Three Kinds of Blue: 3 Cool and Relatively Affordable Limited Edition Watches Under $3,000 from Seiko, Oris and Union Glashütte – Reprise
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Reliable and sexy
Whenever you decide to wear a watch, it must match your outfit. For this reason, more and more manufacturers have started offering additional straps.
Folding clasp of the Oris Aquis Clean Ocean Limited Edition with the recycled PET medallion just visible on the case back (Photo courtesy of @TempusX)
Oris offers a steel bracelet or bracelet, Seiko offers a silicone bracelet in addition to the steel bracelet, and Union Glashütte offers a blue stitched textile bracelet to complement the matching rubber strap (a steel bracelet can be ordered separately).
Folding clasp of the Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Reinterpretation Ref. SPB183J1 (Photo courtesy of @TempusX)
However, only the Belisar Sport from Union Glashütte offers easy bracelet replacement, even if it only involves relatively common quick-release spring bars with pins.
Pin buckle and rubber strap from the Union Glashütte Belisar Date Sport Koscom 30 Years Anniversary Limited Edition (Photo courtesy of @TempusX)
Let’s not forget the closures either. While Union Glashütte makes it easy with a pin buckle, Seiko and Oris secure their bracelets with real folding clasps with extensions. Seiko features the typical triple folding clasp with safety lock, while Oris’ system includes a classic folding clasp with release buttons on both sides. The expansion system is similar with fold-out sections.
Movement and precision
The screw-down crown, which all three of these blue representatives offer, controls a different mechanical movement in each case; All three movements have similar functions such as automatic winding, date display and three hands with stop seconds.
Seiko chose the caliber 6R35 from Morioka Seiko Instruments’ own factory. Since it is a very inexpensive watch with a screw-down case back made of solid steel, only the rotor was decorated. However, the 6R35 movement features a proprietary bi-directional winding system called Magic Lever, as well as a hairspring and mainspring of Seiko’s own production. The balance frequency is 3 Hz and the movement offers a whopping power reserve of 70 hours.
Union Glashütte revised the famous ETA 2892 and called it caliber UNG-07.S1. The bridges and the ball-bearing rotor have new decorations, which are highlighted on the Belisar Sport Date by a transparent sapphire crystal back with a light blue anniversary logo and a silicone hairspring. Its frequency has been lowered from 4 to 3.5 Hz, saving energy, reducing wear and extending the power reserve to 60 hours.
The red rotor became a registered trademark of Oris in 2002 and is visible in the caliber 733 that powers the Aquis Clean Ocean. It is based on the Sellita SW 200-1, which is equipped with a 4 Hz balance wheel and offers a power reserve of 38 hours.
Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Reinterpretation Ref. SPB183J1 (Photo courtesy of @TempusX)
Which one would you choose?
I suspect that between these three models, the majority would choose the Seiko Prospex, and that’s no surprise. It is the most cost-effective, offers the best value for money and has high collector appeal.
Union Glashütte Belisar Date Sport Koscom 30 Years Anniversary Limited Edition (Photo courtesy of @TempusX)
However, I would choose Union Glashütte because it has a direct connection to the shop I grew up with in my home country of the Czech Republic. And it is the first time that a major watch brand has collaborated with a retailer to release a special edition.
And because watches are supposed to be fun!
For more information, please visit:
www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/special/55th-anniversary-limited-2nd
www.hodinky-koscom.cz/koscomlimitka
www.oris.ch/de/uhr/oris-clean-ocean-limited-edition/01-733-7732-4185-set
Quick Facts Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Reinterpretation, also known as Blue Captain Willard Limited Edition (Ref. SPB183J1)
Case: 42.7 x 13.2 mm, hardened stainless steel, water resistant to 200 m
Movement: Automatic caliber 6R35, 70 hour power reserve, frequency 3 Hz/21,600 vibrations per hour
Functions: hours, minutes, (stop) seconds; Date
Limitation: 5,500 pieces
Price: €1,550
Brief information about Union Glashütte Belisar Date Sport Koscom Limited edition for the 30th anniversary
Case: 45 mm, stainless steel, water resistant to 200 m
Movement: Automatic caliber UNG-07.S1 based on ETA 2892, 60 hour power reserve, 3 Hz frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (stop) seconds; Date
Limitation: 30 pieces
Price: €2,300
Brief information about the Oris Aquis Clean Ocean Limited Edition
Case: 39.5 mm, stainless steel, water resistant to 300 m
Movement: Automatic caliber 733, based on Sellita SW 200-1, 38 hour power reserve, frequency 4 Hz/28,800 vibrations per hour
Functions: hours, minutes, (stop) seconds; Date
Limitation: 2,000 pieces
Price: €2,050
Jan Lidmaňský is a watch collector and journalist from the Czech Republic; Follow him on Instagram at @watch_the_food.
* This article was first published on February 10, 2021 at Three Kinds Of Blue: 3 cool and relatively affordable limited edition watches under €2,500 from Seiko, Oris and Union Glashütte
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