The Seiko Marinemaster line; What’s the difference?
The Marinemaster line has always been in Seiko’s upper echelon of divers. The fully spec-ed and sized Marinemaster 300 has a Seiko Dive watch price of $4000. They’re certainly asking for big money for what is, to the untrained eye, a mere ‘Japanese watch.’ But if you take a moment to look beyond the price point, you’ll see that this is one serious timepiece.
Over the years, several variations of a Seiko Watch Diver were made under the Marinemaster line. There was the limited-edition diver’s 55th anniversary MM300 with a monobloc case and a whacking great 8L55 Hi-beat automatic movement. A baby version of the 55th anniversary with a 6r35 movement instead of the Hi-beat. And the Baby Marinemaster, also known as the MM200, is what we'll be looking at today alongside the MM300.
We’ll compare this pair of fantastic pieces in their respective Seiko divers watch price points. We will also be looking at what makes them tick and why two watches of a similar name and with a mere 100m of water resistance in difference can result in a price difference between each other of over $2000.
SEIKO PROSPEX SLA021J1 MEN'S WATCH
The company first introduced the Marinemaster name to its collection as a series of high-end luxury Seiko watch diver or Seiko scuba watch, with immaculate finishing, high spec movements, and the performance to match its predominantly Swiss rivals. Though the Marinemaster name isn’t officially used in Seiko’s catalogs anymore, it still hasn’t stopped fans from using this moniker to identify the model, which is now the SLA021J1, an apparent and obvious update on the SBDX017 MM300.
The Seiko Marinemaster 300 SLA021J1 is a homage to the original Seiko Marinemaster from 1968. The modern version has improved using a high-precision and robust 8L35 movement with a Caliberic Spring Drive winding mechanism, beating at a stable 28,800VPH (4Hz). Moreover, the new Marinemaster is more accurate than the original.
The 8L35 is a seasoned workhorse among the brand’s mechanical movements. Featuring 26 jewels, 50 hours of power reserve, and accuracy of -10 to +15 seconds per day, it’s a proper demonstration of the company’s impressive watchmaking prowess.
This Seiko comes from a great lineage of watches, the newest in this family. It has a hard-as-nails case with a super-hard (DLC) coating making it more scratch-resistant and wear-resistant than any watch your friend will own. A sapphire crystal with dual-sided anti-reflective protects the proud blue dial and features a knurled crown at 4 o'clock -- an homage to the past Seiko dive watches for sale.
The bracelet is well executed, too, featuring an oyster-style design and a folding clasp with a slide lock adjuster. It also has a fold-over diver's extension that provides comfort and durability not seen on other dive watches.
The Seiko Marinemaster 300 SLA021J1 is an expensive watch, and any sum of money you pay for it will always be less than the experience of wearing it on your wrist. It features an immaculate finish (thanks to the mirror-like Zaratsu polish on the case), and it has an impeccable movement that outperforms most watches within its price bracket.
SEIKO PROSPEX SPB087J1 MEN'S WATCH
The Baby Marinemaster, sometimes referred to as the MM200 line, was a series that didn’t really catch on with fans during its initial launch. But the design will start to grow on you once you put it on your wrist, and you won’t be able to help thinking, "Damn, Seiko was right all along." The Baby Marinemaster might very well be Seiko's nicest mid-range diver watch available in the market today.
Let’s take a look at this Seiko scuba watch, the Prospex SPB087J. It’s a 200-meter dive watch done in collaboration with Seiko’s long-time partner and diving association, PADI. It’s one of the newer additions to their ever-expanding MM200 lineup.
From the matte black dial, luminous markers, hands, and the Pepsi-colored bezel, this watch will immerse you in the complete diving experience. This Seiko divers watch 200m automatic price is a little less than $1500, and it’s totally worth it!
Since this is a Seiko scuba watch, the Pepsi bezel isn't colored this way solely to look good—it's actually functional, with the last 45 minutes in blue and the final 15 minutes in red indicating that you should get out of your water soon to avoid a lack of oxygen supply.
The Seiko Prospex 200m Diver SPB083J1 is a nice-sized dive watch that comes in at 44mm in diameter and 20mm in thickness. It has prominent ridges for added style, and the case, along with its bezel, is constructed out of stainless steel.
Power comes from Seiko’s trusty Caliber 6R15 automatic movement, a step up from the entry-level 4r but below the 8L. The movement comes with hacking, hand winding, a modestly beefy 50 hours of power reserve, and a respectable 21,600 VPH. You can feel the difference in thickness between the 2 at 15.4 mm and 13.1mm.
It’s not ultra-thin, but then it doesn’t have to be. This Seiko diver is a dependable and capable watch for everyday wear. Catch more details on this link.
Conclusion
One was made to be a rugged, no-nonsense performance tool watch with great specs for its price that you can wear every day. The other is a simple luxury tool watch that you can not only pair with your best suit but with a diving suit as well. Either you choose, though, you can be confident that you’re landing yourself one of the finest Seiko dive watches from Japan. Moreover, if you love the Seiko brand, check out this link.
