Seiko Prospex MarineMaster ”Tuna” SBBN035 Review & Complete Guide
If you’re looking for durable high-quality dive watches that can take a beating, and at the same time offer great value for money, Seiko is definitely a brand worth looking closer at.
Over the years, Seiko has grown its collection of professional dive watches across the board – from affordable divers to high-quality premium dive watches that have a premium finish and impressive quality.
If you want a dive watch that is different from the traditional (Submariner) dive watch design, but which offers the same durability and reliability, the Seiko Prospex MarineMaster ”Tuna” SBBN035 could be a watch for you.
With the growth of Seiko’s dive watches and the model lines, Seiko has come up with numerous new watch designs that have become iconic and synonymous with the brand. One of those is the Seiko Tuna design.
When you think about a dive watch, you probably think of the Rolex Submariner. But with Seiko’s Tuna, the brand successfully shows that a watch doesn’t have to look like a Submariner in order to be a great dive watch.
Seiko Prospex MarineMaster SBBN035 Review
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The name ”Tuna” derives from the unique case design in which the SBBN035 is presented. Looking at the case, it’s easy to see a clear resemblance with a Tuna fish.
The Seiko Prospex MarineMaster SBBN035 has a unique Tuna case and is built to last. With that said, this comes from the ”Prospex” in the name, which stands for ”Professional specifications”. This simply means that the watch is built according to the wants and needs of professionals, in this case, divers. And logically, if it is good enough for professionals, it should be good enough for you. It’s safe to say, it is built to last. It’s not just its sporty design that makes it look like it.
In addition to this, the SBBN035 is part of the Marinemaster collection. This collection consists of Seiko’s most serious divers that have great water-resistant and are made for water. It is the top-tier Seiko dive watches made to be relied on.
Having said that, this watch is made for someone who wants a diver’s watch with a unique design, but that in no way compromises with durability.
In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko Marinemaster SBBN035 in detail.
Photo: Gnomon Watches
Seiko MarineMaster ”Tuna” SBBN035 case
What first catches the eye about the SBBN035 is of Cours its bulky and unique Tuna case. This case is built like no others. The actual case of this watch is not huge, but it is the ”shrouded” that takes up most of its property. With that, the stainless steel black case has a diameter of 48mm, and interestingly enough, the lug-to-lug is the same.
How is this possible? Well, thanks to the very short lugs that barely extend from the case, the actual lug-to-lug becomes the same as the case diameter. Therefore, whilst on paper, this is a big watch, it doesn’t was as big as it may seem. Generally, what makes a watch wear big is the lugs and when they point out of the case. But because this one basically doesn’t have any lugs, it allows the actual case to be bigger.
Still, there’s no denying that this is a big and bulky watch. And its sporty and robust design makes it appear even more so. It has a thickness of 14.7mm. To keep the case looking good for a longer period of time, the case has a super Hard Black coating to protect it from scratches.
The coating is used to prevent scratches and hairlines, but note that it does not prevent deep scratches and dings. The shroud around the case is used to protect the case and bezel from dings.
The stainless steel black-coated bezel takes up a lot of the visual property but is as you know an important part of a diver watch’s identity. The bezel is unidirectional and the Arabic numerals are painted in black. It is finished in steel and has a black polished finish. At 12 o’clock, the bezel has a luminous triangle which is protected by Hardlex. The bezel sits protected inside the should but it has two openings that enable you to operate it, whilst still keeping it protected. The bezel has large teeth around it for a better grip.
Another thing you need in a dive watch is good water resistance. The SBBN035 offers a serious water resistance of 300m. This means it is suitable for basically any type of water activity including diving, snorkeling, and swimming. In fact, it is more than most people will ever need, but still, it’s nice to have the reassurance of good water resistance in a dive watch.
In traditional Seiko fashion, the crown is positioned at 4 o’clock. It sits slightly recessed (and protected) into the case. The benefit of a crown at 4 o’clock is that it doesn’t dig into the wrist. It’s still nice that Seiko didn’t opt for crown guards as it would have had a negative effect on the overall case design.
