Introducing The Latest Tuna - SBDB009!

6641 Views 24 Replies 20 Participants Last post by sharkfinDave, Aug 22, 2014

badern

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2014

Like most tuna fans, I have been drooling after the SD tunas for some time. The SBDB008 was too limited (and pricey) and I never had a chance of getting one. However, the WIS stars were aligned yesterday and I was able to snagged the latest tuna! The Spring Drive driven (pun intended) SBDB 009!

Here are some pics - a tad dark because taken last night.

The box and packaging is typical higher end Seiko diver packaging - similar to the blue tuna and emperor tuna packaging. Apart from tags and the ubiquitious manual/warrant booklet the watch comes with a B 22 Seiko rubber strap. The strap is surprisingly very supple and comfortable. Definitely a step up over the normal stiff z22 strap.

Initial impressions:
The new design has cut outs in the shroud for the strap. In fact the strap is attached directly to the shorud (the lugs are part of the shroud).. So if the shroud is removed, the strap will follow the shroud. Previous tunas has the strap attached to the case and the shroud seated over the lugs

This design allows the watch to sit more comfortably and lower on the wrist. The shroud has vertical brush finish and is most likely made of titanium.
All the metal surfaces (shroud, case and bezel) are black in colour. Not sure what kind of coating.
All the surfaces have a matt finish except for the edges of the shroud which have a polished finish.
The bezel insert is most likely ceramic with the markings and numbers engraved in white into the insert.
The shroud has a more marked slope when compared to previous tunas.

The dial looks quite small when compared to the shroud and bezel. The sloping shroud may be the reason why the dial is smaller.

The hour markers are interesting because instead of the normal raised indices or printed markers, the markers appeares to be sunken into the dial with the lume filled up to the surface of the dial. I have seen this only in one other Seiko - my pipin Scubamaster. So the markers are not raised above the dial surface but actually level withthe surface of the dial. Awesome lume as expected.

The crown is signed but imo a tad small for such a chunky watch. Would have preferred a chunky crown like the 6159 or 1000m quartz tunas.

The caseback is slightly rounded but that does not affect wearing comfort. Serial number dates the watch to jan 2014.

Here are some more pics of the beauty.

Loving my latest tuna!!

Thanks for reading!

See less See more

10

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

estrickland

· #2 · Jun 27, 2014

Congrats, and thanks for the writeup/pics!

I far prefer this to the blingier 008.

Gotta love watching the Spring Drive sweep that long second hand.

I do wish the bezel had luminous markers like the white dolphin:

Despite having a pretty solid diver collection, I'm still without a Tuna.
I've been looking for the right 7549-7010, but your post is definitely food for thought...

See less See more

mario_d

· #3 · Jun 27, 2014

Congratulations Badern!

:wee_hee::bowing::3tens::singing:

and many thanks for the brief review.

badern said:
Initial impressions:
The new design has cut outs in the shroud for the strap. In fact the strap is attached directly to the shorud (the lugs are part of the shroud).. So if the shroud is removed, the strap will follow the shroud. Previous tunas has the strap attached to the case and the shroud seated over the lugs

Interesting, never noticed that before. I wonder if Seiko is going to use this design on other Tuna Modells in the future.

Anyway once again congratulations and enjoy your latest Tuna.

guspech750

· #4 · Jun 27, 2014

mmmmmmmm. Bad azzzzzzzzzzzz!

Me likey!!

Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

pollyc

· #5 · Jun 27, 2014

That's nice Dude, I want one:3tens:

barryw

· #6 · Jun 27, 2014

nice hunk of metal.

Interesting about the strap directly fits to the shroud. The Sawtooths have the same arrangement and it appears the new kinetics (SUN019 etc) have gone the same route.

I wonder why Seiko are going down this avenue?

Barry

badern

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 27, 2014

estrickland said:
Congrats, and thanks for the writeup/pics!

I far prefer this to the blingier 008.

Gotta love watching the Spring Drive sweep that long second hand.

I do wish the bezel had luminous markers like the white dolphin:

QUOTE]

Yup I was actually half expecting the bezel to have lume like the white dolphin but that was not to be...

badern

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 27, 2014

Thanks Mario! :grin: I am sure you will get one as well.

The lugs-in-shroud design actually works very well. Decreasing the profile of the watch and making it more comfy. Maybe this design explains the comfort of the sawtooths.

