Biggest 'Bang for Your Buck' GMT Watch? | Seiko Prospex GMT Review

The biggest bang for your buck GMT? This is a review of the Seiko Prospex “Marine Green” GMT reference SPB381J1. Is this watch worth the asking price?

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Seiko Prospex “Marine Green” GMT SPB381J1

[nikonneer]

I was wearing my Aqua Terra 41 golf (white dial) when I tried this in Seiko Boutique. I was blown away by how small it wears; how slim it looked like and how comfortable the bracelet is. My Aqua Terra suddenly became slightly larger and thicker to look at when I compared both.

[DANIELCHIA]

Finally gotten my hand on this diver, waited for months for its release and now its finally on my wrist. Very well made, hands set polishing, indices and the green dial and bezel is just the perfect color tone . The bezel turn action while a bit soft is rather satisfying with enough feedback and it aligns perfectly.

[DuckieJan]

Looks professional yet still has that tool watch vibe. Great review. Seiko will always has it, even tho they get criticize a lot because of the higher price. I'd rather have the name and reliability than buying cheaper alternative. 👍

[philiplauzon]

I just tried it on and it’s pretty much love at first sight. I don’t have a GMT and don’t travel all that much. This fits the budget and the need. The finishing is next level and that green is perfect

[Nightfury]

If people think the 42mm case is large, go try it on and you will be blown away by how small this watch wears. The MM200 case is just magic and complicated design that Seiko just gets right.

[uralpilot]

I recently purchased the solar version SFK003 of this watch as a replacement for my "luxury" watch and I am extremely pleased with it. Par usual for Seiko, pulling way above its weight.

[dbiwatches]

I own 2 watches, a rolex gmt and a seiko. I honestly love wearing the seiko as much as my rolex. Honestly, if I had to make a decision on owning one watch, only I think a Seiko would probably be the choice!

[stevens]

There is no substitute for the watch you want. I like Seiko for Seiko, regardless of the price. Plus my AD takes care of me, I have never paid MSRP. I stick to the classic designs, marine master, willard, a few others. That’s a good technique for many brands.

[stuartpeacock]

Awesome well researched review. Very interesting ISO Diver rating with GMT now that’s cool. IMO ceramic bezel upgrade with new in-house 3 day calibre make this good value I think. Love the green colour way too. Seiko quality speaks for itself it seems to me…

[BAF]

Swatch Group introduced "traveller" GMTS for around £1000 in Certina, and Tissot watches as well as Mido that you mentioned. They considerably undercut the Tudor Pepsi "traveller" which itself was a ground breaker in price at that time. Now Citizen Group has introduced the Miyota 9075 "traveller" GMT movement. It's early days but watches with this movement will soon be widely available for around £500. The Seiko looks well made but at £1400 for an office GMT I feel its time is already past.

[alunjones]

Glad you mentioned the finishing. I was thinking exactly the same. I just wish Seiko would put a little more investment in their bracelets!!!
If these said "Swiss Made", the prospect of spending £1400 wouldn't be an issue for many I think, but for the Seiko fans, I think they'll be smiling.

[davew]

Looks great...with a solid resemblance to a Marinemaster 300. Incidentally, the SBEJ001 and 003 came out earlier, in 2018, as Prospex GMT's.

[anandanil]

Hey iv always loved the content on this channel and really enjoyed how the content was focused on the watch, paired with you narration every video told a complete story and the visual focus on the watch let me be immersed in said story.
While I really like that we can see the individual behind the work in the podcast series and on AMW channel. I personally feel that the old style was better and overall more immersive

[RedwoodAggie]

I think this is a beautiful watch. I do wish there was a bit high accuracy committed to by Seiko, as mentioned. The Powermatic movements certainly run much tighter tolerances. Good call out on the Mido comparison. I thought of that one and its offering of a traveler GMT movement. I'm not surprised that the Seiko is a bit better finished, but I've not gotten to handle any Midos (not common in the U.S.). I love that this is a fully diver rated watch, but a traveler GMT movement would make more sense with the thought being that somebody is traveling to some far away island for a bit of diving. Other than that and the awkward date, I have no complaints. I really like this release and can't wait to get up to my AD to get one on wrist.

[LeongLeeLing]

If they can improve the clasp and diver extension... a lot of money, but, I'm still waiting for a full blue, this is so damn good looking

[bevan]

I bought one 24 hours ago. Black. I am far more accustomed to Grand Seiko, and for finish, and style, this is respectively equal, and superior. The latter because I don’t know of a GS with a bracelet this attractive, especially in regards to its more compact and ideal dimensions, nor do GS have a diver of this lovely size (I’m waiting for them to do a realistically sized diver like this). Speaking of size, this Seiko looks and wears like a 40mm watch, which I prefer to any larger size. The finish of every aspect is not only objectively high end (seemingly similar to and in some ways better than a Submariner) but also is remarkable given that it’s a fifth the price of a sub and half the price of any Tudor “equivalent” such as Black Bay 58. And I prefer the bracelet to both Rolex oyster and Tudor’s oddly riveted equivalent. I also find the very masculine side and rear views very satisfying, and more attractive than said Sub and Tudor. The only bummers for me are that it’s lacking the snob value that gives an extra sense of pride, and more importantly, I’m really unimpressed with the accuracy rating. I feel that these are the only prices I’ve paid for the low price versus GS, Rolex or Tudor near equivalents.

[HarryFlashmanVC]

I was a Swiss Diver buyer for years, until I bought my first SKX in the 1990s. Seiko's cases just have so much uniqueness and comfortable wearability. When I would choose my SKX over my Omega I began to realise that I'd been converted. There's something organic about the form of the curved cushion cases that you just don;t get with other watches. Often copied and never exceeded. I think the Uemura is next on my list. 8 series movement, a 6015 case with the comfort and presence of that design... and the normies haven't got a clue what you are wearing, which is a major plus for me (as is the 'don't worry dear, it wasn't THAT expensive, it is just a Seiko after all!' 😁

[chollister]

This is precisely the review I was looking for particularly from your channel. I’ve been looking at this watch for the last few months online, and I am interested to see your take on it.

[Altanabstick]

4:41 you mention which watches from Seiko had a GMT function. You forgot to mention the gmt Alpinist SBCJ021 and the kinetic divers such as the SUN019 and the SUN024, the latter of which i own as a holiday beater

[mayorofrlyeh]

Sorry, but a GMT has not been absent from the Seiko collection as long as you are saying here. Even before the introduction of the NH34 in the Seiko 5 line the Presage Sharp Edge Series had a GMT with the SPB217J1 and others in that range. All housing the caliber 6R64. Also