SBPG001 and SBPG003 Seiko Spirit Power Design Project Digital Watch
Post by bryanandersen
SBPG001 is another Seiko Spirit watch I want.
Lately many of the new Seikos I’d like to see on my wrist are dreamed up by the designers in the Power Design Project – it’s exciting to see the ideas of the design team in production and for sale.
The watch features the best of both worlds: simple, clean, classic design elements matched with modern technology.
Fans of Seiko watches from the 1970s will have a home waiting for this watch. What makes it more than just a re-release are the technologies tucked inside like solar power and atomic clock syncing. The antenna receives signals in Japan, the USA, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
In the ’70s models like this were very expensive and well built. Prices came down in the ’80s and ’90s, but so did quality. For the last couple of decades, Seiko hasn’t offered a digital watch in this style featuring it’s name, although several Alba models were available in the late ’90s.
Those ’90s Albas were cheaply priced, selling in stores in Japan for under ¥5,000. But the build quality was poor. The bracelets were “hair pullers” and featured cheap clasps, and the casebacks had thin metal plates.
According to Seiko press releases, the new Power Design digitals will feature a watch band with a three-piece folding clasp. That’s a good sign that the build quality will be good. It retails for ¥31,500.
There are two versions, the one shown at the top of this post, and SBPG001 in black (above). Several regular contributors on GMT+9 are digital watch fans. Let’s get a discussion going on this new Seiko release, the first digital watch in the Seiko lineup, in this style, in 20 years or so…
What do you think GMT+9 reader?!??
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November 11th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’m just in love with this piece. Finally, some real build quality wrapped around that iconic screen.
I’m from the Keep It Simple Stupid end of the design spectrum. This is the digital watch I’ve been waiting for. I love the G-shocks in theory; but I’ve never been able to pull the trigger on a watch with a 6-month learning curve.
The SBPG003 (the black version) is just clean and serene. Not a speck of cereal.
BTW…. Our friend, Mr. H, tells me to look for January 2009 availability; not the previously expected November ‘08.
Thanks for all the details, Bryan! This one will be a real treat.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
“Not a speck of cereal.” (Big smile.)
Great info from Higuchi-san on release date. Thanks for your comments!
Bryan
November 11th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Ahhh yes. It’s about time someone released a high quality modern version of the classic LCD geek watch. I enjoy wearing some of my older LCD’s but wish they had some updated features. This one just might give me an excuse to buy a new watch. I’m very interested in seeing some real world shots of it including some profile and caseback pictures.
Thanks for the post Bryan.
November 11th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Hi Pete,
Can you share a picture or two of your older Seiko LCDs in this style?
Thanks!
Bryan
November 12th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Here are some of my old school LCD’s. Regrettably, I don’t have the Seiko LCD Worldtimer or G757 Bond watch anymore.
DW-1000
Seiko Map LCD
Seiko G757
Casio DW-3000
November 13th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Hello Bryan,
Interesting design in these Seiko, smelling the perfume of the eighties!
Two regrets: with that cost, Seiko should have gone further in the 21st century and use sapphire glass and TiN (for stainless steel model) or TiC PVD (for black one) coatings on bracelet and case.
Without this, these two nice watches are “scratch prone” and will not stay beautiful for long.
Best Regards,
MikeNovember
November 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
It is quite unexpected of Seiko to release such an authentic looking classic LCD and it looks amazing! I’m anticipating the release of the black version, perhaps I should get some cardigans an a pocket calculator to geek it out!
And Pete, thanks for those retro LCD shots, I remember those watches when I was a kid. Furthermore, your Frogman pictures were partly responsible for my G-Shock frenzy last year…I purchased 3 Frogmen and 10 other G-Shocks (mostly limited) within a month or so!
November 14th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hi Evan,
Yes, that’s an excellent way to put it. “Unexpected of Seiko to release such an authentic looking classic LCD.” Exactly.
Regards,
Bryan
November 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Hello Brian,
I like the classic look on these watches. I first thought it was about a vintage LCD watch. Is it already 20 years ago Seiko produced a digital watch? My dad used to wear a watch that looked similar to the world map watch posted by Petew. I’m not sure it had that map though, it has been a very long time ago (end 70’s/begin 80’s).
@ Petew,
That is an awesome retro line up you posted.
Kind regards,
Sjors
November 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
does radio controlled automatically mean perpetual calendar?
November 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hi Ian,
Radio controlled means the watch picks up a radio signal broadcast from the government’s “atomic clock,” and sets to the second, minute, hour, and day. So, yes, it is a “perpetual calendar,” as long as it’s getting the signal!
Regards,
Bryan
November 28th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
thanks for clarifying that bryan.
let’s hope the manual is in english. i’m going to order one anyway.
March 7th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I got a black Seiko digital for my grad in 1986. It had a golden hued screen and I loved it. Lasted about five years through hard use and finally died when I went swimming. Though I enjoyed having it the black wore off a lot over time and the buttons wore down somewhat. The crystal also got scratched. I’ve ordered a SARB035 now which should hold up well. It’s stainless steel with a sapphire crystal.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
This is a great looking watch with fine features. Two question I have for those have one, before I order one myself. For the world time feature, does it list specific cities or just a GMT number; if specific cities, does it give multiple choices like some G-Shocks do? For instance, for GMT +2.0, can you choose from Athens, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Cairo, or does it just give one representative choice, and which one for GMT +2.0? And do you find the alarm and countdown beeper to be loud enough?
Thanks for your advice,
Booker