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Thread: Like the SBCA001, but not discontinued?

  1. #1
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Like the SBCA001, but not discontinued?

    Thanks to the very lovely Wooster I have been enjoying the Seiko SBCA001 very much recently. There was a gap in my collection just right for it, and I've been wearing it a lot more than I foresaw.



    Whenever I post photos of it, I get asked for the model number, and I have to reply, unfortunately it's discontinued and there don't appear to be a lot of them floating around.

    It would be nice to be able to give a more helpful answer. Is there a Seiko currently and easily available that has these same specs:

    * Quartz
    * Black dial with lumed numerals
    * Black date wheel
    * Bead/brushed sporty-styled case about 37mm
    * Oyster bracelet
    * 100m WR

    Why they discontinued such a good looking watch, I don't know.



    Lume shot stolen from Instagram:

    Last edited by Der Amf; 15th September 2017 at 12:38.

  2. #2
    Master bond's Avatar
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    Like the SBCA001, but not discontinued?

    They must of replaced it with something similar or for the non -JDM market ?


    Great looking watch !

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bond View Post
    Great looking watch !
    I think the secret is the little curved-corner box around the date window ❤

  4. #4
    Alba APBT211 - but it also has the day, no bracelet, and is a bit smaller.

    Pulsar make a more similar one - again strap only - but it has an illegible black second hand.

    Or the Hamilton Khaki Field quartz.

  5. #5
    Master sean's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Amf View Post
    I think the secret is the little curved-corner box around the date window ❤
    Omega did a similar thing with its Seamasters, which may be why it's my favourite date window implementation.


  6. #6
    Master mindforge's Avatar
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    One of my favourite watches too, although I wear it on nato having never tried the bracelet. Looks great in your photos though, the centre links look like they are finished differently to the outer ones?

    I'm strangely more careful with it now it has been discontinued, Seiko only seems to do 40mm ones which don't have the same classic military design anyway.

  7. #7
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mindforge View Post
    One of my favourite watches too, although I wear it on nato having never tried the bracelet. Looks great in your photos though, the centre links look like they are finished differently to the outer ones?

    I'm strangely more careful with it now it has been discontinued, Seiko only seems to do 40mm ones which don't have the same classic military design anyway.
    Yes, the centre links are brushed while everything else is bead.

    What would be the 40mm Seikos with similar specs but in different styles?

  8. #8
    Master
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    God only knows why the discontinued them as it's a cracking watch and size.
    The only thing I've found similar which I own is the Hamilton khaki field Quartz and mechanical, two great watches and very wearable size for me.
    I think they made two variants of the Seiko Jdm and non afik.

  9. #9
    Master JackW's Avatar
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    I can see the attraction, but have to admit I sold mine because it somehow didn't feel very substantial. The closest you'll get in the current lineup is probably an (automatic) Seiko 5, such as the snk809. That's not nearly as attractive though.

  10. #10
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by JackW View Post
    I can see the attraction, but have to admit I sold mine because it somehow didn't feel very substantial. The closest you'll get in the current lineup is probably an (automatic) Seiko 5, such as the snk809. That's not nearly as attractive though.
    Exactly what I was thinking regarding the snk809 just couldn't remember the model number! Thought about one of these with a military dial mod.

  11. #11
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JackW View Post
    I can see the attraction, but have to admit I sold mine because it somehow didn't feel very substantial. The closest you'll get in the current lineup is probably an (automatic) Seiko 5, such as the snk809. That's not nearly as attractive though.
    In this instance, very much wanting to keep the thinking to quartz.

    I definitely wouldn't want the watch any smaller - it feels good on me, but in terms of looks another millimetre or two wouldn't go amiss


  12. #12
    How are the end links with this model, a bit rattily or totally solid/fixed?

    In my view - Seiko nailed the whole 'mid' size quartz sport watches in the early 2000s. My equivalent is the kinetic landmaster - fantastic watch. In reality, can't get much better than this in a go to watch.

  13. #13
    Master JackW's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Amf View Post
    In this instance, very much wanting to keep the thinking to quartz.
    Makes sense. Just found the SGG711, which has only 50m depth rating but otherwise is a good contender.


  14. #14
    Master
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    Although slightly bigger, how about a Smiths Seafire.

  15. #15
    Master reggie747's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JackW View Post
    Makes sense. Just found the SGG711, which has only 50m depth rating but otherwise is a good contender.

    Except it has a folded Ti bracelet and is more than a bit rattly with some sharpish edges.
    Having said that, I've been spoiled by an Breitling Aerospace. Pure Silk.

  16. #16
    Master JackW's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by reggie747 View Post
    more than a bit rattly with some sharpish edges.
    From memory that description fits the SBCA001 bracelet nicely. ;)

    As I'm wearing my Aerospace today I know where you're coming from though.

  17. #17
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by crazyp View Post
    How are the end links with this model, a bit rattily or totally solid/fixed?
    Definitely a bit rattlely but since my only comparison is a pair of Seiko bracelets from c.1970 the bracelet seems very chunky and modern to me ; ) I think the centre links are folded too....

  18. #18
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by barryw View Post
    Although slightly bigger, how about a Smiths Seafire.
    ....and the black coating and the lack of bracelet....

  19. #19
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Amf View Post
    ....and the black coating and the lack of bracelet....
    Sorry forgot about the bracelet and the black coating is an acquired taste.......

  20. #20
    Master Man of Kent's Avatar
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    Not the same I know but still lovely.

  21. #21
    Master bond's Avatar
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    SNzG131k - £135 from Yorkshire watches

    Similar but no cigar


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  22. #22
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    ^^^the case of that looks rather more crisply shaped than the SBCA - but is a slightly hazy shape inevitable with bead-blasting? The bracelet looks a bit more solid too, at first glance.

    PS I think the model number is SNZG13K1
    Last edited by Der Amf; 15th September 2017 at 10:47.

  23. #23
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    If anyone was after a SBCA001, there's one being sold on ebay (seller: vinstink)

  24. #24
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    I spent so long searching for quartz watches remotely like this and getting not very far at all. I just came across this one, still available from Jura and significantly less from Joma even after tax. I haven't found a lume shot, but believe the numerals are lumerals. It's 37mm and the code is C022.410.11.050.00


  25. #25
    Master
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    ^^That's a nice looking watch^^
    It’s not really a brand I’ve looked at in the past.
    Cheers.

  26. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by barryw View Post
    ^^That's a nice looking watch^^
    It’s not really a brand I’ve looked at in the past.
    Cheers.
    Forgot to say, being a Certina, it's 100m WR, like the Seiko

  27. #27
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by barryw View Post
    ^^That's a nice looking watch^^
    It’s not really a brand I’ve looked at in the past.
    Cheers.
    Found it on Amazon for £220: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certina-Wat...410.11.050.00.

    Its also on Jomashop for $180, which even with import tax might be cheaper than that: https://www.jomashop.com/certina-wat...11-050-00.html

  28. #28
    Thanks for the replies guys. I should have clarified a bit more!!

    We are flying back from Hawaii (LAX-LHR) so were thinking of breaking the trip up a bit otherwise its a Looooonnnnggg flight so thought somewhere not far from LA international airport.



    So Santa Monica sounds a lot more preferable.


    Sorry I should have been a bit clearer!!

  29. #29
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    Surrealism lives!

  30. #30
    Damn - Replied to wrong thread as if you didn't guess. I had too many tabs open!

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