Seiko Prospex SBDC061 Review & Complete Guide
Seiko is perhaps most known for its qualitative and durable automatic sports watches. This particularly relates to its dive watches, of which the brand has tons of different models to choose from.
In 2018, Seiko presented a new dive watch with a vintage-inspired design that made Seiko enthusiasts extremely happy. It combines the best of both worlds in terms of performance but also a traditional dive watch design that is truly timeless.
Seiko Prospex SBDC061 Review
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The Seiko Prospex SBDC061, also known as ”Baby MM” was introduced at Baselworld in 2018 and is actually a reissue. Specifically, it is based on Seiko’s MarineMaster 300 reference SBDX001/017, hence the name ”Baby MM”.
As the name suggests, it is also a Prospex watch. This means it is made according to professional specifications. In this case, the wants, and needs of professional divers. This watch is made to be tough and robust.
Overall, the SBDC061 has a very traditional and classic design, with clear inspiration from the 1960s.
If you are looking for a robust and durable automatic watch with a classic dive-watch design from Seiko’s past, the Prospex SBDC061 may just be a watch for you.
To learn more about this watch and what it is about, we are reviewing the Seiko Prospex SBDC061.
Seiko Prospex SBDC061 Case
A dive watch needs a robust and durable case, and this is what you get from the SBDC061. This watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 44mm, a lug-to-lug of 51mm, and a thickness of 13.1mm. The lug width measures 20mm. This means it will have a bit of a presence on the wrist, as you can expect. And it is mostly suitable for men with medium to large wrists. But don’t mistake this watch as huge, because because of its sloped lug design, it still wears quite well.
Looking at the case design, you will notice lots of similarities with the MM300. After all, it is this watch it is based on. The case has a curvy profile with elegant lines and attractive finishing. The lugs are beautifully curved with ends that square off. They are polished on the sides and satin-brushed at the top. The insides of the lugs are slightly beveled which enhances the impression of quality and shows Seiko has paid attention to the details. The brushing is really well-made and is done in a circular motion. Compared to more affordable Seiko watches, the finish is richer in texture which gives it a more premium look.
As a dive watch should, it has a unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute graduation scale. The bezel has notches for better grip and easier operation. The bezel has a black aluminum insert with a polished finish. It has a luminous pip at 12 o’clock for legibility in the dark.
The watch of course has a serious water resistance which for this watch is 200m/660 feet. 200m water resistance means that it is suitable for swimming, diving, and essentially any water sport.
The watch has its crown positioned at 4 o’clock which sits slightly recessed into the case. Since the watch doesn’t have crown guards, this is a good way to provide at least some protection for the crown. Speaking of the crown, this is of course screw-down in order to ensure solid and reliable water resistance. The benefit of the crown position is that it doesn’t dig into your wrist when wearing it.
Photo: Two Broke Watch Snobs
SBDC061 Dial
Moving on to the dial of this watch, we find a very familiar layout. Not only from Seiko’s vintage dive watches but also from dive watches in general. This means a black dial, large markers, and great legibility.
The dial has a matte black finish which gives it a vintage appeal. In addition, the matte texture reduces glare and reflections, which could help with legibility.
As mentioned, the watch has large applied markers, and these have polished metal frames around them with lots of Lumibrite applied to them for the optimum glow. At 3 o’clock, the watch has a date window with a white frame around it. Date windows are always something that splits opinions, but having in mind that most people will wear the SBDC061 as an everyday watch, it makes sense as it brings an actual practical benefit.
The hands are large and provide a great contrast against the black dial. The hour and minute hands are steel-colored and have a matte finish. The opposite ends, however, are painted black to prevent distraction. The minute hand has a sword shape and the hour hand has a large arrow tip. The hands glow exceptionally well as they have a lot of Lumibrite applied to them.
Around the outer edge of the dial, the watch has a beveled chapter ring on which the seconds markers are printed in silver. This adds a touch of detail to the watch and more depth.
Overall, the dial is clean, and refined, and offers impeccable legibility – even in the dark, thanks to the Lumibrite.
The dial has 4 lines of text printed on the dial, which some people argue is too much. But I personally don’t find it cluttered, although it would look even cleaner with less text.
Sitting on top of the case is a sapphire crystal, which is a really nice improvement from Seiko’s Hardly crystal which is widely found across Seiko’s more affordable dive watches. In addition to this, the sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating which is a nice bonus.
Photo: Two Broke Watch Snobs
Seiko Prospex SBDC061 Bracelet
The Seiko SBDC061 is presented on a stainless steel three-piece bracelet with a satin-brushed finish. The bracelet has a sporty appeal to it and goes very well together with the design of the watch.
With a lug width of 20mm, it’s not too bulky and clumsy, but at the same time gives a solid and reassuring feeling on the wrist.
In addition, the bracelet also tapers which improves wearability and comfort even further.
The good news is that shall you want to switch the bracelet for something else, it is very easy to do so thanks to the drilled holes in the lugs. Plus, the 20mm lug width means that there are a lot of straps to choose from on the market.
The bracelet is equipped with a folding clasp with push buttons at the sides.
When it comes to Seiko’s more affordable dive watches (and generally any other affordable watch for that matter), the bracelet is often the part that is compromised with the most. This usually means things like folded links, hollow end links, and a hollow feel. But with this bracelet, Seiko has done a great job in making it feel robust and qualitative. Seiko has even made the center links slightly faceted to enhance its finish and impression of quality.
Photo: Two Broke Watch Snobs
Seiko Prospex SBDC061 movement
Now on to the movement, and what we can find inside the ”Baby MM” is the Seiko in-house caliber 6R15. This movement offers a power reserve of 50 hours and beats with a frequency of 3HZ (21600 BPH). The movement is equipped with a Spron 510 mainspring and is as we can expect tough and very robust.
The movement is just what we need in a sporty dive watch. It has proven to be a workhorse that can continue to tick for years without needing much or any maintenance. In addition, it can take a beating and should be able to hold up quite well still.
Of course, the movement has both hacking seconds and a manual winding function.
Specifications
- Lug width: 20mm
- Lug-to-lug: 51mm
- Thickness: 13.1mm
- Movement: Seiko in-house caliber 6R15
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Frequency: 3HZ (21600 BPH)
- Power reserve: 50 hours
- Diameter: 44mm
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko Prospex SBDC061 ”Baby MM” is a serious dive watch with great performance and interesting history and heritage. It is based on a Seiko vintage dive watch from the 60s and therefore carries many classic dive watch design elements. If you love vintage dive watches but also want modern technology, reliability, build quality, and finish, the SBDC061 is definitely a great candidate.
Yes, there are many other more affordable Seiko dive watches to choose from, but the SBDC061 doesn’t only have a higher price tag. It is also reflected in what you are getting. Compared to cheaper Seiko watches, it can be seen in the bracelet quality, case finish, details, and overall build quality. For the money, you are actually getting a great watch.
The Seiko Prospex SBDC061 is available to order on Amazon.
Main Photo: Two Broke Watch Snobs
