Improving and recreating- The Namoki 62 MAS

There are watches that can be considered an institution, they Rolex Submariner and the Seiko 62 MAS are among those. They are truly unattainable for some of us and the there is no easy fix, when you want one you really want one. 

That said , it hasn’t stopped these brands to create their “affordable “ versions so their customers could enjoy a taste of what if feels to wear a legend. In the case of Rolex, the Tudor Black Bay provides that nostalgia and with Seiko, the Re- Interpretation SPB143J1 seems to be the way.

Staying with the Seiko, this new diving watch was well received, you can say that it was their best selling model for years when it was launched and then, it put Seiko back on the enthusiast radar. That said Seiko opened up to a new more expensive price segment and no longer was looked as the affordable brand they once were. Sure, the SPB143J1 was better built with more premium materials but with a price tag north of 1000 GBP, it was hard to ignore that jump, even if the watch was attractive.

Here is where our friends from Namoki enter the scene. They have re created Seiko’s recreation, offered same and in some cases better materials and then, at a price that we all stop dreaming on.

Join me to discover a beautiful watch which brings joy and good looks to my wrist, let’s begin.

The specifications

One of the techniques that Seiko has mastered over the years all over its range is case making. The transitions from brushed to polished and complex surfaces are always top notch. Namoki, being a Seiko Mod specialist, has also gathered some great experience in this field and their 62 MAS exhibits it. The case is sharp and well balanced, it measures 41mm by 49mm, which means is 1mm larger and a tad longer than its Seiko counterpart but feels unnoticeable, in fact in my eyes, it feels more balanced. 

If we move to the dial, here is where the Namoki 62 MAS starts to excel because the applied markers and hands are just better in terms of finishing, no foreign materials . This is due to the attention to details from the team at Namoki, is not an entirely mass produced watch. The grey sunburst looks epic when hitting the light and the black ceramic bezel is what the actual SPB143J1 needed, people want that scratch resistance assurance. Staying with the bezel, the clicks are precise, there is no back play with a quality that stands out.

The double domed sapphire crystal brings the AR coating to another level, is barely noticeably and under it, you can find the reliable NH35A from Seiko , with date, hacking and winding. It remains part of the Seiko lineage which is something I appreciate in this watch. 

On the wrist 

There is no surprise that the Namoki 62 MAS wears like a charm in my 6.25 inch wrist. The 14mm thickness which is the same as the SPB143J1 is a testament to wearability, it just feels at home, a watch that you know how it wears.

The Namoki is paired with a black tropic strap which is soft and well made, it really creates the military look but me being me, I've put the watch straight into a grey nato, it looks business and thanks to the drilled lugs case, it’s easy to swap.

Now, one of the things about the 62 MAS is that it is a tool watch and this is how it should be worn. There is something special when you wear a casual outfit with a more robust piece and that’s how I used this watch, sweaters , cardigans with a jacket, it just looks good. Then of course shorts and a T-shirt for the gym and also feels great , quite versatile in my opinion.

Military looks with civilian charm.

Concluding thoughts 

By this point you might feel that the Namoki is a similar alternative to the Seiko SPB143J1 but there is a huge difference among these: the price.

The Namoki 62 MAS is priced at 269 GBP which means that you can buy 9 of them at the price of one Seiko, yes I would leave a minute to let that sink in. To me , the Seiko is definitely not 9 times better than the Namoki, but that is not the point, there is a market for both watches , they are both great and we are here for that feeling, the feeling to find something well built and affordable.

We do not want that this review feels that we are putting the Seiko SPB143J1 down, on the contrary, we celebrate that Seiko continues to bring these watches to the market and at the end without them, the watch world would feel quite empty.

I am sure that the people at Namoki feels the same as we do, after all, a great tribute band is the biggest complement someone can do.

I will urge you to check out their store and also their current mods which will make your watches stand out.

For more information please visit https://www.namokimods.com/en-gb/collections/modded-watches/products/nmk06-automatic-dive-watch-62mas-black

Technical specifications 

• 41mm Case Diameter

• 49.3mm Lug to Lug Diameter

• 20mm Lug Width

• 14.3mm Thickness

• NH35A from SII - Hacking and Winding movement 

• NMK911 41mm Brushed/Polished 62MAS SKX Case with Sterile Slim 10ATM Caseback

• NMK301 Clear AR Double-domed Sapphire Crystal

• Polished Coin Edge Bezel

• Polished Chapter Ring

• Black Ceramic Bezel Insert

• Black Tropic Rubber Strap

• Water Resistant to 100m