New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

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dukerules
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New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by dukerules » Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:10 am

Anyone tempted? I've told myself I can own only one chunky dive watch, and the U1 Professional isn't going anywhere. My previous MM300 didn't last long, and this one likely wouldn't either. Too thick and wears unbalanced to me, and never worked well on NATOs, which was a deal-breaker for me, and evidently this one is even thicker than its predecessors. And I know that that cheesy Prospex logo is found on dozens of low-end Seiko dive watches (although to be fair the "Marinemaster" font has always looked like something pulled off an early-90s word processing program to me). But I love the sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, the gold lettering on the dial and the gold seconds hands, the larger indices, and the deeper black dial. So much so that I was *this* close to pulling the trigger on one (for about 25% off MSRP) yesterday.

Pictures from Gnomon.

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Nellipj
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Nellipj » Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:31 am

I dig it. Love the upgrades. What was the price?


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dukerules
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by dukerules » Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:35 am

Around $2300. Seems like a lot when I bought and sold an SBDX001 for about $1100 a couple of years ago.

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bedlam
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by bedlam » Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:36 am

The original is still of the best dive watches ever made IMO.

This is that watch with some upgrades...there is very little not to like :love:

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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Nellipj » Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:41 am

dukerules wrote:Around $2300. Seems like a lot when I bought and sold an SBDX001 for about $1100 a couple of years ago.
$1100 was when the Yen took a nose dive. Used I think sbdx001’s are around $1500-1700 now. I like it, but probably not at $2300.


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dnslater
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by dnslater » Sun Dec 02, 2018 7:14 am

Did they really make it thicker? It looks great but the original was already too topheavy for me.

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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by CGSshorty » Sun Dec 02, 2018 7:25 am

I like it a lot. The gold seconds hand looks great, IMO. I know a lot of people don’t like it.
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dukerules
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by dukerules » Sun Dec 02, 2018 7:30 am

dnslater wrote:Did they really make it thicker? It looks great but the original was already too topheavy for me.
I believe it's about a half mm thicker. This despite the fact that the crystal is now totally flat on top.

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mellonb1
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by mellonb1 » Sun Dec 02, 2018 7:40 am

Tempted and was actually looking at wrist shots of my last couple 001's trying to convince myself that the 023 will stick this time. Being $2,300-$2,500 and being too damn top heavy will ultimately keep me from picking this one up but it's so tempting.

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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by BBK357 » Sun Dec 02, 2018 7:48 am

dukerules wrote:Around $2300. Seems like a lot when I bought and sold an SBDX001 for about $1100 a couple of years ago.

Agree.

I bought and sold 3 SBDX001 from $1000-$1150 over a 2 or 3 year span.

I feel like all the MM300 jumped up in price last year- even the used ones that were once $1000. My only guess is the never ending rumors about stopping production. Which happens with nearly every Seiko model.
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59yukon01
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by 59yukon01 » Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:14 am

All the people that complained about it not being worth the money since it didn't have sapphire or ceramic got there wish. Now it's even thicker.

Sometimes it's best to just leave well enough alone. Personally after seeing these "supposed" improvements I'm glad I've got an older one.

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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Henryj » Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:18 am

dukerules wrote:My only guess is the never ending rumors about stopping production. Which happens with nearly every Seiko model.
Yeah, my crafty retirement plan is the half dozen SKX007s I have.
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Chocodove » Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:27 am

I see the sapphire and ceramic as upgrades and like the subtle differences compared to the 001/017. If they settle around $2250-$2300 new, I think it’s a reasonable increase. The last 017 I bought new was around $1950.

It’s still too thick, though :).
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Torrid
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Torrid » Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:48 am

I really like this one but it's true, this one is a bit thicker than the last. It really did kill wearing it on NATOs for long periods of time. I liked the way the MM300 wore otherwise on rubber straps and occasionally on the bracelet. I have considered this new one and I do see it as an upgrade, but I hadn't paid attention to this one until it officially released and I'm not parting with $2k+ on such short notice. Maybe down the road, but I'm still not 100% on this one. As much as I liked the last if you ignore price and pay attention only to proportions, the SKX007 and the SRP777 NAFT wear better. If they could slim a couple of mm's from the thickness of the case of the MM300 instead of adding more Seiko may have the perfect diver.

Gold accents are perfect. Surprisingly I'm not bothered by the loss of the Marinemaster script.

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toxicavenger
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by toxicavenger » Sun Dec 02, 2018 12:07 pm

I tried it on in the NYC boutique, it wasn't for me and I was a MM fanboi. I think with the ceramic bezel it is too flashy. Also the watch seemed bigger.
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I was more impressed by these two
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husabergangola
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by husabergangola » Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:20 pm

O love my green
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gonzomantis
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by gonzomantis » Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:28 pm

toxicavenger wrote:
Sun Dec 02, 2018 12:07 pm
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I prefer my OG MM300 to the new one, but these SBDC models are something I'd like to see in person. The thinner case appeals to me.

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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by HapaHapa » Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:49 pm

If the new MM300 is thicker/top heavy, then it doesn’t matter if it looks great or has a better crystal. It’s going to sit in your watch box unworn.
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Ryeguy » Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:57 pm

bedlam wrote:
Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:36 am
The original is still of the best dive watches ever made IMO.

This is that watch with some upgrades...there is very little not to like :love:
I 100% agree. The OG is still one of my absolute favorite dive watches bar none.

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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by 5661nicholas » Sun Dec 02, 2018 5:30 pm

HapaHapa wrote:If the new MM300 is thicker/top heavy, then it doesn’t matter if it looks great or has a better crystal. It’s going to sit in your watch box unworn.
I agree with this.....for me at least. I absolutely love how the watch looks, pictures, handling it, etc. Its rock solid, unfortunately I don't enjoy wearing it near as much as I like looking at it.

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Torrid
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Torrid » Mon Dec 03, 2018 1:14 pm

I like the new ones touches and even the original one over the 6R15 powered model, but I like the proportions so much better with the 6R15 that I've strongly considered trying one.

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toxicavenger
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by toxicavenger » Mon Dec 03, 2018 4:50 pm

MM on the top
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dnslater
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by dnslater » Tue Dec 04, 2018 4:06 am

Great photo. Would love to see this photo with the SBDC051 added to the mix. The problem with the MM300 is that Seiko has been releasing newer divers with better bracelets and similar finishing at a fraction of the cost - and they wear better.

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Torrid
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by Torrid » Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:45 am

dnslater wrote:
Tue Dec 04, 2018 4:06 am
Great photo. Would love to see this photo with the SBDC051 added to the mix. The problem with the MM300 is that Seiko has been releasing newer divers with better bracelets and similar finishing at a fraction of the cost - and they wear better.

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This is exactly it. Even before all of these new divers started releasing I had a SARX and the difference in bracelet fit and finish was appallingly bad on the MM300 in comparison. While the finish of the MM300 bracelet is better than the NAFTs, the fit isn't and considering the massive price difference that's less than acceptable.

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dukerules
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Re: New MM300 (SLA021/SBDX023)

Post by dukerules » Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:26 am

SBDC051 wears like an absolute dream. Sinks into the wrist, which the MM300 does not.
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