“Wait a tick, hold up… It’s called a ‘Samurai’ but we’re looking at a ‘Turtle’?”
Yeah, I know. I had the same face when I saw the release of Seiko’s (or rather Thong Sia’s) latest limited edition model, the Samurai Black. Just to shed a bit of light on this whole scenario. Within the Seiko cult there are two Prospex divers that are held in pretty high regard. One of them is nicknamed the ‘Turtle’ and the other is called the ‘Samurai’.
The overall aesthetics and case design of this ‘Samurai’ however knocks way closer to the general outline of the ‘Turtle’. Hence the confusion.
But hey! What’s in a name, right? I’m sure the good folks at marketing have their reasons.
“So, slightly odd naming convention aside…”
We’re looking at Thong Sia’s latest limited edition model, the Samurai Black SRPH41K1. Being a distributor exclusive, this means that the watch will only go on sale officially at Thong Sia’s boutiques in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Brunei. How limited, you ask? Well, the Samurai Black will come in a run of only 1,400 units.
The Samurai Black carries a recommended retail price of RM2,800.
“What exactly am I getting for my near RM3k?”
For starters, you’re getting one of the most iconic divers from a powerhouse brand. Limited edition “cachet” aside, it’s a pretty solid purchase for the money. You get Seiko’s 4R36 calibre with around 41 hours of power reserve, a unidirectional ceramic bezel, an AR-coated sapphire crystal with a cyclops lens and a silicone strap amongst other things.
And if you still think the black DLC-coated 45 mm case sounds a bit too large, I implore you to at least try it on once. You’ll quickly realize that it wears closer to a 42 or even 41 mm watch. Water resistance is as expected of a proper diver at 200 m.
In terms of aesthetics, while the case shape is confined to the renowned ‘Turtle’ shape, the dial features a pretty interesting waffle-like surface. The pops of orange on the seconds hand and text further gives the whole face a touch of character. Additionally, the “vintage” hue of the LumiBrite applied liberally on the hour markers and hands complete the look.
If you’re keen, best move fast. The Seiko Prospex Samurai Black SRPH41K1 has a recommended price of RM2,800 and comes in a run of just 1,400 pieces. Check out Thong Sia’s site if you need more details here or swing by a Seiko boutique with the list of locations here.
