Seiko Spirit SARB033

The Seiko Spirit SARB033 is a sporty dress watch, prized the world over by watch enthusiasts for its excellent value for money. Die-hard Seiko fans call it the "Baby Grand Seiko" because of its high-quality craftsmanship and classic design. The timepiece was part of the Spirit collection from 2008 to 2018 and produced exclusively for the Japanese market.

The SARB033 is made of stainless steel and measures 38 mm in diameter. The bezel, sides, and chamfers are polished, while the front surface of the case has a satin-brushed finish. The lacquered black dial features applied bar hour markers and dauphine hands; thanks to the use of lume, the latter glow in the dark.

Like all Seiko timepieces, the SARB033 is powered by an in-house caliber – in this case, the caliber 6R15, which provides the watch with a date window at 3 o'clock and a 50-hour power reserve.

The design of the Seiko Spirit SARB033 is sporty and elegant. With its moderate diameter of 38 mm and lug-to-lug of 44 mm, the watch is very wearable and fits just about every wrist. The watch is only 11 mm thick, which means it's flat enough to slide smoothly under your shirt cuff.

The satin-brushed finish on the front surface of the SARB033's stainless steel case contrasts beautifully with its polished edges and bezel. The transition between the face and flanks is made with a chamfer. The latter is also polished, and gives the watch a refined look.

The understated black dial makes a fine background for the applied stainless steel bar indices. The indices are polished and nearly chamfered. The hour markers are small, luminous dots. The date window is located at 3 o'clock and framed with polished stainless steel. Seiko prints a delicate minute scale on the rehaut that lends the watch a certain dynamism. The time is indicated by lume-filled dauphine hands, and both the front glass and transparent case back are made of sapphire crystal. The watch is powered by the caliber 6R15.

Seiko offers the SARB033 on a three-piece link stainless steel bracelet with a lug width of 20 mm. The surfaces of the links are satin-brushed, and the sides are polished. A folding safety clasp with pushers holds the watch firmly on the wrist.

Caliber 6R15

Seiko introduced the caliber 6R15 in 2006. The movement consists of 168 individual components, and is set with 23 or 24 jewels. It provides watches like the SARB033 with a stop seconds, automatic winding, and a 50-hour power reserve. The balance swings at 21,600 vph.

The 6R15 has proven itself to be reliable and accurate. Along with watches in the Spirit line, the caliber also powers models in the Presage and Prospex collections.

Prices for the Seiko SARB033 have increased significantly in recent years. In January 2020, a SARB033 in mint condition changed hands on Chrono24 for roughly 500 USD. Two years later, the same watch will set you back about 960 USD. In other words, the price has nearly doubled in just three years. Due to the consistently high demand for and relative scarcity of this model, it's fairly safe to assume that the SARB033's value is likely to continue to increase over time.

Seiko fans consider the Seiko Presage SARX057 to be the SARB033's unofficial successor. The SARX057 speaks the same design language, but with a diameter of 40.8 mm, it's notably larger. Furthermore, the SARX057 does not have luminous hands and indices. But with a price tag of approximately 860 USD, it's a little more affordable than the SARB033.