On top of the case, Seiko has opted for a double-domed Hardlex crystal. On this watch, and at this price point, it would be nice to have a sapphire crystal. But you can’t have it all I guess.
It’s interesting to see that Seiko has opted for an all-black look for this watch as it greatly adds to its sporty look. As if this watch wasn’t sporty enough, the all-black looks add another dimension of sportiness, which still goes very well together with the ethos of this timepiece. In addition, as mentioned, the black coating has a practical benefit which is to make it more resistant to scratches.
Seiko ”Tuna” SBBN035 dial
Moving on to the dial of the Tuna SBBN035, you can see that it has a matte black dial. Seiko has put utmost importance on the legibility of this watch, which is of course a crucial element of a dive watch. It has large painted hour markers that have generous amounts of Lumibrite on them.
Around the outer edge of the dial, Seiko has added an angled chapter ring on which the seconds markers are printed.
In relation to the watch’s size, the dial is quite small. This is actually a good thing since large dials tend to make watches appear much larger than they actually are, which is perhaps not what this already big watch needs. The luminous markers have a slight green/yellow hue that glows almost radioactive green in the dark. This is the only touch of color that this monochrome watch has.
At 3 o’clock, Seiko added the signature day and date window. This helps make the watch more practical for everyday wear. This is interesting since technically, the least thing divers care about when they are beneath the surface is what day or date it is. But after all, the vast majority of the time, this watch will be worn above the surface. Still, with its black background, the window blends in very well into the dial.
The hands on this watch also ensure good legibility. The watch has a large sword-shaped minute hand with plenty of Lumibrite applied to it and a steel metal frame around it. The hour hand is shaped like a broad arrow and also has a steel metal frame with Lumibrite applied to it. The satin finish on the hands prevents glare.
Seiko MarineMaster SBBN035 movement
The SBBN035 features the high-torque quartz Seiko caliber 7C46 This movement has 7 jewels.
Seiko has built this movement to be durable and reliable, which of course is crucial for a movement in a sporty dive watch like the MarineMaster Tuna. As a matter of fact, the movement developed specifically for this watch. What’s more, Seiko has built it to be easy to maintain shall anything happen to it.
The ”power reserve”, or battery life of this quartz movement is 5 years.
The most devoted watch enthusiasts may be scared away by the fact that it uses a quartz movement. Whilst there is a special charm and appeal of a mechanical movement, the 7C46 does exactly what it needs to do. In addition, quartz watches tend to be much more accurate than mechanical movements which of course is a plus. In addition, it is generally more durable as it has fewer components.
Seiko Prospex ”Tuna” SBBN035 strap
The Tuna SBBN035 comes on a black silicone strap which goes well with the all-black look of this watch. Silicone and rubber straps also go well with dive watches in general due to their water-resistant properties. The strap has a diameter of 22mm and tapers slightly. It allows you to easily adjust the size, whether you are wearing it on your wrist or on top of a wetsuit.
Specifications
- Case: Stainless steel Diashield coating
- Movement: Seiko caliber 7C46
- Water resistance: 300m
- Diameter: 48mm
- Lug-to-lug: 48mm
- Thickness: 14.7mm
- Jewels: 7
- Battery life: 5 years
- Lug width: 22mm
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Seiko MarineMaster SBBN035 is a robust and sturdy professional dive watch that is built to last. As the Prospex name reveals, this watch is built according to professional specifications and if it is good enough for professionals, it should be good enough for you.
This watch is also available with a stainless steel design, but the all-black look certainly adds a sporty presence to it. In addition, the hard black coating has a practical benefit which is to make the case more resistant to scratches.
The watch is built to last, and it will definitely not let you down.
Yes, it is priced higher than many of Seiko’s other dive watches, but the increase in price can also be seen in what you get. The watch gives a really qualitative impression and feels really well-made.
It is unique, it is different, and it is built to last. For the price, I would actually dare to say that it offers great value for money. And it is perfect if you are tired of the classic Submariner-style dive watch designs and want something fun and unique, like the Tuna case design.
The Seiko Prospex MarineMaster ”Tuna” SBBN035 is available to order on Amazon.
Main Photo: Gnomon Watches
