Like a “maxi” dial, it adds to the watch’s underlying toolish spirit.Īs far as the mechanism goes, it features 120-clicks and is unidirectional. It’s an aggressive, sporty element that just slightly crosses the line into oversize. For the record, I think it works really well with the overall design and proportions of the watch.

It is similar enough to have a clear tie to the 62MAS, but different enough to be its own thing. The 149 is not an homage to that watch, it’s a continuation of its legacy. It is a marked difference from the 62MAS, which had a distinctly narrow bezel, but I personally think it’s for the best. They seem to think it’s too wide for the watch, or at least, a watch based on the 62MAS. Since I began writing this review, I’ve noticed that the bezel seems to be a small point of controversy for some fans. The result is captivating, once again adding to a higher level of fit and finish. Rather than the high-gloss inserts found on other Prospex models, this features a delicate concentric brushing on a dark gray surface. Additionally, the larger bezel allows them to show off the finishing on the insert which, visually at least, is the first hint at the 149 having a higher-end execution. At about 5.5mm, much of that is the insert, it has a bold and aggressive stance that contributes to the sense that the 149 is a modern update, rather than a vintage-homage. In an appealing detour from the 62MAS, Seiko made the bezel quite wide, proportionally, to the overall size of the watch. in a word: sharpįrom the top, the bezel of the 149 totally dominates the show. While trim in diameter and lug-to-lug, it is relatively thick by the numbers but manages to hide its height very well. Measuring 40.5 x 47.8 x 13.9mm (to the top of the domed sapphire crystal), it’s one of the smaller Seiko Prospex dive watches currently available, though I’d call it a healthy medium in terms of dive watches in general. It also stays generally true to the shape of the 62MAS, at least from the top-down, though it’s by no means a copy. While not as exotic looking as many of their other iconic dive cases, it’s not run-of-the-mill either, with an appealing, blocky barrel shape and massive bezel. Like Oris’ Divers Sixty-Five or Tudor’s Black Bay Fifty-Eight, the 14Xs are, in my opinion, likely to be a breakout hit for the brand.Įnough preamble, let’s get to the good stuff.Īs is often true with Seiko dive watches, the case steals the show with the 149. But, beyond all that, with the 14Xs, Seiko has created a watch platform that will likely satisfy an itch fans have had for something smaller, and a bit truer to Seiko DNA from the past, that isn’t a high-priced replica. Issues I’ve found on Prospex watches in the past were not present here, and the overall package feels more refined and better executed. And, as I think you’ll find in this review, I believe it is. I’m not going to try to defend this, as no one likes to pay more, but I think the most important thing to keep in mind is whether or not the watch seems worth the price. The SPB149 looks great but wears even better There’s no way around the fact that Seikos are creeping up in price. The 149 tops out the series, coming in at $1,350, but is a limited edition and includes both a rubber strap and bracelet. The 143 and 145 are $1,200 on bracelets, while the 147 is $1,000 on rubber.

Before moving on, it’s worth stopping on the topic of price, as that seems to be a main point of contention on these watches. What we couldn’t tell from the renders was that the 149, and by extension the rest of the 14X series, would represent a new level of fit and finish for mid-tier Prospex watches (which I would typically associate with 6R movements and price tags around $1,000). Smaller in size and more deftly detailed, regardless of the vintage-inspiration, the SPB149 (149 from here out for brevity) simply seemed like it would be an incredible watch to wear, and a bit different from the current lineup of Seiko divers. A new “affordable” version of the 62MAS, it stayed truer to the source than the SPB051/053s, which were a similar release from just a few years prior. Almost lost in the din of those other watches, the SPB149 was, at least for Worn & Wound, the real story. In a single day, Seiko released a trilogy of high-end Prospex divers for the 55th anniversary of the release of their first diver (the 6217-8001, aka the 62MAS), as well as the SPB149. When first revealed in early March 2020, it took me off guard. I can honestly say that I haven’t looked forward to trying out a new watch as much as the Seiko Prospex SPB149 in a long time.

Seiko spb 149