Seiko SBDC053 Blue Pond Review

(Image found and used from Japan Today article on Blue Pond, No copyright infringement intended and image is used for hobby purposes) 

In 1988, Mt. Tokachi erupted and a Dam was constructed on the Biei River in order to prevent any future damage that a volcanic eruption could cause. The construction of this Dam created artificial ponds in the surrounding areas, including Blue Pond which exhibits some special features. 

There are two events that occur that cause the various blue hues of Blue Pond and it is fascinating to explore and discover, it kindles my great love of Science and I hope everyone enjoys. 

(Shirahige Falls and the Biei River, obtained from public photo source,No copyright infringement intended and image is used for hobby purposes )

1.     The mixing water of Shirahige Falls and the Biei River become ground water over time.

2.     This ground water mixes with Aluminum from the cliffs and become a colloidal aluminum hydroxide 

To explain, colloidal just means a mixture of very small particles, ie we can’t see them with the naked eye, they fall into a category of three other types of mixtures: solutions (small), colloids (medium) and suspensions (large). (These mixtures vary in size and some characteristics)

For our interests in Blue Pond, the easiest way to explain this is to compare it to each mixture type, for a solution solution you have a solute and a solvent, in a mixture of salt and water, the salt is the solute (things that dissolve in the solvent) while the water is the solvent (thing that the solute dissolves in, always the larger portion of the mixture).

Colloids, the colloidal particles (the substances) mix with the dispersive medium (water in the pond) but they don’t dissolve into each other (like solutions) or settle down (like suspensions). 

Just in case it still isn’t clear, I like to think of it this way, in a solution both partners have a wonderful romance but the lady wins all the arguments, as a great relationship should be, remember the lady is always right or in Science terms, solute dissolves in solvent. 

In a colloid both partners keep the romance alive and never settle down, think of it as they love to dance (the particles remain active within the medium and usually never settle or in some cases take a long long time to settle). 

In suspensions the particles don’t dissolve but settle down, nothing happens to each partner in this chemical romance, each are equal. (particle settles down when mixed in the medium after a while). 

For Blue Pond this means the mixture causes the blue hue when it interacts with light, as colloid particles have a tendency to exhibit the Tyndall Effect (a special effect in how light is dispersed) 

I won’t go into detail here but it is fascinating Science, if interested please do have a look.

I hope everyone enjoyed the Science of Blue Pond a bit, but now onto the watch and review.

A good place to start would be the blue hues of the timepiece, once you see it in person you can notice that it shares those colors with Blue Pond in Hokaido, The bezel is a little lighter than the darker dial but this gives a good contrast to both, some variations to consider from darker to lighter. 

Just like Blue Pond, we can go from light blue......

(Found online from a public photo site public license, No copyright infringement intended and image is used for hobby purposes) 

to dark, 

(Found online from a public photo site public license, No copyright infringement intended and image is used for hobby purposes) 

and such as this wonderful video from Shinji Kawamura of Blue Pond at night the blue almost matches the timepiece it is as if Seiko has drawn inspiration from this wonderful scenery. 

(video was not uploading properly in this section so I have moved it to the bottom) 

Now lets take our scrutiny of the piece down to the finer points:

The shape of the case, it shares a nice curve to your wrist and fits wonderfully in conjunction with the silicone strap,

my wrist is currently at around 7.2 inches in diameter and the silicone strap graces it comfortably. This is an important feature for wear and comfort, I can’t recall how many times I’ve passed on a piece because it hasn’t come on a stainless (or similar) bracelet. This strap seems to break a lot of barriers with me, it is rugged, wearable, comfortable and actually feels better than a stainless steel bracelet. If I choose to go diving, or my wrist starts to expand from returning to the gym (building wrist muscle perhaps), the accordion strap style can adapt to these changes where the wrist doesn’t notice a substantial change in comfort.

The downsides to silicon: if there is one downside to this strap it is that it accumulates dust rapidly, but this isn’t a huge issue as you can easily wash away all that sediment when it accumulates, this is a diver after all, it was meant to be playing in the water.

 

The minute and hour markers are clearly laid out and the hour markers have a substantial and wonderful lume that we’ve all become accustomed to in Seiko Divers, it shines bright in any darkness.

The hands themselves are also clearly lumed and point nicely and directly to the hour or minute in question. The hour hand is a sharp arrow that indicates the hour wonderfully, while the minute hand is a straight and to the point indicator of your minutes, with Blue Pond I haven’t had or felt the need to double check the time as with some other pieces that may exhibit hands that are not direct or legible where re-checks of time are necessary. 

The Bezel, what can I say, a fairly standard unidirectional bezel that equips this model, except there is one thing which really upped the game in Seiko’s favor, the action is much smoother than other Seiko divers that I have in the collection and it feels superior to other timepieces in and above its price range. I can grip the bezel equally well with one or two fingers and they feel comfortable when rotating it around to the desired time marker. This is in contrast to some other timepieces where you can have the opposite effect, Seiko has really impressed me here in the execution and an area where I was initially fearful to venture as they have needed improvement in the past with some aspects of their bezel design. No worries here, its bordering on my obsessive perfection. Add that beautiful blue along with its clear markings for the 10,20,30 etc. and this is a winner in my book.

Down to the movement 6R15, yes many things have been said about this movement and although the specifications give a wide tolerance of deviation on the specs my piece has been happily chugging along at +/-1 or +/-2 seconds a day and in my eyes it has so far earned its rock hard reputation as a precise and accurate timepiece.

And in conclusion, if there were a room for improvement in my book, it would just be the crown, a little S on the side as in the Shogun would just do with a little slice of cherry to this already delectable piece. I think the lack of it is fine as well as this is meant to be a tool watch, it isn’t supposed to shout out too much. The operation and screw down of the crown runs flawless, moving it out into its positions is easy and hassle free. This is usually the failing point of most timepieces, they have everything well done but then the crown can’t be operated unless you’re the incredible hulk or have a certain kink or knot woven into their operation (such as being impossible to un-screw with large or small fingers for example), this could be good for some collectors a wonderful tell tale sign that it is this certain type of model but I’d much prefer a hassle free and easy to use crown, Blue Pond delivers in its operation, easy and hassle free approach to changing your time and adjusting your piece.

Final thoughts, originally when I ordered this piece I never expected it to be this good, it borders on perfection and as our lovely P15 is, it is in that same range of perfection, who knew that 2017 would have two new pieces enter that just bring a smile to your face. I can’t wait to explore new pieces and see what 2018 holds for the future. Thank you all and I look forward to your comments. 

Igor