Seiko Prospex Automatic Field Watch Green SRPD33K1 (similar to SRPD31K1 & SRPD35K1) - A Refreshing Adventure Watch, A Review (plus Video)

The first time I visited Tokyo years ago, I bought myself the Seiko SARB017 Alpinist, a very refined gentleman’s classic sports watch. Over the years, Seiko has come out with modern interpretations of the Alpinist with contemporary hands and markers. Everything else, such as the location of the crowns (the primary time adjustment and winding crown and the internal bezel controller crown) remains the same at 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock, respectively. Last year, Seiko stopped the production of the SARB017 Alpinist.

I also got in the collection the Seiko Prospex Fieldmaster SBDC011, another sports watch with a Tuna casing and compass complication. For this model, the bezel is external but it has some interesting graphics on its case-back. This has some bearing to the watch I will be reviewing in this posting.

For Baselworld 2019, Seiko launched a new series of land-base sports watches under the Prospex line. The SRPD31K1, SRPD33K1 and SRPD35K1 series is a refreshed evolution of the Alpinist. Although Seiko does not accord the Alpinist nickname to this new series, the resemblance is obvious. Moreover, there are some elements of the Fieldmaster incorporated as well. Out of the three models, I chose the SRPD33K1for the collection. More about the rest of the models at the end of the review.

The series is definitely targeted to the global mass market. It does not have a "J" suffix which would indicate the manufacturing was done in Japan. Instead, this series is manufactured in the many Seiko manufacturing facilities all over the world, apart from Japan. Hence the suffix "K".
The SRPD33K1 is made out stainless steel with polished surfaces. Weighing in at approximately 80 gm, it has the classic Seiko UFO design shape with short lugs. The primary crown that winds and adjust the time is set flushed with the side of the casing at 4 o'clock. The secondary crown that adjust the internal bezel is located at 2 o'clock and has a protection system that is visually Panerai in appearance.

Due to the short lugs, the watch's length and width is the same at just 43 mm. Nevertheless, the watch is tall at 14.4 mm due to the dome crystal protecting the dial. Lug width is 22 mm. This watch has a number of complications such a date, day and internal bezel with compass bearing. The case-back is has a crystal window and sandblasted with a guide to some emergency land to air signals (more about this later).


The Dial



The SRPD33K1 comes with olive green dial. At the rim of the dial is located the bi-directional internal bezel with compass bearing. The internal bezel is elevated from the floor of the dial with a thin chapter ring. On the main bezel surface, the compass bearings are painted using a dull white paint with an addition of a dull orange triangle pointing North. The chapter ring has another set of scale which is more of a timing scale with Arabic numerals and dot markers for minutes. These are also painted in dull white. Instructions on how to use the compass complication is provided in the manual below.

Seiko Compass

The main timing scale is located on the main dial surface. Consisting of line minute markers and large applied rectangle hour markers as well as Arabic numerals for the 12 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. Only the applied hour are painted with the luminous Lumibrite paint.

Uniquely for the 3 o'clock position, the marker is replaced by a large aperture for the date and day wheels. The aperture is framed in white paint. The day and date wheels uses negative print (white text over black background). For the day wheel, there is an option for English or Roman numerals.

There are five lines of text and logo on the dial. All are printed. The brand is prominently placed at the upper quadrant while the rest consisting of the Prospex logo, the words "AUTOMATIC", "20 BAR" and some manufacturing coding in extremely small font can be found at the lower quadrant. Only the "20 BAR" is painted using dull orange while the rest uses the dull white paint.

The hands on the watch has somewhat a mixture of design between a plongeur-style hand and a syringe-style hand. Both the hours and minutes hands are painted in Lumibrite within a polished metal frame. For the hours hand, the needle part is painted in orange. Meanwhile, the seconds hand is thin with a round plate added at the end. The front half is painted white while the back half is painted in black. The round plate is painted with Lumibrite.



Protecting the dial is a dome Hardlex crystal. From the photo above, it is obvious that there is no AR protection put on the crystal. Not surprising as I believe Seiko is trying to keep the cost down to a minimum. Meanwhile, there is a bevel edge to the crystal.



At night, the Lumibrite painted areas on the dial glow aquamarine blue. Although not as bright as the Prospex divers, the illumination is sufficient for referencing time in the dark. Note the gap in the illumination due to the day & date aperture. Theoretical, since the illuminated markers are small squares for the 12 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock, it would not be hard to also put a similar square marker at 3 o'clock. This would help maintain dial symmetry in the dark.


