Seiko SRP779K1 Turtle Review & Complete Guide
When most people think about a dive watch, they think of the Rolex Submariner. The Submariner carved the way and set a new standard and definition for what a dive watch is. In particular when it comes to design.
As a result, the Submariner design has become ”the norm” within dive watches, and many brands have followed suit.
But what if you want a robust and durable dive watch that is unique and different? What if you want a dive watch that has its own original design, stands out from the crowd and has great reliability and performance? Can you find such a watch without having to pay thousands of dollars for a Rolex? Definitely, yes you can. And the Seiko SRP779K1 Prospex Turtle is a watch that meets all those criteria and many more.
Seiko SRP779K1 Turtle Prospex review
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
The Seiko SRP779K1 Turtle has its very own design that is different from most dive watches out there. And this is one of the reasons it is so popular. Whilst the Submariner is one of the most popular and iconic designs in the world, there are still plenty of people who are looking to go their own route and wear something unique.
Seiko’s Turtle design has been around for decades, which, amongst Seiko collectors and enthusiasts, has given it iconic status.
Seiko as a brand is widely known to manufacture qualitative watches that offer great value for money. The Turtle, in particular, is part of the Prospex collection, which stands for ”Professional specifications”. This means that it is built so durably that it meets the needs and requirements of professional divers. And if it is good enough for professionals, it is probably good enough for you.
The Seiko SRP779K1 is a serious dive watch with great performance. Regardless if you are going deep diving or just swimming in a pool, this watch won’t break a sweat.
In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko SRP779K1 Turtle Prospex.
Seiko SRP779K1 Turtle case
Firstly, the case of the SRP779K1 is very distinct. It’s easy to understand where the name ”Turtle” comes from, as the case of the watch is very reminiscent of a turtle.
The watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 44.75mm and 48.6mm including the crown. The lug-to-lug measurement is 47.5mm. The thickness is 13.2mm thick. With that said, it is a relatively large watch – as we would expect a sporty dive watch built according to professional specifications to be.
The case shape is very distinct, with an oval-like shape. The lugs are ”integrated” into the case, to which the strap is attached. The lugs have holes in them which makes changing straps very easy.
At 4 o’clock, the watch has a screw-down crown. The case does not have crown guards, but instead, the crown is recessed into the case in order to keep it protected. The crown is unsigned, but a benefit of this position is that it is kept from digging into your hand.
On the upper side of the case, you can see that the case has a circular-brush finish. This gives it a tool-like look, but at the same time, the sides of the case are polished, creating a nice contrast and the impression that it is well-finished (which of course it is at this price).
The watch has a solid case back with engravings. For a watch like this, a see-through case back doesn’t have many purposes. Yes, it is nice to see the movement ticking inside, but a see-through case back also means an additional potential leaking point, which is always a risk.
Seiko SRP779K1 dial
The SRP779K1 Turtle has a lovely matte black dial with a rich texture. Matte dials always tend to give vintage vibes, but at the same time, they have one big benefit, which is that they don’t cause as many reflections as polished dials, thus improving legibility.
As a dive watch should, it has large white painted markers. It does not, however, have applied markers. But regardless, it looks great and adds to the vintage look. The markers and hands are filled with Lumibrite which means the watch glows long and bright in the darkness. The hands of this watch are designed to look just like the vintage Seiko Turtle reference 6309, which is a nice nod to its history.
At 3 o’clock, you’ll find the standard day and date window. The window does not have a frame around it and has a white background with black printing.
Around the outer edge of the dial, it has a chapter ring on which the seconds markers are printed in white.
Being a dive watch, it does offer some proper water resistance. The case is resistant to 200m/330 feet/20ATM which is enough for all types of water sports including swimming, diving, showering, etc.
As a dive watch should, it has a unidirectional rotating bezel with 60 graduation markers. What stands out about this watch is of course the bi-colored bezel of blue and red. The first 15 minutes on the aluminum insert are made in red and the rest of the bezel has been made dark blue. At 12 o’clock, the bezel insert has a lime pip. The insert is somewhat matte which contributes to its vintage look.
Seiko SRP779K1 movement
The Seiko Turtle SRP779K1 is equipped with the automatic mechanical Seiko caliber 4R36. This is a budget automatic movement developed by Seiko. The good news is that this is a huge improvement from Seiko’s 7S36 caliber which is usually found in the cheapest entry-level watches. Two functions that the 4R36 and the 7S36 has is hacking seconds and manual winding functions.
The movement is built to be durable and long-lasting. Primarily, it is a workhorse that has proven to be able to continue to tick year after year, but it also has relatively good accuracy for its price.
Seiko SRP779K1 strap
The SRP779K1 Turtle is presented on a black silicone strap. The silicone strap is very soft and supple, and it’s no secret that rubber/silicone straps look great on dive watches.
The strap has a metal keeper for holding the tip of the strap, featuring the Seiko logo. The strap has a width of 22mm as the lugs, but a small touch is that Seiko has extended the strap just a bit from the inside of the lugs. The strap also tapers somewhat, to 20mm at the end, for more comfortable wear.
This strap has overall received good reviews and praise. It is comfortable, looks good, and is a perfect match for a dive watch. But if you would want, you can now course replace the straps easily thanks to the lug holes.
Specifications
- Movement: Seiko caliber 4R36
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Diameter: 44.75mm
- Diameter including crown: 48.6mm including the crown
- Lug-to-lug measurement: 47.5mm
- Thickness: 13.2mm
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko SRP779K1 Prospex Turtle is a great ”Reissue” timepiece that seeks inspiration from Seiko’s history, specifically the Seiko Turtle reference 6309. At the same time, it incorporates new technology and features that allows this watch to be durable and long-lasting.
And if there is one thing that the Seiko SRP779K1 is built to do, it is to last. This watch is rugged and can take a beating, and will likely continue to tick for decades without service. And considering you get all of this for only 300-400 USD, it’s easy to see why this watch offers such immense value.
There are few dive watches in this price range that are as solid and well-finished as the Seiko Turtle SRP779K1.
The Seiko SRP779K1 is available to order on Amazon.
