The SBHL003 is an interesting new addition to Seiko’s Ignition line. There are two things which differentiate it from other Seiko Ignitions. First, while the watch uses a classic analog display to present the time, the inner dial is an LCD used for timing and alarm features. Second, the stopwatch has a very precise resolution of 1/1,000th of a second (like the Seiko Sportura SNJ005 and the TAG Heuer Microtimer).
Since the watch is not available in the US, I’ve had some trouble determining a definitive list of features, but here’s what I’ve been able to gather so far:
Features of the Seiko Ignition SBHL003
- Synthetic sapphire crystal.
- Titanium case and bracelet.
- Stopwatch with a resolution of 1/1,000th of a second.
- Daily alarm.
- Countdown timer.
- 40mm in diameter, and 12mm thick.
- Water resistant to 100 meters, or about 330 feet.
- Battery life of approximately 3 years.
The Seiko Ignition line is a tribute to the world of auto racing, and each watch tries to visually capture the essence of a race car’s cockpit. The outer portion of this particular model’s bracelet and portions of the case are coated using some sort of process which seems to translate into “diamond sealed” and both protects the watch from casual scratches, and gives the titanium a unique and very interesting look. The Seiko Ignition SBHL003 is only available in Japan for now, and seems to go for about $520. I’m a big fan of Seiko watches in general, but as you can probably tell, I’m a much bigger fan of the Asian models.
