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The Seiko Samurai is a diver’s watch with sharp beveled lugs that look as if they’ve been cut with a warrior’s sword. From the ever popular range of Seiko diver’s watches the Samurai is viewed by many as the best all rounder – equally at home on a diver’s wrist as in the boardroom. Join us as we take a deep dive into this ever popular Seiko Dive Watch. A review of the Samurai’s key functions & features and where to buy a pre-owned Seiko Samurai dive watch.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Seiko Samurai
The Seiko Samurai is a legendary watch that has been coveted by collectors and enthusiasts for decades. This iconic timepiece is part of Seiko’s Prospex line, which is known for its high-quality and reliable watches designed for professional use. The Samurai was first introduced in 2004 as a successor to the popular Seiko Shogun, and has since become one of the most sought-after watches in Seiko’s Prospex lineup.
Sword Shaped Hands and Angular Case
The Seiko Samurai gets its name from its distinctive sword-shaped hands and angular case design that is reminiscent of the Japanese warrior. The watch features a unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale and a screw-down crown, which gives it a water resistance of up to 200 meters. The case is made of high-quality stainless steel and has a diameter of 43.8mm, making it a substantial watch that is perfect for daily wear or professional use.
Reliable, Accurate, Automatic Movement
One of the most impressive features of the Seiko Samurai is its movement. The current watch is powered by Seiko’s in-house automatic movement, which is known for its accuracy and reliability. The movement has a power reserve of approximately 41 hours and is capable of beating at a rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour. The Samurai also features a hacking function, which allows you to stop the second hand when setting the time, making it easier to set the watch accurately.
Bold – contrasting Dials and Sword Hands
The dial of the Seiko Samurai is another standout feature. Original models featured a black or blue dial with bold, luminescent markers and hands that are easy to read in any lighting condition. Newer versions include a white, orange or even a blood red “Shu-iro” dial. The latter being the most conspicuous colour on a battlefield – wearing it proved you were the bravest warrior.
image © SeikoWatches.com
The date window is located at the 3 o’clock position, and the dial also features a day-date display, which is a useful feature for those who need to keep track of both the date and day of the week.
Overall, the Seiko Samurai is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a high-quality, reliable watch that is capable of handling professional use. Its distinctive design, robust construction, and reliable movement make it a standout watch that is sure to impress. Whether you are a collector, an enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates a well-made watch, the Seiko Samurai is a timepiece that should not be overlooked.
Seiko Samurai Dive Watches available today
Discover a collection of Seiko Samurai dive watches on eBay today. Click the banner below to browse the latest offerings. This is a direct link to eBay with filtered results to show only Seiko Samurai diver’s watches on the eBay market today.
*ChronoDivers are affiliated to the EPN (eBay Partners Network). The website owner may earn commission on resulting sales
More Seiko Divers on Amazon
We’ve selected a few other Seiko dive watches currently available on Amazon. Amazon is a great place to start researching a product, especially if you are also looking at second hand models. Knowing the price of a new one from Amazon may help protect you from overpaying for a pre-owned model on eBay. Happy Shopping.
Seiko 5 Sports Style Automatic ‘Batman Blueberry’ SKX Re-Interpretatio…
£378.00 (as of 3 December 2023 19:52 GMT +00:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Seiko Men’s Analogue Automatic Watch with Stainless Steel Strap SRPD59…
30% Off
Seiko Men’s Analogue Automatic Watch with Leather Strap SRPG39K1
6% OffExamples of Samurai watches discovered on eBay
All the Seiko Samurai watches below were found on eBay. eBay is a great place to go to check a) the current prices of a specific watch and b) to see what the watch looks like in the “real world”. Most product photos on eBay are taken with great care to best represent the watch. You get to see what it really looks like (not a computer enhanced brochure photo)
Looking for a Seiko powered 200m Diver’s Watch for just £99
If you are – look no further than the ChronoDivers CD200SKX. The team behind ChronoDivers have produced a good quality, affordable tribute to the classic Seiko SKX range. A stylish yet robust daily wearer that pays homage to the iconic SKX009 and SKX007 powered by the reliable Seiko NH35A movement. Other quality features include a sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel and super bright C3 lume on hands & dial indexes – excellent value at just £99
Gone in 2013 – resurrected in 2017
First introduced in 2004 the Samurai remained in production for nearly a decade – ceasing production in 2013. Thankfully, Seiko resurrected it in 2017 and the next generation of Samurai hit the stores. The watch is mostly produced with a regular stainless steel casing, however, there is a much sought after version with a titanium case (reserved for the Japanese domestic market – JDM).
