Besides the extravagant Prospex Marinemaster Golgo 13, Seiko has also revealed another “collaboration” model. Based on the same manga series, the rugged and grim Seiko Land Golgo 13 SBDC021 sports a nice automatic movement. Although not as dramatic as the Marinemaster, this one is an improvement on its parent: the original Prospex Fieldmaster.
Seiko Land Golgo 13: The Overall Impression
Although not as dramatic as the Marinemaster, this one is an improvement on its parent: the original Prospex Fieldmaster also known as “Field Tuna“.
Of course, most of the improvements, including the scratch-resistant black coating and a new strap, are purely cosmetic. However, I would argue (and I am ready to die on this hill) that the new color scheme and the hands (all three of them) are just better.
New colors significantly enhance legibility of the busy dial. The new hands look more original and less on the nose than those on the Field Tuna. And the strap finally feels home, it’s no longer a generic afterthought.
Yes, this one is definitely better and I am ready to die on this hill.
The Movement: Seiko caliber 6R15
Just like the base model, the new watch rocks a high-quality Seiko caliber 6R15.
The self-winding caliber powers a lot of their higher-priced mechanical watches including the (almost) legendary Prospecs Scuba diver.
The movement isn’t just “nice.” It is also dependable and quite accurate for what it is.
According to official specs, the movement gains or loses 25 and 15 seconds per day respectively. This makes it hold its own with most standard-grade Swiss-made calibers like, say, the good old ETA 2824.
The Case & Strap
Compared to the original, the watch is now attached to the wrist with a broad, mean-looking leather strap.
It doesn’t look particularly expensive, but it perfectly matches the overall feel of this special-edition watch.
Like many Seiko’s “tactical” divers, the SBDC021 is big measuring 47mm in diameter and almost 14mm top-to-bottom.
That could be an issue for some, but let me be straight here: the case is defiantly huge, but not ridiculously so. In fact, when paired with woodland, a Glock, and some tactical gear, this Japanese baby looks more than adequate.
By the way, the high-contrast scale on the bezel is nothing more than a simple compass. It’s useless in an office, but may become a lifesaver if you suddenly find yourself in the middle of nowhere with a dead GPS tracker and no one to ask for directions.
The Dial
However, the most visible difference between the two is, of course, the dial. For this iteration, the watch drops its Scuba-style hands in favor of more impressive, broadsword-shaped indicators.
The hands seem to be completely covered with LumiBrite luminescent substance in light green and bright orange.
As usual with the 6R15-powered watches, the calendar window is frustratingly small. Even the Arabic “6” in these photos is tiny. Imagine how something like a “25” will look.
It would be strange to ask for a proper Big Date indicator, but would it kill them to replace the standard calendar wheel with something bigger? It’s a big watch with a big dial, there’s plenty of space there.
The Availability & Price
The watch went on sale this last Saturday at a recommended price of ¥115,500.
This is around $1460 at current exchange rates, which is great. However, the pricing initially set in yens means is usually not that great. It often means that Seiko still doesn’t plan to introduce this rugged monster to other parts of the world.
Still, if you are reading this review (thank you, by the way) it means that you are ready to do some digging and will be able to find one of these on eBay. Last time I checked, the SBDC021 was selling for around $1350 as a “buy it now” deal. So there is hope, I guess.
But again, if the watch remains a JDM model only means that there may be problems with the international warranty.
On the other hand, the caliber that powers this timepiece is known for its robustness and reliability. It also powers a great number of their “international” models so at least parts and skilled labor availability won’t be an issue here.
By the way, its total production run is limited to just 500 pieces, so there is a good chance that it will keep its resale value relatively well due to the relatively low supply.
Photos: Seiko
Seiko Land Golgo 13 SBDC021 specification
Price: Around $1350 (JDM model, approximate price at the day of publishing)
Movement: Automatic, Seiko caliber 6R15, Made in Japan
Number of jewels: 23
Movement frequency: 21,600 vph
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, compass
Case: Stainless steel, scratch-resistant black coating
Shape: Round
Size: 47.00 mm
Case height: 13.70 mm
Crystal: Sapphire, anti-reflective on the inside
Back: Solid
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic (on the bezel flange)
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 200 meters
Strap: Black leather strap