Seiko SRPC95 (SBDY023) Watch review - The Orange Nemo Turtle Limited Edition

As with my recent review of the Sinn 757 UTC, I borrowed this Seiko SRPC95 (a.k.a. Orange Turtle, a.k.a. Nemo Turtle) from a friend for some strap photos. Since I previously owned and heavily modified an SPRC44 "Golden Turtle," and sold it before I started this blog (scroll down for a photo of it), I thought that it would be fun to review another special edition Turtle. Also, having grown up a Mets fan, I was especially drawn to this colorway!

First Impressions

Unlike the Orange Samurai and its vibrant matte orange dial, the Orange Turtle has a metallic sunburst finish.

This, combined with the candy bar cyclops over the day and date display gives it a more refined look and makes it feel less like a tool watch.

Wearing the Seiko Nemo

On paper, the Turtle is actually wider and thicker than the 43.8mm Samurai, but it wears like a smaller watch. The smaller bezel makes it visually narrower, and the recessed, offset crown also makes the total width of the watch narrower than the Samurai (since width measurements typically don't include the crown). The case is also more rounded, and the 47.5mm lug-to-lug measurement is smaller than the 48mm tall Samurai. Don't be afraid of the 45mm wide Turtle, even if you have smaller wrists!

The Details

The case and finishing are on par with other Seikos at this price range. A brushed top surface meets polished sides. The bezel action is smooth and well-damped, but not particularly crisp or precise. It is easy to grip and operate, as is the non-signed crown.

The white hands don't pop off the lighter colored metallic dial as they do on darker Seikos (plus they can hide beind the magnifier), but it's still easy to read, and this watch is all about having fun anyway!

Of course at night, Seikos Lumibrite takes care of any legibility concerns. It's still not as bright as the MM300, but it's on par with the fantastic lume on other Seiko 4R-equipped models.

Some of the newer LE Turtles have sapphire crystals with AR coatings on them. Since this is an older model, it made do with Seiko's mineral "hardlex."

Strap

My friend loaned me the watch on the StrapHabit elastic strap that he has been wearing it on, so I didn't have the original strap for photos. Luckily, I'm pretty familiar with the strap, as my Turtle had a black and gold version of the blue with silver hardware silicone strap that originally came on the Nemo.

In past reviews, such as the Safari Tuna, I've stated my (admittedly biased) opinion that I don't love these straps. They are soft and comfortable, but the silicone attracts dust, and the metal keepers are particularly comfortable, nor good at securing the strap ends. Luckily I have plenty of other good options!

Here is a list of some of the straps that would fit and we think look great with this watch. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap. At the end of the article you'll also find photos of some of our favorite combinations.
-Deployant Rubber
-Ridge Rubber
-Tropical Rubber
-Premium Sailcloth and Sailcloth Colorway Collection
-Smooth Rubber
-Rubber and Sailcloth Hybrid Straps
-Pro Diver
-Vented Rubber
-Slim Ridge Rubber
-Waffle Rubber
-Beads of Rice Bracelets
-Epsom Leather
-Seatbelt

Most Seiko Prospex divers feature larger than standard lug holes and spring bars, which won't fit in standard straps. While all of our straps are compatible with these watches, many other straps aren't. Additionally, some people don't prefer the slight bit play it is present when installing one of our straps. That's where StrapHabit's Thin Spring Bars for Seiko Fat Lug Holes come in. These can be installed in some StrapHabit straps as well as most straps with standard spring bars and fit Seiko divers perfectly. They have 1.1mm tips, but are 1.8mm thick at the center.

Movement

As mentioned, the Nemo Turtle has a Seiko 4R movement (the day/date 4R36 to be exact). It's a solid workhorse with hacking and hand-winding that you'll find in most Seiko automatics under $1,000 or so.

Conclusion

I was already a fan of Seikos Turtle models, so I enjoyed the chance to wear one in such a fun colorway just as summer is starting. Unfortunately, Seiko doesn't make this model anymore. They do still sell variants of the Turtle (including the green "King Turtle" that I'd love to get my hands on), but none of them are brightly colored like the Nemo.

 

 

If you like fun colors like this, you might want to try to snatch up a used Nemo, as there isn't anything else like it in the lineup. Sometimes these limited Seikos become more expensive the longer that they stay out of production!

Your Thoughts

Do you have a favorite fun Seiko diver? Let us know in the comments!

 

 

Specifications:

Name: Seiko Prospex Automatic Diver Limited Edition

Reference Number: SRPC95 (SBDY023)

Price: Discontinued

Current Private Party Value: $579 (Watchcharts.com, May 2022)

Dimensions: 45mm diameter, 47.5mm lug-to-lug, 14.5mm thick (at cyclops)

Lug Width: 22mm

Movement: Caliber 4R36

Water Resistance: 200m

Weight: 92g (head only)

Crystal: Hardlex with magnifier

Crown:  Screw-down

Bezel: Unidirectional 120 clicks

Strap/Bracelet: Blue silicone with metal keeper (standard strap was not available, StrapHabit straps shown for the review).

 

My old SRPC44 "Golden Turtle" modified with black coil-edge bezel, black ceramic bezel insert, black crown, and a double-domed AR-coated sapphire crystal.