Current Models of Seiko Samurai
Currently the Samurai comes in a variety of models including the following : SRPG2, SRPF79 (Save the Ocean), SRPE33 (Save the Ocean – Manta Ray), SRPE37 (white waffle), SRPD23 (Sea Wave dial), SRPE35 (black waffle) and the SRPF09 (Pepsi PADI). A sample of these watches is included in the gallery below.
What to pay for a pre-owned model
As with many other watches the price of a pre-owned Samurai is subjective, personal and very much varied. A regular steel cased version with standard dial, strap, hands etc is worth in the region of £225 to £275 depending on full set, papers, condition etc. From this starting value, prices can only go one way – UP. There are some VERY RARE models like the “YELLOW NINJA” Samurai SNM019 (7S35-00E0) – expect to pay over £2,500 for one of those. Also very popular, but not quite as hard to find, is the TITANIUM version with black dial. This stealthy black version has a value around £750 to £900
Video Review – the Great White Seiko Samurai – SRPD23
Another Bruce Williams production. This time Bruce gives an in-depth talk about this stunning Save the Ocean Seiko Samurai. Great filming techniques provide HD closeups of the beautiful dial details and bezel features. Bruce looks at everything from accuracy, wear-ability, pricing and longevity.
Samurai popular FAQ’s
Is Seiko Samurai discontinued?
No. It was in 2013 but thankfully resurrected in 2017. Check the Seiko website for the latest models and some stunning limited edition models like the Seiko Prospex Shu-Iro as shown here. Remember when searching for a Samurai that it’s NOT a name Seiko use to describe their product. You’ll have to use your eyes and look for that angular case and sword hands.
Which is better Seiko Turtle or Samurai?
Neither – both are excellent dive watches. The Seiko Samurai is the nickname for a collection of Seiko dive watches that feature the distinctive sword hands and sharp angular case design. The Seiko Turtle is another collection of dive watches defined by their unique styling. The Turtle dive watch is defined by it’s smooth case style resembling the shell of a turtle. A very different design to the aggressive Samurai’s angular style. Both watches are impressive and well regarding by watch collectors and divers alike.
Why is it called Seiko Samurai?
The Samurai gets the nickname from the sharp, angular case design and the sword shaped hands. It is said that the case shape resembles that of a Samurai’s helmet and the hands that of a warrior’s sword.
More popular Seiko Diver’s watches
The Seiko Samurai featured above is just one of several popular Seiko Dive watches with their own quirky nicknames. Others classic dive watches from Seiko to consider include:
Seiko Monster
The Seiko Monster dive watch is so called because, allegedly, the shape of the bezel was inspired by a shark’s teeth. The Monster has the most aggressive design making it instantly recognizable. First introduced in 2000 in Japan with the Seiko SKX779 (black dial) and Seiko SKX781 (orange dial). More about the Seiko Monster dive watch.
Seiko SKX009 / SKX007
Of all the Seiko dive watches that have ever graced our wrists & oceans – the Seiko SKX007 and Seiko SKX009 are two of the most popular. This short history of the Seiko SKX009 Pepsi and SKX007 tells us they were first introduced in 1996. At the time no one could have predicted their success and longevity. All models incorporated the Seiko 7S26 automatic (self winding) movement. Older models can be identified by their 150m water resistancy, newer ones were certified to a depth of 200m.
Current SKX models on Amazon
Seiko Men’s Analogue Automatic Watch with Rubber Strap SKX009K1
£559.99 (as of 4 December 2023 12:24 GMT +00:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.) Seiko Men’s Analogue Automatic Watch with Rubber Strap SKX009K1
£559.99 (as of 4 December 2023 12:24 GMT +00:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Seiko Turtle
The Seiko Turtle is an iconic diver’s watch made famous by the Apocalypse Now movie. From the ever popular range of Seiko dive watches this is the one with the smooth, cushion like case. Initially released in 1976, the original Turtle (Seiko 6306 & 6309) was in production from 1976 until 1988. More about the Seiko Turtle dive watch
Seiko Tuna
Of all the Seiko Diving watches the Tuna is the first choice for many professional divers. It’s ongoing popularity lies in the depth this watch can withstand. The Seiko Tuna range (that’s a nickname – not an official Seiko nomenclature) is a PROFESSIONAL diver’s watch capable of withstanding the pressure from depths of 1000 metres. More about the Seiko Tuna dive watch.
Further Reading (external reference links)
- Guide to Seiko Samurai – The SeikoGuy
- A short history of the Seiko Samurai – Namokimods