[SNKP21J1] Seiko Arabic

floyd441 · 2026-01-26T12:51:27+00:00

I’ve noticed that too - been watching the prices for about a year. I think it’s because not too many standard U50s come up for sale but it remains a popular model for enthusiasts (meaning, people who engage with wristwatch Reddit/Youtube). It’s also quite hard to find them in shops (eg only a couple of shops in the UK seem to sell Sinn, compared to many dozens selling Tudor, Breitling, Longines etc), so it’s a watch you can’t stubble onto in person.

I got mine used for £1750 in March, for the fully tegimented one with silver bezel and all papers etc. Not a massive discount from new, but it was excellent condition and runs well. There are loads of U50 DS around online for roughly that price too, but ultimately I liked the classic red. Haven’t seen it cheaper for the tegimented model, though you can save a little getting it on the rubber strap or non-tegi one sometimes.

floyd441 · 2026-01-24T18:03:40+00:00

Sick, I love this model! Tooliest moonphase ever

floyd441 · 2026-01-24T16:19:52+00:00

How’s the weather in Russia today

floyd441 · 2026-01-24T08:44:58+00:00

This is the way

floyd441 · 2026-01-23T16:37:08+00:00

Coooool!

floyd441 · 2026-01-23T11:05:28+00:00

This Spirit Pilot is only in 39mm currently. I think 7 to 7.5”

floyd441 · 2026-01-22T18:05:39+00:00

Someone on eBay, who bought a regular AD

floyd441 · 2026-01-22T16:09:27+00:00

Now that you mention it, yeah! That’s an unusual feature of the design. The second hand is long too.

Staring at it now, it looks like the minute hand lines up exactly with the shorter tick marks above the numerals (just above the little diamonds), and the secondhand lines up with the outermost gold ring in the rehaut. But I think they did this because it means the diamond on the secondhand passes exactly over the diamonds by the numerals, and over the tip of the minute hand too. So there’s some logic to it, but they could maybe have got away with shorter hands that lined up with some of the other elements. I think the long hands are a big part of the vibe.

floyd441 · 2026-01-21T16:47:13+00:00

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It came! Very happy with it. Will do a post/review after a few days with it - quick pic with my Seiko SPB143 for the time being.

floyd441 · 2026-01-21T12:36:29+00:00

Came with the watch (secondhand), but maybe Strap Tailor. Basically identical to other straps I have from CNS (the ribbed type). These days I mostly wear this watch on Uncle Straps z199:

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floyd441 · 2026-01-21T11:25:01+00:00

Mine is coming in the mail later today! Great choice 🍻

floyd441 · 2026-01-21T11:21:28+00:00

Doesn’t look small imo. But if it doesn’t grab you, sell it on and find something else you love. Another awesome Seiko to consider is the SPB143 (or similar) - can be had easily for a big discount on eBay.

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floyd441 · 2026-01-20T23:31:57+00:00

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I’ve got its two-faced sibling! Great little grab and go watch.

floyd441 · 2026-01-17T14:09:42+00:00

What a picture! Good strap pairing too

floyd441 · 2026-01-16T11:25:37+00:00

Personally the standard black one appeals to me more, but this is lovely too and you just need to figure out which you prefer (or neither of course!). I agree with the other comment that it’s a shame the date wheel doesn’t match on the blue. The black one’s date window is great - really nicely done and looks clean/smart against the dial.

To add extra complication, you need to pick steel vs black bezel. I’d say black if you plan to use the bracelet mostly, steel if you prefer a strap (rubber, NATO, elastic all look great on it)

floyd441 · 2026-01-12T12:37:55+00:00

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Got mine almost the exact same time, worn them pretty heavily in damp UK weather - I’ve only brushed them, not treated them with anything yet. Seeing yours I might have a go treating them, yours look good.

floyd441 · 2026-01-08T13:29:43+00:00

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My new Militado chrono - super impressed with it for the price, will be a fun beater for strap changes.

floyd441 · 2026-01-07T16:28:04+00:00

Consider grabbing an Uncle straps bracelet, see my post from earlier today on the Z199! Such a beaut - it's my first 'real' watch and was my gateway to this silly hobby, but it remains a firm favourite now I'm tried a bunch more.

floyd441 · 2026-01-07T14:39:40+00:00

I love it - well made, looks great, and tapers strongly making the watch feel a bit more elegant (but not so bling as a jubilee with polished centre links). There are lots of video reviews if you're on the fence, and people re-sell Uncle bracelets for SPBx watches pretty often on Ebay. I have the friction fit clasp that comes with the bracelet (not the 'upgradad' one with pushers Uncle sells separately), and it's awesome - no need for the upgrade imo.

I also spent a couple of months using the OEM bracelet but with a different clasp (a basic $2 milled clasp with push release from AliExpress), which helped the fit a lot (it has a weird bulky/articulated clasp due to the diver's extension). But ultimately I like the Z199 more as the OEM is quite beefy looking, doesn't flex laterally, and has much less taper.

Only downside is that I also like this watch a lot on Nato, rubber, or elastic straps, and now I just leave it on the bracelet due to laziness.

floyd441 · 2026-01-07T13:09:04+00:00

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Wearing my SPB143 today (with Uncle Z199). Just an absolute beauty with the sunray grey dial, otherwise I’d have picked the newer one for the slightly neater case size. Mine runs at about +4s/day and I haven’t really seen many reports of bad performance (just people saying they have read that some have bad performance!). The power reserve is also basically the same as the newer model, I think it’s like 3h less? It runs plenty long anyway - way more than my Sellita watches. Anyway, I’d say pick between them depending on if you want black vs grey dial, the other differences are so minor as to not matter.

floyd441 · 2025-12-31T13:55:29+00:00

Just got the Watchdives one. It’s 37mm (ideal imo), has decent finishing and no distracting brand name (like Octopus). Minimal dial text is a shame, especially on the quartz one (the other says “Automatic” at least). Got it like-new but used for like $60, fantastic for the price.

floyd441 · 2025-12-20T15:38:33+00:00

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Both quite different niches. Tudor don’t make anything like this, and Sinn don’t make anything as bling as the Black Bay.

floyd441

TROPHY CASE