Seiko Prospex Ana-Digi Solar Dive Watch SNJ025 or SBEQ001 "Arnie" (similar to SNJ027 or SBEQ003) - I'm Back, A Review (plus Video)

In the long annals of Seiko, there are a number of its watch designs that have reached cult status. Generally from the professional series, these watches acquired fame through their capabilities and endorsement by famous adventurers and sportsperson. However, there is one model that has been made famous by an actor, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1985, he wore the Seiko H558-5009 in the movie Commando.

The Seiko H558-5009 was launched in 1982 and is the first Ana-Digi dive watch that has a digital alarm chronograph with an analog time display.

I idolised Arnold Schwarzenegger when I first saw him act in the first Terminator movie in 1984. When he acted in Commando, I went to see it at the theater. Then, I wasn't a WIS but I could appreciate the 'macho' H558-5009 as the watch of choice for a commando. Forward 35 years since its launch, Seiko has reintroduce the old Ana-digi (with some modern features) into the SNJ025 (or SBEQ001).

When launched, the Seiko H558-5009 recorded a number of firsts. Through the power of the cinema and Hollywood, it created the genre of the professional "action" watches. The new "Arnie" SNJ025 is a fairly close remake of the iconic H558-5009.

Conceptually, the "Arnie" has a unique interface that allows many more complications to be added on the watch while maintaining an analogue-centric display for the dial. Unlike other such designs from Casio, Citizen and others, the dial on the "Arnie" remain relatively clean and sterile. Special complications such as chronograph, dual timing and alarm features are displayed via the small LCD screen without the need to overwhelm the analogue dial with additional hands or sub-dials.



After having worn the watch, I can truly appreciate this design philosophy. Honestly, no can can quickly absorb all the information quickly on a watch watch filled with complications. Designers of smart watches understand the limitation of human concentration. This is why you will find practically all smart watches utilises multiple sub-screens for various complications instead of cramming all into one. Unfortunately, smart watches uses full LCD screens that allow for such flexibility. Traditional watches do not. Taking these two examples from Casio and Citizen (see below), you can see why the SNJ025 is much more elegant in utility. When a dial becomes too 'busy', it is hard to concentrate.

Casio Protrek PRG-650-1

Citizen Promaster JR4060-88E

The Watch

Like the original, the "Arnie" SNJ025 is made out of stainless steel. Designed with a "Tuna" casing, it has a shroud that is made of hard plastic. Personally, it feels like ceramic.

The case has a 200 meter water-resistant with a diameter of 47.8 mm wide while the lug-to-lug length is 50.5 mm. Lug width is 22 mm and the overall thickness is 13.8 mm. Overall weight is approximately 114 gm. With such dimensions, one would think only those with sizeable wrists can carry this watch properly but in reality, the short lug design of a "Tuna" casing also allows the watch to be worn by those with smaller wrist.


The Dial



The chapter ring on the watch has two stages. From the top and halfway down is a ring with minute markers painted with white lines. The next section of the chapter ring is unique. Instead of a complete circle, it looks like a ring with the LCD screen as the "jewel" placed on the "ring". On the "ring" section, a 24 hour marker scale is printed starting from 14 to 22. Due to the LCD screen, the markers for 13, 23 and 24 (or 0) are not provided.

On the main surface of the dial, hour markers are provided. These markers are painted with LumiBrite paint and consist of circles, rectangles and a triangle. The markers are arranged in a circle except for three markers at the top section where they are arranged in a straight line along the perimeter of the LCD screen. Although the top quadrant looks squashed, it still retains all the hour markers which helps in the visual balance of the dial.



The brand in printed in white on the upper quadrant of the dial. On the bottom quadrant, the Prospex logo and the word "SOLAR" are painted in white while the words "DIVER'S 200m" are painted in orange. This differentiation serves to inform the reader that this watch is dive capable and conforms to the ISO6425:2018 dive water standard specifications. Meanwhile, along the peripheral of the dial near 6 o'clock are some coded words in very small font size.

The three hands are typical of Seiko dive watches, broad with sufficient surface area to put a lot of LumiBrite paint.

Protecting the dial is a flat Hardly crystal.

The bezel is unidirectional with a ratcheting action that is noisy but reassuring. It completes one circle after 120-clicks of the ratcheting system. Made out of stainless steel with an aluminum insert, the bezel is tall yet thin. For grip, the wall of the bezel is coin-edge. On the bezel insert, minute markers incorporating lines, dots and numbers are incorporated. A luminous pip at 12 o'clock is also available.



Unlike most Seiko "Tuna" casings, the crown is located at the more contemporary 3 o'clock position instead of the typical 4 o'clock. The large 7 mm wide crown is a screw-down with coin-edge wall but with a sterile top surface. On both sides of the crown are two hex screws that lock the hard plastic "Tuna" shroud in place. As you can see from the photo above, the bezel is not fully protected by the shroud. The bezel is slightly exposed.

On the other side of the casing are the two pushers with locking collars as well as one hex screw. For the pushers, the locking collars works like the screw-down crown except that it works in the opposite way. To keep the pushers protected from water ingress, the collars must be screwed UP. To use the pushers, you need to have the collars screwed DOWN. In the photo below, the pushers are in the 'protected' mode.



