Photo: Wornandwound
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” Review & Complete Guide
If you are looking for an affordable, unique, high-quality automatic dive watch, the Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” may be just the watch you are looking for. Seiko is known to make some of the best affordable automatic watches in the world, heavily praised for their great value that punches well above its price.
The Seiko SRPC07 is one such watch, and when it was released, its success and great popularity were a fact.
Seiko discontinued the Samurai in 2009 and left collectors and enthusiasts disappointed yet hopeful for the future. The Samurai case and watch design were unique, different, and one that really resonated with people. Good thing that Seiko finally brought back the Samurai into its collection a few years later. Now, the Samurai is available in a few different versions and colorways, and the Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” is one of them.
In this article, we are reviewing the Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” and look closer at what makes this watch so special and immensely popular. And most importantly, is it worthy of owning?
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” review
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The Seiko Prospex Orange Samurai has a very distinct and unique design. It is a sporty dive watch, but it is perhaps its unique nature that makes it so popular. In these times, when the first thing people think about when they think of a dive watch is the Submariner, it’s refreshing to have a dive watch that dares to go its own route and establish a new dive watch design standard.
Seiko released the first Samurai in 2004 and discontinued it only a few years later. This watch, the SRPC07 is very evidently heavily inspired by the original. And that is a good thing. The first Samurai proved to be immensely popular, and collectors and enthusiasts have missed it ever since. So when the reissue (or second-generation), would come to be launched, its success would be a fact.
Let’s look closer at what this watch has to offer.
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” case
This watch has a stainless steel case, made in the iconic Samurai shape and form. It has a diameter of 43.8mm which is an increase from the 42mm of the first generation. The most notable feature of the case is its unique lug design, where the lugs are sharply angled down towards the wrist. Because of this, the watch has a lug-to-lug length of only 45mm.
Remember that this watch is supposed to be a sporty, bulky, and robust dive watch, but don’t let the dimensions on paper scare you. Thanks to the angled lugs, the watch wears slightly smaller than you may think.
The watch has a thickness of 12.8mm, and yes, this is quite thick, but not thicker than you would expect from a dive watch. Slipping it under the cuff may require some wide cuffs, but with its bright orange dial (more on that later), it’s generally not a watch people choose to wear with a suit.
Being a dive watch, it has a unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute graduation markers. For improved legibility, it has a lume pip at 12 o’clock. It operates with 1/2-second intervals which means 120 clicks for a full turn. It is smooth and easy to operate. Thanks to its raised position, it also allows free and good grip from the sides. The sides of the bezel also have an engraved pattern for a better grip. The bezel has a matte aluminum bezel
The first 15 minutes of the bezel are colored orange and the rest is colored black, all with silver markers.
Sitting on top is Seiko’s Hardlex crystal. This is not as hard as a sapphire crystal (and at this price, we don’t expect this watch to have one either), but the Hardlex crystal has proven to be much more durable and scratch-resistant than standard mineral crystals.
At three o’clock, we have a screw-down crown that has been engraved in a similar way as the bezel for easy grip. The crown is protected by pointy crown guards.
The case has a water resistance of 200 meters which is enough for diving and swimming.
The case combines brushed and polished elements to create a nice and refined look. The satin-brushed details ensure the watch keeps its tool-like look.
Lastly, the case has drilled lugs which make strap changing and bracelet removal easy.
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 movement
The Orange Samurai SRPC07 is equipped with the Seiko caliber 4R35. This is an improvement from the previous generation 7S26 movement.
The new movement has two key improvements which include hacking seconds and a manual function.
The movement beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of approximately 41 hours.
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 dial
The dial is undeniably the star of the show of this watch. Its bright orange color stands out and shines brightly which makes it unique, fun, and interesting. If there’s one watch that works with having a bright orange dial, it is a dive watch.
The dial also has a chapter ring on which the second markers are printed.
The dial has large applied markers which have been generously coated with Luminous Lumibrite, which provides surprisingly good contrast and legibility against the orange dial. This is also thanks to the fact that the metal has been coated with a black layer instead of standard steel. This also means it has an exceptional glow-in-the-dark (as you need and expect from a serious dive watch). One thing is certain, the bright orange dial is a great conversation starter.
The markers are rectangular apart from the markers at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, which are slightly shaped like triangles.
The hands are also wide and large which helps with legibility. These have also been coated black and have a generous amount of Lumibrite on them. The hands really look sporty and add to the sporty personality of the watch.
At 3 o’clock, we have a date window with white background and black printing which blends in nicely and discretely on the dial.
The printing on the dial is kept at a minimum with the Seiko logo at 12 o’clock, the Prospex logo right beneath the center of the hands, and automatic printing, as well as depth rating. The Prospex logo reminds us that this watch is part of the Prospex collection which means ”Professional Specifications”, which, according to Seiko ”challenges every limit, with a collection of timepieces for sports lovers and adventure seekers whether in the water, in the sky or on land”. In other words, it tells us that it is a watch that is made according to professional specifications and needs, which is exactly what we want in a dive watch.
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 Bracelet
The watch is fitted on a satin-brushed sporty stainless steel bracelet.
The bracelet goes very well with the personality of the watch and adds a sporty feeling. Today, this bracelet has also become an important part of the Samurai design identity. Some people find the bracelet clumsy and large, but the good news is that thanks to the lug holes, it can easily be replaced with a more comfortable NATO strap.
Whilst the bracelet is brushed, the links are polished on the outer sides and on the tab that reaches into the next adjacent link.
The bracelet has a three-point folding clasp with a safety lock.
Seiko Prospex SRPC07 Specifications
- Movement: Seiko 4r35, automatic. Hacking seconds and manual winding function.
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Water resistance: 200m
- Diameter: 43.8
- Lug-to-lug: 45mm
- Thickness: 12.8mm
- Lug width: 22mm
- Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour
- Power reserve: 41 hours
Conclusion
With all of this in mind, the Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” is a sporty dive watch that offers great value for money, priced between 500 and 300 USD. It has a unique design for a dive watch and the now-iconic Samurai design is one that likely won’t go out of style anytime soon. The bright orange dial and details work as fun twists and make this a perfectly bright and bold summer’s and diver’s watch for those occasions you want to wear something unique and different.
It has all the characteristics you want in a dive watch and it is built to a quality that punches well above its price. It is definitely a watch worth considering at this price point.
The Seiko Prospex SRPC07 ”Orange Samurai” is available to order on Amazon.
