“I agree with Maverick Watch
Channel on YouTube. The Seiko SNE541P1 deserved to be nominated for 2019 Seiko’s
best looking watch. My love at first sight. I received this Baby Tuna on
21st November last year. I bought it online from Shopee store named wengcheongbahauns
from Bahau, Negeri Sembilan - a southern state of Peninsular Malaysia. The price is the cheapest I found
on Shopee at that time. Anyway, I am not going to touch about the price. Let me share my view on this
original 1975 inspired diver.” – thetick-thetick2020
The
Seiko Prospex Solar SNE541P1
The SNE541P1 is one of the four latest
release from the 2019 Street Series. The other three are the SNE545P1 in
white-black with red markings; the SNE547P1 in olive green and black; and the SNE5431P1 in military green and black ion-plated. The older versions are the 3 solid
coloured divers – the SNE533P1 in navy blue, the SNE535P1 in olive green, and
the grey SNE537P1. Check this out from Seiko official website.
Specification and Pictorial Review
- Movement – Cal. V157 Solar, 3 hands date movement, +/- 15 seconds per month, continuous running for 10 months (when fully charged), overcharge prevention function
- Watch Case – Stainless steel with plastic (the shroud); 46.7 mm diameter, 46.1 mm length, 12 mm thickness, 22 mm lug width
- Case Back – Stainless steel screw case back
- Watch Crystal – Seiko Hardlex
- Crown – Screw-down crown
- Bezel – Stainless steel ring with stainless steel bezel insert, 120 clicks unidirectional bezel
- Strap – Silicon with stainless steel pin-buckle
- Luminous Compound – Seiko Lumibrite
- Water Resistance - ISO rated 200m / 660ft diver's
Thick Seiko proprietary Hardlex crystal. Conical minute indices. Look at that precisely placed thick minute markers and the watch hands. They look similar with the legendary 62MAS dial setting. All in rectangular shape including the second hand's tip. The hands and the minute markers are a little bit yellowish like patina and blends perfectly with contrasting matte black dial.
The dial... the Solar dial is not like the ordinary glossy looking but some kind of tiny granular spread all over. I like the big encased lume pip. A little offset, the lume pip is greenish not similar to the patina looking hands and markers. The bezel is brushed steel with engraved markers painted in black. It is thick and slightly raised above the lume pip triangular cut. I love it, not shiny on bright daylight.
The date window or aperture is slightly raised, same level as the height of the minute markers. Silvery white number printed on black, the date indicator matches the entire dial setting.
Seiko's standard dial and movement reference at six, finely printed. The dial reference is 0EL8-HR-2 accompanied with the movement number V157.
Side profile. At the top, the side position at nine. The plastic shroud is fitted onto the watch case using two hex-screws. At the bottom, the crown side. Like the other diver, the crown is proportionately sized and placed suits to the time-setting function and wearing comfort. The shroud is fitted onto the watch case using a single hex-screw on this side. Symmetrical, the shroud profile is lowered at 12 to 3 and 6 to 9 to ease the bezel usage. Hence, the saw tooth edge on the bezel ring gives better grip. Trust me guys, the 120 click bezel is so smooth and almost no play at all. Seiko did it right on this model. Not like the new Arnie, so rough and wobbling! Did you guys noticed that tiny granular texture on the shroud? Awesome, matches the solar dial.
All polished case back with Tsunami medallion and engravings. The plastic shroud protects the watch case and the big protruding crown perfectly. Seiko's expertise since 1975, producing the world's first shrouded diver.
Craquelure texture! Sorry guys, I use the Adobe Photoshop's effect terms for this cracked textured matte black silicon strap. The texture matches the tiny granular texture on the dial and the plastic shroud. Standard Tsunami stamp on the Seiko's diver straps. The strap is fitted with normal stainless steel pin-buckle. The Street Series strap loop or keeper is made of the same silicon material and texture. Not the Seiko signed buckle and keeper.
The big protruding screw-down crown is 6.5 mm height and 7 mm in diameter. Like most Seiko divers, the lug width is 22 mm. The thick connecting end of the silicon strap leaves very minimal gap with the watch case. Perfect.
Seiko Lumibrite. The rich luminous compound on the minute markers, hands and lume pip produce immense glow in blue. I would prefer the green. The green glows better and brighter. No luminous marker at four!
My wrist is 17 cm in circumference. This baby tuna is not a big-zilla diver to me... but the watch looks "expanded" by the ventilating curve of the diver's strap. I don't bother the protruding strap end. The diver strap standard is longer than the ordinary. Purposely made for strapping on thick scuba wet suit and glove. Don't like it? Change the strap. Get the shorter one you desk divers!!!
My Opinion on this Watch
- The function – An ISO rated 200 meter W.R. dive timer suitable for scuba diving. A daily timekeeper suitable for all sort of water activities. The solar powered movement need no battery change. Cal. V157 +/-15 seconds per month is acceptable. Very very acceptable.
- The design – For daily casual wear, rugged but decent looking timepiece.
- The construction – The watch head construction is meant to stand underwater pressure at 200 meter depth. My concern is the plastic shroud. How long it takes before it cracks? I do not know but those that I have last till today with minor scratches, no cracks. The tiny granular texture on the surface is not just a cosmetic. I believe it was made as such to absorb knocks and bumps. The steel bezel, better than lacquer painted aluminium or alloy insert. Once scratched, you can still brushed it. Overall, it is a compact dive watch, not so big to strap on.
- Wearing comfort – The weight of the watch is unnoticeable albeit the heavy steel parts. The silicon strap feels rubbery and soft. Very comfortable to wear the whole day. The texture makes the strap more durable.
