The 149 feels the most approachable to my eye, but the 187 clearly leans modern. The aggressively cut and shaped case will be just as jarring as the cushion case of the 153. Finally, the 187 seen here is the most transcendent in terms of era, looking as modern as ever here. Likewise, the 149 carries with it a slim, skin-diver esque look that aligns with the 62MAS, appearing demure by contrast to the other two. The 153, or ‘Willard’ as it’s known, carries a large flat cushion case that makes it perhaps the most outlandish of the bunch (though you could argue, the coolest), looking straight out of the realm of the vintage. The case remains the biggest differentiator between the SPB187, the SPB149, and the SPB153 (and their various colorways). Another case feature you can’t exactly see is the DiaShield application for added hardness and scratch resistance.
It’s aggressive in appearance and carries a near equal amount of visual weight as the dial itself. Looking from the top down you can see the chamfer running the length of the case, with only a small percentage of the brushed lug surface leftover. It’s shaped in a way that hides much of the heft on the wrist and creates a variety of surfaces, both brushed and polished, to catch light. The case itself gets an interesting profile, tapering to a small brushed case wall before angling to the bezel and caseback on either side. Numbers aside, this is a very easy watch to wear, and carries with it a charm undeniable to the lineage of great Seiko divers. Thickness is a hair over 13mm, making this a wearable midsize diver. Rather, the SPB187 is a multi-piece construction with a screw in caseback and slightly more wearable dimensions, measuring in at 42mm in diameter and 48.5mm from lug tip to lug tip. If that’s an important feature for you, check out the SLA021 (and get your wallet ready). The SPB187 may find its inspiration in the vaunted reference 6159, but it differs in one big way and that’s the departure from the monobloc steel case the original was known for.