No 161 & 283 - Seiko SBBN015

OK, so most of you know by now that the SBBN015 and SBBN017 basically are the same watch with the exception of bezel insert and bracelet vs. rubber; the SBBN015 being the little more expensive of the two. I love Tuna’s, no news really (and I even have one incoming as I write this), and the 015 and 017 are great but when I recently had my latest 015, just a couple of months ago, I realized what detail it was that bothered me. The domed crystal. To me a seriously domed crystal was one of the features that really defined a true dive watch and I used to dig it so much. Not anymore. The thing is it’s impossible to take a good photograph of a watch with a domed crystal. OK, perhaps if you have a professional setup and high-tech cameras but with my obsolete iPhone, which is the only camera I use, it’s freaking impossible taking a decent picture if the conditions are not perfect. Anyhow, replacing the crystal is an easy fix so it really isn’t that much of an issue if I really would have want to keep the watch and get rid of the problem.

I did actually wear my first one on the bracelet even though I already knew I hated it. Bought it back in mid-January 2013. On my second one, which I had just two months ago in early February 2016, I replaced the bracelet at once with a 22mm Bonetto 284 rubber. Much better! I really can't put my finger on what it is that bothers me so much about the bracelet. It just feels wrong somehow. But Christ, my second one only stayed for a day and then I had actually been looking for one for a while. It was that bloody crystal that did it! But also I had one person being interested in it which made me let it go even quicker than expected.

#161 - The Seiko SBBN015.

Bright lume even in daylight.

Irresistible lume! But why the hell am I wearing the watch on my right hand?

#283 - The second one.

As I mentioned when I wrote about the 017 both models have now been discontinued and replaced by SBBN031 and SBBN033 but goddamn I can’t get over those ugly new hands. My incoming Tuna is one of the older references and one I haven’t had before so that’s exciting. I like them so much more and I really look forward receiving it!

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 147 & 315 - Seiko SBBN017

I must say that I’m ashamed. When I’ve been looking back on all the Tuna’s I’ve had in the past I‘ve always considered the SBBN017 to be the best of them because when you compare what you get in comparison to what you pay it really has to be the most bang for the buck in the line of Tuna’s. But then I discovered, when I browsed through the pictures of the SBBN017 I had had, that I didn’t even wore it with the correct bezel insert. Looking back on that aftermarket piece of shit insert I can’t do anything but to ask myself: “What was I thinking?” Clearly I wasn’t. I even think I had the original insert lying in the watch box and I'm almost throwing up a little in my mouth when I realize I somehow must have approved the AM-insert since I didn't replace it.

#147 - The Seiko SBBN017.

I can hardly stand looking at that aftermarket bezel insert. Yuck!

So why do I consider the SBBN017 the best then? Well, for starters it’s quite cheap compared to the other Tuna’s. Not as cheap as the SBBN007 but the little extra you pay for a 017 you'll get back in higher quality regarding details. And seriously, the steel bracelet for the SBBN015 looks terrible so paying extra for that is not worth it in my opinion. Besides, a Tuna is supposed to be worn on a rubber strap and the rubber that comes along with the SBBN017 is just perfect. Then we have a wide range of more expensive Tuna’s that might perhaps look cooler but not hundreds of dollars cooler. Compared to the more expensive and larger ceramic Tuna’s I think the 017 is of a more wearable size. Simply overall good proportions. All the newer quartz Tuna's are housing the 7C46 quartz movement so by choosing one of the more expensive ones you will receive some more exciting materials but you will still get the same movement as in the cheaper ones. Then we have a couple of automatic Tuna's, which all are priced quite high, but to me a Tuna should house a quartz movement and be able to withstand a beating and I therefore chose to exclude the automatics since they don't qualify as tool watches in my book.

I hope I've given you enough reasons to make you come to the same conclusion as I have; that the 017 is the most bang for the buck Tuna. Unfortunately the SBBN017 was discontinued last year and replaced with the SBBN033. Even though I prefer the black day/date wheels on the new version I must say I prefer the look of the hands on the old model. So try to find a used 017 but make sure to do it fast. Since it was discontinued the prices has increased as it's becoming more sought after.


UPDATE - August 30th.

