Seiko Turtle Prospex SRP773K1 Review & Complete Guide
Seiko arguably makes some of the affordable best automatic watches in the world. Seiko’s watches offer exceptional build quality and durability in relation to their price, making them great entry-level timepieces, or timepieces suitable for those who want a watch that can handle harsh conditions without having to worry as much for scratches and dents as when wearing a luxury 10K+ watch.
Seiko has a big collection of robust dive watches that are built to last and be used as what they were originally made as – tools.
One of the most popular collections for this is the Prospex range. Prospex stands for ”Professional specifications” and means the watch is made according to the needs and wants of professionals. This is a very comforting concept for us ”regular” people, as it means that if it is good enough for professionals, it is probably good enough for us.
One of those watches is the Seiko Prospex SRP773K1.
Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 Review
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The Seiko Prospex SRP773K1, also known as SRP773 is a sporty and robust dive watch/tool watch that is built according to professional specifications.
Seiko’s vintage watches have a large following and audience of collectors, and Seiko has understood the weight and importance of this and started seeking inspiration for its new watches from its heritage and history. For Seiko enthusiasts and collectors, that is a great thing as it means we are spoiled with vintage-inspired timepieces which are built according to today’s standards of quality, finish, technology, and durability.
The Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 is one of those timepieces, which has sought inspiration from Seiko’s ”Turtle” watches which the brand first released in the 1960s and 1970s. The watch has received the ”Turtle” name from its case shape design which is reminiscent of a Turtle’s shell.
This watch is a seriously tough watch, both in design but also in performance. Regardless if you want or need a robust and durable dive watch, the SRP773K1 is definitely a good choice.
In this article, we are reviewing the Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 ”Turtle” and looking closer at what this watch has to offer.
Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 case
To start with, the SRP773K1 obviously has a Turtle design case. This case design is very distinct and unique. It is bulky and has a slightly curved circular shape, also referred to as a ”cushion shape”. At first glance, this watch is very evidently a sporty and durable tool watch dive watch, which naturally also means a serious presence on the wrist.
The watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 44.3 mm and a thickness of 14 mm. The case has a lug width of 22mm and a lug-to-lug measurement of 48mm.
The top of the case is satin-brushed finished which is done in a circular motion. As a contrast, the sides of the case are polished, but when wearing it, most of what you will see is the satin finish elements.
At 4 o’clock, we have a winding crown. To ensure its water resistance, it is a screw-down. The crown sits protected in the case, which has been ”opened up” to work as a crown guard” If the case would have an additional crown guard, the case would simply become too bulky. It’s nice that Seiko put the crown at the 4 o’clock position as it prevents the crown from digging into the wrist when wearing it.
Being a dive watch, it of course has a unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel has knurled edges and sits relatively tall on the wrist. This gives good access and grip to the bezel and makes operating it easy. The bezel has a dark blue aluminum insert on which the 60-graduation markers are printed in silver. The bezel rotates with 120 clicks. At 12 o’clock, the watch has a luminous pip that allows you to read it even in the dark. As a nice detail, the bezel is slightly sloped towards the crystal.
A serious dive watch also needs proper water resistance, and the SRP773K1 has a water resistance of 200M/660 feet. This means it is suitable for diving and any kind of water activity. Since this is a professional tool watch, it does not need a see-through case back, instead, it has a solid steel screw-down back with the iconic Seiko ‘Tsunami’ logo. Since the watch is in the Prospex range, it is an ISO-certified diver. What does this mean? It simply means the watch meets the ISO 6425 international standards for diving watches.
Sitting on top of the case is a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal. Hardlex is Seiko’s own hardened mineral glass. This is not as tough as sapphire, but it has still proven to be much more durable than regular mineral glass. It would have been nice with a sapphire crystal, but this would also mean that the price would be higher.
Due to its unique case shape, it does not really have any sharp edges. The watch does not wear as a normal 44.3mm watch does, and surprisingly, it will actually slip under most cuffs, but most importantly wears very comfortably. Have in mind that this case has a lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm whereas, for example, the Rolex Submariner 116610LN has a lug-to-lug of 50.54 mm. Considering the bulky design of the SRP773K1, it may come as a surprise that the 116610LN has a longer lug-to-lug.
Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 dial
The dial is dark blue and has a lovely matte texture. The rich matte texture gives it more of a vintage look but also prevents glare and reflections which improves legibility which is key for a dive watch.
The dial layout and design are very similar and clearly inspired by the vintage Seiko Turtle reference 6309.
Rather than applied markers, which is quite common on many of Seiko’s watches, this dial has painted markers. This adds to the vintage look and looks great on this watch. But at the same time, the markers almost look applied as they are slightly raised and have such a generous amount of Lumibrite. The markers have a slightly shiny finish. As we would expect, the watch has a bright and long-lasting luminous glow that enables readability even in low-lit conditions.
Moving on to the hands, the watch has a large minute hand with an arrow tip and a polished metal frame around it. The hour hand
The seconds hand is straight but has a lollipop design on the opposite end with Lumibrite so that you can read the seconds even in the dark.
At 3 o’clock, we have the Seiko classic day and date window which can come in handy. Perhaps not when you are diving, but let’s be honest, for the most part, most people will not wear this watch for diving.
Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 Movement
A sturdy and robust watch needs a durable movement, and that is exactly what the SRP773K1 has. The watch is equipped with the mechanical automatic Seiko caliber 4R36. This movement beats with a frequency of 21600 BPH and has 24 jewels. The movement offers a power reserve of 41 hours.
The movement has hacking seconds which means the seconds hand stops when the crown is pulled out for more accurate time-setting. The movement also has a manual winding function. Both of these features cannot be found in Seiko’s most affordable automatic watches.
According to the specifications, it has an accuracy of -35/+45 seconds per day, but owners have reported much better performance from this movement.
Bracelet
The watch is fitted on a sporty and robust stainless steel bracelet. It is mostly satin-finished but has some smaller polished elements. It is a broad 22mm bracelet with three links (not counting the polished bits).
A nice feature is that this watch has drilled lugs (lug holes). This makes removing and changing straps easy and simple. It also adds to the industrialized tool-like look.
The bracelet tapers from 22mm at the lugs to 20mm at the clasp. The clasp is equipped with a diver’s extension as well as four micro-adjustments.
Specifications
- Caliber: 4R36
- Power reserve: 41 hours
- Accuracy: -35/+45 seconds per day
- Diameter: 44.3mm
- Lug width: 22mm
- Frequency: 21600 BPH
- Jewels: 24
- Thickness: 14mm
- Lug-to-lug: 46mm
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko Prospex SRP773K1 is a serious dive watch that not only has the sporty tool-like look but also the performance to back it up. It is a durable timepiece that can take a beating and handle harsh conditions. With its iconic Turtle case design, it is a timeless classic that will be recognized by any watch enthusiasts, and despite its design, it is also surprisingly versatile.
With a price of about 350 USD, there are few watches on the market that have a performance that is as great as the SRP773K1. This watch really is great value for money, and with that said, you won’t be disappointed.
The Seiko Turtle Prospex SRP773K1 is available to order on Amazon.
