Tuna Question

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tyd450
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Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:15 am

I've had this solar tuna for quite awhile now and really love it but lately I have been tempted to upgrade to the SBBN035 Ninja Tuna.

A few things I really love about the solar tuna is it's light weight and how thin it is. It looks like the Ninja Tuna is quite a bit thicker, at 14.7mm vs 12.4mm, but if most of that is due to the domed crystal then it's not a big deal.

I like the solar nature of the solar tuna but I guess it really isn't "serviceable" but should probably last me 20 years or so before I toss it in the trash. The ninja tuna will need a battery change every 5 years but will hypothetically last me as long as I want it to with a "service" every 5 years with the battery change.

I'd love to hear any opinions out there if you think it is worth the upgrade or if I should just sit tight as maybe I am getting 95% of the tuna experience at less than half the price?

Here is the solar tuna on my 7.5" wrist:

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and here is the SBBN035 ninja tuna for reference:

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jtbenson
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by jtbenson » Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:51 am

i love the solar tuna for all the reasons you state---no maintenance, light, slim, easy grab'n'go, great looking dial, etc.
that said, when i strap on my spring drive tuna i feel like i'm wearing the real deal and often think about jettisoning the solar. for some reason, i keep juggling the two because they are really different watches and fill distinct purposes.
maybe add the big boy (looks like you've got the wrist real estate to wear it well) and see how it goes with both before you part with the solar?
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dnslater
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by dnslater » Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:09 pm

I have owned an SBBN015 Tuna for years and wear it frequently as my beater, despite the fact that I otherwise exclusively like sports watches in the 39-41mm range. I believe this Tuna is the same size case as the SBBN035 and has the same movement and battery. It is a chunk of metal on the wrist, but as you know, the short lug to lug does make a difference, and I enjoy it as a contrast to my smaller watches.

Also, the 300M tuna's are advertised as having a 5 year battery, but many get 10+ and the movement is terrific. My original battery is on year 8 or 9.

I have bought and sold several U1's due to size and weight, but have never had an issue with the Tuna. My wrists are 7.25" FYI. FYI I don't think the domed crystal contributes to the height much if at all.
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by Henryj » Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:47 pm

I haven’t seen a bad Tuna yet. I have a solar Arnie (easier to change time/date/second time zone than my Aerospace was), and a solar 497. The 497 is great for all the reasons given above, plus mine is about -1 second a month. All that said, I’m saving up my pennies for the SBBN045 because it’s just that awesome.
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by 59yukon01 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:56 pm

I love them both for different reasons. The upgraded dlc shroud on my solar is how it should have came imo. Definitely improves the watch. Hard to beat the SBBN Tunas though.ImageImage

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:16 pm

Thanks all, I think I'm just going to stick with what I have at the moment in the solar tuna and see if the urge to upgrade persists

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by mattcantwin » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:35 pm

tyd450 wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:16 pm
Thanks all, I think I'm just going to stick with what I have at the moment in the solar tuna and see if the urge to upgrade persists
In the meanwhile, you could play around with strap options.


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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:55 pm

Those look good! I just threw it back on one of Terry's black natos which is my preferred strap on it. I've actually never worn it on the stock rubber so maybe I will try that next.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by ncstate1201 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:42 pm

I would upgrade but I still sport the 7549 7010 and no offense to the OP or others but I havent taken to any solar watches long term and much prefer the heft/wrist presence of the 300m Tuna quartz variants.

But definitely do what makes you happy...

Have you looked at the darth?
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:53 pm

ncstate1201 wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:42 pm
I would upgrade but I still sport the 7549 7010 and no offense to the OP or others but I havent taken to any solar watches long term and much prefer the heft/wrist presence of the 300m Tuna quartz variants.

But definitely do what makes you happy...

Have you looked at the darth?
Image

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
I know I would like to upgrade to the 300M series of tunas but and I thought I was set on the ninja and honestly I liked the other two varients as well (all steel or steel case/shroud with black bezel), but something about the all black really does it for me.

But then Henry mentioned the SBBN045 and I was like fuck I didn't even realize they are upgrading all of the models now, so that sent me down a rabbit hole looking in to the new models. Flat sapphire crystal instead of double domed hardlex, and the X on the dial instead of Marinemaster, new handset etc. So I kind of just said screw it, I will stick with what I have for now!