Maybe this design will make it harder for aftermarket makers of tuna shrouds to copy? Not a good thing imo. I rather like the options made available with AM shrouds.

mario_d said:
Congratulations Badern!

:wee_hee::bowing::3tens::singing:

and many thanks for the brief review.

Interesting, never noticed that before. I wonder if Seiko is going to use this design on other Tuna Modells in the future.

Anyway once again congratulations and enjoy your latest Tuna.

badern

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 27, 2014

barryw said:
Interesting about the strap directly fits to the shroud. The Sawtooths have the same arrangement and it appears the new kinetics (SUN019 etc) have gone the same route.

I wonder why Seiko are going down this avenue?

Barry

My thoughts exactly - just like the Sawtooths and incoming kinetics.

See less See more

69chevelless

· #10 · Jun 27, 2014

WOW is that beautiful. Someday I'd love to own a Spring Drive.

tsteph12

· #11 · Jun 27, 2014

Thank you very much for posting. A stunner for sure and I'm feeling a strong "need" to get one of these.

mm31

· #12 · Jun 27, 2014

Very nice looking

stratocaster_pat

· #13 · Jun 28, 2014

That thing looks monstrous! Makes the chunky SBBN007 300m Tuna Can I've got look tiny.

ronaldysl199

· #14 · Jun 28, 2014

very nice

Pete26

· #15 · Aug 13, 2014

Hey Badern nice piece. I have one incoming and wondered what your wrist size is?

Cheers

Pete

LongBike

· #16 · Aug 13, 2014 (Edited)

Those New Shrouds

That New type of Shroud should not be that hard to make.
This is because it has a lot of bulk and probably mounts to the case better. Its only eliminating the Lugs on a regular
case and substituting with a one piece one. This pattern is similar to how they made the ......... " Robert Swan Watch ",
I would say, only it holds the movement in sort of a two piece unit.
The screw's for mounting it is aligned to the Lug area of the watch case. Properly aligning the screw areas then it
can be done. Once one is prototyped, then others can be made because there will be a design to follow and to use.

This is not that hard to design, because one would only have to add more bulk to the lower part of a original Shroud
design that's being made. Milling the a case to be rounded, will then give the way for this Shroud to be made.
Its only the time taken to make a Prototype and it can be done.
Machine work in the hands of a ...." Machinist is where it will happen ", but now we have those profitable Printers and
that is the Major step for re-making this design.

It seems to have a very comfortable ......... " Wrap Around Look to it ". Better fitting and less hang up in its looks.
It also has a better ....... " Profile to the wearing ".
It has a very snug fit to the case body, so the screws will sit on alignment, and the case is not floating like the usual design.
This then forms a snug hold onto the Shroud, so it will be quite solid in holding.
This Shroud design looks like a re-make of a older ........ " Helmet Watch Case ".
Having the right Machines to produce it will do it.
I might think the ....... " Balance On The Wrist ", was the main concern of the designer.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The watch will have to be kept extra clean especially between the case and Shroud after use when especially diving.
NOTE:
Salt water will be its main culprit and its number one effective enemy.

See less See more

LongBike

· #17 · Aug 13, 2014 (Edited)

badern said:
My thoughts exactly - just like the Sawtooths and incoming kinetics.

badern , Sir that is one heck of a nice watch you have there.

Like barryw said on why this design also now.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
barryw ,
Sir it might be because of the risk of its new design and if it had Lugs on it, Maybe the ..... " One Piece Shroud ",
will be much more solid with the weight of the complete watch on the wrist. Or just to make a different design all
together for sales purposes.
Design is what sells most things, (change of looks), so they might be joining the design factor in production of this new watch.

Lugs on this watch would look to be to much bulk in that area. The Strap now is tucked away really nice and uniform.
That new watch would not look good with that type of over-draped shroud and with Lugs on it. It would be to bulky in its looks
and hazardous I think also.
I would think it is now very ....... " Uniformed in its looks ".
Just my thoughts looking at it.

See less See more

spring-diver

· #18 · Aug 15, 2014

:wee_hee:Huge congrats Badern:wee_hee:

One of these day I'll land the awesome SD Tuna

Cheers
Shannon

bosjohn

· #19 · Aug 15, 2014

now thats a healthy hunk of magnificence not to mention a watch. So get two and you will save a bundle on gym fees.

DeskDiver

· #20 · Aug 16, 2014

Congrats Badern, that is very handsome and very legible. I love the shiny bezel too, looks more durable than the one on an MM300.
Enjoy!

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.