C-segment Wrist Watches: Review : Seiko MarineMaster "MM300" SLA021 / SBDX023

Many years back, the MM300 version 1.0 (SBDX001) was a watch that I liked but just could not bear to pull the trigger. It was going for around RM6k back then and for that price, you get the much-acclaimed 8L35 movement as used in many Grand Seiko pieces, and the famed Zaratsu polishing on the hands. But for circa the same price, its Swiss competitors such as Oris Aquis and Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon had sapphire crystal compared to Seiko's hardlex crystal and unlike many other Seiko pieces where I tend to upgrade the crystal myself, the MM300 had a mono-block case so access was not a simple affair as I was used to.

Fast forward a few years later, and the MM300 version 2.0 (SBDX017) received an upgrade in Seiko propriety coating i.e. DiaShield, which made the case and bracelet more resistant to scratches. Price increased slightly to circa RM7k during that time; and after it was discontinued, NOS were going at circa RM8.8k at the ADs these days.

A couple of months ago, the MM300 version 3.0 (SBDX023) was released and this was the one that made me pulled the trigger. Retailing locally at circa RM15k, the price had doubled up compared to the previous version.

So what do you get at this price?

Same 8L35 movement, same Zaratsu polishing, but now upgraded with ceramic lumed bezel, sapphire crystal, and further sporting gold-coloured second hand and writing on dial.

With the sapphire crystal, the lume on the SBDX023 dial popped out even more than SBDX017's and it was truly a marvel to beckon. For someone whom was used to the lumes on Submariner, Planet Ocean, and Black Bay in my collection, it spoke volumes that the MM300's LumiBrite could still stood out and held its own in the ocean of lumes.