Seiko Save The Ocean Black Series Prospex Samurai Watch SRPD09K1 Review

This week, special guest reviewer Keith Campbell reviews his stunning Seiko Save the Ocean watch.

Seiko Save The Ocean Black Series Prospex Samurai Watch SRPD09K1 Review

Seiko fans seem to stock up on Seiko watches. I have only had 1 Seiko in my time, issued to me whilst I was in the Royal Air Force. It was practical and easy to read, as was its function to be so in the air.

The Seiko SRPD09K1 Save The Ocean Black Series Prospex Samurai is a stunning looking watch that is as solidly built as it looks. As this version is part of the Prospex group of diving watches, you can expect a premium quality timepiece in keeping with Seiko’s other superior sports models. It comes with a 2-year guarantee.

The black PVD steel case is 44.8mm wide and 12.8mm deep. Lug to lug is distance 46mm with 22mm lugs which are drilled to allow easy removal of the lug pins and strap swapping. It does wear smaller and thinner than the specifications would suggest, possibly due to the short lug to lug length. I am used to wearing larger watches so this size was perfect for me. It is also available as a stainless steel case if that was your preference.

The PVD coated screw-down crown and screw-down steel monoblock caseback give it a ISO 6245 water resistance rating of 200m. The crystal is Hardlex, which is not as tough as sapphire and I do wish that sapphire was put in as standard on watches like this to stop it being inadvertently scratched. It also has a unidirectional rotating 60 minute 120 click bezel which has a really satisfying click to it when it is rotated, similar sound to popping bubble wrap. Clicking it around is just so satisfying!!! With tooth style knurling on the edges for ease of use, it has a blue scale which defines the first 15 minutes. It also has a luminous pip at the 12 o’clock position on the bezel to allow its use in low light conditions.

The supplied silicone strap was one of the only niggles I had with this watch. I do not like rubber straps so swapped it for a Page and Cooper blue denim leather-backed strap (I am not planning to go swimming with it!) which I think compliments the face nicely. It is also available with a stainless steel bracelet but I think that may be too heavy for everyday use as it looks rather chunky!

The blue graduated dial is just amazing! Probably the most unique selling point and eye-catching thing about this watch, its 3D surface is designed to replicate ocean waves. There is Lumibrite on the hands and applied index markers which are all very bright when viewed in poor light conditions. The hands are a newer Samurai design, borrowed from Seiko’s Monster watch series.

The 23 jewel 4R35 automatic movement, which beats 21,600 times per hour, gives 41 hours of standby when not on the wrist. It can also be hand-wound. When you pull out the crown to set the time, the second-hand stops which allows precise hacking of the second hand. It has the date complication displayed clearly at the 3 o’clock position on a nicely contrasting white background.

All in all, a great value watch with an extra feel-good factor as a donation from each sale goes to the non-profit Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre who do their best to raise awareness of the ways people can protect and preserve endangered marine life and with planet’s waters. as something a little different to the run of the mill Seiko watches, this ticks all my boxes as an everyday wearer.