SLA047 Island Green: British racing green, butter you can hear, and my favourite watch case ever
Mr Jun's green warlord
The SLA047 J1. Limited edition, but limited the way Seiko limits things: 3,000 pieces, so not really limited, and they don't even number them. £3,000 new, $3,200 if you're American. Mr Jun, the benefactor of every watch on this channel bar mine, picked it up a year old on eBay for £1,850. Don't be tricked, bros. You can have these for a lot less than they cost.
We swapped Marinemasters over because we were both bored, and I'll be honest: I love my blue one, but because this isn't mine, I love this one even more.
British racing green
Seiko says the dial resembles the verdant jungle and mangroves of Iriomote island. I think they just make that up for marketing. Seiko calls it Island Green. To me it's British racing green: inky, very attractive, and black in low light. Absolutely magnificent. Then the Marinemaster handset, my personal favourite handset of all time, and the lume is mental. Absolutely mental. Like an imploding black hole spitting radioactive photons into your face.
The case. Oh, the beefcake.
44.3 mm, but it wears like a 42 because the bezel is about 42.2 and only the flared case sticks out. 15.4 mm thick, so he's a tall boy, but not too tall for me. 50.5 lug to lug, 20 mm lugs, 222 grams. Look at this case. It's like a beefcake. There's nothing like it in the world of watches. Brushed lug tops, Zaratsu on the top of the flank, drilled lugs. I've had polished Swiss watches. Nothing compares. Still my favourite watch case ever.
Listen to the butter
Black zirconia ceramic bezel, and I can't explain the butteriness and the pure joy it gives. It turns a bit stiffer than my 023, strangely, but you can almost hear the butter. My Doxa Sub 300T doesn't feel anything close. The only worry is that unprotected painted triangle, which worries me immensely. Be careful with him and he'll last a lifetime.
Box, bracelet and the factory shame
You get a green accordion-style silicone strap with a beautiful buckle, plus the Marinemaster bracelet everyone complains about except me. Pressed clasp, I'd like it milled, but the on-the-fly extension is superlative and it looks fantastic. Inside, a hand-assembled, rhodium-plated 8L35 with MEMS parts. Mr Jun's runs at about +1. It's just a shame they don't regulate it in the factory.
Verdict
Perfect in almost every way. Next to my 023 I couldn't choose between the two. In the 019 video I said the 047 is nice but the 019 is better. Still, I absolutely love it. Unreal scenario, bros. Out of the spaghetti tree.