It has really bothered me a long time that I never had the SBBN017 with the correct bezel insert. And when it was replaced by the SBBN033 and became harder to find used I figured I might not get a good chance of getting hold of one again. But sometimes the most unexpected things happen. I actually did find one. New. In Sweden. It had been sitting on the shelf for over three years. The price was high. Too high. But after a little negotiation I managed to get it for a reasonable price. It was a really good feeling buying a discontinued Tuna new from an authorized Seiko dealer. Buying new watches is something I rarely do and finding treasures like this is both satisfying and exciting.

#315 - My second SBBN017. Purchased new at Klockmaster Globen, Stockholm, Sweden.

Wrist shot at the balcony right after the unboxing.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 144 - Seiko SBBN013

Being a Seiko-fan it’s a wonder I haven’t been more active on forums like The Seiko and Citizen Watch Forum (SCWF). I’ve only used it as a source of knowledge but haven’t participated in any discussions. But in August 2012 I came across this SBBN013 to a very reasonable price in their for sale section. It was complete with box and papers and located in the UK. I figured I was already too late to grab it and even if I wasn’t the seller probably would prefer to sell it to some well know SCWF-member instead of me with an almost none existing post count. But I was lucky this time and I got to buy the SBBN013, also referred to as the Darth Tuna.

#144 - The Seiko SBBN013.

Glowing lume in daylight. Impressive!

I just love the quartz Tuna’s. They are amazing watches for diving! This one was the biggest Tuna I’d had so far but it was still very wearable. I particularly loved the large gray hands and the lume was of course marvelous. But then I got scared. I don’t remember who it was but someone told me to be careful about not hitting the ceramic shroud into anything hard or it might crack straight through. I found a couple of pictures of cracked shrouds and it didn’t look too funny. So my new favorite tool watch turned out to be less toolier than I thought it was. What could I do? That didn’t work for me. I later discovered that I could have switched the ceramic shroud to a plastic one but I wonder how good it would have looked.

Having pancakes for breakfast at Café Foam in Stockholm.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 112, 131 & 334 - Seiko SBBN007

The first time I ever saw the so called “Tuna” I thought they were equally ugly as the Orange Monster and I ignored all I saw for sale. They weren’t the least interesting to me. Then something happened. I don’t know what it was but suddenly one day I just woke up and understood what the Tuna’s were all about. They’d transformed from something hideous to something beautiful and what I saw was a hardcore dive watch. The SBBN007 was my first acquaintance in the Tuna family. At first I didn’t like that the 6, 9 and 12-index’s had the extra outer lining but I grew to appreciate them more and more and looking back on all the Tuna’s I’ve had so far I find this dial to be the best looking. As most of the newer Tuna’s this one also house the reliable 7c46 quartz movement. My first SBBN007 was delivered to me on the rubber from a SBBN017 which made it look so much better than the horrible V-vent Z22-rubber that I think was the standard rubber it was being sold with. 

#112 - The Seiko SBBN007. A member of the Tuna family.

My second SBBN007 had a second hand with a red tip which I’m not one hundred percent sure of if it was original or after market. My friend Magnus helped me out switching the insert for a bleached pepsi-insert from a SKX009. Wore this one on the original Seiko flat vent Z22-rubber. 

#131 - The second SBBN007. Modified with a bleached pepsi-insert.

Out in the archipelago having a break after some pike fishing.

Since the SBBN007 was discontinued it has become a little harder to source and prices can now exceed used SBBN017's and sometimes even the SBBN015's. I think the SBBN007 is a fantastic beater and I know I will have at least on more before I'm done. I have an idea of having it fitted with a black insert and a black shroud. I’m pretty sure it would look really good. 


UPDATE - January 11th 2017.

Just as I had foreseen. The mod mentioned above just had to be done and when my buddy Nic (Seikosthlm) got a hold of a 007 in mid-December last year I saw my chance. Both the shroud and insert was ordered from Yobokies. The shroud was actually quite expensive. About $150. Worth it though! I think it turned out really badass. For once it got a toolier look but also it brought out more of a vintage feel to it thanks to the black insert which made it resemble a vintage 7549 Tuna. 
 

#334 - My third SBBN007. Worn on a DAL1BP rubber.

Waiting for the train.

So. Frakking. Good.

The complete kit just before I sold it.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.