The Casing

You can also see from the photo above the short lugs with drill-through lug holes for ease of strap replacement. Despite having lugs, the point where you attached the strap is still directly under the edge of the casing. This watch is definitely wearable for the vast majority of people who would not otherwise be able to wear a 43 mm watch comfortably.



What make the SRPD33K1 interesting is the design of the crowns. In the photo above you can see that two completely different styles of crown were used in this model. One is 'flush' with the casing while the other uses an overlapping crown guard.



To engage the crown is very easy. From the back, one can easily hook the main crown to engage the gears to adjust the time. Otherwise, in the fully 'flush' position, one can wind the crown by just running one's finger underneath the crown to make it turn. Similarly for the the internal bezel crown, one can turn it by just running one's finger underneath the crown back and forth.

In the picture above and below one can see the unique display case-back with ground-to-air emergency signal codes printed on it. This graphic is similar to what you will find behind the SBDC011. If ever you find yourself stuck in the wilderness, this could be useful.

 

The engine powering the SRPD33K1 is the automatic and winding 24 jewel Seiko workhorse, the 4R36. Operating at 21,600 BPH, it has an accuracy rate of between +45 to -35 seconds per day. With a power reserve of approximately 41 hours, the 4R36 should be able to record better accuracy straight out of the box.

I was able to do a simple accuracy test using the Toolwatch application. Straight out of the box, the 4R36 movement was able to record a -12.2 second per day (SpD) accuracy which is well within the +45 SPD to -35 SPD accuracy range as stated by Seiko for the 4R36.



The Strap

The SRPD33K1 comes standard with genuine calf leather. The top part is tanned in dark green while the bottom is light in colour. Since the SRPD33K1 is a field watch, the leather strap comes with thick stitching. From a width of 22 mm at the lugs, it tapers down to 20 mm at the signed buckle. Out of the box, the leather is stiff but should soften with a couple of days on the wrist.





Similarities between the SRPD33K1, SARB017,  SBDC011 & level entry Seiko 5s

Below is the dial of the SARB017 which show some similarities to the SRPD33K1. Although the location of the crowns are different, the practical layout is generally similar.

SARB017

The flushed main crown design seems to be taken from the level entry Seiko 5s such as the SNKL23K1 and SNKL35K1.

Below is the case-back of the SBDC11 which show some similarities to the SRPD33K1. The emergency signal codes printed on the case-back is to reinforce the 'field watch' genre of the model without making any further drastic redesign of the overall casing and dial arrangement.

SBDC011

The mixing of the various styles is indicative of the flexibility that Seiko designers have when coming out with new concepts. Since it is their ideas anyway, it is not considered plagiarism or copying.


The Wearing Experience

I have yet to get the leather strap to soften. As such, the watch wears rather stiff. Nevertheless, this is only temporary. I suspect the watch would eventually sit nicely on the wrist. If you can't wait for the leather to get soft, you can replace the strap with a canvas strap or any other strap that you prefer.



The compass complication is something that is not commonly used nowadays especially with the advent of smartphones. It would be much quicker to switched on phone and get not only compass direction but also GPS coordinates. Nevertheless, it is unique and looks cool too.



The Reveal

I got the watch from my favourite store in Mid Valley. Paid RM1,200 for it.





The Series

There are three members of this new Prospex Land series that was launched during Baselworld 2019. These are:

SRPD31K1 Black dial  & brown strap

SRPD33K1 Green dial  & green strap

SRPD35K1 Black dial with PVD case  & black strap

Specifications

Caliber: 4R36
Movement Type: Automatic with manual winding capacity
Accuracy: +45 to -35 seconds per day
Duration: Approximately 41 hours
Case Material: Stainless steel, polished
Glass Material: Curved Hardlex
Luminous Paint: Lumibrite on hands and markers
Band Material: Calfskin in green, tapers from 22 mm to 20 mm at the buckle
Water Resistance: 20 bar (200 meters)
Case Size: Height 14.4 mm; Diameter 43 mm; Length 43 mm; Lugs 22 mm
Weight: Approximately 80 gm
Dial Colour: Green

Other features:
- Day/Date display
- Stop second hand function
- Rotating compass inner ring
- Screw-down case-back
- Display case-back

Serial Number: SRPD33K1 4R36-07A0 SL946554
MSRP: RM1,775.00





Photo Gallery