Seiko has loads of series. One of the series that I follow closely is the Landmaster series, a range of watches that caters for adventurers. First introduced in 1993, the series has evolved in interesting ways (to be explained later). I was given the chance to have an exposure to the series when I got the SBDB005 back in 2013 and five years later, the SBEJ003 in 2018. Another 5 years rolled by before the SLA071 was introduced in 2023 which I quickly snapped up.
I must say that the SLA071 is not something that I expected after owning the previous two offerings under the Landmaster series. I sense that the designers in Seiko had a free rein in the design process which may or may not sit well with a number of enthusiasts.
Personally, I am conflicted somewhat on how I truly feel about this watch. Although it has all the best offerings from Seiko, the combination is something that only a few people can appreciate. More about this later.
Short History
In view of the 30th anniversary of the series, Seiko released a new Prospex creation, the SLA071J1. With this new release, I observed a number of things which can be clearly seen in the design itself. Below I shall highlight some of the major uniqueness of each of the Landmasters I have in the collection.
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Despite the common materials used (titanium and sapphire), the shape design (where the crown is placed), the type of movements used as well as the complications on the watches have distinct differences. The evolution tract of the series is intriguing as the five year gaps between the SBDB005 and SBEJ003; and then another five years to the SLA071 does not seem consistent.
When I re-read my reviews of the two earlier watches, the only negative things I highlighted about the SBDB005 was the price (due to use of a SpringDrive movement) and for the SBEJ003 was the shape of the crown (too large as it will impact on the side of the bracelet if you flexed the bracelet towards the casing). Seiko heard my complaint and they introduced the automatic movement for the SBEJ003 and I supposed they also heard my second complaint and they decided to re-located the crown to 3:00 as a solution to the crown hitting the bracelet. Lo and behold, the latest iteration fits the original design very closely.
The Watch
The SLA071J1 is made out of a titanium alloy with super-hard coating technology. It has a diameter of 42.0 mm and a height of 12.7 mm. Lug-to-lug length is 50.1 mm. From the dimensions, it reads like a big watch but in reality, this size was chosen to be able to incorporate a number of key components to make it suitable for the tasks it was designed for. Moreover, the shape of the watch and the lugs makes it sit well on my 6.75 inch wrist.
One might get worried when seeing the brushed and polished surfaces on the SLA071J1 but the special super-hard coating technology devised by Seiko does work. I have a number of watches with such a protective system being used and it still looks like new after many years.
The dial of the SLA071J1 has a brilliant blue color with a vertical gradient effect that darkens towards the top quadrant of the dial. This effect was inspired by the view from the summit of Mount Everest, where light refract differently due to the thin air, making the sky appear darker. Generally, the actual design and layout of the dial are fairly typical of Seiko's design philosophy with centrally-mounted hands, geometric hour markers, a date aperture at 3:00 and a healthy application of luminous green LumiBrite paint.
At the edge of the dial is a sloping chapter ring painted in dark grey and marked with silver line markers to signify minutes. Every fifth line, the marker is thicker which also signifies the hours. Next to it are the applied hour markers, polished and covered (not entirely) with LumiBrite. Where the 3:00 marker supposed to be, Seiko incorporated a square date aperture, framed in polished metal. To balanced the dial somewhat, the date wheel has a white background which resembled an applied hour marker.
There are five lines of texts and logo on the dial. The brand name is an applied piece painted in a golden sheen and located at the upper quadrant of the dial. The Prospex logo, the words "AUTOMATIC" and "20BAR" are painted in silver and located at the bottom quadrant of the dial. Right at the edge of the dial, in small fonts are the words "JAPAN" and some manufacturing codes.
The hands are broad and polished with large sections painted in LumiBrite. The seconds hand is painted in a golden sheen with the lollipop end also painted in LumiBrite.
Protecting the dial is a flat slab of sapphire crystal with super clear coating to minimise glaring.
The bezel on the SLA071J1 is a bidirectional compass bezel. It is on a sliding rail that has a fair amount of friction to allow the bezel to remain static when required. From the photo below, one can see that the numbers, letters and markers are cut into the titanium alloy and filled with black paint.
The screw-down crown is located at 3:00 and when seated safely, the sides are protected by large shoulder tabs that extends out of the casing. The gear tooth crown is large enough to manipulate easily. My only comment about the crown is the lack of any signage on the top of the crown. For a premium model, I had expected Seiko to make the effort to visually mark the top with a logo, either the brand initial of "S" or the Prospex logo of "X".
