For watch enthusiasts with a sweet tooth for Seiko, big lume, and large timepieces, these are good times. Seiko is coming out with a line of affordable, large divers with Tuna shrouds.
Case in the point is the $300 Seiko SRP637 Shrouded Black Monster equipped with the Seiko 4R36 hackable automatic movement.
Spanning 47.5mm across the bezel and wearing high on the wrist owning to the Tuna shroud, the SRP637 has a polished, high-end look and the kind of lume you expect from Seiko.
The SRP637 is also consolation for me as I felt I had to sell my very compelling Seiko SUN019 as I find I don't like to keep kinetic watches charged, or worry about their charge.
As you can see, the SRP637 is close in size to the Seiko Tuna SBBN017 and a bit bigger than its older brother, the Seiko SRP307.
While the stock H-links are okay, I felt I'd be better off putting on the Strapcode Endmill 22mm bracelet that I had lying around. The Endmill makes the SRP637 feel more expensive on my wrist.
With Seiko churning out 48mm divers with 4R36 movements and professional grade lume at a very affordable price point, these are good times indeed.
Very nice looking watch---but isn't the price point USUALLY higher than $300.00?
Posted by: Angelo | January 24, 2015 at 06:56 PM
This model and similar ones is already settling around 300 on eBay and Amazon.
Posted by: herculodge | January 24, 2015 at 06:58 PM
Very nice, Jeff. I'd almost say nearly perfectly Herculodgian. Now I'm curious how the wrist time will work out for the three watches pictured. I can't help but think the SRP307 will be sold, possibly even the Tuna.
I like the Endmill bracelet quite a bit, but for whatever reason I kind of like the traditional Monster H-link bracelet.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 24, 2015 at 08:00 PM
I view the Tuna as a permanent fixture. I think it's too important to sell. There are some watches in my collection that I will never sell---unless money is in such short supply, I have no choice. It's almost impossible to comment from someone else's perspective, but from MY perspective of the Herculodge watch collection, the Tuna is off-limits---it's a fundamental part of the structure, the foundation and the primary column. I almost look at it as though if the Tuna is sold off----it throws things into chaos.
Posted by: Angelo | January 25, 2015 at 06:03 AM
The Tuna stays.
Posted by: herculodge | January 25, 2015 at 06:04 AM
I agree with Angelo's assessment. It is almost as if the Tuna defines "Herculodge 2.0" - that is, phase two after phase one, aka the Invicta Era.
Jeff, is the new watch the exact same size as the Tuna and Fieldmaster? I can't tell from the pictures.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 25, 2015 at 08:58 AM
The Tuna, the Fieldmaster SBDL021, and the new SRP637 are all 46mm bezels and they all play the same size. For me, they're all keepers. They all have different bracelets, which is nice. I just wish I could fit one with the Hirsch Extreme, but I'll wait.
Posted by: herculodge | January 25, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Why wouldn't the Hirsch work? I've seen pictures of the Tuna on a Hirsch.
My Helson had a Hirsch. Kind of cool and shark-vibish.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 25, 2015 at 12:46 PM
The Hirsch would definitely work. It's just that I'm content with the bracelets for now.
Posted by: herculodge | January 25, 2015 at 01:14 PM
OK, gotcha.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 25, 2015 at 04:43 PM
I just got one and switched out the bracelet, as recommended. Haven't taken it off, since. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: Jack | June 29, 2015 at 07:01 AM
Jack, I'm glad you like it. Mine gets a lot of wrist time as it's my "default" watch. Which bracelet did you get?
Posted by: herculodge | June 29, 2015 at 08:06 AM
What's the overall thickness? Some sites are listing it as 18mm (!) but others say it's around 14. I recently ordered a Marathon JSAR but had to return it due to the ridiculous 17mm thickness -- it wouldn't fit under any of casual shirt sleeves...a shame because it really was a beautiful and classically-styled dive watch.
Posted by: Dan | January 23, 2016 at 10:36 AM
I don't know the thickness because I sold mine, but it wasn't that thick at all and played more like a 46mm than a 48mm. It's not too big at all.
Posted by: herculodge | January 23, 2016 at 10:56 AM
Thanks. The original Monster is listed as about 13mm thick -- did the SRP637 feel substantially taller?
BTW, is there an unofficial name for this watch? I see the phrase "Baby Tuna" thrown around. Tuna Monster?
Posted by: Dan | January 23, 2016 at 01:11 PM