To answer your other question, the darth looks awesome but just larger, thicker and more expensive than what I'm looking for at the moment.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by toxicavenger » Thu Jan 28, 2021 7:08 pm

the ninja tuna is a dope watch. it looks smaller due to being dlc. they bezel insert was to shiny for me. the solar tuna is a nice watch also. they both are great watches, but they are 2 totally different watches quality/finish wise. i have owned a lot of them and I believe i will have my sbbn007 for a while.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by BBK357 » Sun Jan 31, 2021 4:37 pm

Ninja Tuna is one of my favorite Seiko.
I should have kept it- but I’ll have another. I was actually looking at them last month.

Also- you can bead blast the bezel and take the high shine away. It’s a great watch.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Sun Jan 31, 2021 5:03 pm

Yeah that's really nice and would fit my l337 op3r8r lifestyle

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by jtbenson » Sun Jan 31, 2021 5:05 pm

people jam on and on about the hands, but i prefer them...
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by BBK357 » Mon Feb 01, 2021 8:30 am

SBBN035 Tuna with blasted bezel insert
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:04 am

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A year later and I am still rocking my solar tuna, I wear it more than anything else but I am still "researching" the 300m tunas. I think I will pull the trigger at some point. Gun to my head right now I would go with the steel bezel on the bracelet, but it looks like Gnomon offers an option to upgrade to the bracelet on the black bezel model as well. That darth tuna looks incredible but I think the increased size/thickness might get old and it is quite the jump in price.

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Tuna Question

Post by hoppyjr » Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:08 am

I really like this one, but I dream of the same watch with no date.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by mattcantwin » Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:26 am

Still thinking about adding this.


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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 27, 2022 3:23 pm

any rumors of Seiko doing a Ninja Tuna refresh? I keep finding myself trying to justify going for the new darth but I think it might be just a little too big and I'm not stoked with the increased cost of service due to having to change the battery from the front. A refreshed ninja tuna with the new hand set and sapphire crystal would be nice.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:07 pm

Seppia wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:00 pm
The Darth is both too big and too tall.
Plus harder to service/change battery because of the monocoque case.
That's what I'm thinking but i am in the phase right now where I am trying to look past true facts and justify the purchase lol. Although I am 6'5" 250 lbs with 7.5" wrists and a man child so maybe I can pull it off....

I just love the asthetic, how it is blacked out but not in a shiny way, but more matte and subdued. And the titanium case back looks so cool.

Hopefully they release a refresh ninja with everything I want or maybe I can get a good deal on the old ninja and have the bezel blasted like Ben's old one. Ben did you sell that here or WUS?

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by toxicavenger » Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:23 pm

my new love is this citizen promaster. here is a pic with a seiko willard on top, skx in the middle. the specs says 46mm, but it wears better.
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tyd450
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:41 pm

toxicavenger wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:23 pm
my new love is this citizen promaster. here is a pic with a seiko willard on top, skx in the middle. the specs says 46mm, but it wears better.
Damn Terry that one is really cool. Is that an older model or something current?

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by r.palace » Thu Jan 27, 2022 7:26 pm

tyd450 wrote:
toxicavenger wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:23 pm
my new love is this citizen promaster. here is a pic with a seiko willard on top, skx in the middle. the specs says 46mm, but it wears better.
Damn Terry that one is really cool. Is that an older model or something current?
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toxicavenger
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Re: Tuna Question

Post by toxicavenger » Thu Jan 27, 2022 7:45 pm

r.palace wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 7:26 pm
tyd450 wrote:
toxicavenger wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:23 pm
my new love is this citizen promaster. here is a pic with a seiko willard on top, skx in the middle. the specs says 46mm, but it wears better.
Damn Terry that one is really cool. Is that an older model or something current?
bn0220‑16e

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yep. i believe it is only an JDM model. i love it.

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Re: Tuna Question

Post by tyd450 » Mon Jan 31, 2022 12:49 pm

Update: decided to go with either the new SBBN045 (black bezel) or an older one like the SBBN015 if I can find one in good shape, ideally with a sapphire crystal installed.

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