Also in the photo above you can see the stubby lugs with drill-through holes for ease of accessing the lug bars.

The solid case-back is a screw-down with the famous tsunami logo at the centre. Some information about the watch are etched on the case-back. Underneath the case-back is the H851 module. It is a solar powered module that is able to power the watch for up to 6 months when fully charged.



The digital function available for the watch are as follows: time, chronograph, alarm, calendar and dual time. All the information can be found on the small LCD screen located at the upper part of the dial. What makes it even brilliant is that the analog hands are controlled directly by the digital display. This makes it very easy to adjust the time. You just need to adjust the digital time and the analog hands will adjust accordingly. At the end of the this review is a PDF copy of the manual if you are interested to find out more.

Controls to sequentially loop over the various function are done via the pushers. The make adjustments, you just need to turn the main crown. There is a LED light available for the LCD screen.

The H851 module is accurate. Seiko guarantees an accuracy rate of ±15 seconds per month. However, when I use the Toolwatch app for my watch, it reported a perfect accuracy rate of 0.0 seconds per day.

I find the size and styling of the LCD screen to be just nice. It should not be too big as it would overwhelm the analog features of the watch. Furthermore, a Seiko Tuna is synonymous with an analog display. Anything else is just not a "Tuna" in my view.


The Strap

The watch comes standard with a vintage style silicone strap. Instead of the contemporary diver strap from Seiko where there is a wavy accordion section near the lugs, the design chosen for this model is more rectangular in shape.



The strap guide is a large polished metal piece with perforated holes. The buckle is small yet signed with the brand.



At the end of the strap is another tsunami art cut into the silicone.

The strap is long enough for divers to wear it over their diving suite. As it stand, the strap is capable to support a wrist size of up to 210 mm in circumference (or approximately 8.3 inches).

The silicone strap is supple and easy to wear for an extended period of time. It does allow the skin to breath and there is no accumulation of perspiration like the rubber based straps.



The power of LimiBrite is obvious on the watch. It shines bright in the dark. Below is the photo of the watch in the dark. Due to the placement of the LCD screen, the top three markers look squared-off.




The Wearing Experience

If you ever wore a "Tuna" before, this watch will feel familiar. Large yet comfortable. However, unlike the quartz based solar or battery powered pure analog "Tuna" divers, the flexibility of the LCD and the various functionalities make this watch a much better Seiko "Tuna" to have. It is not only a capable diver but can be used in all extreme environments.



Below is a video of the watch on my wrist.



I do hope Seiko adopts the solar technology is a bigger way. Currently, under Seiko vast product offering, the vast majority of its quartz watches are battery powered (even for Grand Seiko). I find the need to periodically break the seal of the case-back to have access to the internals for periodic battery changes increases the likelihood of problems manifesting itself on the watch later. Solar power (or even kinetic power) minimises the need to periodically open up a watch.


The Series

Currently, there are three models in the series; the SNJ025 (or SBEQ001), the SNJ027 (or SBEQ003) and the SNJ028 (USA market only). The first is the standard production model, the second is the special collaboration with PADI (the global organisation of Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and the third comes with a matte black case while the bezel and highlights on the dial are in gold.

SNJ025 (or SBEQ001) MSRP: YEN60,000; RM1,980	SNJ027 (or SBEQ003) MSRP: YEN63,000; RM2,100
SNJ028 MSRP: USD550 (USA exclusive model)	Note: During Baselworld 2019 when the series was premiered, there were three models shown. The third model, the SNJ028 was not listed on the official website but listed on the US website. This particular model is exclusive only to Seiko USA.

All three models are similar except for the colour combination, brand affiliation and regional availability. To me, the SNJ025 is the truest to the original compared to the rest.

L to R: SNJ025, SNJ027 & SNJ028

The Original

Reference: H558-5009 Production: 1982 -1990 Display: Analog and digital Technology: Quartz with battery powered MSRP: YEN45,000 Water Rating: 150 meters Diameter: 45 mm Length: 46.5 mm Lugs: 22 mm Height: 11.3 mm Module: H558 First hybrid (ana-digi) diver with alarm and chronograph

Manual on the H851 Movement on Scribd

Specifications

Brand: Seiko, under the Prospex group
Model: SNJ025 Solar "Arnie"
Case Material: Stainless steel with some parts black coated
Length: 50.5 mm
Diameter: 47.8 mm
Thickness: 13.8 mm
Lugs: 22 mm
Crystal: Hardlex
Movement: Caliber H851; "Duo-Display" movement; Solar powered
Power Reserve: Approximately 6 months (when fully charged)
Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
Water Resistance: 200 Meters ISO6425:2018 compliant
Strap: Silicone
Strap Circumference (Max): 210 mm
Weight: 114 gm
Illumination: LumiBright paint on hands & indexes; LED light
Functions: Time, chronograph, alarm, calendar and dual time
Certification: Dive Watch Standard ISO6425:2018
MSRP: YEN60,000; RM1,980
Production: August 2019
Purchase Date: 6 September 2019
Purchase Price: RM1,323


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