MoveAlong 23 Posted October 11, 2015 So, since my beloved Sooners layed an egg against the hapless 'Horns today in the Cotton Bowl , I figured I should distract myself from misery and dive in and do up a "review" of my latest, the beautiful Sportura Kinetic GMT SUN025P1. http://www.rwg.bz/bo...howtopic=108236 I can blame elmerlo in the link above for making me get this. Thanks man! I got this from an ebay seller in Florida for $298 USD, a pretty average price if you can find one. Joma and Creation were out of stock when I was looking. This is my first kinetic watch so I look forward to seeing if there is any drama with keeping it charged. We'll see. Just so you know, a lot of the online descriptions are really wrong on this watch, especially Amazon. I measured the bezel with digital calipers and it is exactly 45mm, not 44.4mm or 44mm. The lug width is 21mm, not 20mm. Again, that's measured with calipers and then visually comparing it to a known 20mm lug width watch, my TC V6. That will narrow choices of straps for sure, FYI. So, what do I think? Just the usual amazing build quality that we have come to expect. And, It's pretty damn cool! The Seiko 5M85 movement is some ingenious engineering. My favorite part is that the hour hand is tied to the quickset function, like the Rolex Explorer II from which this Seiko is inspired. Although it's a confirmed 45mm watch, it actually wears MUCH smaller. You can see in the pics below that they have angled the lugs downward much more than usual. This makes the watch fit a smaller wrist much better. I have a 6.5" wrist and the lugs don't hang off of my wrist at all! Even on my TC V6, a 40mm watch, I get a little lug hang. I know, blah blah blah. On to the pics! The indices are on the raised chapter ring and hang over the edge to "float" over the dial. Incredible sense of depth with this. Typical Nuclear Seiko Lume And some real world shots Yes, this is a 45mm watch on a 6.5 inch wrist! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daywatch 4 Posted October 11, 2015 It´s an absolutely stunning looking Seiko. It´s an instant "I want this watch". They charge 470,- EUR for it in the EU. They captured the presence of the Explorer II amazingly well, the lume is amazing. At $298 it´s a no-brainer. Great catch and white is the right colour for it. Thanks for the pics, enjoy it well, it´s stunning! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatarms 7,695 Posted October 11, 2015 1. Explorer II homage done pretty well, very solid and nice looking. Great pickup. 2. I'm married to a girl from Texas, and we enjoyed the Red River Shootout Square Dance or whatever Politically Correct term they've decided to assign to this game now Congrats on the pickup, I had no idea Seiko even made an Explorer II homage like this. It's pretty awesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmerlo 0 Posted October 11, 2015 I can blame elmerlo in the link above for making me get this. Thanks man! You're welcome buddy! And thanks for the review, much better and complete than mine! ...now let's see how many others fall into this "(I didn't know it existed) I must have it NOW!" trap :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazzla 23 Posted October 11, 2015 Really good. Beautiful dial and the accents are superb. Very good photos too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 11, 2015 Thanks all! Yes, I think we'll start to see more of these pop up around here. Still wearing it now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazzla 23 Posted October 11, 2015 Thanks all! Yes, I think we'll start to see more of these pop up around here. Still wearing it now. I need to have one of these in my life . . . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 11, 2015 Thanks all! Yes, I think we'll start to see more of these pop up around here. Still wearing it now. I need to have one of these in my life . . . Yes. Yes you do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 11, 2015 Don't have a macro, but thought to try to crop and blow up - not too awful for a phone camera. Wanted to show the dial detail that really makes the sunburst effect pop. And on further inspection, that is NOT a Grand Seiko seconds hand! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
profsteve 3 Posted October 12, 2015 whoever did those first few pics with the diapering white background can come to my house and take pics like that for me anytime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
profsteve 3 Posted October 12, 2015 just ordered one on Amazon new with free return if I don't like it as long as I don't size it first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 12, 2015 whoever did those first few pics with the diapering white background can come to my house and take pics like that for me anytime. If you're talking about my pics, thanks! But you'd probably laugh at how ghetto my photo setup really is! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazzla 23 Posted October 12, 2015 whoever did those first few pics with the diapering white background can come to my house and take pics like that for me anytime. If you're talking about my pics, thanks! But you'd probably laugh at how ghetto my photo setup really is! I reckon the photos are excellent in my *cough, cough* 'expert' opinion . . . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 12, 2015 whoever did those first few pics with the diapering white background can come to my house and take pics like that for me anytime. If you're talking about my pics, thanks! But you'd probably laugh at how ghetto my photo setup really is! I reckon the photos are excellent in my *cough, cough* 'expert' opinion . . . Thanks mate! I'm slowly getting better. One of these days I want to get a DSLR and do some real learning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
