Which Next Seiko To Add?

There are quite a few new Seiko pieces on the market, not to mention some LEs meant for other countries were starting to be sold in Malaysia, so we were really quite spoilt for choices. Previously, I almost always prefer to get my Seiko pieces from a neighbouring country as I was able to get good prices being a repeated customer, but the Forex these days meant that the savings was no longer as significant as the past. And if I don't bring it in myself, there was the GST that would kick in and that could wipe out the savings made altogether. Sigh...

Anyway, I meant to get another Seiko piece soon and had my eyes set on the new turtle i.e. SRP755 (black/gold with bracelet) or SRP759 (Pepsi with rubber), or SPB029 (Sumo Thailand LE). Weeks ago, these pieces were commanding a premium but the pries had since settled down to a more norm bracket. In Malaysia, you could get these pieces between RM1,500 - RM1,600. From an overseas forummer, I was informed that he could help me to get the Pepsi Turtle at USD250 (RM1,100)- so with courier and GST, it could be here for circa RM1,300.

Meanwhile, the Sumo Thailand used to go at circa RM4,000 but the prices on online stores were now in the region of RM3k+. A reader informed me that he managed to net his at RM3k after negotiation, and by cash payment (so no credit card merchant charges to the seller). I guess the demand was not as high as Seiko had anticipated, even though it was limited to 1965 pieces and released in Thailand only. The normal Sumo was around the RM1,500 mark minus the LE packaging, the snorkel mask, the cyclops, etc. Most collectors would there go for the normal Sumo to scratch the itch.

And now that the New Turtle was out from Seiko, modders whom used to sell the 6309 Modded Turtles were now charging lesser monies for their Modded Turtles. For instance, the Dagaz Modded Turtles were now going for USD375 (circa RM1,650) whereas they used to be able to go for a higher premium. Competition lowers the market pricing, which was good news to us collectors.

And then, there were some micro-brands coming along with Seiko's VK-series meca-quartz chronograph movement. This was an interesting movement in that it was a quartz movement but instead of having separate motors to control the chrono registers, there was a single motor powering the gear train that connects the hands. Therefore, the chrono was similar to the mechanical type whereby the second hand swept at 1/5th speed with instant snap-back reset; yet it had the additional benefits of better energy efficiency, stiffer and more tactile pushers, and the ability to set the time while the chrono was running.

I was pretty much sold on this 70s-inspired piece i.e. StuckX Bullhead Blue, which costs less that RM2k (pre-order price) inclusive of courier to Malaysia...

when I saw another vintage-inspired piece utilising the same Seiko VK-series movement, that just had to make me pull the trigger. Watch out for its review as it comes to our shore in a few months' time...