Seiko SARB033 review: Is the legend still worth it?
If you only want one watch, you can do a lot worse than the legendary Seiko SARB033, which is often praised for its classic style and amazing value. It was no wonder then that many of us were left scratching our heads when Seiko discontinued it in 2018. Prices have crept up since 2018 (hovering about 500 USD at the moment of writing), so is it still worth your hard earned cash? Let’s find out.
Case and bracelet
- Diameter: 38 mm (excluding crown)
- Thickness: 11.2 mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 44.5 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 m
Its restrained dimensions run counter against the trend of larger watches and is one of the limited options available today if you have slender wrists.
The polished bezel is followed by a stepped case that showcases an elegant mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The top “step” is vertically brushed and the bottom “step” returns to a polished finish, allowing for an interesting play with the light. The curved lugs compliments the elegant case and further ensures that the watch wears lows and comfy on the wrist. The signed crown is a nice touch.
A flat sapphire crystal on the dial helps with scratch resistance, although it could do with better AR coating as it picks up lint and smudges rather easily. The display caseback is sealed with Hardlex and while it may not be as scratch resistant as sapphire, it keeps the cost down and you’re probably not going to be knocking the caseback around. With a 100 m water resistance rating, the SARB033 can handle more than a few splashes.
The oyster style bracelet with brushed finish on the top and polished sides transition well from the stepped case. Solid links with soft edges articulate well for comfort, solid end links are robust and the double lock clasp is secure. There are only 2 micro adjustment slots on the clasp but I’ve not found this to be an issue with fitting the bracelet. One gripe I have is the gap between the clasp and bracelet when it is closed. While I’ve never had any issues with this personally, I can see how the gap might catch on your clothing or bag.
Overall, I think the bracelet pairs really well with the watch and if metal isn’t your thing, the SARB033 is an absolute strap monster with its monochromatic looks and 20 mm lug width. Here’s a great video showcasing the versatility of the SARB033.
Dial and Hands Set
The high-polished applied hour markers reflect light in an interesting way due to the faceted surfaces and the inky black dial provides the blank canvas it needs to shine. The date window at 3 o’clock is framed with the same high-polished markers and the black date wheel blends nicely with the dial. Branding is minimal, with the applied Seiko logo above and 2 rows of printed text below to provide symmetry. I think this is just about as many lines and font types a dial should have before it gets busy. Finally, the dial is framed with a black chapter ring with a seconds track.
The classic dauphine hands set is adequately long, with the hour hand just reaching the hour markers while the minute hand extends almost to the chapter ring. A single white line runs down the middle of the dauphine hands, interrupted by a small triangular plot of lume in the middle. Combined with the lume pips at the ends of the hour markers, legibility is superb regardless of the time of day. Sweeping along is the seconds hand with a needle tip counterbalance.
Some may find the inclusion of lume to be distasteful, but I think it reduces the dressiness in a good way and compliments the chapter ring well. You can see why the SARB033 is often mentioned as an alternative to the Rolex Explorer. As a package, the SARB033 is a looker that fits any occasion.
Another popular variant is the SARB035. These are identical watches, apart from the cream dial and white date wheel on the SARB035. This may be more reminiscent of a Grand Seiko but I personally prefer the SARB033 due to the colour mismatch of the dial and date wheel on the SARB035. These are just two of the many fantastic SARB watches available. Consider yourself lucky if you manage to even see any of the other rarer variants.
Movement
- Caliber: Seiko 6R15
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- BPH: 21,600
- Stated Accuracy: +25/-15 sec a day
- Hacking and hand winding
I’ve had good experiences with 6R15 movements and they often perform better than its stated accuracy out of the box. Also, the 50 hours power reserve allows you to swap watches for the weekend without skipping a beat.
Recently, we’ve seen new releases from Seiko at this price point contain 4R movements. While the 4R movement is by no means a slouch, you do lose about 10 hours of power reserve. This just further cements the SARB033 as a great value proposition, even with its rising prices.
Is it still worth it?
The recent consolidation of the Presage and Prospex lines have resulted in 6R movements being reserved for higher priced watches. In addition, the introduction of the 6R35 movement in new releases have seen prices move north. It seems Seiko is taking this opportunity to fix it’s pricing strategy and if they do release a new SARB, it’s almost certain that it will come with the new 6R35 movement and a price hike, like what we saw with the new Alpinists. While the value proposition of Seiko’s new releases may now be debatable, the Seiko SARB033 is still very much a great buy even at the higher price.
