Seiko is a company known for manufacturing quality timepieces at affordable prices.
In 2024 the SNZF15 Sea Urchin is one of their creations that continues to help more people get access to the style seen on a coveted luxury timepiece.
If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to a Rolex Pepsi, the SNZF15 Sea Urchin is one of the best options available today.
Read more to know what the watch offers and how much it will cost to get your hands on one.
What’s the Seiko Sea Urchin
Aside from being a reliable product from Seiko, the SNZF15 Sea Urchin is popular for its “Pepsi” bezel.
The red and blue colors of the bezel are reminiscent of the Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi which has become an iconic timepiece in the horological community.
The budget Seiko SNZF15 Sea Urchin has made the exclusive Pepsi design more accessible to those who can’t purchase an expensive luxury timepiece.
Coupled with the functionality and durability of a Seiko creation, the Sea Urchin provides a great value for money.
But if you’re not a fan of the Pepsi color scheme, a closer cousin of the SNZF15 Sea Urchin is also available under the SNZF17 model.
This one has the usual black color scheme similar to a Rolex Submariner.
Design and Movement
The SNZF15 Sea Urchin measures 41mm wide and 13mm thick.
Its case and bracelet are both made of stainless steel for extra durability and protection.
The watch has a skeleton case back that will let you see the insides of the watch.
The SNZF15 Sea Urchin features stainless steel, unidirectional, rotating bezel with a blue and red top ring.
The Pepsi bezel has Arabic numeral minute markers.
The ribbed edge of the 120-click bezel makes rotating easy and defined.
Each click of the bezel perfectly aligns with the minute markers on the outer rim of the dial.
The pull-push crown at the 3 o’clock position has small crown guards to prevent damage to the crown.
The crown is also just the right size for the watch and compliments the sporty design of the product.
The SNZF15’s dark blue dial reflects the color of the water where sea urchins are found.
It perfectly matches the thick, white hands and index hour markers, making the watch face highly legible.
Both the hands and hour markers are filled with luminescent material that shines brightly in the dark.
The Sea Urchin also has a day-date window positioned at the 3 o’clock location.
The watch face is covered with a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal.
This seems to be the standard material for watches in the Sea Urchin’s price range.
The SNZF15 Sea Urchin has a water-resistance rating of 100m.
It’s okay for casual swimming but it’s not recommended for serious diving activities.
The SNZF15 Sea Urchin runs using a 23-jewel Seiko Caliber 7S36 automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve.
The movement allows a smooth and sweeping second hand motion, but it has no second hacking or manual winding feature.
Nonetheless, it’s an absolute beast in terms of overall quality and reliability.
Talking Points
Here are some points to consider that will help you decide whether the SNZF15 Sea Urchin is the right fit for you.
Style
If you can’t buy a Rolex Pepsi, the Seiko SNZF15 Sea Urchin is your next best alternative.
The bezel alone resembles the GMT-Master II Pepsi coveted by people worldwide.
The red and blue bezel also gives the watch a more playful character that makes it more versatile to wear on any occasion.
Legibility
The large and bold hands, coupled with the defined hour markers and dark dial color, makes the Seiko SNZF15 Sea Urchin highly legible.
Even without lume, you can read the watch face underwater.
Weight
The watch is not light to wear with its weight of 165g.
It may take time to get used to the weight on your wrist, especially if you don’t often wear a heavy-duty watch.
Pricing
The Seiko SNZF15 Sea Urchin is priced at $150 to $325 which is great news for those who are looking for a budget watch that’s stylish, functional and has a good water-resistance rating.
FAQs
Where is SNZF15 made?
Most, if not all, SNZF15 models sold in the market are not made in Japan.
They’ll likely have the SNZF15K1 model number with the “K” indicating that the watch was made in Malaysia.
Similar to other Seiko watches, you’ll find a “J” on the model number if it was manufactured in Japan.
Nonetheless, the quality of the watch complies with Seiko’s standards, regardless of where it’s been made.
I’m seeing a different abbreviation on the day-date window. Is this normal?
All Seiko watches have bilingual date functions.
It’s usually available in English and Spanish or other languages.
Is it okay to use in diving?
No.
The watch is water-resistant up to a hundred meters underwater, but it’s not designed to withstand the pressure that diving watches usually encounter.
The watch is perfectly fine to use in casual swimming and similar light activities underwater but usually with screw-down crown watches they have a rubber gasket that eventually wears out and can compromise the movement.
Conclusion
Aside from the Seiko SNZF15 Sea Urchin’s great value for money, its unusual Pepsi bezel makes it a popular choice among customers.
The playful red and blue color scheme gives the Sea Urchin a distinct style that distinguishes it from other watches in the same price range.
It’s a versatile timepiece that can be used as sports, casual, or dress watch.
