Seiko Presage SARX029 Urushi Dial Year-Long Review

jml_watches · 2016-04-09T16:18:52Z

Jml_watches reviews his Seiko Presage SARX029 Urushi dial after 366 days of continuous wear. Discover long-term accuracy, durability, and the dial's enduring appeal.

jml_watches

WPS member · Seiko forum

11 replies2034 views5 photos

Jml_watches presents a year-long pictorial review of his Seiko Presage SARX029 with an Urushi dial, detailing his experience of wearing it daily for 366 consecutive days. This extended review offers unique insights into the watch's long-term wearability, accuracy, and the enduring appeal of its distinctive dial.

11 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →

Hi All

Thought I'd do a pictorial of my Urushi dialled Seiko that I've worn every day since it arrived last year. 366 straight days - it being a leap year this year!

I've worn the watch every day - not something that I've done for a long while - for the most part it just became the default go to watch.. That's not to say I've not worn other watches - that's what my spare wrist is for!

I have to say for the most part I didn't even really consider not wearing it - so this shows the strength of its appeal

I posted a 3 month review a while back (9 months even!) and what I said then still holds true now.

That for me it still feels big & it has some 'heft' - I certainly wouldn't want to go any bigger.

The strap has been a little disappointing the that its delayered in a couple of places - but overall its held up pretty well - especially if you consider its been on my wrist every day. so really just a very minor niggle.

Its run consistently slow over the year - in the 3 month review I checked it on Kelo and its was 4 seconds a day slow. based on home often I need to reset it this probably hasn't changed - though I wouldn't be surprised if it got a little better. It has also been consisiently within the parameters that Seiko set for the 615R movement - though from what has been said here and elsewhere I don't think its that unusual for it to be well within its limits.

The dial is superb - it is was and has always been the standout feature of the watch. It helps to make the whole thing look a whole lot more than it is - its even been mistaken for a Grand Seiko. High praise indeed.

An early & probably one of my better shots of my SARX029

With the Urushi flyer it came with

With another black dialled classic

A very small Seiko stack

with a classic Seiko 5

At the seaside

With some other friendly Seikos

Escaping to Stockholm

Just because!

Double wrist shot - helps show size

Wristscan

Commuting

With the yellow brick

Finally was that really quick decision worthwhile - most definitely. As I've said many time one of the pleasures of getting a watch is the thinking about getting a watch and comparing a and contrasting and what if scenarios and opportunity cost etc. This took 6 weeks from seeing a post here to having one of my own - just about my fastest decision on getting a watch - but certainly one of my better decisions. I've not regretted it for a moment.

Will I cotinue to wear it every day - probably not, as I now feel I want to give some other of my watches a bit more wrist time, Will I wear it regularly - you bet.

Its a great watch that belies its price & has inspired me about Seikos and in particular JDM Seikos.

Finally I'm not sure what its going to be like when I don't wear it for the first day & it comes to a rest after a year of constant reliable & pleasurable use.

Cheers

JML

Key Points from the Discussion

Wearing a single watch for an entire year is a significant accomplishment, demonstrating its versatility to suit various activities and events.
The Urushi dial's depth and richness are its standout features, often leading to the watch being mistaken for a Grand Seiko, which speaks to its perceived quality.
The Urushi dial series will continue due to its popularity, though production numbers remain limited because the master craftsman, Isshu Tamura, has many other projects.
Wearing a watch for an extended period provides a deeper appreciation compared to short bursts of wear, despite the challenge of neglecting other pieces in a collection.
The author often wears a second watch on the other wrist, which helps with rotation and allows for longer wear periods of primary watches.
The strap's durability was a minor disappointment, showing delamination in a couple of places after a year of continuous wear, though it held up reasonably well overall.
The watch consistently ran slow by about 4 seconds a day, remaining within Seiko's specified parameters for the 6R15 movement.

The Discussion

cazalea

Apr 9, 2016

Wow! I feel I've accomplished something if I wear a watch for a week!

Thanks for sharing the good times you've had with your Seiko Urushi. Would you buy another with that sort of dial, or is one enough? Cheers, Cazalea

jml_watches

Apr 9, 2016

Its made other watches more sticky

Hi I think that as I've worn it constantly - what goes on the other wrist sits there for a while too - currently wearing a Bellmatic on my other wrist since I changed straps on it about three weeks since. Before that wore my Oris Pointer date for a couple of weeks. I do rotate - but its more slowly - think you appreciate them more when they've not been worn for a while. I really like the Urushi dial there's a certain depth to it. Would I get another - possibly if I like it. What drew me to mine

KMII

Apr 9, 2016

Great review!

Wearing a watch for a year every day is impressive in the extreme It also means it needed to fit all the types of activities and events you\'ve been to, which is truly impressive. After much deliberation (slept two nights on it) I went for the enamel rather than Urushi new Presage - let\'s see if it gets me to try the same A truly impressive watch you have and do keep us posted on it, even if it leaves your wrist for a day or two!

jml_watches

Apr 10, 2016

You won't be disappointed

Thanks - it started off with just that new watch affair where you want to wear your new toy constantly & slowly morphed into wanting to wear it as that's how good/nice it was. It became the default choice - then I realised I could wear it for a whole year & it's been a complete pleasure. I can understand why you went for the enamel dial- it looks great too. You won't be disappointed, one of the things I got from this was how good JDM Seikos are. I'll be certainly having another. Enjoy your ename

KMII

Apr 10, 2016

Only ready in September...

Eagerly awaiting it already, though

MTF

Apr 9, 2016

A whole year

JML That's an accomplishment especially as you hinted that wrist #2 also sports a watch occasionally. I've gone a month with the same watch but that was a few years ago.... Montblanc Rieussec GMT. Although a Seiko Astron almost made a month-on-wrist. Regards MTF