Seiko Prospex Padi SPB071J1 Review & Complete Guide

Seiko makes a ton of different watches for different needs, wants, and preferences. Dress watches, chronographs, field watches, sports watches, and of course, dive watches.

Seiko’s dive watches are particularly appreciated due to their high build quality, solid movements, and stylish designs. In addition, Seiko has different levels of dive watches for every need. The Seiko Prospex Padi SPB071J1, on the other hand, is a stylish and robust dive watch made to last and for optimum performance.

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Firstly, Seiko has had a long and close partnership with PADI, which is an abbreviation of “Professional Association of Diving Instructors”. For professional dive watches, what better partner than a group that can test it out in the field for what it was made for? The SPB071J1 is built as a serious dive watch, and so its relation with PADI is a great proof of concept of what it is made for.

In addition, this is also a watch with a Prospex designation, which basically stands for ”Professional specifications” and simply means it is built according to the wants and needs of professionals, in this case, divers.

With that said, if you are looking for a stylish, classic dive watch with great performance, the Seiko Prospex Padi SPB071J1 is definitely one to consider.

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Case

The Seiko Prospex Padi SPB071J1 builds on Seiko’s iconic 62Mas, which is the original Seiko dive watch originally launched in 1965. In that way, it has a vintage-inspired design, but also an important heritage that people have come to love and appreciate.

The watch is presented with a classic stainless steel case with a diameter of 42.6mm. The lug-to-lug is 49.8mm and the thickness 13.8mm. No big surprise here in terms of size, but rather a classic size for a sporty dive watch. The case has squared-off lugs which are relatively short and helps the watch wear better on the wrist. They also allow for a sportier appearance. The case of this watch has a Diashield coating which helps prevent scratches and keep the case looking nice and flawless for a longer period of time.

The top of the case has a brushed finish with distinct polished beveled edges. In contrast, the sides of the case are polished, which also shows that Seiko has paid attention to the details. Positioned at 3 o’clock, it has a large crown without crown guards. Not only does this give a classic look but it also makes it easier to operate the crown.

Some people have complained that the crown is a bit wobbly with an impression of not being 100% solid, so there is some room for improvement here.

As a dive watch should, it of course has a unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel has notched edges for improved grip and uses a black ceramic insert with a luminous pip at 12 o’clock. The minute markers are made in a silver color. The bezel operates smoothly and gives a qualitative impression. It doesn’t feel cheap or hollow like the bezel on many other affordable watches can.

In addition, since the SPB071J1 is a dive watch, it has a water resistance of 200m/660 feet. This is enough for swimming and diving. On top of the case, Seiko has opted for a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

The lug width of this watch is 21mm and the case is equipped with lug holes to make it easier to change straps. The watch is presented on a dark blue silicone strap which goes very well together with the watch’s dive watch design and is also practical for a diver since it is durable, tough, and water-resistance. The choice of blue also fits the PADI color scheme very well.

This is a very comfortable strap as well and is the successor of Seiko’s Z22 strap.

Dial

The dial of the SPB071J1 is certainly the highlight of this watch. Seiko has opted for a graded dial reminiscent of the ocean which means it is dark blue, or even black at the very bottom of the dial, which then shifts to a lighter blue at the top. This color decision helps make the watch much more interesting and vibrant, and it is also very appropriate for a dive watch like this. The way the dial is executed also reminds me of Rolex’s Deepsea Sea-Dweller which uses the same approach.

In addition to the color, Seiko has also paid attention to the pattern of the dial. This watch has a discreet wave pattern which adds texture and makes it reflect the light in a beautiful way. The risk is that a wave pattern like this makes the dial cluttered and busy, but Seiko has executed it in a subtle way which makes it complement the look rather than steal the show.

Thanks to the gradient dial, the watch has a lot of personality and ensures you’ll never get bored looking at it.

Positioned at 3 o’clock, it has a date window for convenience.

Seiko has paid attention to the red and blue theme of the watch in a beautiful yet subtle way. The rehaut has seconds markers, and for every 15 seconds, the marker is made in red. Furthermore, the frame of the minute hand is also red. The watch has large a large hour marker with an arrow tip for excellent legibility. The hands have applied Lumibrite for an optimum glow.

The dial also has large hour markers with Lumibrite applied to them.

Speaking of the lime, Seiko has done a really good job of ensuring the legibility of this watch is perfect at all times. The lume glows strong and bright, and to make it easier to distinguish between the different elements, Seiko has made the lume for the bezel, minutes hand, and 9 o’clock markers blue, and left the hour hand and remaining hour markers green. This makes it easier to distinguish them from each other even in low-lit conditions.

Movement

The watch is powered by the in-house Seiko Automatic caliber 6r15. This is a robust and high-quality movement that is perfect for this watch and its purpose. It operated with a frequency of 21,600 BPH. The movement has a power reserve of 50 hours. It can be hacked and manually wound.

The accuracy of this movement is specified to -15 to +25 seconds per day. When it comes to the movement, there’s really not a lot to complain about. It’s tough, robust, and does exactly what it is supposed to do.

Specifications

Movement: Seiko Automatic caliber 6R15 with manual-winding function
Case: Diashield coating
Strap: Silicone
Crystal: curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Power reserve: 50 hours
Accuracy: -15 to +25 seconds per day accuracy
Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
Jewels: 23
Weight: 124 grams
Lug width: 21mm
Lug-to-lug: 49.8mm
Diameter. 42.6mm
Thickness: 13.8mm

Conclusion

All in all, the Seiko Prospex Padi SPB071J1 is a watch that offers exceptional value for money on so many levels. It is tough, durable, and robust, and also has great water resistance. With its PADI designation, it also incorporates blue and red which add to the appeal, making it more vibrant and fresh. It’s a contrast to the mostly monochrome dive watches out there, which can be refreshing.

The dial is certainly the highlight of this watch with its gradient dial with lots of details, and most importantly, excellent legibility. This is a modern take on an iconic dive watch with a modern appeal thanks to its bright colors, and this watch will work just as great for everyday wear as it will on the beach.

Seiko Prospex Padi SPB071J1 Review & Complete Guide