profsteve 3 Posted October 13, 2015 you need to tell us how you did the lighting and what you used for a seamless white backdrop. Congrats mate on some of the very best for sale pics I have seen outside of the pro studios Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rolesor 0 Posted October 13, 2015 Very nice. I like the GMT style. Didn't know Seiko made this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmerlo 0 Posted October 13, 2015 Very nice. I like the GMT style. Didn't know Seiko made this. I guess no one knew. I don't understand their advertising approach. I am subscribed to their FB page and they only published the Astron in the last year or so, while the shrouded monsters (Baby Tunas) were released, this and other variants of the SUN015P1 were made and no signs of them unless you stumble upon them by pure luck. :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rolesor 0 Posted October 13, 2015 So, since my beloved Sooners layed an egg against the hapless 'Horns today in the Cotton Bowl , I figured I should distract myself from misery and dive in and do up a "review" of my latest, the beautiful Sportura Kinetic GMT SUN025P1. http://www.rwg.bz/bo...howtopic=108236 I can blame elmerlo in the link above for making me get this. Thanks man! I got this from an ebay seller in Florida for $298 USD, a pretty average price if you can find one. Joma and Creation were out of stock when I was looking. This is my first kinetic watch so I look forward to seeing if there is any drama with keeping it charged. We'll see. Just so you know, a lot of the online descriptions are really wrong on this watch, especially Amazon. I measured the bezel with digital calipers and it is exactly 45mm, not 44.4mm or 44mm. The lug width is 21mm, not 20mm. Again, that's measured with calipers and then visually comparing it to a known 20mm lug width watch, my TC V6. That will narrow choices of straps for sure, FYI. So, what do I think? Just the usual amazing build quality that we have come to expect. And, It's pretty damn cool! The Seiko 5M85 movement is some ingenious engineering. My favorite part is that the hour hand is tied to the quickset function, like the Rolex Explorer II from which this Seiko is inspired. Although it's a confirmed 45mm watch, it actually wears MUCH smaller. You can see in the pics below that they have angled the lugs downward much more than usual. This makes the watch fit a smaller wrist much better. I have a 6.5" wrist and the lugs don't hang off of my wrist at all! Even on my TC V6, a 40mm watch, I get a little lug hang. I know, blah blah blah. On to the pics! The indices are on the raised chapter ring and hang over the edge to "float" over the dial. Incredible sense of depth with this. Typical Nuclear Seiko Lume And some real world shots Yes, this is a 45mm watch on a 6.5 inch wrist! have you seen the grand seiko gmt? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 13, 2015 This wouldn't be bad, but it's just a little more than $300. Mmmm... Spring Drive.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 13, 2015 you need to tell us how you did the lighting and what you used for a seamless white backdrop. Congrats mate on some of the very best for sale pics I have seen outside of the pro studios My setup is packed away now. Strange how Mrs MoveAlong doesn't approve of a permanent photo studio at the foot of our bed. Maybe she'll come around in time. Next time I get it out I'll post a pic - hopefully next week, as I've got a gen Speedmaster Reduced on the way from Japan! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rolesor 0 Posted October 14, 2015 There is also another that uses a bezel closer to the explorer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 14, 2015 This would do in a pinch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conx 0 Posted October 14, 2015 Does the Grand Seiko also have the quick set hour hand? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 14, 2015 So, took about 4 days of wearing for me to get the power reserve up to "Approximately 6 months", the highest listed reserve in the manual. It's a pretty cool system Seiko has here. There is a dedicated pusher at 2:00 to engage the meter. When you push it, the seconds hand progresses rapidly either 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds and then stops. The movement, however, keeps running and when the time catches up to the seconds hand, the hand continues normally. I should add that this morning I checked and it was at 10 seconds. This afternoon it was 30 seconds. I never saw the 20 seconds occur. You can engage the meter any time, but the manual recommends starting at 12:00 so you can more easily see how far the seconds hand goes. 5 seconds - "More than 1 day" 10 seconds - "More than 7 days" 20 seconds - "More than approximately 1 month" 30 seconds - "Approximately 6 months" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoveAlong 23 Posted October 14, 2015 Does the Grand Seiko also have the quick set hour hand? Just looked it up, and yes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites