Seiko Samurai Mod: The Complete Guide For Watch Lovers
Photo credits: Pinterest
Watches are functional and wearable works of art. The Seiko Samurai is no exception. The Samurai is considered one of Seiko's best dive watches, and with good reason. Comparing it to the other dive watches produced by Seiko, the Samurai embodies the perfect balance between modern and traditional. It doesn't look as old-fashioned as those from the SKX series, but it's also not as avant-garde as the Seiko Monster. It's not too much nor too little - it's just right. It has proven to be so iconic and impactful that Seiko released a Seiko Prospex Divers collection, inspired by the 2004 Seiko Samurai. What makes the Samurai so popular, successful, and well-loved? Let's find out.
You can find some parts you'll need to build your own Seiko Samurai mod in this collection.
The Samurai's History
In 2004, Seiko first introduced the first incarnation of the Seiko Samurai to the world. It was well-received by the audience because of its modern design. During that time, Samurai was available in titanium in addition to stainless steel. After that, however, Seiko stopped production of titanium Samurais in 2008. Nevertheless, as time passed, the Seiko Samurai's popularity continued to increase until it grew to become one of Seiko's most sought-after dive watches.
2017 was the year Seiko released the Prospex Samurai (Blue Lagoon Limited Edition) to massive acclaim. The surging popularity of this new Samurai model continued to the next decade when Seiko upgraded the dive watch once again to King Samurai versions in 2020. Today, at least 20 models, and counting, bear the Samurai name.
If you're wondering how the Seiko Samurai got its name, look at one closely. If you closely examine the pointer, the seconds and hour hands resemble a katana. And, of course, to honor the watch brand's Japanese origins, they decided to name it after a name or concept iconically unique to Japan.
The Samurai's Edge
The Seiko Samurai displays distinctive features that give it its edge and make it a cut above the rest. So let's dive into what this dive watch has to offer. Furthermore, here are some details you should know about the Seiko Samurai.
- Case
It is important for any watch to have a durable case. Almost all Seiko Samurais of today are made with stainless steel. Additionally, its watch case is distinctive in its shape. It thins compactly and steeply and is shaped like a trapezoid. The case is fully brushed aside from a few polished surfaces, and one can also appreciate the Japanese attention to detail when looking at the Samurai case from the side. It has a fine diamond-shaped pattern that surrounds it. Also, the gnarled bezel edge and matching gnarled crown are other notable features of the dive watch, making for easy gripping and operation.
- Dial
The Samurai dial's functionality goes hand in hand with an exemplary design. As previously mentioned, its name is such because the watch hands resemble samurai swords or katana. When the two hands overlap, they seem to transform into an even more powerful blade. The tsuba or grip guard is on the hour hand while the blade is on the minute hand.
-
Dive Watch Credentials
First, the Seiko Samurai is water-resistant up to 200m, double the minimum requirement for dive watches. Second, shock resistance is also essential for dive watches. Thanks to the Hardlex crystals protecting the Seiko Samurai, the watch can face bumps and scrapes here and there. Hardlex crystals are even advertised as being scratch-resistant. Finally, dive watches must have unidirectional bezels, and the Seiko Samurai has a clockwise bezel that rotates counterclockwise. Moreover, its watch bezel is capable of 120 clicks, which follows the standard of dive watch bezels.