Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 Review & Complete Guide
The Seiko Sumo range is undoubtedly one of the most popular affordable dive watches on the market. The term” affordable” is always relative, but if you study the relationship between quality and the value propositions of this watch with the price, it becomes very evident that this is a watch that offers great value for money.
It’s no secret that Seiko is great at making great dive watches with exceptional performance, and their Sumo watches are some of them. They have similar performance as many other, far more expensive dive watches have, and are well-built and finished for the price at which it is offered.
There are many reasons why the Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 is so popular, but the primary includes having an original and sporty design, a durable automatic movement, a great finish and build quality, and a nice presence on the wrist.
There are many different Sumos from Seiko, but which should you choose? One of the most popular on the market is the reference SBDC033, and this is exactly the watch we are going to review and look closer at in this article.
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Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 case
To begin with, the Seiko Prosper Sumo is built as a serious tool watch both in terms of ruggedness and performance, and it definitely has a design that reflects that.
The watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 44mm, a lug-to-lug measurement of 52.5mm, and a thickness/height of 13.5mm. The case design is very distinct for the Sumo, as it has distinct and beautifully finished edges.
The watch has an almost ”twisted lug” design, with the insides being polished, and contrasted with a brushed edge that twists from the case. This is in turn contrasted by polished sides. When it comes to the finishing of the case for a watch in this price range, there is really not a lot to complain about. The different angles which are a union between smooth long lines and sharp yet well-thought-out edges really enhance the impression of quality that it gives.
With this said, it is a bulky and hefty timepiece that certainly has some presence on the wrist. And this is exactly what a lot of people are looking for in a dive watch.
Positioned at 4 o’clock, the watch has a large screw-down crown to ensure its water resistance. The crown is notched to provide a better grip when operating it.
The case has drilled lugs, which is generally an appreciated feature of watches as it, partly gives it a more tool-like look, but most importantly, makes it easy to change straps.
As a dive watch should, it has a unidirectional rotating bezel sitting on top. The bezel does not have very pronounced notches or a knurled edge which can make sometimes make gripping a bit more tricky than on other dive watches. The bezel has a wide matte blue aluminum insert, which, just before it meets the crystal, is angled down. The bezel has printed 60-minute graduations and a luminous pip at 12 o’clock so you can also read it in the dark or low-lit conditions.
Sitting on top of the case is a Hardlex crystal. To some, it’s a bit disappointing that this watch doesn’t have a sapphire crystal as it will get scratched more easily, but at the same time, Hardlex crystals have proven to be more scratch-resistant than regular mineral glass. But yes, it would have been nice to have a sapphire crystal on this watch. A good thing, however, is that the crystal is slightly protected due to the bezel sitting slightly higher.
Turning the watch around will reveal its screw-down case back with the iconic tsunami engraving. Since this is a serious sport watch, it should not have a see-through case back.
A professional dive watch needs good water resistance, and this is something that the Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 offers, with its water resistance of 200m/660feet/20ATM. Now, you might be wondering, what does ”Prospex” mean in the name? Prospex actually stans for professional specifications, which means exactly what it sounds like – that it is made according to the needs and wants of professionals. It is also an ISO-certified dive watch, which is further evidence of this watch’s rugged performance.
Seiko Sumo SBDC033 dial
Moving on to the dial of this watch, we find that it, just as we expect, offers exactly what is needed from a dive watch, and this is in first-hand good legibility.
It has a lovely striking blue dial with a sunburst finish which reflects the light beautifully. Due to the nature of sunburst dials, the blue color can go from a dark blue to a very bright blue color depending on the light.
The watch has large applied hour markers with a polished metal base, on which Lumibrite has been applied. This also brings us to the next criteria for a dive watch, which is good legibility even in the dark. Thanks to the rich amount of Lumibrite applied, it glows long and bright in the dark. In addition, the watch has large and broad hands. The hour and minute hands are wide and made of polished metal, and have Lumibrite on them.
The watch has a painted yellow seconds hand with a pointy tip, and also Lumibrite. The yellow second hand creates a nice color contrast and works exceptionally well against the blue.
Around the outer edge of the dial, the watch has a chapter ring. Here, the seconds markers are printed in silver, with the exception of 12, 3, 6, and 9, which are printed in yellow to match the seconds hand.
At 3 o’clock, we have a date window with white background and the date printed in white. Not much to say here other than that in theory, a diver doesn’t need to know the date whilst diving, but that is the thing. Seiko (and the rest of the watch market for that matter), knows that the vast majority of people who will buy this watch are not going to go deep diving with it, and are not buying it as a crucial tool when diving. Instead, they buy it because they enjoy its looks, design, and presence on the wrist. And with that in mind, the date function can actually be very convenient.
The watch does present some relevant and important specifications about this watch, but it does by no means feel cluttered.
Seiko SBDC033 movement
A sporty dive watch needs a durable and robust movement, and the Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 has one.
It is equipped with the in-house Seiko caliber 6R15 which is an automatic mechanical movement. Its power reserve of about 50 hours is better than many of Seiko’s more affordable watches, which usually have a power reserve of about 40-43 hours. The movement beats, like so many other of Seiko’s automatic movements, with a frequency of 21600 BPH.
The movement is equipped with 23 jewels and has hacking seconds and a manual winding function. This movement has proven to be a reliable and robust movement that will continue to function for many years or even more than a decade without needing a service. It’s a tough watch, and a tough watch needs a tough movement.
Seiko SBDC033 bracelet
The Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 is presented on a bulky and sporty stainless steel bracelet which is mostly satin-finished, with the exception of two polished lines along with the links. The bracelet has a width of 20mm. One piece of feedback that some have regarding this bracelet is that considering the 44mm case, a 20mm bracelet is too small. Instead, it should have a 22mm bracelet, but if you ask me, the bracelet size does in no way look out of proportion.
A downside in my opinion is that it uses pin and collar links, which makes it more difficult to size than links that use screws. But the good news is that once you have sized it properly, it is comfortable to wear. And the double-locking folding buckle provides the reassurance we need in a dive watch of this caliber.
As you probably know by now, an issue with affordable watches is that the part that is compromised the most is the bracelet, and this is partly the case of the Sumo SBDC033 as well. The bracelet does not feel 100% solid and robust and does have some rattle to it. It’s not huge, but there is definitely room for improvement.
The clasp does, however, have 4 micro-adjustments. It is also kitted with a diver’s extension so that you can easily throw it on a diving suit.
Another good news is that if you wish to switch to a strap, the 20mm lug width means you have a wide selection of straps available at your disposal.
Specifications
- Diameter: 44mm
- Lug-to-lug: 52.5mm
- Thickness/height: 13.5mm
- Lug width: 20mm
- Power reserve: 50 hours
- Movement: 6R15
- Frequency: 21600 BPH
Conclusion
To conclude this article, the Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 is a sporty and robust timepiece that not only looks sporty but also has the performance and specifications to back it up. It is built according to professional specifications to meet their needs and wants, so you can be sure that you are getting a solid and well-performing timepiece if you opt for the SBDC033.
The watch does have some minor drawbacks, but in my opinion, this is something we have to accept when factoring in its affordable price.
With its price of about less than 600 USD, this watch still offers extremely great value for money and has exceptional performance. The striking yellow and blue details also make this a fun and bright watch that is perfect for everyday wear or a day on the beach.
The Seiko Prospex Sumo SBDC033 is available to order on Amazon.
