Horologii

Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19 & King Samurai SRPG21 Watch Review

For over five years now, Seiko have designed an exclusive range of diving instruments associated with PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. The partnership has resulted in some of the brand’s best-selling models often seen dressed in the blue and red colours of the PADI logo and secured within one of Seiko’s “nicknamed” Prospex models. Latest in line to become a Seiko PADI is the King Turtle and the King Samurai, two of the Japanese watch manufacturer’s most iconic models. Meet the Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19 and King Samurai SRPG21 watches.

First founded in 1966 , just a few months after the first Seiko divers watch was released, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors has become the world’s largest scuba diving training organisation with an aim is to ensure the safety and enjoyment of divers while protecting treasured marine environments. Since 2016, through a shared passion for both diving and marine conservation, Seiko have remained the only global watch brand allowed to design a range of professional diver’s watches in the official colours of the PADI logo. There’s certainly been no shortage of Seiko PADI watches over the years, but still, collectors and aficionados alike are always tempted by the collection’s latest instalment. 

For 2021, Seiko have chosen their popular Turtle and Samurai models to instil their partnership. The nicknames, dubbed by Seiko fans, have also received their new prefix “King” to mark some fresh improvements. Compared to classic Turtle and Samurai models, the new Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19 and King Samurai SRPG21 watches deliver upgraded bezel grips designed to ensure better control for those wearing thick divers gloves, bezel with ceramic inserts rather than aluminium and sapphire crystal glass rather than Hardlex. Another improvement comes from the finish of the cases with a new three-dimensional lustre which in turn does increase the retail prices slightly.

Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19 Watch

Let’s start with the Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19. Since the original Turtle watch launched back in 1977, it has become one of Seiko’s most popular and famous models characterised by its cushion-shaped case evoking the silhouette of a turtle shell. The new SRPG19 watch maintains this profile with a 45mm diameter, 13.2mm thickness and 47.7mm length engineered from polished stainless steel. At the centre, the ink-black dial is engraved with the PADI logo pattern and detailed with light blue colour highlights to both recall the colours of the PADI emblem and to ensure easy legibility underwater. The dial is also accented with Lumibrite on the hands and indexes. Circling the dial is black ceramic insert bezel with further blue highlights on the 60 minutes scale with a luminous triangle marker at 12 o’clock. The Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19 also guarantees a 200 metre water resistant rating and comes equipped with a stainless steel bracelet and sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating. Fuelling the hours, minutes, seconds, day and date is the 4R36 automatic winding movement with a power reserve of 41 hours.

Seiko Prospex PADI King Samurai SRPG21 Watch

In contrast, the Seiko Prospex PADI King Samurai SRPG21 is named as such for its sword-shaped hands and angular case shape which looks as though it has been sliced by a Japanese Samurai sword. Its case comes in a little smaller on the wrist compared to its Turtle counterpart, measuring to 43.8mm in diameter, 12.8mm in thickness and 48.7mm in length, but remains engineered from classic stainless steel and fitted with a black ceramic insert bezel with light blue markings. The dial is also the same, other than the more streamlined indexes and hands, with a black backdrop engraved with the PADI globe logo. Lumbrite continues to deliver glow in the dark capability and a screw in crown and screw down case back to ensure a 200 metre water resistant rating. The Seiko Prospex PADI King Samurai SRPG21 is fitted with anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and secured to the wrist a black rubber band with pin buckle. Housed within is the 4R35 automatic winding movement, a calibre essentially the same as the 4R36 powering the Turtle above with the same power reserve of 41 hours, but with the lack of a day complication.

If you’d like to learn more about the Seiko Prospex PADI King Turtle SRPG19 and King Samurai SRPG21 watches, head over to the Jura Watches website here. You can also get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or message us at help@jurawatches.co.uk.