Prospex for Seiko means "Professional Specification" that their timepieces in this category are built with very high standards to be used by professionals. One that stands out to collectors around the world and known for one of great value for money Japanese Domestic Model(JDM) is the scuba diver series; SBDC069 nicknamed by the Seiko community as “Blue Coral Sumo."
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| Seiko Prospex 200M Automatic Blue Coral Sumo Ref. SBDC069 |
The Seiko Prospex 200M Automatic Blue Coral Sumo Ref. SBDC069’s precursor was initially released in 2007 under the reference. SBDC003, but now with a few changes made on the latter.
The overall look of the Sumo is one of a kind, quirky, but still wears like a professional dive watch for more than a decade, including this new Blue Coral edition.
It is powered by Seiko's automatic caliber, 6R15, operating at 21,600 BPH (3 Hertz) with hacking and hand winding capabilities. It has 23 jewels with a power reserve of 50 hours through a Spron 510 mainspring.
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| Unique sunburst blue dial |
The 200m water resistant Sumo stainless steel case embodies the beautiful craftsmanship and fluid line. Measuring 45mm case without the crown, and has a lug to lug length of 52.6mm, and a height of about 12.9mm, with a lug width of 20mm. A mixture of satin brush and Seiko high polishing on the sides can be seen on the whole watch with crisp edging, especially around the lugs.
Therefore, all these have enhanced the Sumo feels a notch higher than other dive watches in the same price point for many years, and many more to come.
The blue bezel is aluminum, has prominently printed markings on it (keeping the Sumo theme). It rotates buttery smooth into 120 positions has zero free play in a clockwise direction. Similar to the JDM models, the screw down crown at four o'clock signed with an "S."
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| Unique case design with excellent finishing |
Moving on to the back of the watch, the screw down case back allows 200m water resistant and is also brushed, featuring the recognizable tsunami emblem that is a staple on the other Seiko divers. Oh, please don’t forget about the lug holes, allowing swapping of straps with ease.
The watch's unique aesthetic along with the fat markers on the bezel, now the nickname of "Sumo" starts to ring a bell. In contrast with the SBDC033 Blue Sumo’s matte dial, the sunburst blue dial is attractive, where it dances radially with any light source when it hits the surface. With all that said, legibility is excellent as on all Sumos.
The impeccable hour markers and hands are both generously coated with Seiko's LumiBrite allowing it to glow brightly in the dark for hours. The second hand is done I bright yellow color to aid legibility. Further, Seiko has also done the 12, 3, 6 and 9 markers on the minute rehaut in the same yellow as the second hand to keep things size up a bit.
The design of the steel bracelet compliments the watch beautifully, having it brushed mainly, with polished sides and a polished lining on either side of the central link, giving the Blue Coral Sumo a seamless look and feel.
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| Seiko's LumiBrite shines like a torch |
All in all, for more than a decade, the Sumo is still one of the best bang for buck Seiko dive watch, and until now there’s no other like this in its price range. The Seiko Prospex Coral Blue Sumo Ref. SBDC069 is durable and legible, with a proven robust automatic movement, excellent casework, and featuring a unique sunburst dial.
