Seiko 8F56 Perpetual Calendar Quartz SLT077
Posted by: bryanandersen
Steel is one of the most common materials in the world today, but steel-cased Seiko 8F56 Perpetual Calendar Quartz SLT077 is a hard watch to find. With its +/- 20 seconds per year accuracy, 10-year battery, and independent hour hand adjustment — it has a blend of elements needed to smelt one sharp instrument.
Seiko 8F56 Perpetual Calendar Quartz SLT077 (right) was produced from the late-’90s through the middle part of this decade and is now out of production. It’s reminiscent of its steely cousin, Grand Seiko Automatic SBGM001 (left) from 2002. They are similar in size and style, and feature a 24-hour index on their bezels.
Seiko’s 8F56 quartz movement is popular with high-end quartz fans. Seiko Japan currently makes a Seiko Spirit titanium-cased model (with several dial variations) with this movement. The movement features a GMT hand that can be set to any timezone (by setting the independently adjustable hour hand), and has a battery that lasts 10 years.
The battery that powers the 8F56 movement is huge (photo courtesy of: intrenuk). The movement keeps time to +/- 1.666 seconds a month, and along with the GMT hand feature Perpetual Calendar technology. The date doesn’t need to be reset for months with odd number of days, so the time doesn’t need to be readjusted monthly. Same for leap years. This allows for years-long accuracy checks.
The steel bracelet on model SLT077 is excellent. Because the watch case is about 40mm wide (excluding crown), it’s not too heavy and rides comfortably on the wrist on the metal bracelet.
As an added bonus, the crown screws down so there’s no chance the it will accidentally pull out and stop the second hand. If that were to happen, it would spoil a long-term accuracy test.
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September 20th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Hey Bryan…
Thank you for this excellent review of the
SLT077. The article is very well written,
and the photographs are great.
Articles like this, make me happy that I
am a Seiko fan. Many well known watch companies
produce great watches, but less than half a
dozen. Their fans have to gawk at these
half a dozen endlessly, as that is all there
is.
In the case of Seiko, there are countless
great models, one after another. Great in
terms of design, function,construction and
value. Not in terms of half a dozen, but in
terms of hundreds or even thousands. It always
a real pleasure when I get to read about
another great watch.
The only element needed for the Seiko world
is for some knowledgeable enthusiast such as yourself,
or petew to write about a particular model,
as you did in this case. Please keep this up.
Thank you.
September 20th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Hi diverwatch,
Petew and I are also amazed at the number of models that Seiko — and Casio too — produce. Scores of little-known Seiko models are excellent watches in terms of value, design, construction, and performance.
Seiko made a whole range of steel-cased watches with the 8F56 movement back in the late ’90s through the early part of this decade. Most of them passed me by. I didn’t get how awesome the 8F movement is at that time. I guess time has caught up with me.
There is a steel Seiko with 8F56, the “quartz mapmeter,” Seiko SLT109, that looks like it’d be a fun watch to wear.
Thanks for your comments! Always nice to hear from a fellow happy Seiko fan!!
Regards,
Bryan
September 21st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hi Bryan,
an excellent article. i love the 8f movements for the same reasons you do. unfortunately seiko only made one watch in 44mm range with that movement but i cannot find it.
i ddi buy my mother the 8f35 movement watch and just had battery replaced(it’s good for 8 years).
my mother loves it.
seiko’s 8f movements are probably 1/4th the price of anything else that is that precise. just look at what swiss are offering:)
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 am
Hi ptolemy,
The value and performance of the 8F movements are fantastic, as you say. You’re also right that they are usually found in “smaller” Seiko watches — 42mm to 36mm case sizes. Very cool you got one for your mother, and she likes it!
Thanks for your comments!
Bryan
September 24th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hi Everyone,
I’m new to this forum but just had to jump in on the SLT077.
I have about a dozen Seikos and the SLT077 is, by far, the best value. On top of the excellent movement and independent GMT hand, the fit and finish of the case and bracelet are tops. The bracelet clasp is one of the best Seiko has installed (curved and nicely integrated into the bracelet). Spread the word…I hope more Seiko fans pick up on this watch.
I couldn’t resist but, I took some black (Testor’s) flat enamel and filled in the hour indices on the bezel as a homage to the Grand Seiko SBGM001. Love it!
I wish Seiko made a white dialed version of this excellent watch…I would get it as well.
My other GMT is the Seiko Great Blue, SLT063, another 8F56 movement. Put a watchadoo on it and having alot of fun
Keep in touch!
September 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Hi HDEddie,
I agree with you about this watch, and your comments about the fit/finish of the bracelet and case struck home. I think a white dialed version would be cool, too — but I guess we’re just lucky to have snagged the black dial since they’re no longer in production. I think a few vendors on the Net still have these (including Chronograph.com last time I looked), but it won’t be long ’til they’re pretty much impossible to find new.
Thanks for your comments!
Regards,
Bryan
September 28th, 2008 at 4:14 am
I think that by far the best looking 8f56 is the alpinist ones. The one with cream dial or the green one makes me drool anytime i see it . Too bad ,that for me trying to pull off a 41mm watch is like wearing 25mm watch for others
October 1st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Hello Mr. Andersen,
I found this watch though WUS and tracked back to here of course, what an awesome piece of
hardware. Do you have any idea where a guy might track this one down it looks really is a
well ordered piece all bet is very comfortable. If you have any ideas could you message me
back I would love to purchase one it would get some serious wrist time.
thank you,
Dan