In case you’ve been following #TBT, and Fratello Watches for that remember, for any period of time, you’ve surely observed that we’re huge lovers of the Seiko Tuna series of watches. whether analyzing Gerard’s history of the watches or sifting via any variety of version-particular articles, our admiration runs deep for these oddly shaped, however unique divers. And so, these days, it’s with rather of a bittersweet feeling that we’ve come to the cease of our journey on antique “true” Tunas with a take a look at one of the brand’s maximum a hit and popular versions, the Seiko 7C46 Golden Tuna. Don’t worry, we’ll be lower back with more love for the shrouded beasts, however the ones articles will attention on the slightly much less pure variations. let’s test the ultimate of the antique Tunas, however earlier than we do, a recap is in order – and this includes antique and present day.
The 6159 “Grandfather Tuna”
Introduced in 1975, the groundbreaking 6159 “Grandfather Tuna” introduced the shroud as we understand it nowadays, introduced full titanium construction, a hi-beat motion, and 600M of water resistance. I wrote about it in certainly one of my earliest articles with Fratello and Robert-Jan distinct his a pair years later. This watch become in production until kind of 1979.
The 7549 “Golden Tuna”
In an ongoing quest for the closing in precision timekeeping, Seiko introduced the 7549 Golden Tuna in 1978. With a quartz motion, this new Tuna became the first professional diver strolling with this sort of heartbeat. Sound boring? It wasn’t in 1978 and cost 50% greater than the 6159! It shared the equal 600M depth rating as its mechanical counterpart, however brought inside the gold titanium nitride covered case that we’ve come to experience so much from the emblem. This watch was in manufacturing until roughly 1985.
The 7C46 “Ashtray” Series
Some could take issue with us list the 7C46-6009/10 series, higher called the “Ashtrays” due to their unique scalloped bezels, inside the Tuna framework, but collectors often consider those professional divers as circle of relatives participants notwithstanding the screw-down case again. introduced in 1986 and in manufacturing via the early 90’s, these are enormously rare beasts. The -6009 comes in stainless-steel while the -6010 is cased completely in titanium. those amongst the maximum one-of-a-kind divers from Seiko, however with 600M of water resistance, they’re some distance more than just a, erm, quite face.
The 7C46 Marinemaster Professional 300
Coming to the greater cutting-edge Tunas, we took a have a look at one of the more famous models, the Marinemaster expert three hundred. those function shrouds, but additionally a screw-down caseback, so many recollect these to be a “light” version of the species. still, they’re distinctly wearable and the same model has been around for the reason that mid-eighty’s with few changes apart from exceptional case and bezel variants and a alternate in hands numerous years lower back to Seiko’s new, albeit controversial, theme. specifically, we reviewed an all black limited edition model commemorating the japanese Manga individual “Duke Golgo” from Golgo thirteen.
The SBDX011 “Emperor Tuna”
For 2009, Seiko ultimately replied the bell with the reintroduction of a mechanical Tuna inside the shape of the SBDX011, in any other case known as the “Emperor Tuna”. It’s a large, menacing watch at 51mm and accomplished all in black, and it contains some terrific specs. Titanium construction, 1000M of water resistance and a detuned Grand Seiko 9S55 movement are just a number of the goodies. The equal watch is largely on offer nowadays, but with an updated shroud and the aforementioned newer fingers. individually, i like this piece with the traditional fingers and it appears creditors agree as charges are slowly growing.
The SBDB008 Spring Drive “Golden Tuna”
The present day variation of Tuna involves us from 2013 within the form of a Tuna with a Spring drive movement. prior to the discharge of an all black reular production version of this watch in 2014, Seiko determined to launch the concept with a restrained edition (only 300 made) Golden Tuna version. The watch become and is vast for a pair motives. namely, it was the primary time the Spring drive motion had been placed right into a shrouded case and it also brought the polarizing new handset. The Spring drive Golden Tuna brings a wild movement, titanium, ceramics and ridiculous lume to the birthday party and fees a hefty top class in the procedure!
The Seiko 7C46 “Golden Tuna”
Now that we’ve taken a experience down reminiscence lane, permit’s come again the focus of our article, the Seiko 7C46 Golden Tuna. In 1985, Seiko introduced the sector the final expression of its expert diver and decided to residence it within a monobloc-shrouded case. In what likely appears blasé these days, the emblem debuted a brand new movement with the 7C46, paired it with a gold titanium nitride-lined important case, and upped the ante with a loopy 1000M of water resistance. the brand new motion came with an outstanding five years of battery existence and gave the consumer fair warning that it was time to replace the battery while the seconds hand commenced to leap 2 seconds as opposed to the standard 1.
Different common Tuna tendencies carried on with the Seiko 7C46 Golden Tuna together with the hallmark L-formed gasket, Hardlex crystal, flat-vented rubber strap, lume-stuffed plastic inlay bezel, unidirectional bezel, and a quickset day and date. The watch grew barely over its 7549 predecessor (49.6mm diameter vs 49mm) and its height is a sturdy 16.1mm. Lug to lug is someplace round 50mm, so it simply fits in the definition of a tuna can.
The dial of the Seiko 7C46 Golden Tuna capabilities stepped forward lume whilst compared to the prior generation of watch. rather than what looks like a skinny layer of glowing cloth at the 7549, the 7C46 brings thick, slightly blobby and sloppy expanses of the stuff into skinny-bordered hour markers. The printing on the black dial of the 7C46 shows a few improvement as well. It’s carried out inside the equal gold ink that paperwork the crosshairs extending from the markers at 6/nine/12. All advised, it’s a extra modern-day look that suits an eye that become made till the early 2000’s. The hour and minute arms maintain their traditional shape, however are gold in coloration this time as opposed to metallic. The sweep hand keeps the lollipop of lume look on its returned give up, that is a “inform” to the Seiko trustworthy that a quartz heartbeat probably lies inside. You’ll also see the outstanding little Suwa symbol to the right of the date window, a pleasant vintage touch that would maintain on via the ninety’s.
As noted, the Seiko 7C46 Golden Tuna used clean, black zirconia for its shroud. The authentic 6159 used a difficult-completed ceramic that was susceptible to chipping at the same time as the 7549 employed powder-covered titanium. The smooth 7C46 feels silky smooth by using comparison, but is likewise known to chip if the impact is blunt sufficient. It’s really greater of a contemporary appearance, however i will’t help opt for a bit more texture to my shrouds.
still, possible keep in mind that Seiko became purpose on imposing greater advanced substances on their top grade watches. a look from the side additionally suggests us that the crown in this watch has lost some of its gold nitride coating, thereby exposing stainless-steel underneath. It’s a fairly not unusual prevalence on these Golden Tunas as sweat and oils begin to attack the finish.
A study the case lower back of the Seiko 7C46 Golden Tuna brings the acquainted Tsunami emblem to the middle along with the addition of a meter showing us years in chronological order. You’ll spy a small marking just before 1986 and that denotes a battery alternate have to’ve been achieved sometime in 1985. The watch changed into produced in February of 1990 (the “zero” and “2” are visible whilst I’ve obscured the rest of the serial variety), in order that makes feel with more or less 5 years of battery lifestyles at the 7C46. as opposed to the preceding 7549 models, the 7C46 also carries a lot extra substances records. We see the ceramic shroud, a base steel bezel and a titanium case again are listed; a real curious blend of low and high tech!
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