The new Seiko King Sumo collection brings an updated look to the 2007 cult favourites while adding some modern upgrades to the models. If you are a fan of the classic Seiko Sumo, you’ll likely enjoy much of what the new collection has to offer. And, there’s a lot to like if you are new to the line.
The Seiko Sumo is known for its unashamed chunkiness, and the King Sumo doesn’t hold back on that front, either. Three new Seiko watches are introduced in this release: SPB321J1, SPB323J1, and SPB325J1 — all available now at Shiels!
Each of the Seiko Prospex watches sports a cool new design, with the PADI Sumo SPB325J1 featuring a silicone strap and alternative dial look. The other two watches come in a steel bracelet, which gives you plenty of choice when it comes to buying a new King Sumo.
Overview:
Seiko King Sumo Dial & Bezel
All three of these Seiko watches come in their signature rounded dial, at a large 45mm case diameter. That’s big, but it will fit pretty comfortably on your wrist thanks to a sleek design.
There’s no question that this release has modernised the Sumo formula, and if you're a fan of the original, you’ll have to digest a few changes. For one, the numbering of the bezel is no longer as wide and distinctive as it once was, with the bezel presented a little neater than the originals.
The hands keep most of their thickness, but now lay against a captivating wave design on the dial of the SPB321J1 and SPB323J1 models. You can pick from two dial colours here, a oceanic blue for the first, and a shadowy pastel brown for the second. Alternatively, Seiko's SPB325J1 model opts for the PADI logo dial along with the signature teal and blue colour palette.
As the Seiko King Sumos originate as diving watches, they each include a rotating bezel, LumiBrite hands, and screw-down crown. The anti-reflective sapphire glass will also give you a great look at the dial of your chosen King Sumo.
Case & Bracelet
The three King Sumo watches share the same case. Each has a nice roundness and brushed finish, standing out from the rest with their flat-edge lugs. The size of the case is what gives them so much personality. These Seiko timpieces earnt their name for a reason.
The key points of difference between the King Sumos are the watch bands. The PADI model comes in a silicone band material, as their editions so often do. The navy blue colour is a good pairing for the black and teal dial, and gives this piece an authentic diving watch appeal.
The other models, SPB321J1 and SPB323J1, are set with three-link steel bracelets. You might enjoy these stainless steel watches more for formal or casual events, but they are still highly resistant diving watches. If you do prefer the steel bracelet, you’ll have to pick between the two, so good luck!
Specifications:
The new King Sumo collection has been given some very attractive specs. The calibre 6R35 automatic movement is excellent for the price point and offers 70 hours of power reserve.
Sapphire glass and a ‘super hard coating’ on the case will keep these timepieces out of trouble, while classic LumiBrite and rotating bezels complete the traditional Seiko diving watches.
- 45mm diameter x 52.6mm length x 13.4 thickness
- Stainless steel case (super hard coating)
- Stainless steel bracelet/rubber strap
- Calibre 6R35 movement
- Sapphire with anti-reflective coat
- 200m water resistance
- Screw down crown
And features:
- LumiBrite hands
- One way rotating bezel
- Date windows
- Hand-winding
- Interchangeable straps
Final Thoughts
These Seiko King Sumo watches recapture much of what made the original Seiko Sumo special. The case design and size is all still there, while the indices and hands keep a lot of their width. There plenty of appealing curvature to the cases, and the lenghty 52.6mm lug-to-lug measurement is as striking as they come.
You could still argue that these models are a little slimmed down — the big bold bezel numbers have certainly seen that treatment. But, with modern updates, you are going to see a slightly more contemporary look.
If you are a fan of the classic Seiko Sumo, we recommend giving one of these new watches a shot, you'll probably love it.
