SLA017 62MAS: the best Seiko I've ever worn, shipped with a bracelet my son made in art class
The Grail, bros
We don't just start here, do we? Most of us start with an SKX and slowly work our way through the turtles, the monsters, the tuners and the Willards, the 143s, the Marinemaster 300s. And finally, Mr Jun has got our Grail. The SLA017, a re-edition of Seiko's legendary first dive watch, the 6217 62MAS from 1965. 2,000 pieces. Released in 2017 at £3,495; Mr Jun paid £2,800 in 2024. Not too shabby.
Let me say it straight away: this is the best Seiko watch I have ever had the pleasure to wear or borrow. It is just something else. Probably only the 039 or the 025 can even compare.
Skin diver, Zaratsu, sight to be seen
Quintessential, utilitarian skin diver design, exceptionally well executed by the Japanese. Zaratsu on the sharply angled sides, circular brushing up top, Diashield all over. An oversized knurled crown at 3 with proper Seiko engraving. Drilled lugs, short and box-shaped. The Marinemaster case has always been one of my absolute favourites, but now it has a challenger. My camera cannot do it justice.
39.9 mm, 47.7 lug to lug, 14.2 thick. People complain about the height. Not me. 110 g on the rubber, a featherweight. The comfort is insane, bros. One complaint: the dolphin on the back is laser-etched. At this price it really should be engraved.
Almost unreal to behold
The dial is so beautiful to me that it is almost unreal to behold. A staggeringly pretty sunburst that radiates between anthracite and dark grey, applied rectangular markers, lume-filled batons, and look: no hideous X. The box-shaped, slightly domed sapphire gives just the right amount of distortion as the narrow bezel slopes down to its coin edge. Perfection for the beeeech. The Lumibrite does not disappoint either.
The negatives, such as they are
The bracelet. Look at it. Looks like something my son did in art class. A 6R clasp on a three-and-a-half-grand watch. It is not worthy of this watch in any way. Get rid of it immediately. The waffle rubber is very comfortable, but sticky, a dust magnet, and long. And a black keeper, for some reason.
Why is it a limited edition? Why so expensive? It's an 8L35, and the finishing is no better than the 033. Zaratsu is Zaratsu. They've just added a premium on top. And the bezel? In the review I called it sublime. Next day in daylight, quite stiff, crisp, reassuring. Next to the 025 and the 033? A bit hard. Definitely not my favourite of the three.
Verdict
The most elegant Seiko dive watch there is. This is where it all began. Is it money well spent, or are we thick? I don't know. But I'm absolutely in love with it, and I'm going to miss it. Never give up, bros.
