length. They are abnormally long. They both reach well into the outer indices on the outer track. It?s a strange look as I?m used to seeing hands just hit the markers.
There is one aspect to the 600M dial that I do find vexing, and that is the power reserve indicator. Both the scale and hand are polished steel and can emit a glare in bright light. They are very out of place on this watch and truthfully fit the character of the 300M more so than the 600M. If I could change one thing on the 600M, this is where I?d go. In keeping with the tool like simplicity of the rest of the dial/hands, I think it would have been more appropriate to have used a matte finish on the hand and indicator.
The last area I wanted to compare contrast was the bezel and crystal. Once again, the 300M possesses much more of a ?look at me? quality in this aspect due to the domed crystal and sloping bezel. With the 600M, the crystal is completely flat and is set right below the flat bezel. The look is closer in appearance to what you see on a Prospex 1000M, rather than what we are used to on the SBDX001.
Obviously many are thrilled about the sapphire in the 600M, but I?m not sure I wouldn?t have preferred a curved hardlex crystal in this one! Regardless, Tokunaga seems very proud of the strides made in Seiko Sapphire crystal production and is happy with the engineering that has gone into this design. In case you missed it, here?s a post about the use of sapphire crystals in the new Seikos. http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=78440&messageid=1115818534
Like the busy-ness of the dials, the prominence of the sawtooth bezel is something that you don?t really notice when the watch is on the wrist. If you allow yourself more than a glance at the watch, and specifically look, you may notice the unconventional design, but it is far from intrusive. When you grab it and experience its functionality, you?ll smile.
As far as the hex screws. I have to say I?m ambivalent. I like the idea, I?m not sure about the implementation. I always thought the retaining ring that Citizen used on the 1000M was a nice idea yet I can?t see how this could have been implemented on a more conventionally styled watch. Although I haven?t tried any straps on my 600M diver yet, Ty has and it?s nice to know that it is strap friendly. The part of the case housing the hex screws is just a little higher than the lugs, leaving room to accommodate the thickest of straps or a bracelet with straight end pieces. Bottom line is that over the years, I do occasionally read posts from those who have bezels that have become gritty or stiff over time, so it?s nice to know that I can easily clean the one on the 600M should it ever need attention.
Because so much has been said about the new Spring Drive technology, I?m not going to spend much time commenting upon it. For all the technical information on the 600M, this link to http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=1276772&rid=0 Ty?s 600M Spring Drive review has it all?
I will say one thing; up until Spring Drive was introduced, there have been (in my mind) two major developments in wristwatch movements. First obviously was the creation of the traditional escapement mechanical watch, and then quartz. I honestly think that Seiko has now introduced a genuine third movement type with their Spring Drive technology. I truly believe that it?s different enough from quartz and mechanical to stand on its own. Like it or not, you have to respect the fact that Seiko is perhaps the only company in the world to have introduced the last two designs in wristwatch movements (quartz and spring drive) in an environment in which logic would state that there was no need.
This really is a sign of Seiko?s interest in advancing horology in a way no other companies come close to addressing.
Many will point out the kinetic and solar powered watches as new movements, but in reality, those are simply developments in power sources rather than new technologies and radio controlled watches are still primarily standard quartz designs with an allowance for time correction based on periodic time signal synchronizations. And while the Daniels Escapement is big news on the mechanical side, it?s still very much a traditional mechanical watch with an escapement refined to address some of the alleged weaknesses of a traditional escapement.
Hopefully Ty and I have conveyed some worthwhile thoughts and pictures in this review. My (our) main point, was that many may fall into the same trap as I did and think of this as a new and improved 300M auto. I think nothing could be further from the truth. After having lived with it for the past 3 weeks, I?ve come to associate it more as a closer relative to its shrouded diver cousins. Big, tough, high tech and form over aesthetics.
The 300M is a watch that you could plop in front of any Swiss lover and have them nod with respect. You may not get that with the 600M. What you will get if you give it the chance is a deep appreciation in a design based purely on functionality in a no holds barred diver watch.
| This message has been edited by wpetew from IP address 162.119.240.103 on Jun 7, 2005 6:06 AM This message has been edited by wpetew from IP address 162.119.240.103 on Jun 7, 2005 6:03 AM |
GLSM IBC, Rep. Bellm.