Note the lack of a pass-through hole for the spring-bars at the edge of the lugs. For an extreme sports watch such as a Landmaster, I do expect pass-through holes at the lugs to enable ease of strap changes while in the field.
The titanium bracelet that comes with the watch has a signed clasp that operates using a two-button catch as well as a safety latch. The clasp also has a ratcheting extender, if you need to wear the watch over thick jacket sleeves. For optimal sizing, Seiko also provided four micro-adjustment slots in the claps for a more comfortable wearing experience.
The screw-down case-back is solid and has the brand name and logo at the center. The limited edition number is also etched in this location. Underneath the case-back is the Seiko 8L35 automatic movement, a rather old design (circa 2000) yet deemed to be special enough to continue production to this day. In fact, Seiko has stated that “This limited edition is equipped with the high-grade caliber 8L35,
which is hand assembled and adjusted by Seiko’s master watchmakers at
the Shizukuishi Watch Studio in Morioka. Assembled from 192 parts, it beats at 28,000 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 50 hours.” Due to the handmade nature of the movement, it is suffice to say that the 8L35 can be classified as a premium and high-grade movement chosen only for the most deserving of models.
Below is an image of the watch in the dark. The amount of LumiBrite used does not disappoint. My only comment is the choice of substituting the 3:00 hour marker with the date aperture. It does spoiled the symmetry of the watch. In my opinion, it would be more pleasing to the eye if the date aperture is located at 4:30 instead.
The watch is capable to withstand water pressure up to 200 meters. The total package (with all the links on the bracelet attached) only weighs in at 137 gm.
Comparison With Various Landmasters
The SBDB005 and the SBEJ003 Landmasters have more functionality when compared to the SLA071J1. The additional of a GMT and power reserve indicator on both earlier watches but none on the new Landmaster despite the high price point is indicative of cost pressures affecting freedom of design. After taking into consideration inflation, just adding the two functionality on the new watch would push the selling price way beyond what Seiko fans will be willing to stomach.
The Wearing Experience
To be honest, I cannot appreciate this watch. There is nothing that I can see or feel that calls to me. Although light on the wrist, the size bothers me somewhat. Hard to place it but the only way I can explain is the the SLA071J1 is cold without any spark of life. I know it is a cruel assessment but I cant lie. Below is a video of the watch on my wrist.
The Wearing Experience
To be honest, I cannot appreciate this watch. There is nothing that I can see or feel that calls to me. Although light on the wrist, the size bothers me somewhat. Hard to place it but the only way I can explain is the the SLA071J1 is cold without any spark of life. I know it is a cruel assessment but I cant lie. Below is a video of the watch on my wrist.
As you can see in the video above, the watch looks just like any other watch. There is no visual 'oomph' at all.
In conclusion, on hindsight, I would not buy the watch. A real Disappointment.
Specifications
Thickness: 12.7 mm
Diameter: 42.0 mm
Lug-to-lug: 50.1 mm
Diameter: 42.0 mm
Lug-to-lug: 50.1 mm
Lug Width: 20.0 mm
Bracelet Length: 200.0 mm
Crystal: Sapphire with super clear coating
Dial: The blue gradation dial represents the view from the top of the Mount EverestLuminous Paint: LumiBrite on hands and index(es)
Bracelet: Three-fold clasp with secure lock and ratcheting diver extension
Caliber: 8L35
Movement Type: Automatic with manual winding
Precision: +15 to -10 seconds per day
Frequency: 28,800 BPH
Power Reserve: Approximately 50 hours
Jewels: 26
Functions: 3-hands, stop second hand mechanism, date
Magnetic Resistance: 4,800 A/mWater Resistance: 20 bar
Weight: 137.0 gm
Features: Screw-down crown, screw-down case-back, rotating compass bezel
Purchase Date: 2 November 2023
MSRP: RM14,700; USD2,600; EUR2,800
Launch Date: October 2023 to celebrate 30th anniversary of Seiko's Landmaster Series
Availability: Limited edition of 1,000 units, November 2023
Purchase Price: RM11,700
Dealer: AWG Mid Valley
Warranty: One (1) year
Serial Number: 590/1000
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